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What “passive income” means in crypto
Crypto income strategies are not interchangeable. Kraken Learn’s March 17, 2026 overview describes three broad approaches: staking, lending and liquidity provision. Each has a different source of rewards and a different set of risks.
- Staking: A holder participates in, or delegates assets to, a proof-of-stake network. Rewards depend on the network and the way the holder stakes; an exchange may also offer a custodial staking service.
- Lending: Assets are made available through a service or arrangement that lends them. This introduces risks tied to the borrower, intermediary and product terms.
- Liquidity provision: Assets are supplied to a market or protocol. Returns and risks depend on that venue and its rules, including possible smart-contract and liquidity dependencies.
Kraken’s guide is a platform-authored educational overview, not independent evidence that a particular service is best. An advertised rate is not a guarantee, and an exchange product is a custodial arrangement governed by its own terms. Availability and protections can vary by provider and location.
Seven staking candidates to understand
Coin Bureau’s guide, last updated February 20, 2026, discusses the following assets as staking candidates. This is a list of examples, not a verified ranking or a recommendation to buy. The available material does not provide a consistent, current net-yield comparison across all seven.
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| Asset | Why it appears in staking comparisons | What is not established here |
|---|---|---|
| Ethereum (ETH) | Coin Bureau frames it as a large-cap staking baseline. | A verified current reward rate, exit time or guaranteed return. |
| Solana (SOL) | Listed as a wallet-delegation candidate. | A verified current reward rate or terms that apply across staking routes. |
| Cardano (ADA) | Listed as a wallet-delegation candidate. | A verified current reward rate or a complete comparison of custody routes. |
| Polkadot (DOT) | Included as a candidate; the guide flags stricter rules or exit considerations for some higher-reward options. | A verified current exit period or comparable net yield. |
| Cosmos (ATOM) | Included as a candidate; the guide cautions that rewards can involve longer exit times or sensitivity to network parameters. | A verified current net yield after issuance and commissions. |
| Avalanche (AVAX) | Included as a candidate; the guide flags stricter rules or exit considerations among some higher-reward options. | A verified current lock-up or comparable net yield. |
| Tezos (XTZ) | Listed as a wallet-delegation candidate. | A verified current reward rate or terms across providers. |
These entries answer which assets appear in a staking discussion, not which one is most suitable for a particular holder. The guide’s qualitative descriptions are not a harmonized dataset, so they cannot support an apples-to-apples ranking by return.
How to compare staking routes
The same token can be staked in different ways. Protocol participation or delegation, an exchange’s custodial product, and a liquid-staking or vault strategy do not necessarily have the same custody, withdrawal, validator or technical risks. Compare the route—not just the ticker or its headline rate—against these factors:
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- Reward source and variability: Establish what generates the reward and whether a displayed rate is variable, an estimate or a promotional figure.
- Net return and issuance: Account for validator commissions, fees and token issuance. A nominal reward does not by itself show the holder’s net result or whether the token’s supply is expanding.
- Access to funds: Check lock-ups, withdrawal queues, exit rules and any conditions that apply to the chosen route.
- Validator and platform dependence: Delegation can depend on validator performance and commission. A custodial service adds reliance on the provider and its terms.
- Custody and technical exposure: Self-directed routes have operational responsibilities; custodial routes add provider risk. Smart-contract strategies can add code and liquidity dependencies.
- Geography and fees: Confirm current eligibility, fees and terms for your jurisdiction with the provider. A service’s existence does not show that it is available to everyone or that it carries a particular legal protection.
Liquid-staking receipt tokens and vault arrangements should not be treated as guaranteed redemption at par or as fixed-yield deposits. In a July 22, 2026 statement, SEC Commissioner Hester M. Peirce described vaults as smart contracts that allocate assets among activities such as staking and lending; her statement is a commissioner’s view, not a Commission rule.
Why staking does not make buying a dip safe
Staking rewards accompany exposure to the underlying token’s price. If the token falls, rewards may not offset the loss; if the holder needs to exit while funds are subject to a lock-up or withdrawal process, the timing can matter too. The available evidence does not establish that buy-the-dip activity is rising, and that framing is not a reason to assume a rebound or a positive total return.
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Stablecoin reward products avoid the same type of token-price exposure only if the stablecoin maintains its intended value. They still carry other risks, and they are not among the seven staking candidates above. Lending and liquidity provision also have distinct risks, so their advertised rewards should not be compared with staking rates as though the products were equivalent.
U.S. regulatory context in 2026
This context is specific to the United States and does not determine how other jurisdictions treat staking. The SEC announced on March 17, 2026, that it had issued an interpretation addressing federal securities-law application to crypto assets and transactions, including protocol staking; the interpretation became effective March 23, 2026.
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On September 25, 2026, the SEC Division of Corporation Finance issued crypto FAQs and expressly said they represent staff views, have no legal force or effect, do not alter applicable law and create no new obligations. Those FAQs should not be described as a binding rule. Regulatory treatment can change, so holders should check current rules and product terms relevant to their location and route.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A practical decision sequence
- Decide what activity you mean. Separate staking from lending and liquidity provision before comparing potential rewards.
- Choose the route to evaluate. Identify whether it involves direct participation, delegation, a custodial service, or a smart-contract strategy.
- Read the current terms. Verify rates, fees, commissions, withdrawal conditions, custody arrangements and regional eligibility for that exact asset and provider.
- Assess the whole exposure. Consider token-price movement, issuance, validator or provider dependence, technical risks and when you may need access to the funds.
- Compare like with like. Do not rank a variable staking estimate against a lending or liquidity-product rate without accounting for their different reward sources and risks.
Because rates and operational terms can change, dated official network documentation and current provider terms are necessary before relying on any specific figure or exit detail. The evidence available for these seven examples establishes candidate status, not a current yield winner.
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