How to stake SEI in 2026: use an EVM wallet such as MetaMask or Rabby with the Sei network added, open the official Sei staking app from sei.io, pick a validator and delegate. Unstaking takes 21 days. If your SEI still sits in an old Cosmos-style wallet (an address starting with sei1, in Keplr, Compass or Leap), migrate it to your 0x address first through Sei’s official migration flow, because after the SIP-3 upgrade only EVM addresses can initiate transactions. Many staking guides written before 2026 describe steps that no longer work.
Key takeaways
- Under SIP-3, approved in May 2025 and rolled out through 2026, Sei dropped its Cosmos layer and runs as an EVM-only chain.
- Staking now runs through EVM wallets and a staking precompile; Cosmos wallets cannot start transactions.
- Funds left on sei1 addresses are not lost, but they are stuck until you link and migrate them.
- Unbonding is 21 days, with no rewards and no transfers during that time.
- Delegators can be slashed for validator downtime or double-signing, so validator choice matters.
Warning: older Sei staking guides may be wrong
Sei launched in 2023 on the Cosmos SDK, and for its first years staking meant Keplr or Compass, a sei1 address and Cosmos-format transactions. Its 2024 V2 upgrade added an EVM side, so every key had two addresses: sei1 for Cosmos and 0x for EVM. SIP-3 then removed the Cosmos side entirely. Staged releases in early to mid 2026 moved staking to EVM interfaces, shut down IBC transfers, retired the native oracle in favor of external providers and disabled Cosmos-format transactions.
| Topic | Old guides say | What applies now |
|---|---|---|
| Wallet | Keplr, Compass, Leap (Cosmos mode) | EVM wallets: MetaMask, Rabby or wallets with native Sei EVM support |
| Address | sei1… | 0x… (only EVM addresses initiate transactions) |
| Staking interface | Cosmos staking module via Keplr dashboards | Official Sei app, using the staking precompile under the hood |
| Bridged assets | IBC tokens such as USDC.n and ATOM | IBC removed; native USDC replaced USDC.n |
| Exchange deposits | “Sei (Cosmos)” network option | Sei EVM network; legacy options may be disabled |
If a tutorial asks you to paste a sei1 address or sign with Keplr, it predates the change. Our Sei explainer covers the full timeline and why the team made the switch.
Migrate SEI from Cosmos to EVM before staking
Exchange balances were migrated for you. Self-custody holders who kept SEI in a Cosmos-only setup have a manual step. Sei’s migration process, summarized by wallet makers such as Tangem in June 2026, works like this:
- Get an EVM wallet ready. Install MetaMask or Rabby and add the Sei network using the parameters from Sei’s official docs. Hardware wallets work through these apps.
- Open the official migration page on Sei’s dashboard (reach it from sei.io, never a link in a DM) and connect.
- Link your addresses. Submit the transaction that associates your 0x and sei1 addresses. You need a little SEI for gas, which may mean sending some to the 0x address from an exchange first. Any outgoing EVM transaction also registers the link.
- Move the funds. Follow the flow to send SEI from the old Cosmos account to the linked address, after which it is spendable from your EVM wallet.
Sei has said there is no expiry on this migration option, but unmigrated funds cannot be moved or staked until you do it. If you had an active delegation on a Cosmos-only account, check its status in the official app after linking before starting a new one. Treat anyone offering to “migrate for you” or recover stuck SEI as a scammer.
How to tell whether your SEI is on the old side
If you bought SEI on an exchange and never withdrew it, the exchange handled the change. If you withdrew it, look at the address you used: one beginning with sei1, created in Keplr, Compass or Leap, is the legacy Cosmos format. Importing the same seed phrase into MetaMask does not automatically show that balance, because the EVM wallet derives a different 0x account until the two are linked. A Sei block explorer will show the balance and any delegations on a sei1 address without needing a wallet connection, which is a safe way to check before you act.
How to stake SEI with MetaMask or Rabby
- Fund your 0x address with SEI. When withdrawing from an exchange, choose the Sei EVM network. A dollar or two of SEI covers gas for several staking actions.
