The use of this site and the content contained therein is governed by the Terms of Use. When you use this site you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and that you accept and will be bound by the terms hereof and such terms as may be modified from time to time.
All text, graphics, audio, design and other works on the site are the copyrighted works of nasscom unless otherwise indicated. All rights reserved.
Content on the site is for personal use only and may be downloaded provided the material is kept intact and there is no violation of the copyrights, trademarks, and other proprietary rights. Any alteration of the material or use of the material contained in the site for any other purpose is a violation of the copyright of nasscom and / or its affiliates or associates or of its third-party information providers. This material cannot be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted or distributed in any way for non-personal use without obtaining the prior permission from nasscom.
The nasscom Members login is for the reference of only registered nasscom Member Companies.
nasscom reserves the right to modify the terms of use of any service without any liability. nasscom reserves the right to take all measures necessary to prevent access to any service or termination of service if the terms of use are not complied with or are contravened or there is any violation of copyright, trademark or other proprietary right.
From time to time nasscom may supplement these terms of use with additional terms pertaining to specific content (additional terms). Such additional terms are hereby incorporated by reference into these Terms of Use.
Disclaimer
The Company information provided on the nasscom web site is as per data collected by companies. nasscom is not liable on the authenticity of such data.
nasscom has exercised due diligence in checking the correctness and authenticity of the information contained in the site, but nasscom or any of its affiliates or associates or employees shall not be in any way responsible for any loss or damage that may arise to any person from any inadvertent error in the information contained in this site. The information from or through this site is provided "as is" and all warranties express or implied of any kind, regarding any matter pertaining to any service or channel, including without limitation the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement are disclaimed. nasscom and its affiliates and associates shall not be liable, at any time, for any failure of performance, error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, computer virus, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorised access to, alteration of, or use of information contained on the site. No representations, warranties or guarantees whatsoever are made as to the accuracy, adequacy, reliability, completeness, suitability or applicability of the information to a particular situation.
nasscom or its affiliates or associates or its employees do not provide any judgments or warranty in respect of the authenticity or correctness of the content of other services or sites to which links are provided. A link to another service or site is not an endorsement of any products or services on such site or the site.
The content provided is for information purposes alone and does not substitute for specific advice whether investment, legal, taxation or otherwise. nasscom disclaims all liability for damages caused by use of content on the site.
All responsibility and liability for any damages caused by downloading of any data is disclaimed.
nasscom reserves the right to modify, suspend / cancel, or discontinue any or all sections, or service at any time without notice.
For any grievances under the Information Technology Act 2000, please get in touch with Grievance Officer, Mr. Anirban Mandal at data-query@nasscom.in.
The financial landscape is undergoing a significant transformation as institutional investors recognize the immense potential of cryptocurrencies.
According to a recent survey conducted among Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) from 100 global hedge funds, a remarkable trend has emerged. It is projected that by 2026, approximately 7.2% of their holdings will be allocated to cryptocurrencies, representing a staggering monetary value of around $312 billion. While lending and borrowing strategies have their appeal, a significant portion of these investments is expected to flow into the practice of staking.
The data further supports this, with Ethereum 2.0 staking alone forecasted to surpass $40 billion by 2025. Interestingly, institutional investors are actively exploring the possibilities of leveraging staking rewards to fund startup projects, highlighting the broader potential for capital allocation within the blockchain staking ecosystem.
As we delve into this article, we will take an in-depth look at the emerging trend of institutional staking, uncover its advantages, analyze its implications for Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchains, and explore the diverse opportunities that lie ahead in this exciting and rapidly evolving landscape.
Staking In a Nutshell
Staking is a fundamental feature of Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchains that empowers token holders with an opportunity to actively participate in network security. Unlike the traditional Proof-of-Work (PoW) model that relies on miners solving complex mathematical puzzles, staking operates through a different mechanism.
In staking, one entity known as validators, commit their assets to validate transactions and propose new blocks in the blockchain. The selection of validators could be based on various factors, including the number of tokens staked, the duration of staking, etc.
By staking their tokens, participants contribute to the network’s security and integrity. They can run their own node, pledge to a staking pool delegating tokens, and choose liquid staking. In return, they earn rewards in the form of the native cryptocurrency for their valuable contribution.
To become a validator, one needs to run a Validator node for that specific blockchain, fulfilling specific requirements in terms of hardware, number of tokens staked, duration of staking etc.
How Does Staking Work?
In a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchain, the staking process involves token owners staking their tokens in staking pools or individually to participate in network consensus and earn rewards. When the time comes to select the next validator, the PoS algorithm employs a pseudo-random selection method to choose the validator responsible for proposing a new block of transactions.
