FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Cardano, staking and Paws Pool.

What is Cardano?

Cardano is a third-generation blockchain based on proof-of-stake (PoS). Unlike Bitcoin, it requires no mining — validators are chosen in proportion to the ADA delegated to the network.

Founded by Charles Hoskinson, co-founder of Ethereum, and developed by IOG (Input Output Global), Emurgo, and the Cardano Foundation. Its design is based on peer-reviewed academic research.

What is staking?

Staking is the process of participating in network consensus by delegating your ADA to a stake pool. In return, you receive ADA rewards at the end of each epoch (every 5 days).

Your ADA stays yours

Never leaves your wallet

No lock-up

Withdraw anytime

Automatic

Rewards every 5 days

How does staking work?

Delegate your ADA to a stake pool from your wallet

At the end of each epoch (5 days), the network takes a snapshot of delegated stake

The pool produces blocks in proportion to its total stake

Rewards are calculated across 4 epochs — the first arrives in ~15–20 days. After that, rewards are distributed every epoch (every 5 days)

Rewards appear automatically in your wallet

How to choose a pool?

Saturation

Below 100% — a saturated pool reduces rewards

Pledge

More pledge = more commitment from the operator

Fee

Between 0% and 5% is reasonable. PAWS charges 1%

Uptime

Active and responsive operator with consistent block history

Wallet guide

Lace

Built by IOG. Clean UI, native Ledger hardware wallet support.

Web · Chrome · Firefox · Edge

Eternl

Most feature-rich. Multiple accounts, multi-pool staking.

Web · Extension · Mobile

Yoroi

Lightweight and simple. Great mobile option.

Extension · Mobile

Daedalus

Official full node wallet. Downloads the full blockchain (~200 GB).

Desktop

For significant amounts of ADA, a hardware wallet (Ledger or Trezor) combined with Lace or Eternl is recommended.

Frequently asked questions

When do I receive my first reward?

Approximately 15-20 days after your first delegation. After that, you will receive rewards every epoch (5 days).

Do I lose my ADA by delegating?

No. Your ADA stays in your wallet at all times. Delegation does not lock or transfer your funds.

Can I switch pools?

Yes, at any time with only a small transaction fee (~0.17 ADA). The change takes effect in the next epoch.

How much ADA do I need to stake?

There is no minimum. Note that the fixed cost of 170 ₳/epoch is deducted before calculating your percentage, so small amounts may have a lower relative yield.

Is Paws Pool on mainnet?

We are currently operating on Preview testnet. The migration to mainnet is in progress — this page will be updated with the Pool ID once available.