- Open the official Sei app from sei.io and connect your wallet. Confirm the URL before signing anything.
- Go to staking. The validator list shows commission, voting power and status.
- Choose a validator using the checks in the next section.
- Delegate. Enter an amount, keeping some SEI unstaked for gas, and sign. Behind the scenes the app calls Sei’s staking precompile, a built-in contract that lets EVM transactions delegate, redelegate and undelegate.
- Claim or compound rewards periodically from the same screen. Each claim is a transaction, so small rewards are usually collected in batches.
Redelegating from one validator to another does not trigger the 21-day wait, which makes it the right tool if your validator starts underperforming.
Sei unbonding period, validators and slashing
The Sei unbonding period is 21 days. Once you undelegate, the SEI earns nothing and cannot be sold or transferred until the period ends, after which it returns to your available balance. Plan unstaking around that delay; for general tactics, see our guide on how to unstake crypto.
Picking a validator
- Uptime first. Sei’s own January 2026 staking guidance emphasized reliability and reputation over the lowest commission.
- Commission. A 0% validator may raise its rate later; check the maximum commission and change limits.
- Voting power. Delegating to validators outside the top handful strengthens decentralization.
- Clean history. Avoid validators with past jailing.
Slashing
Validators can be slashed for extended downtime or double-signing, and delegators lose the same proportion of their delegated SEI. Downtime penalties are small relative to double-signing, but jailing also halts rewards. Splitting stake across two or three validators limits the damage from any one failure.
Sei staking rewards
Rewards come from token emissions and transaction fees and are distributed in SEI, minus your validator’s commission. The rate shifts with total stake and emissions, so check the estimate in the staking app rather than numbers quoted elsewhere. Remember that a large share of SEI’s 10 billion supply is still unlocking to the team, investors and ecosystem programs; staking rewards partly offset that dilution rather than producing a real gain on top of it. Price scenarios are covered separately in our SEI price prediction.
Stake SEI on an exchange instead
Several large exchanges list SEI, and some offer staking or earn programs for it. This route skips wallet setup and the migration question, but the exchange holds your coins, takes a cut and sets its own unlock rules, which may differ from the 21-day on-chain period. Availability varies by country. Our crypto staking hub explains the custodial trade-offs in general, and you can compare specific coins in our list of the best crypto to stake.
Liquid staking on Sei: iSEI
Silo’s iSEI is the main liquid staking token on Sei. You deposit SEI, Silo stakes it with whitelisted validators running its MEV client, and you receive iSEI, an auto-compounding token that can be used in Sei DeFi. Exiting offers a choice between the standard 21-day unbonding and an instant swap through a pool. Secondary market depth for iSEI has been thin in 2026, so a large instant exit could come at a noticeable discount. Check Silo’s current documentation and the pool’s liquidity before depositing.
FAQ
Can I still stake SEI with Keplr or Compass?
Not for new transactions. After SIP-3, only EVM (0x) addresses can initiate transactions on Sei, so Cosmos-mode wallets cannot delegate, claim or undelegate. Use MetaMask, Rabby or another wallet with Sei EVM support. If your SEI is still in a sei1 account, link and migrate it through Sei’s official migration page first.
How long is the Sei unbonding period?
Unbonding SEI takes 21 days. During that time the tokens earn no rewards and cannot be transferred or sold. Redelegating to a different validator avoids the wait. Exchange staking products may have their own unlock terms, and Silo’s iSEI offers an instant pool exit at market price as an alternative.
How do I migrate SEI from Cosmos to EVM?
Set up an EVM wallet with the Sei network, open the migration page on Sei’s official dashboard, link your 0x and sei1 addresses with a small gas transaction, then move your SEI across. Exchange balances were handled automatically. Sei says the migration option does not expire, but unmigrated funds cannot move.
Can you stake SEI from an EVM wallet?
Yes. Sei exposes staking to EVM wallets through a staking precompile, a built-in contract that handles delegation, redelegation and undelegation. In practice you connect MetaMask or Rabby to the official Sei app and use its staking screen; you do not need to interact with the precompile directly.
Crypto is volatile and risky; this is education, not financial advice. Do your own research.
