Staking Guide

Lock $zer0 tokens to run nodes and earn 15-25% APY through the Zer0 DePIN network.

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🎯 Quick Overview

What: Run Zer0 Nodes to power privacy-preserving compute Minimum: 5,000 $zer0 (Virtual) / 10,000 $zer0 (Physical) Earnings: 15-22% base APY + compute fees + guild boosts Lock Period: 6 or 12 months (tiered vesting)

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🖥️ Node Types

Virtual Mixnodes

• Minimum Stake: 5,000 $zer0
• Base APY: 15%
• Requirements: zer0 browser only
• Best For: Individual users seeking passive income

Physical Nodes

• Minimum Stake: 10,000 $zer0
• Base APY: 18-22%
• Requirements: Allocated hardware in zer0 data centers
• Best For: Power users, institutional stakers

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🚀 How to Stake

Step 1: Prepare

Requirements:

• 5,000+ $zer0 tokens (minimum for Virtual Mixnode)
• zer0 browser installed
• Stable internet (95%+ uptime for Virtual)
• 5 Mbps bandwidth minimum

Step 2: Start Staking

1. Open zer0 browser
2. Go to Menu → Nodes → Stake
3. Click "Activate Node"
4. Enter stake amount (min 5,000 $zer0)
5. Choose lock period:

   • 6 months: 15% APY
   • 12 months: 18-22% APY + 5% bonus + guild priority
6. Confirm transaction
7. Receive Node License NFT

Step 3: Run Your Node

Your node activates automatically:

• Processes zk-compute workloads (AI, oracles, bridges)
• Earns fees for each query ($0.01-$0.05/query)
• Contributes to network security and privacy

Step 4: Earn Rewards

• Base APY: Distributed daily in $ZER0/USDC
• Compute fees: Real-time from workload processing
• Guild boosts: +5-10% for high-uptime nodes
• Auto-compound: Optional 2-5% weekly yield compounding

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💰 Earnings Breakdown

Stake Amount	Node Type	Lock Period	Base APY	Compute Fees	Guild Boost	Total APY	Monthly Return
5,000	Virtual	6 months	15%	+3-5%	—	~18-20%	75-83 $zer0
10,000	Physical	6 months	18%	+5-7%	—	~23-25%	192-208 $zer0
10,000	Physical	12 months	22%	+5-7%	+5-10%	~32-39%	267-325 $zer0
50,000	Physical + Guild	12 months	22%	+8-10%	+10%	~40-42%	1,667-1,750 $zer0

Projected Earnings at Scale (5M Users)

Stake Amount	Monthly Yield	Annual Yield
5,000 $ZER0	$125–$250	$1,500–$3,000
10,000 $ZER0	$500–$2,000	$6,000–$24,000
50,000 $ZER0	$3,000–$8,000	$36,000–$96,000

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⚙️ Technical Requirements

Virtual Mixnode

• CPU: 2+ cores
• RAM: 4 GB minimum
• Storage: 10 GB available
• Bandwidth: 5 Mbps up/down
• Uptime: 95% minimum

Physical Node

• Hardware: Provided by zer0 data centers
• Application: Required (Menu → Nodes → Physical Application)
• KYC: Required for enterprise-tier allocation
• Priority: Based on stake size and lock period

Software

• zer0 browser (latest version)
• Windows 10+, macOS 10.13+, or Linux

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🔒 Vesting & Penalties

Tiered Vesting

Lock Period	Base APY	Bonus	Guild Priority
6 months	15%	—	Standard
12 months	18-22%	+5% bonus	Priority access

Early Unstake Penalties

Unlock Time	Penalty
Before 50% vested	10% burn
Before 75% vested	7% burn
Before 100% vested	5% burn

Additional: 1% of unstaked amount goes to growth fund for network expansion.

Node License NFTs

Upon staking, you receive a transferable Node License NFT:

• Cliff Period: 3 months before transfer enabled
• Secondary Markets: Trade on Magic Eden after cliff
• Inherits Position: Buyers get your yield position but must maintain minimum stake

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🏛️ Guild DAOs

Pool stakes with other users for enhanced benefits:

Benefit	Details
Extra Fees	+40% additional from pooled node revenue
Lock Bonus	Guilds lock 20-30% more $ZER0 collectively
Voting Power	Combined governance weight
Priority Features	Early access to new capabilities

Join or Create:

• Join existing guild: Browse available guilds in Menu → Guilds
• Create guild: Requires 10+ members and 50,000+ pooled $ZER0

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🔐 Security

Your stake is safe:

• No slashing conditions
• Can't lose principal (only earn less with low uptime)
• Penalties only apply to early withdrawal

Unstaking:

• After lock period ends: Full withdrawal available
• Penalty-free after vest completion
• 2% burn + 1% to growth fund on exit

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❓ FAQ

What's the difference between Virtual and Physical nodes?

Virtual nodes run in your zer0 browser (5k $ZER0 minimum, 15% APY). Physical nodes are dedicated hardware in zer0 data centers (10k+ $ZER0, 18-22% APY) with access to premium enterprise workloads.

What happens if my computer goes offline?

For Virtual nodes: Rewards pause during downtime. If uptime drops below 95% for the week, you lose that week's compute fee bonus (base APY still accrues).

Yes! Additional stakes start a new lock period for the added amount. Your original stake continues its existing vest schedule.

Yes, after the 3-month cliff period. NFTs are transferable on secondary markets. Buyers inherit your position but must maintain minimum stake.

Nodes earn $0.01-$0.05 per zk-query processed (AI inference, oracle feeds, bridge verification). Fees are distributed in real-time and scale with network usage.

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🎯 Best Practices

1. Start with 6-month Virtual — Test the system with lower commitment
2. Upgrade to 12-month — Unlock higher APY and guild eligibility
3. Keep browser running — Background mode works for Virtual nodes
4. Monitor dashboard — Track uptime, fees, and compound yields
5. Join a Guild — Pool resources for +40% extra fees
6. Enable auto-compound — Maximize returns with reinvestment

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📚 Learn More

Zer0 Nodes

Complete guide to node mechanics

The $zer0 Flywheel

How staking integrates into the economy

Tokenomics

Token distribution and economics

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Ready to stake? Open zer0 browser and go to Menu → Nodes → Stake to activate your first node and start earning!