How to Stake Optimism in 2026
How much can you earn?
Estimate your rewards from staking Optimism.
What is Optimism staking?
Staking Optimism means putting your OP to work in a DeFi protocol on Optimism to earn about 3.0% APY. Unlike simply holding, your tokens are deposited into a smart contract that pays out rewards.
Is staking Optimism worth it in 2026?
Optimism is one of the more established staking options — the ~3.0% APY comes with relatively low risk thanks to a mature validator set. For most holders who plan to keep their OP anyway, staking it is close to a no-brainer: you earn yield on assets you'd be holding regardless.
Follow the step-by-step guide below to start staking OP.
How to stake Optimism
Get OP
Acquire OP from an exchange.
Connect to DeFi platform
Connect your wallet to the Optimism DeFi platform offering staking.
Approve and deposit
Approve the smart contract and deposit your OP to start earning.
Harvest rewards
Monitor and harvest rewards periodically for optimal compounding.
What to watch out for
Optimism staking — common questions
What is the current OP staking APY?
The current Optimism staking APY is approximately 3.00%. This rate fluctuates based on network participation and total staked supply. Data is updated every few hours.
Is there a minimum to stake OP?
Yes, the minimum stake for Optimism is 0.01 OP. Some third-party platforms allow smaller amounts through pooled staking.
How risky is OP staking?
Optimism staking carries low risk. The network is well-established with strong validator infrastructure and slashing protection.
What type of staking does OP use?
Optimism uses DeFi staking through smart contracts, which can offer higher yields with additional smart contract risk.
What percentage of OP is staked?
About 30.0% of the total Optimism supply is currently staked, worth $72.84M.