# Staking Lifecycle
### Staking VET to Receive an NFT
Staking on Stargate begins when a user chooses to **lock VET** in the protocol by selecting a specific node tier. Each tier requires a fixed amount of VET. The user must provide the **exact amount** of VET needed for that tier; over-staking is not allowed. Once confirmed, the **protocol locks the VET and mints an NFT** that represents the user’s staking position.
At this stage, **no rewards are earned yet**. Every staking NFT is subject to a **maturity period**, which is determined by its node tier. During this time, the NFT cannot be delegated to a validator, and it does not accumulate rewards. When the maturity period concludes, the NFT becomes eligible for delegation, allowing the user to start earning VTHO.
Users who migrate legacy nodes to the new system bypass the maturity period and can delegate immediately.
{% hint style="warning" %}
At this point the user **is not accumulating rewards yet**. To earn rewards, user must wait the end of the maturity period and delegate to an active validator.
{% endhint %}
***
### Maturity Period and Boost
To skip the waiting time of the maturity period, users can opt for the **Boost** **feature**. This functionality enables users to bypass the enforced maturity delay and immediately proceed to delegate their NFT to a validator.
The Boost fee is calculated based on the projected rewards that the NFT would have earned during the maturity period—using the bootstrapping phase rewards per tier. The calculation is as follows:
**Boost Fee = (VTHO per day + Base Rewards per day) × Days of Maturity × 0.5**
This approach anchors the fee to 50% of the total expected rewards during maturity, using the expected rewards simulated during the bootstrapping phase, ensuring fairness while encouraging early participation.
The fee must be paid in **VTHO**, and all of it is **burned**.
Boost can be used at any time during the maturity period, and is constantly adjusted to the time remaining to maturity end. If used during the staking phase, users can perform a full flow—**stake, boost, and delegate**—in a single transaction, allowing reward accumulation from the validator’s next period.
| Type | Maturity (Days) | Full Boost Price (VTHO) | Boost Price / Block (VTHO) | Category |
|---|
| Mjolnir | 60 | 1.034.400,00 |
1,99537037 | Eco |
| Thunder | 45 |
206.100,00
| 0,530092593 | Eco |
| Strength | 30 | 19.680,00 | 0,075925926 | Eco |
| Flash | 15 | 1.623,00 | 0,012523148 | New Eco |
| Lightning | 5 | 124,00 | 0,00287037 | New Eco |
| Dawn | 2 | 9,32 | 0,000539352 | New Eco |
{% hint style="info" %}
No new maturity period is applied to migrated Nodes.
{% endhint %}
***
### Validator Binding and Auto-Renew
**Once the NFT is matured**, the user selects a validator to delegate to. The validator’s **validation period** (7, 15, or 30 days) defines the reward and withdrawal schedule. Delegators are directly tied to the validator's period — they inherit the exact duration of the validator’s active period and follow it through auto-renewal, which is enabled by default.
**A delegation becomes active when the validator either starts a new period or, if currently queued, transitions to active status.** Once this happens, the NFT begins to accumulate rewards for every block processed by the validator. These rewards are locked until the period ends and become claimable afterward.
Delegators can select validators from the list of 101 active ones or from the queue. Validators that have exited or are in the process of exiting cannot be selected. **If the validator exits, all associated delegations are exited automatically at the end of that period**, and the NFT will stop generating rewards.
{% hint style="info" %}
Delegated NFTs are transferable. Delegation will remain active and the new owner will own all unclaimed and locked rewards.
{% endhint %}
***
### Unstaking VET
When the **NFT is not delegated**, the user can **unstake VET at any time** and with no cooldown period.\
To unstake VET when an **NFT is delegated**, the user must first submit a request to **exit delegation**. Once the current validator cycle ends and the NFT is undelegated, the user can proceed to unstake VET. This process **burns** the staking NFT, and returns the locked VET to the user’s wallet.
* For X Node holders, burning is irreversible and permanently **reduces supply**.
* If rewards have been accumulated but not yet claimed, they will be **automatically claimed** during the unstake operation.
* If the NFT is **transferred** before unstaking, any locked and unclaimed rewards are passed to the new owner.
While an NFT is still within its **maturity period**, the user **cannot unstake** the associated VET. To proceed with unstaking, they must either **wait for the maturity period to end** or use the **Boost** **feature** to instantly mature the NFT by paying a fee. This matures the NFT and allows immediate unstaking.
This ensures continuity and fairness in reward distribution while maintaining protocol integrity.
---
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