Skip to main content
Stake management commands allow you to participate in network security by delegating SOL to validators. Use these commands to create stake accounts, delegate to validators, and manage the stake lifecycle.

​
Creating Stake Accounts

​
Create Stake Account

Create a new stake account: 
solana create-stake-account <STAKE_ACCOUNT_KEYPAIR> <AMOUNT>
Example: 
# Generate stake account keypair
solana-keygen new --outfile ~/stake-account.json

# Create with 100 SOL
solana create-stake-account ~/stake-account.json 100

​
Create with Custom Authorities

Specify stake and withdraw authorities: 
solana create-stake-account ~/stake-account.json 100 \
  --stake-authority <STAKE_AUTHORITY_PUBKEY> \
  --withdraw-authority <WITHDRAW_AUTHORITY_PUBKEY>

​
Create with Lockup

Add lockup restrictions: 
# Lockup by epoch
solana create-stake-account ~/stake-account.json 100 \
  --lockup-epoch 500

# Lockup by date
solana create-stake-account ~/stake-account.json 100 \
  --lockup-date "2025-12-31T00:00:00Z"

# With custodian
solana create-stake-account ~/stake-account.json 100 \
  --lockup-epoch 500 \
  --custodian <CUSTODIAN_PUBKEY>

​
Create from Specific Source

solana create-stake-account ~/stake-account.json 100 \
  --from ~/funding-keypair.json

​
Create with Seed

Create at a derived address: 
solana create-stake-account ~/stake-account.json 100 \
  --seed "my-stake-seed"

​
Create with Authority Verification

Verify withdraw authority as a signer: 
solana create-stake-account-checked ~/stake-account.json 100 \
  --withdraw-authority ~/withdraw-authority.json

​
Delegating Stake

​
Delegate to Validator

Delegate stake to a vote account: 
solana delegate-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> <VOTE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS>
Example: 
solana delegate-stake CY6zXcruPNfFkhSyHgvLJB5zWzZqr6u3MjD4TgqnNVdP \
  Awes4Tr6TX8JDzEhCZY2QVNimT6iD1zWHzf1vNyGvpLM

​
Delegate with Custom Authority

solana delegate-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> <VOTE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> \
  --stake-authority ~/stake-authority.json

​
Force Delegation

Bypass vote account sanity checks (use carefully): 
solana delegate-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> <VOTE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> \
  --force
Warning: Only use --force if you understand the risks. It bypasses checks that ensure the vote account is valid.

​
Viewing Stake Information

​
View Stake Account

Display stake account details: 
solana stake-account <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS>
Output shows:
  • Balance
  • State (Initialized, Activating, Active, Deactivating)
  • Delegated vote account
  • Credits observed
  • Lockup information
  • Authorities

​
View with Rewards

Display inflation rewards: 
solana stake-account <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> --with-rewards

# Show specific number of epochs
solana stake-account <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> \
  --with-rewards \
  --num-rewards-epochs 10

# Start from specific epoch
solana stake-account <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> \
  --with-rewards \
  --starting-epoch 450

# CSV format
solana stake-account <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> \
  --with-rewards \
  --csv

​
Display in Lamports

solana stake-account <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> --lamports

​
Deactivating Stake

​
Deactivate Stake

Begin deactivating delegated stake: 
solana deactivate-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS>
Note: Deactivation takes effect in the next epoch and completes over several epochs.

​
Deactivate with Custom Authority

solana deactivate-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> \
  --stake-authority ~/stake-authority.json

​
Deactivate Delinquent Stake

Deactivate stake delegated to a delinquent validator: 
solana deactivate-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> --delinquent

​
Deactivate with Seed

solana deactivate-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> \
  --seed "my-stake-seed"

​
Withdrawing Stake

​
Withdraw from Stake Account

Withdraw inactive stake: 
solana withdraw-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> <RECIPIENT_ADDRESS> <AMOUNT>
Example: 
# Withdraw 50 SOL
solana withdraw-stake CY6zXcru... 7gJvCYGL... 50

