Staking Flow
Before interacting with the API methods, it is useful to understand how staking works conceptually in StakeWise.
StakeWise uses a Vault-based staking model. Users deposit ETH into a Vault, which manages validator participation on Ethereum. The staked position lives in the Vault itself; minting a liquid staking token against that position is possible in StakeWise, but it is an optional extra step and it is not offered through the Stakely Staking API.
Pooling ETH in a Vault instead of running a solo validator has practical advantages:
- Stake any amount: there is no 32 ETH threshold, so you can deposit and exit arbitrary amounts.
- Socialized rewards and penalties: results are shared across the Vault's validators, so a single underperforming validator does not concentrate its penalty on one depositor.
- Fast stake: deposits start earning as soon as the Vault allocates them, without waiting for a validator activation queue.
More information available on the official documentation: https://docs.stakewise.io/docs/vaults/how-vaults-work
Staking user journey
A high-level view of what happens to your funds and the wait times involved. Each box is a state of your position; the arrows are the actions (and the time) that move between them.
Staking parameters
Key parameters for planning a StakeWise integration:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Staking type | Vault (pooled) |
| Networks | Mainnet, Hoodi |
| API minimum | None |
| Stake activation | Immediate on deposit |
| Unbonding / lock when exiting | Exit queue, then withdraw. StakeWise uses Ethereum partial withdrawals, so the wait is variable and typically takes between 1 and 7 days |
| Rewards model | Accrues in the Vault position; realized on withdraw |
Stake
Staking in StakeWise consists of depositing ETH into a StakeWise Vault. The Vault manages validator registration and execution on behalf of stakers.
- Deposit ETH: Use the
stakemethod to deposit a specific amount of ETH into the chosen StakeWise Vault. - Transaction Confirmation: Once the transaction is confirmed on-chain, the ETH becomes part of the Vault’s staked balance.
- Reward Accrual: Rewards accrue over time based on protocol conditions and validator performance, and are reflected proportionally in your Vault position.
Unstake
Unstaking begins the process of exiting part or all of the staked ETH from the Vault back to a withdrawable state.
- Initiate Unstake: Use the
unstakemethod to signal withdrawal of a specified amount of ETH from the Vault. - Exit Queue & Processing: The unstake request enters the Vault’s exit queue. StakeWise fulfils it through Ethereum partial withdrawals, which the consensus layer sweeps periodically rather than on demand, so the wait is variable and typically lands between 1 and 7 days. Treat it as a range, not a guaranteed deadline: the exact time depends on how busy Ethereum's withdrawal queue is and on the Vault's available liquidity at that moment. You can check the current queue at beaconcha.in/validators/queues.
- Ready for Withdrawal: Once the exit is processed and ETH is available in the Vault, it becomes withdrawable.
Withdraw
After unstaking has processed and the ETH is available in the Vault, a separate action moves the funds back to the user’s wallet.
- Check Withdrawable Amount: Verify how much ETH is available for withdrawal.
- Withdraw Funds: Use the
withdrawmethod to transfer the available ETH back into your wallet. - Post-Withdrawal: The withdrawn ETH can be used freely on-chain or restaked as desired.