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How to Stake MATIC on the Polygon Network

· 4 min read

In this lesson, we’ll go through the practical process of staking MATIC, the main token of the Polygon network.
You’ll learn how to connect your wallet, stake MATIC through the Stader protocol, and understand how liquid staking works on Polygon.

Before You Begin​

If you have any questions about staking or any of the free lessons from VirtUs Academy, you can always join our Discord community, where experienced members and experts are available to help.

As shown in earlier lessons, I already have the Polygon network connected in my wallet and some MATIC tokens available.
Now, let’s see how to stake them step-by-step.

Step 1 — Open Stader and Connect Your Wallet​

For this demonstration, I’m using Stader, a trusted multi-asset staking protocol that supports several blockchains, including Polygon, Ethereum, and BNB Chain.

  1. Visit the Stader staking page.
  2. Select Polygon (MATIC) from the available networks.
  3. Click Connect Wallet — you can use MetaMask or WalletConnect.
  4. If the Polygon network isn’t yet connected, simply click Add Network in the interface — it will automatically appear in your wallet.

Once connected, you’ll see your available MATIC balance displayed.

Step 2 — Review Staking Parameters​

The current annual staking yield is around 5.76%.
This rate fluctuates slightly based on network activity and validator performance.

Staking MATIC on Stader means:

  • Your MATIC is delegated to Polygon validators.
  • You receive a liquid staking token (xMATIC) that represents your staked position.
  • The value of xMATIC gradually increases relative to MATIC as rewards accumulate.

Step 3 — Stake Your MATIC​

Let’s stake a small amount for demonstration.

  1. Enter the amount you want to stake — for example, 2 MATIC.
  2. Click Stake MATIC.
  3. Confirm the transaction in your wallet.

After the transaction is confirmed, staking becomes active.

✅ Done — your MATIC is now staked, and you’ll see xMATIC in your wallet balance, representing your staked tokens.

Step 4 — Adding xMATIC to Your Wallet (If Needed)​

If xMATIC doesn’t appear automatically, you can add it manually:

  1. Click Add Token in the Stader interface, or
  2. Add it manually using the contract address displayed in the staking dashboard.

After that, xMATIC will appear alongside your other assets.

Step 5 — Understanding How Rewards Work​

Just like other liquid staking protocols (such as stETH or sAVAX):

  • The number of tokens you hold does not increase.
  • Instead, the price of xMATIC gradually rises relative to MATIC.

For example:

You stake 1.92 MATIC and receive 1.92 xMATIC.
After 30 days, when you unstake the same 1.92 xMATIC, you’ll receive more MATIC than you originally staked — because the token’s value increased.

This means your staking rewards are embedded in the token price, not reflected as extra tokens.

Step 6 — Unstaking and Liquidity​

When you want to unstake:

  • You can redeem xMATIC for MATIC directly through the Stader platform.
  • The system will process your withdrawal and return your base tokens.
  • Alternatively, you can swap xMATIC for MATIC instantly on DEXs like 1inch or VirtUs Swapper, usually with a small discount (0.3–1%).

Unstaking times vary depending on network congestion, but Polygon transactions are usually fast and inexpensive.

Summary​

  • Protocol: Stader
  • Asset: MATIC (Polygon’s native token)
  • Reward model: Token value appreciation (xMATIC increases in price relative to MATIC)
  • Average yield: ~5.7% annually
  • Network fees: Minimal (fractions of a cent)
  • Wallets supported: MetaMask, WalletConnect

In short:

You stake MATIC → receive xMATIC → the token’s price increases over time → you can later unstake or trade it instantly.

This is one of the simplest and most convenient ways to stake on Polygon, combining liquidity, yield, and ease of access.

If you want to learn more about Polygon, Ethereum, and other networks — as well as how to build a long-term investment portfolio — these topics are covered in detail in the Portfolio Investing module, where we analyze fundamental projects and sustainable strategies.

In the next lesson, I’ll demonstrate how to stake the BB Token on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC).
The process is equally straightforward, though we’ll first add the BSC network to our wallet.

These materials are created for educational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice.