Delegating (staking) your Story ($IP) tokens is a straightforward way to put your assets to work while supporting the security and decentralization of the Story network. Whether you’re new to staking or just want a smoother experience, this guide walks you through the full process using the official Story staking interface for unlocked $IP.
We’ll show you how to:
Get your unlocked $IP ready
Connect a supported wallet
Choose a validator and stake your tokens
Understand reward timing, unbonding, and key risks
By following this process, your stake can start accruing rewards shortly after it becomes active.
Important: Unlocked vs Locked $IP (Read First)
Story supports two token types:
Unlocked $IP: freely transferable tokens (tokens bought from the market). This guide covers unlocked staking only.
Locked $IP: tokens subject to a lock/vesting schedule. Locked $IP can typically be staked via a separate investor/locked-token interface, and earns rewards with a lower multiplier than unlocked staking.
If your tokens are locked, use the locked staking flow provided through your investor/locked-token portal. This guide focuses only on the unlocked-token experience.
Prerequisites
1) Get your $IP ready
Before you begin, make sure you own some Story ($IP). You can purchase $IP on supported cryptocurrency exchanges and withdraw it to a non-custodial wallet that works with the Story staking interface (for example, an EVM-compatible wallet like MetaMask).
Once your $IP is in your wallet, keep a small buffer available for network fees. Some actions require a protocol fee in $IP (for example, unstaking costs 1 IP), so avoid staking your entire balance down to zero.
2) Use the official Story staking interface
This guide follows the flow provided by Story’s official staking interface. The steps involve selecting a validator and signing transactions in your wallet.
3) Estimate rewards with the staking dashboard
If you want a rough sense of expected returns, click Calculate Rewards button on Story’s official staking interface. Set your intended staking amount and choose the lock-up term to view the estimated rewards. Estimates are indicative and may change over time as network conditions and APR parameters update.
Step 1: Go to the Story Staking Page
Open the official Story staking interface and click Connect Wallet (or Start Earning) at the top-right corner.
Step 2: Connect Your Wallet
In the popup:
Select your wallet provider.
Approve the connection request in your wallet.
Once connected, you’ll see your available $IP balance and your current staking status.
Step 3: Choose a Validator
Browse or search the validator list (for example, P2P.org). When comparing validators, pay attention to:
Validator name and track record
Commission rate (validator fee)
Any notes/terms shown in the interface
Click into the validator you want to use.
Step 4: Start Staking (Delegate) Your $IP
Click Stake.
In the staking window:
Enter the amount of $IP you want to stake.
Minimum delegation is 1,024 IP.
Select your staking option (if shown):
Flexible (no fixed end date)
or a fixed staking period (e.g., 90 / 360 / 540 days) that may increase your reward multiplier.
Then click Stake (or Stake IP) to proceed.
Step 5: Review and Sign the Transaction
Your wallet will prompt you to confirm the transaction.
Review the details (amount, validator, and any staking-period selection).
Confirm/sign in your wallet.
Wait for on-chain confirmation.
Step 6: Verify and Refresh
After the transaction is confirmed:
You should see a success/confirmation message in the staking interface.
If the UI provides a transaction link, click it to view the transaction in the explorer.
Refresh the validator page (if needed) to see your updated staked balance.
That’s it! Your unlocked $IP is now staked and will begin accruing rewards once active.
Unstaking and Redelegating
Redelegating to a different validator (optional)
If you want to switch validators, use Redelegate in the staking interface. Redelegation is typically effective in the same block, but is only available between validators that support the same token type (unlocked to unlocked).
Unstaking (undelegating)
When you want to exit:
Click Unstake in the staking interface.
Unstaking costs 1 IP.
If you used a fixed staking period, unstaking is only available after the period matures.
After unstaking, your stake enters a 14-day unbonding period:
You do not earn rewards during unbonding
You may still be slashing-exposed during this time
After unbonding completes, your withdrawal is processed via the network’s withdrawal queue.
Partial unstaking is supported, but protocol minimums apply (including a 1,024 IP minimum for undelegation actions).
Risks and Considerations (Read Before You Stake)
Slashing risk: Delegating to a validator can expose you to slashing if the validator violates protocol rules.
Unbonding delay: Funds are not instantly available after unstaking due to the 14-day unbonding requirement.
Fixed-period constraints: If you choose a fixed staking period, you may be unable to unstake/redelegate until the period ends.
Need help?
Learn more about Story on the dedicated network page. For more information, dedicated support, or any other inquiries, please contact our team at P2P.org. You can reach a live agent by selecting the speech bubble in the bottom-right corner of this page, sending a message to the Telegram bot, or emailing [email protected]. We also encourage you to review the official Story staking documentation.
Are you looking for institutional staking?
We collaborate with leading custodians and institutional staking providers to deliver secure, compliant, and seamless Story ($IP) staking solutions. If you need a custom integration, contact us via p2p.org (chat icon in the bottom-right corner) and we’ll help you find the best path forward.