Crypto.com staking lets you lock supported coins in the Crypto.com app to earn rewards from the underlying blockchain, minus Crypto.com’s cut. It is one of three separate ways to earn on the platform: Staking (on-chain protocol rewards), Crypto Earn (a Crypto.com rewards program with flexible or fixed terms) and Level Up CRO lockups or staking, which unlock app and card benefits. Rates vary by asset and change often, so the app is the only reliable source. In the US, Crypto.com’s help centre lists staking as unavailable in New York, California, Maryland, New Jersey and Wisconsin.
- Three products, three risk profiles: on-chain Staking, Crypto Earn and Level Up CRO commitments work differently. Don’t confuse them.
- Level Up CRO stakes default to a 365-day lock with an estimated 36-day unbonding period, and reward rates were cut from 10 September 2026.
- Staking unbonding periods are set by each blockchain, not Crypto.com, and you earn nothing while unbonding.
- Your coins are custodial, so you take on Crypto.com counterparty risk in addition to price risk.
- Staking rewards are generally taxable income in the US when you receive them.
Crypto.com Staking vs Crypto Earn vs Level Up
Crypto.com’s own materials distinguish these carefully, and the difference matters for where your reward comes from and how quickly you can get your coins back.
| Product | Where rewards come from | Lock / term | Getting coins back | Main purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crypto.com Staking | The blockchain’s protocol rewards, minus Crypto.com’s fee | Depends on the protocol; some chains have minimum bonding periods | Protocol unbonding period applies; no rewards while unbonding | Earn native staking yield on proof-of-stake coins |
| Crypto Earn | Crypto.com pays rewards under its own program | Flexible, 1-month or 3-month terms | Flexible: withdraw any time. Fixed: early redemption forfeits rewards paid for that term | Earn on holdings, including non-staking assets |
| Level Up CRO lockup / staking | Rewards on CRO committed to unlock a plan tier | Default 365-day lock for new stakes | Estimated 36-day unbonding after unstaking; unlocking drops you to the Basic plan | Unlock app and card perks plus CRO rewards |
Our broader Crypto.com review covers the exchange, card and fees; this page focuses only on earning.
Crypto.com staking rates: how they work
Crypto.com does not publish a single rate table that applies to everyone. Rates differ by asset, by country and, for some products, by your Level Up plan. Its staking page states that APRs are estimates based on validator data, exclude Crypto.com’s fees, can change and are not guaranteed. Rewards are paid up to three times a week, depending on the protocol.
To find the current Crypto.com staking rates for a coin, open the app, go to the Earn or Staking section and select the asset; the displayed rate is the one that applies to your account. Be wary of third-party sites quoting specific Crypto.com APRs, since they are often out of date.
What drives the number:
- The protocol’s own reward rate, which depends on its inflation schedule and how much of the supply is staked.
- Crypto.com’s commission, deducted before rewards reach you.
- Validator performance, including any penalties (slashing) for downtime or misbehaviour on chains that enforce them.
Compare the net rate with other platforms in our guide to the best crypto staking platforms.
Crypto.com CRO staking and Level Up
In November 2024, Crypto.com replaced its older card-tier CRO staking and CRO lockup programs with Level Up. Existing card stakes were converted automatically. Level Up has four plans (Basic, Plus, Pro and Private), and you reach higher plans either by locking or staking CRO (depending on your jurisdiction) or, for Plus and Pro, by paying a subscription.
Before locking CRO for Level Up, you may want our CRO price forecast for 2026, remembering that price scenarios are estimates, not promises.
Key rules from Crypto.com’s Level Up help article, as of October 2026:
- New CRO stakes default to a 365-day lock that can’t be ended early.
- After the lock ends, the stake becomes flexible and earns a lower base rate, unless you reset into a new 365-day lock.
- Unstaking triggers an estimated 36-day unbonding period during which the CRO earns nothing.
- Unlocking or unstaking drops you to the Basic plan.
- Staking rewards are paid up to three times a week and don’t compound during the lock.
Reward rates were reduced from 10 September 2026. Crypto.com’s help centre lists CRO lockup rewards falling from 4% to 3% for Pro, from 8.5% to 5% for Private at US$50,000 and from 9% to 6% for Private at US$500,000. Staking rates are shown as up to 3.6% for Pro (base estimate 1.8%) and up to 6% for Private (base estimate 3%). These are Crypto.com’s published figures and can change again; check the app before committing.
Remember that a 365-day lock on a volatile token is a significant commitment. A 3% reward does little to offset a 30% fall in CRO’s price, and you can’t sell during the lock.
Crypto.com Earn explained
Crypto Earn lets you allocate holdings to a plan and receive rewards paid by Crypto.com. According to Crypto.com’s learning materials:
- Terms are flexible, 1-month or 3-month.
- Fixed-term rates are locked at the moment you allocate; flexible rates are variable.
- Early redemption of a fixed term forfeits rewards already paid for that term.
- Flexible rewards are paid weekly, and accrual pauses if your allocation falls below the token’s minimum.
- Supported tokens change over time.
Because Earn rewards come from Crypto.com rather than directly from a blockchain, they depend on how the company generates that yield. After the collapse of Celsius and other lenders in 2022, regulators scrutinised such programs closely, and availability for US residents has shifted over time. Check whether Earn and specific assets are offered in your state in the app.
Crypto.com staking in the US
Crypto.com’s help centre states that staking is unavailable to residents of New York, California, Maryland, New Jersey and Wisconsin. Several of the same states have restricted staking at other exchanges too, following state regulatory actions in 2023. If you live in one of these states, the option simply won’t appear in your app, or you’ll be limited to products like the Level Up subscription instead of CRO staking.
Elsewhere in the US, available assets and products can still differ from what international users see, so don’t rely on screenshots or guides written for other countries.
How to stake on Crypto.com step by step
- Verify your account. Complete identity verification in the Crypto.com app.
- Buy or deposit the coin. Only proof-of-stake assets offered in your region can be staked.
- Open the staking screen. Go to the Earn or Staking section in the app and choose the asset.
- Review the terms. Check the displayed rate, Crypto.com’s fee, any minimum amount, the protocol’s unbonding period and any lock.
- Enter an amount and confirm. Rewards begin according to the protocol’s schedule; some chains have a warm-up period.
- Track rewards in the app and record each reward’s date and value for taxes.
- To unstake, select the position and start unbonding. Your coins return after the protocol’s unbonding period, with no rewards during that time.
For a general walkthrough that applies across platforms, see our guide on how to stake crypto.
Risks of staking on Crypto.com
- Custodial risk. Crypto.com holds your coins. If the company faced financial trouble or froze withdrawals, your staked assets could be affected. Read our explainer on what happens if a crypto exchange shuts down.
- Liquidity risk. Locks and unbonding periods mean you can’t sell quickly during a crash.
- Price risk. Rewards are paid in the staked token, so a falling price can wipe out the yield many times over.
- Rule changes. As the September 2026 Level Up cuts show, rates and terms can change, sometimes only applying at renewal.
- Slashing and validator risk on protocols that penalise validators, which can reduce rewards or principal.
Taxes on Crypto.com staking rewards
In the US, IRS Revenue Ruling 2023-14 says staking rewards are ordinary income in the year you gain control of them, valued at fair market value when received. When you later sell those tokens, you may owe capital gains tax on any rise from that value. Crypto.com provides transaction exports, and many users import them into tax software. This is general information, not tax advice; consult a tax professional for your situation.
These rules are not unique to one exchange, and our guide on how staking income is taxed explains the treatment in more depth.
Alternative: stake yourself with Crypto.com Onchain
If you’d rather hold your own keys, Crypto.com’s self-custody app, Crypto.com Onchain, lets you stake some assets directly from your wallet, such as delegating to validators on supported networks. You keep control of the keys, avoid the exchange’s custody risk and sometimes earn closer to the full protocol rate, but you’re responsible for securing your seed phrase and choosing validators. See our Crypto.com Onchain wallet review. For other self-custody and exchange options, browse our crypto staking hub.
FAQ
Is Crypto.com staking available in the US?
Yes, for most states, but not all. Crypto.com’s help centre lists staking as unavailable to residents of New York, California, Maryland, New Jersey and Wisconsin. Available assets and products can also differ from those offered internationally. Check the Earn or Staking section of your app to see what is offered where you live.
What is the Crypto.com CRO staking lock period?
Under Level Up, new CRO stakes default to a 365-day lock that can’t be ended early. After the lock, the stake becomes flexible at a lower base rate unless you renew. Unstaking then has an estimated 36-day unbonding period with no rewards. Unlocking or unstaking also drops you to the Basic plan.
What are current Crypto.com staking rates?
Rates vary by asset, region and plan, and Crypto.com describes them as estimates that can change. For Level Up, published CRO lockup rewards fell in September 2026, for example from 4% to 3% for the Pro plan. For other assets, open the Staking or Earn section in the app, which shows the rate that applies to your account.
Is Crypto.com Earn the same as staking?
No. Staking passes on rewards from a blockchain’s protocol (minus Crypto.com’s fee) and is subject to that chain’s unbonding rules. Crypto Earn is Crypto.com’s own rewards program with flexible, 1-month or 3-month terms, where Crypto.com pays the rewards. Early redemption of an Earn fixed term forfeits rewards already paid.
Crypto is volatile and risky; this is education, not financial advice. Do your own research.
