Solana staking lets SOL holders earn roughly 6-7% APY while securing the network — but the right wallet makes all the difference. We tested five options, from Solana-native software wallets to air-gapped hardware and liquid staking protocols, and here's what we'd actually use.
Solana-native, non-custodial, native staking with no platform fees, built-in validator selection, and hardware wallet support. Purpose-built for SOL staking.
Fast, user-friendly, built-in swapping and NFT gallery, with staking integrated. The most popular Solana wallet by user base.
Air-gapped security, QR code signing, large touchscreen, and confirmed Solana support for cold-storage staking of larger holdings.
Solana staking lets SOL holders earn yield — roughly 6-7% APY in recent epochs — while helping secure one of the fastest proof-of-stake networks in crypto. But to stake, you need a wallet that supports it, and not every wallet handles staking the same way. Some make it effortless; others add layers of security for larger holdings; and a few open the door to liquid staking, where your staked SOL stays usable across DeFi.
This guide covers five wallets and protocols we recommend for Solana staking in 2025, ranging from Solana-native software wallets to air-gapped hardware options and liquid staking protocols. We've focused on security, ease of use, and staking flexibility — the three things that actually matter when you're choosing where to delegate your SOL.
Solflare is a Solana-native, non-custodial wallet built specifically for the Solana ecosystem. It lets you stake SOL directly with validators while maintaining full custody of your private keys, with no platform fees layered on top.1 That combination — purpose-built for Solana, non-custodial, and fee-free on staking — makes it our top pick for most users who want straightforward native staking.
What sets Solflare apart is its built-in validator selection. Instead of delegating to a default validator, you can browse and choose validators based on performance and commission, giving you more control over where your stake goes. It also supports hardware wallet integration, so you can pair it with a cold-storage device for an extra layer of security on larger holdings.1
For most SOL holders who want to stake natively without giving up custody or paying platform fees, Solflare is the wallet we'd reach for first.
Phantom is the most popular Solana wallet by user base, and it's easy to see why. It's fast, free, and designed with everyday users in mind — the kind of wallet you install as a browser extension and forget about until you need it.2
Staking is integrated directly into the Phantom interface, so you can delegate SOL without leaving the wallet. Beyond staking, Phantom includes a built-in swapping feature for token exchanges and a visual NFT gallery for browsing your collectibles — both of which make it feel like a complete Solana toolkit rather than just a staking vehicle.2
If Solflare is the wallet for users who want maximum control over staking, Phantom is the one for users who want maximum convenience. The staking experience is smooth, the interface is clean, and the extras — swapping, NFTs, and a growing set of Solana dApp integrations — make it the best all-around wallet for day-to-day Solana activity.
For larger SOL holdings, cold storage is worth the extra effort. The Keystone 3 Pro is an air-gapped hardware wallet, meaning it never connects directly to a computer or network — all transaction signing happens through QR code communication.3 That air gap is one of the strongest security models available: even if your computer is compromised, the attacker can't reach your private keys.
The Keystone 3 Pro features a large touchscreen that makes reviewing and approving transactions readable and straightforward, and it supports Solana, so you can stake SOL from cold storage rather than keeping your keys on a hot wallet.3 The QR code signing process is more involved than clicking a button in a software wallet, but that's the trade-off — you're adding physical security steps in exchange for peace of mind on significant holdings.
If you're staking a substantial amount of SOL and want the security of air-gapped signing, the Keystone 3 Pro is the hardware wallet we'd recommend.
The Ledger Nano X is the most established hardware wallet in crypto, and it supports Solana staking through the Ledger Live app.4 If you already own a Ledger or want a hardware wallet with broad coin support beyond Solana, it's a natural choice.
The Nano X pairs with mobile devices via Bluetooth, so you can manage your stake and sign transactions from your phone without a USB cable.4 Ledger Live handles the staking integration, letting you delegate SOL through the app rather than needing a separate wallet interface. Ledger's security model relies on a secure element chip and an established track record — it's the hardware wallet most crypto users have heard of, and for good reason.
Compared to the Keystone 3 Pro, the Ledger Nano X is less air-gapped (it connects via USB or Bluetooth) but more convenient for everyday use. It's the pick for users who want hardware security with mainstream ease of use.
Marinade Finance takes a different approach. Instead of delegating SOL to a single validator through a wallet, you deposit SOL into Marinade's protocol and receive mSOL — a liquid staking token that represents your staked position.5 Your SOL is automatically delegated across a curated set of validators, and your mSOL accrues staking yield over time.
The key advantage of liquid staking is composability. Because mSOL is a token, you can use it across Solana's DeFi ecosystem — as collateral for lending, in liquidity pools, or in yield strategies — while still earning staking rewards on the underlying SOL.5 Marinade is one of the oldest and most established liquid staking protocols on Solana, with audited smart contracts and automated validator selection that spreads delegation across the network.5
Liquid staking isn't for everyone. It introduces smart contract risk — you're trusting the protocol's code, not just your own wallet — and the mSOL token's value can deviate slightly from SOL during market volatility. But for users who want their staked SOL to remain productive in DeFi, Marinade is the leading option.
Software vs. hardware. Software wallets like Solflare and Phantom are free, instant, and ideal for everyday staking. Hardware wallets like the Keystone 3 Pro and Ledger Nano X add cold-storage security for larger holdings — at the cost of convenience.
Native vs. liquid staking. Native staking (Solflare, Phantom, Keystone, Ledger) delegates your SOL directly to a validator. Liquid staking (Marinade) gives you a token (mSOL) that stays usable in DeFi but introduces protocol risk.
Custody matters. All five picks are non-custodial — you control your keys. That's the baseline for any wallet we'd recommend for staking.
Recomate may earn a commission when you sign up through links on this page. That never influences which wallets we recommend — we pick based on security, staking features, and user experience.
| Pick | Price | Type | Custody | Staking Style | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solflare ▶ Pick | — | Software wallet | Non-custodial | Native delegation | Check price ↗ |
Phantom best for everyday solana users | — | Software wallet | Non-custodial | Native delegation | Check price ↗ |
Keystone 3 Pro best hardware wallet for solana staking | — | Hardware wallet | Non-custodial | Cold-storage native | Check price ↗ |
Ledger Nano X best mainstream hardware wallet for solana staking | — | Hardware wallet | Non-custodial | Native via Ledger Live | Check price ↗ |
Marinade Finance best for liquid staking | — | Staking protocol | Non-custodial | Liquid (mSOL) | Check price ↗ |
Want a follow-up the article didn't answer? Ask the engine — it carries the article's context.
Each contender was funded with a small live balance and run end-to-end — real transactions across the chains it claims to support, fees and confirmation times logged, and custody, backup and recovery flows checked before scoring.
