The idea of staking involves committing your coins or crypto assets to support a blockchain network as a way of earning passive income. Cronos, a decentralized, open-source blockchain was developed by Crypto.com, a trading and financial services company in 2016.
CRO owners can stake their coins and act as validators for the network. While staking, you will earn fees for processing the transactions on the network. Cronos’ blockchain is Ethereum-compatible and utilizes a proof-of-authority (PoA) consensus mechanism.
Acting as an instrument for Crypto.com’s vision of increasing cryptocurrency adoption on a global scale, CRO has garnered interest from investors worldwide due to its numerous use cases. This article highlights the best places to stake Cronos and the benefits of doing so.
Best Staking Exchanges – Summarized List
- Uphold – Claim Bonus
- Crypto.com – Claim Bonus
- Nexo – Claim Bonus
- Binance US – Claim Bonus
- Kraken – Claim Bonus
Benefits of Staking Cronos Coin
Staking crypto coins with long-term potential comes with many rewards and Cronos is not any different. You can enjoy the following benefits of staking CRO on apps and exchanges:
- Getting premium Visa cards (If applicable): Some places like Crypto.com offer premium Visa cards as part of the bells and whistles that come with using the platform. So, if getting a fancy metal card tickles your fancy, good for you.
- Purchase rebates: When trading fees are paid with CRO, you may get rebates for subscriptions such as Spotify, Netflix, and Amazon Prime.
- Extra cashbacks/ Pay rewards: A great way to earn yourself a couple of bucks would be to pay for your airtime, gift cards, and other stuff using CRO. You could even send some CRO to a friend if you want to get into their good books.
- Better APR (Up to 10% paid daily)
- Referral program bonuses (depending on the platform): Decent reward for those who spread the good word.
Remember that CRO stake rewards comes in different tiers and packages, so your reward would be based on the program you choose.
5 Best Exchanges to Stake CRO
1. Uphold
Uphold was founded in 2013 and launched in 2015. This cryptocurrency exchange boasts over 1.7 million customers worldwide and approximately $6 billion in transactions. It is ideal for both businesses and retail investors. Uphold leverages innovative blockchain technologies to make the crypto experience easier and smoother for every user. It serves more than 184 countries. However, it’s presently not available in a few countries.
The staking features on Uphold work with cryptocurrencies that use proof-of-stake — like Cronos. With Uphold, you can earn up to 19.5% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on your staked Cronos. All you have to do is download the app, stake your tokens, and enjoy your rewards. You can get started on Uphold here.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Reliable
- Protects against the uptime-related slashing risk
- Monitors your staked assets 24/7 to prevent downtime-related slashing
- Gives you a fair shot at unstaking your assets upon request, thanks to its flexible staking feature
Cons
- Some users have complained about hidden fees.
- Limited customer service
2. Crypto.com
Since being launched in 2016, Crypto.com has become one of the biggest players in the cryptocurrency world with millions of clients in its records. The Hong-Kong based exchange has a Visa Debit Card that allows you to spend your crypto on common items while earning cashbacks on purchases. Digital asset loans, NFT markets, and low-cost exchange services are some of the biggest services on Crypto.com. However, its staking services via the Crypto Earn Facility is almost unbeatable.
Crypto.com offers up to 6.5% APY on Bitcoin and Ethereum, while it offers up to 14% on stable coins. You also earn higher APYs by holding more CROs and it remains the most popular way of staking its native Cronos tokens. You can get started on Crypto.com here.
Pros
- Fantastic app with 24/7 support including live chat
- Lockup not required
- Supports over 250 cryptocurrencies
- Decent security protocols
- $25 CRO signup bonus with code
- In-Kind Interest
- Supports a wide range of coins
- Interest paid weekly
Cons
- History of cyber attack
- Withdrawal Fees
- Must Lockup and stake CRO for at least three months) and/or Stake CRO for Best Rates
- A minimum deposit is required to earn Interest
3. Nexo
Nexo is a leading financial services provider for digital assets and currencies. Since being founded in 2018, the centralized finance (CeFi) platform has grown to support over four million daily users worldwide.
The Switzerland-based exchange service supports over 300 pairs of assets. Users can also earn interests on borrowing assets, crypto credit cards, as well as staking. Interest rates on staking vary based on the loyalty tier, which could be Base, Silver, Gold, or Platinum. Tiers are based on the number of Nexo tokens in your portfolio. The higher the tier, the higher the number of free crypto withdrawals. You can get started on Nexo here.
Pros
- High APY up to 16% on digital assets
- Massive user community of over 300,000 members
- Strong security with advanced features
- Over $775 million in insurance
- Excellent mobile app available
- User-friendly platform
- Supports 30+ coins and tokens
- FREE $25 BTC signup bonus
Cons
- Lacks live chat support
- Strict verification protocol before using any service
- Growing regulatory needs
- Fewer educational resources than competitors
4. Binance US
Binance US is the sister platform of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. The parent company was founded in 2017 but faced intense scrutiny from the United States SEC and stopped operating in the US in 2019. Shortly after, Binance.US emerged and has already become one of the best platforms when it comes to staking.
Users can enjoy low fees and earn between 6.4% and 18% APY on the native token BNB, AUDIO, AVAX, SOL, ATOM, LPT, and GRT. Although Binance.US does not currently support CRO for staking like the parent company, users can expect more options in the nearest future. You can get started on Binance US here.
Pros
- Low fees
- Strong security
- Speedy transactions
- Large staking pool
- Low risk of forking
- Tax statement portal
- User friendly platform
Cons
- Offers fewer products and services than competitors such as Crypto.com
- History of regulatory problems
- Limited number of supported cryptocurrencies for staking
- Limited customer service
5. Kraken
Kraken was one of the first bitcoin exchanges to show up on the Bloomberg Terminal back in the early days of crypto. Today, it’s the fourth largest crypto exchange in the world. It’s also a popular choice among new and experienced crypto stakers alike, in no small part thanks to its attractive yields.
Another reason for Kraken’s popularity is the user interface, where users can easily find account information and change their settings. Its staking program is also highly flexible: coins can be staked and unstaked without a fee since there is no lock-in period. You can get started on Kraken here.
Pros
- Possibility to borrow against cryptocurrency
- A wide range of cryptocurrency trading pairs
- Great mobile app
Cons
- Services are restricted in a few states
Added Benefits to Staking Crypto
If staking is a part of your crypto investment goals, it is important to understand the entire scope of benefits. Added benefits to staking your crypto include:
- Interests: Your idle investment can give you big gains especially when the digital asset increases in value.
- Compound Interest Strategy: Although staking platforms distribute interests on weekly and monthly bases, you can reinvest your tokens, compound interests, and increase your overall holdings for exponential gains.
- Hedging: Crypto remains volatile and there is always the risk of price falls. However, with staking you can hedge against falling prices because you get to earn rewards regardless of the asset’s performance.
- Doubling up as a storage platform: The best places to stake Cronos like the ones we have discussed are authorized and regulated by renowned financial institutions. Thus, your funds are at less risk compared to being left on other exchanges.
Final Thoughts
As the cryptocurrency industry continues to mature, staking platforms continue to evolve to provide the best possible conditions of under which users can earn passive income from staking. When choosing an exchange to stake your CRO, it is important to consider long-term returns. How long are you willing to lock leave your assets locked up? What interest rates appeal to you?
Crypto.com stands out for its high interest rates. BlockFi offers the most flexibility with zero lockup options and is also one of the best for your stable coins. Celsius keeps your CRO funds accessible with a zero-fee experience and offers up to 8.5% APY on BTC holdings. NEXO has strong community support and equally high APY rates. Binance.US offers low fees.
Remember that many of these exchanges offer higher rates when you also hold their own native token. If you are new to staking and you want to start earning rewards right away, you can choose any of these exchanges based on the lock up terms, yields on offer, and other metrics that appeal to you.
