How to Stake Cardano (ADA) on Ledger
Ledger directly supports ADA staking. Here's how to get started and earn up to 2.3% APY.
Current APY
2.3%
Price
$0.2509
Platform Fee
No
Platform Type
wallet
Step-by-Step: Stake ADA on Ledger
Install Ledger
Download and install Ledger from its official site. Set up a new wallet or import an existing seed phrase, and back up your recovery phrase securely.
Fund the wallet with ADA
Buy ADA on an exchange (Coinbase, Kraken, Binance) and withdraw to your Ledger address. Double-check the network before sending.
Open the staking section
In Ledger, navigate to the staking or earn tab for Cardano. Pick a validator — look for low commission, long uptime, and avoid the top validator to support decentralization.
Delegate and confirm
Enter the amount of ADA to stake and confirm the transaction. Rewards typically begin accruing in 1–2 epochs and compound automatically or are claimable from the same screen.
Ledger for ADA Staking: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Cold-storage security — private keys stay on device
- + Stake 10+ assets from one app (Ledger Live)
- + No custodial risk; you delegate directly to validators
- + Hardware audited by ANSSI; Secure Element chip (CC EAL5+)
Cons
- - Upfront cost ($79–$279 for the device)
- - Less convenient than browser/mobile wallets for daily use
- - 2023 Ledger Recover service drew controversy over key-export design
Other Platforms for ADA Staking
Exchange · 25–35% commission on rewards
Exchange · 10–15% commission on rewards
Exchange · Fees built into displayed APY
validator · 5–10% commission
wallet · No platform fee — pool operator margin only (typically 1–5%)
wallet · No platform fee — pool operator margin only
wallet · No platform fee — pool operator margin only
wallet · No platform fee — pool operator margin only
wallet · No platform fee — pool operator margin only
wallet · No platform fee — validator commission only (note: Exodus's swap feature charges spread)