# Withdraw all available
solana withdraw-stake CY6zXcru... 7gJvCYGL... ALL

# Withdraw only available (deactivated) stake
solana withdraw-stake CY6zXcru... 7gJvCYGL... AVAILABLE

​
Withdraw with Custom Authority

solana withdraw-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> <RECIPIENT_ADDRESS> <AMOUNT> \
  --withdraw-authority ~/withdraw-authority.json

​
Withdraw with Custodian

Withdraw from locked stake with custodian permission: 
solana withdraw-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> <RECIPIENT_ADDRESS> <AMOUNT> \
  --custodian ~/custodian.json

​
Splitting Stake

​
Split Stake Account

Split stake into two accounts: 
solana split-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> <NEW_STAKE_ACCOUNT_KEYPAIR> <AMOUNT>
Example: 
# Generate new stake account keypair
solana-keygen new --outfile ~/new-stake.json

# Split 25 SOL into new account
solana split-stake CY6zXcru... ~/new-stake.json 25

​
Split with Custom Authority

solana split-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> <NEW_STAKE_ACCOUNT_KEYPAIR> <AMOUNT> \
  --stake-authority ~/stake-authority.json

​
Split with Seed

solana split-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> <NEW_STAKE_ACCOUNT_KEYPAIR> <AMOUNT> \
  --seed "split-seed"

​
Merging Stake

​
Merge Stake Accounts

Merge source stake into destination: 
solana merge-stake <DESTINATION_STAKE_ACCOUNT> <SOURCE_STAKE_ACCOUNT>
Example: 
solana merge-stake CY6zXcru... 9pKBwTdH...
Requirements:
  • Both accounts must be delegated to the same vote account
  • Both must have the same authorities
  • Source account is closed after merge

​
Merge with Custom Authority

solana merge-stake <DESTINATION_STAKE_ACCOUNT> <SOURCE_STAKE_ACCOUNT> \
  --stake-authority ~/stake-authority.json

​
Managing Authorities

​
Authorize New Staker

Set a new stake authority: 
solana stake-authorize <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> \
  --new-stake-authority <NEW_AUTHORITY_PUBKEY>

​
Authorize New Withdrawer

Set a new withdraw authority: 
solana stake-authorize <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> \
  --new-withdraw-authority <NEW_AUTHORITY_PUBKEY>

​
Authorize Both Authorities

solana stake-authorize <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> \
  --new-stake-authority <NEW_STAKE_PUBKEY> \
  --new-withdraw-authority <NEW_WITHDRAW_PUBKEY>

​
Authorize with Current Authority

solana stake-authorize <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> \
  --new-stake-authority <NEW_AUTHORITY_PUBKEY> \
  --stake-authority ~/current-stake-authority.json

​
Authorize with Custodian

solana stake-authorize <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> \
  --new-withdraw-authority <NEW_AUTHORITY_PUBKEY> \
  --custodian ~/custodian.json

​
Authorize Without Wait

Return immediately without waiting for confirmation: 
solana stake-authorize <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> \
  --new-stake-authority <NEW_AUTHORITY_PUBKEY> \
  --no-wait

​
Checked Authorization

Verify new authority as a signer: 
solana stake-authorize-checked <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> \
  --new-stake-authority ~/new-stake-authority.json

solana stake-authorize-checked <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> \
  --new-withdraw-authority ~/new-withdraw-authority.json

​
Setting Lockup

​
Set Lockup Parameters

Modify stake account lockup: 
# Set lockup epoch
solana stake-set-lockup <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> \
  --lockup-epoch 600

# Set lockup date
solana stake-set-lockup <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> \
  --lockup-date "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z"

# Set new custodian
solana stake-set-lockup <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> \
  --new-custodian <NEW_CUSTODIAN_PUBKEY>

# Combine multiple changes
solana stake-set-lockup <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> \
  --lockup-epoch 600 \
  --new-custodian <NEW_CUSTODIAN_PUBKEY>

​
Set Lockup with Custodian

solana stake-set-lockup <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> \
  --lockup-epoch 600 \
  --custodian ~/custodian.json

