Staking: Network Security and Ways to Participate
Network staking supports the operation of proof-of-stake blockchains. It differs from ordinary token-locking rewards, and participants should understand validation responsibilities, slashing risk, and the different ways to participate.
Why staking helps protect a network
The lesson distinguishes locking tokens to earn rewards from staking at the network layer. A proof-of-stake network requires participants to commit assets, assume responsibility for validating transactions and blocks under the protocol, and receive rewards based on their operation. The central purpose of staking is to help secure the network. A product's promise of interest alone does not make it the same mechanism.
Validation duties and slashing risk
In the Ethereum example, validators deposit assets into the relevant smart contract and then participate in operating the network. The protocol requires validators to follow its rules. Misconduct or malicious behavior may cause them to lose some or all of their staked assets, a penalty known as slashing. Understanding the source of rewards also requires understanding this responsibility; staking returns should not be treated as fixed income without risk.
Running a validator and liquid staking
The lesson introduces two approaches: operating a validator directly and participating through a liquid staking pool. The latter combines participants' assets and uses liquid staking tokens to represent their corresponding shares and reward rights, making those interests easier to track or use in other applications. Each approach carries different operational duties and protocol risks, so users should thoroughly research a specific service before depositing assets.
Original tutorial
https://learn.metamask.io/zh-CN/lessons/what-is-staking
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