How to Stake DYDX Tokens for Fee Discounts

Staking DYDX for a fee discount only works if the tokens are actually bonded, the moment you unstake, they enter an unbonding period during which they no longer count, even though you don’t have the tokens back in hand yet either.

This guide is part of TradeOnDEX’s dYdX how-to series within Perpetual Futures.

Disclosure: TradeOnDEX may earn a commission from links to dYdX on this page, at no extra cost to you. Full details at the end of this article.

How the staking fee discount works

Following a community governance vote, dYdX introduced a staking-based fee discount program: staking DYDX tokens reduces your trading fees. Only tokens in bonded status, actively staked and delegated to a validator, count toward your discount. Unstaked DYDX sitting in the unbonding period doesn’t qualify, and the discount doesn’t apply to maker rebates (the negative fees paid to liquidity-providing orders).

This means for you, concretely: there’s a real gap between deciding to unstake and actually losing access to your capital, during the unbonding period, your tokens are locked (not transferable) but also no longer earning you a fee discount, the worst of both conditions simultaneously.

How to stake, step by step

1. Navigate to the staking section of the dYdX interface.
2. Choose one or more active validators to delegate your DYDX tokens to, staking can be split across multiple validators.
3. Confirm the delegation transaction.
4. Note the timing: there’s a one-block delay before your delegation becomes effective, and an additional block before rewards begin generating, not instantaneous, but fast in absolute terms.

Staking rewards vs. the fee discount: two separate things

Staking DYDX serves two distinct purposes worth not conflating: it contributes to network security (as a Cosmos-based chain, dYdX relies on staked tokens for consensus) and earns staking rewards sourced from trading fees and gas fees collected by the protocol, separately from the trading-fee discount your bonded balance also unlocks. Staking rewards must be claimed manually, unclaimed rewards remain available in the distribution module until you claim them, they aren’t automatically compounded or paid out.

Risk: what to actually plan around

Staked DYDX isn’t transferable while bonded. This is deliberate, it’s what secures the network, but it means committing tokens to staking is a genuine liquidity trade-off, not a passive, reversible action you can undo instantly if you need the capital.

The unbonding period is a real gap where you get neither benefit. Once you initiate unstaking, tokens are locked for the unbonding duration but no longer count toward your fee discount, plan any unstaking decision around this dead period rather than assuming an instant switch from “staked and discounted” to “liquid.”

The fee discount doesn’t extend to maker rebates. If your trading strategy relies heavily on maker rebates rather than taker fees, staking’s fee-discount benefit is narrower for you than it would be for a primarily taker-side trader. Factor this into whether staking is worth the liquidity trade-off for your specific trading style.

Staking rewards must be claimed manually, and the discount program itself is governance-adjustable. Both the specific discount tiers and the broader rewards structure can be changed at any time via a dYdX governance proposal. Treat the current mechanics as the present system, not a permanently fixed arrangement.

Which validator you delegate to matters beyond just the reward rate. As with any Cosmos-based staking, a validator’s uptime and behavior affect your actual results, this isn’t purely a mechanical choice of picking the highest advertised rate.

Staking status and what it affects

See it for yourself

Before unstaking any DYDX, check the current unbonding period length and plan around that dead zone, rather than assuming an instant transition back to full liquidity and no discount loss. You can review current staking options at dydx.trade.

Frequently asked questions

Do I get a trading-fee discount the moment I stake DYDX?

Yes, once your delegation is bonded, there’s a brief one-to-two-block delay after initiating the transaction, but no extended waiting period to start receiving the discount.

Does unstaked DYDX still count toward my fee discount while it’s unbonding?

No, only actively bonded (staked) DYDX counts; tokens in the unbonding period don’t qualify, even though they’re also not yet liquid.

Does the staking discount reduce maker rebates too?

No, the discount applies to trading fees but explicitly does not extend to maker rebates.

Are staking rewards automatically paid out?

No, you need to claim them manually; unclaimed rewards remain available in the protocol’s distribution module until claimed.

Affiliate disclosure

TradeOnDEX may earn a commission if you sign up or stake through a link on this page, at no extra cost to you. dYdX’s own affiliate/referral terms are still being confirmed for this site, so links here are direct and untracked for now. This article is educational and is not financial advice. See our disclaimer for the full risk warning.