​
Checked Lockup

Verify new custodian as a signer: 
solana stake-set-lockup-checked <STAKE_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS> \
  --new-custodian ~/new-custodian.json

​
Stake Account Lifecycle

​
Typical Flow

  1. Create: Generate and fund stake account
  2. Delegate: Assign to validator
  3. Activate: Automatic (takes 1-2 epochs)
  4. Earn Rewards: Automatic while active
  5. Deactivate: Start cooldown period
  6. Withdraw: Remove SOL after deactivation

​
Activation Timeline

# Epoch 100: Create and delegate
solana create-stake-account ~/stake.json 100
solana delegate-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT> <VOTE_ACCOUNT>

# Epoch 101: Activating (warming up)
# Stake begins activating

# Epoch 102+: Active
# Full stake is active and earning rewards

​
Deactivation Timeline

# Epoch 200: Deactivate
solana deactivate-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT>

# Epoch 201: Deactivating (cooling down)
# Stake begins deactivating

# Epoch 202+: Inactive
# Can withdraw deactivated stake
solana withdraw-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT> <RECIPIENT> ALL

​
Transaction Options

​
Fee Payer

Specify who pays transaction fees: 
solana delegate-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT> <VOTE_ACCOUNT> \
  --fee-payer ~/fee-payer.json

​
Compute Unit Price

Set priority fees: 
solana delegate-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT> <VOTE_ACCOUNT> \
  --compute-unit-price 1000

​
Memo

Add memo to transaction: 
solana delegate-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT> <VOTE_ACCOUNT> \
  --memo "Delegating to my favorite validator"

​
Offline Signing

​
Sign Only

Generate transaction without broadcasting: 
solana delegate-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT> <VOTE_ACCOUNT> \
  --sign-only \
  --blockhash <RECENT_BLOCKHASH>

​
Submit Pre-Signed

Broadcast a signed transaction: 
solana delegate-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT> <VOTE_ACCOUNT> \
  --signer <SIGNER_PUBKEY>=<SIGNATURE> \
  --blockhash <BLOCKHASH>

​
Best Practices

​
Security

  1. Separate Authorities: Use different keypairs for stake and withdraw
  2. Cold Storage: Keep withdraw authority offline
  3. Lockup: Use lockup for long-term holdings
  4. Backup: Securely backup all authority keypairs

​
Operational

  1. Monitor Performance: Check validator performance before delegating
  2. Diversify: Split stake across multiple validators
  3. Plan Ahead: Account for activation/deactivation periods
  4. Test First: Test on devnet before mainnet

​
Cost Optimization

  1. Batch Operations: Combine multiple operations when possible
  2. Merge Accounts: Consolidate to reduce rent costs
  3. Minimum Delegation: Check minimum with solana stake-minimum-delegation
  4. Priority Fees: Use appropriate compute unit prices

​
Common Workflows

​
Initial Staking

# 1. Generate stake account
solana-keygen new --outfile ~/stake-account.json

# 2. Create and fund
solana create-stake-account ~/stake-account.json 100

# 3. Find validator
solana validators --sort stake

# 4. Delegate
solana delegate-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT> <VOTE_ACCOUNT>

# 5. Monitor
solana stake-account <STAKE_ACCOUNT>

​
Redelegating

# 1. Deactivate current stake
solana deactivate-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT>

# 2. Wait for deactivation (1-2 epochs)
# Check status:
solana stake-account <STAKE_ACCOUNT>

# 3. Redelegate to new validator
solana delegate-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT> <NEW_VOTE_ACCOUNT>

​
Emergency Withdrawal

# 1. Deactivate immediately
solana deactivate-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT>

# 2. Wait for full deactivation

# 3. Withdraw all
solana withdraw-stake <STAKE_ACCOUNT> <RECIPIENT> ALL

​
Next Steps

Program Deployment

Deploy and manage on-chain programs

Cluster Queries

Monitor validators and stake performance

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Get started for freeTalk to us