# Staking ### How does staking work? If a cryptocurrency you own allows staking — current options include Tezos, Cosmos, and now Ethereum (via the new [ETH2](https://www.coinbase.com/learn/crypto-basics/what-is-ethereum) upgrade) — [you can “stake” some of your holdings and earn a percentage-rate reward over time](https://www.coinbase.com/staking). This usually happens via a “staking pool” which you can think of as being similar to an interest-bearing savings account. The reason your crypto earns rewards while staked is because the blockchain puts it to work. Cryptocurrencies that allow staking use a “consensus mechanism” called Proof of Stake, which is the way they ensure that all transactions are verified and secured without a bank or payment processor in the middle. Your crypto, if you choose to stake it, becomes part of that process. \~[Coinbase](https://www.coinbase.com/learn/crypto-basics/what-is-staking) --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://conch-coin.gitbook.io/conch-coin-white-pages/utility/staking.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.