Staking is essential for blockchain networks, but it always comes with a catch: your tokens get locked. You earn rewards, sure, but you can’t use your staked assets in DeFi, trade them, or move them until you unstake. And even then, there’s often a delay.
Core fixes that with stCORE, a liquid staking token that gives you the power to earn rewards and keep your tokens flexible.
Let’s walk through what liquid staking with stCORE really is, why it matters, and how to start using it.
What Is Liquid Staking?
Liquid staking means you can stake your tokens, earn rewards, and still use those tokens while they’re technically “staked.”
With stCORE, your CORE tokens are locked up for staking behind the scenes, but you get stCORE tokens in return. These stCORE tokens represent your stake and you can transfer, trade, or use them in DeFi while continuing to earn staking rewards automatically.
It’s like earning interest on your savings while still being able to spend it.
Why Core Created stCORE
Before stCORE, staking on Core consisted of:
Choosing a validator manually
Claiming your rewards every day
Restaking manually to maximize yield
And while Core’s staking system has always been flexible—you can unstake anytime—the lack of auto-compounding and usable staked tokens made things a bit clunky.
stCORE was built to solve that.
It makes staking:
Easier for users (no manual steps)
More liquid (you get a tradable token)
Smarter (rewards are compounded for you)
Plus, it unlocks new ways to use your CORE. For example, stCORE can be paired with CORE in DEX liquidity pools or used across DeFi protocols that accept ERC-20 tokens.
How Liquid Staking Works on Core
Here’s how the full process flows:
1. Mint stCORE
You start by converting your CORE into stCORE. This happens through the Earn module, a special smart contract that handles everything:
Your CORE is staked across Core validators
You get back stCORE tokens at the current conversion rate
Let’s say the ratio is 1:1.1. That means you get 100 stCORE for 110 CORE. Over time, the value of stCORE increases relative to CORE because rewards are being earned and auto-compounded in the background.
You can mint stCORE any time during the day. The conversion rate only updates once daily.
2. Hold, Trade, or Use stCORE
Now that you have stCORE, you’re free to:
Hold and earn staking rewards
Use it in swaps or liquidity pools
Trade it on decentralized exchanges
It behaves like any ERC-20 token. That’s the beauty of liquid staking…you don’t have to choose between earning and using.
3. Redeem stCORE for CORE
Want your original CORE back? Just hit Redeem. The Earn module starts the process of unstaking your tokens from validators.
There's a 7-day unbonding period before you can withdraw. After that, click Withdraw, and your CORE will land in your wallet.
Redemption also uses the current conversion ratio. So if your 100 stCORE is now worth 112 CORE, that’s what you’ll get when the redemption completes.
Behind the Scenes: What Makes stCORE Tick
stCORE is powered by a smart system designed to keep things smooth and decentralized:
Earn Module: Handles minting, redeeming, and reward compounding. It interacts with validator contracts on your behalf.
Auto-compounding: Every day, rewards are claimed and restaked automatically—so your stCORE keeps growing in value.
Validator Balancing: Stakes are spread across multiple validators to avoid overloading any single one. If the system detects imbalance, it rebalances.
User Experience: You can still choose your validator when minting (if you want), but the official UI will eventually make this automatic.
All of this happens with minimal friction, and you never lose ownership of your tokens.
Key Benefits of stCORE
Liquidity: No more choosing between staking or DeFi. You can do both.
Simplicity: No daily claims, no manual restaking. Just mint and hold.
Earnings: stCORE value grows over time through daily compounding.
ERC-20 Compatibility: You can use stCORE anywhere that accepts ERC-20 tokens—DEXs, liquidity pools, collateral systems, and more.
And thanks to Core’s flexible staking model, you can unstake any time. It’s “stake and earn,” and “unstake and stop earning.” No lockups unless you want to keep earning.
How to Get Started
- Go to stake.coredao.org and click on the Liquid Staking tab
- Connect your wallet
- Click "Mint stCORE"
- Enter the amount of CORE you want to stake
- Confirm the transaction in your wallet
- Done—you’ll receive stCORE and start earning immediately
Want to redeem? Just hit Redeem, confirm, and withdraw after 7 days.
Final Thoughts: Why stCORE Matters
stCORE is more than just a staking token. It’s part of a bigger shift on Core—toward more flexible, composable, and rewarding DeFi.
By unlocking liquidity, simplifying staking, and bringing more utility to the CORE token, stCORE helps build a better experience for both casual users and serious DeFi players.
As more apps and pools integrate stCORE, holding CORE becomes even more powerful.
So if you’re holding CORE, it might be time to stop leaving rewards on the table and start staking smarter.
→ Mint your stCORE today at https://stake.coredao.org/liquid-staking/stcore
FAQ
Q: What is stCORE and how does it work?
A: stCORE is a liquid staking token that lets you stake CORE and earn rewards daily—without locking up your assets. When you stake CORE, you receive stCORE in return, which continues to accrue staking rewards automatically.
Q: What can I do with my stCORE?
A: You can hold it to earn yield, trade it on decentralized exchanges, or use it across DeFi protocols that accept ERC-20 tokens. It stays flexible while still working behind the scenes to generate rewards.
Q: How do I redeem stCORE back into CORE?
A: Click “Redeem” in the Earn module. Your request will trigger a 7-day unbonding period. After that, you can withdraw CORE at the current conversion rate, which includes any accrued rewards.
Q: Why use stCORE instead of traditional staking?
A: Traditional staking locks your tokens. stCORE keeps you liquid, simplifies the process with auto-compounding rewards, and unlocks new use cases across the Core DeFi ecosystem.