The selected validator proposes a block of transactions and broadcasts it to the network. Other validators then independently validate and verify the proposed block to ensure its correctness and compliance with the blockchain’s rules. If the block is deemed valid, it is added to the existing blockchain, advancing the chain’s history.
The validator who successfully proposed the block receives block rewards, usually in the form of additional cryptos. However, if a validator acts maliciously or proposes invalid blocks, they may face penalties, which can include the loss of a portion or all of their staked tokens.
Now, this malicious behaviour could be intentional, or could be unintentional also. We will discuss about this in detail in our next blog on ‘Mitigating Risks in Institutional Staking”
How Institutional staking differ from traditional staking?
Institutional staking stands apart from normal staking most retail investors familiar with due to its unique characteristics and requirements. Though there are no difference from the blockchain side itself, their needs and requirements makes all the difference.
Unlike reatil investors, institutional staking involves the active participation of large organizations such as banks, hedge funds, and asset management firms. These institutions often engage in staking at a much larger scale, which can significantly impact network dynamics and the distribution of rewards.
Institutional stakers may also rely on custodial services and maintain complex infrastructure to facilitate staking across multiple blockchains. Moreover, institutions must adhere to specific compliance requirements and implement rigorous risk management protocols, adding an additional layer of complexity to their staking activities.
These factors make institutional staking distinct, reflecting the tailored needs and considerations of large-scale organizations in their pursuit of engaging with staking within the blockchain ecosystem.
Why Institutional Staking Is Growing?
Institutional staking is experiencing a significant rise in popularity, driven by multiple factors that make it an appealing choice for institutions and corporate investors seeking alternative investment options.
One primary driver is the low returns observed in traditional investments, particularly in the bond market. Macroeconomic factors have dwindled in the past couple of years. As a result of that, bond markets have entered the bearish cycle. As per Bloomberg Global Aggregate Total Index, the yields from bonds have fallen by a considerable 20%. Such sharp declines have made investors feel as if they are back to the 1960’s and 70s.
AA/AAA rated bonds in various countries such as the US, UK, Germany, and Japan offer relatively low yields, compelling investors to explore new avenues. Crypto assets have emerged as a top choice, providing unprecedented returns and serving as a safe investment haven amidst macroeconomic fluctuations.
Furthermore, institutional staking presents an effective hedge against inflationary pressures. Unlike bonds that generate meager or negative yields when adjusted for inflation, staking offers returns ranging from 6% to 7% across staking pools, allowing investors to protect and grow their assets.
The compounding effect is another compelling factor that attracts institutional stakers. By reinvesting rewards and earning interest on the new principal amount, staking enables the exponential growth of investments over time.
Additionally, staking does not require investors to give up or lend out their assets, ensuring complete control and custody of tokens. This feature distinguishes staking from other yield generation methods that involve potential risks and uncertainties. For example, to earn yield on platforms like Aave or Compound, investors must physically give up their tokens to borrowers, without a guarantee of receiving the full principal back. In contrast, staking enables all tokens to remain in self-custody.
Top PoS Blockchains & their Rewards:
Unlike traditional investments managed by specialized fund managers, these rewards are not dependent on discretionary decision-making. Instead, they are derived from two primary sources: protocol-specified rewards and a portion of the transactional fees paid by users seeking to have their transactions included in the network.
The specific amount of rewards and fees received by validators may fluctuate based on transparent rules. Generally, as the number of validators decreases, rewards tend to increase, while an increase in demand for blockspace leads to higher transactional fees.
The chart accompanying this information provides insights into the inflation-adjusted rewards and staking ratio for the top PoS blockchains. Staking Ratio means the total % of coins that are staked currently out of the total supply of tokens.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this article has provided a comprehensive overview of institutional staking, covering its definition, functioning, popular PoS blockchains and rewards. We have explored the reasons behind the rise of institutional staking, driven by low returns in traditional investments and the potential for better returns through staking.
However, one must be mindful of the loopholes at the same time when undertaking staking. It is essential to recognize that institutional staking also carries certain risks, which will be addressed in the next article. We will delve into strategies for mitigating these risks, available options for institutional investors, and a practical guide to getting started with institutional staking.
By equipping institutions with the necessary knowledge and insights, the upcoming article aims to empower them to make informed decisions and capitalize on the opportunities presented by staking in the blockchain ecosystem.
About The Author
Dr. Ravi Chamria is co-founder CEO of Zeeve Inc, an Enterprise Blockchain company. He has an experience of 18+ years in IT consulting spanning across Fintech, InsureTech, Supply Chain and eCommerce. He is an executive MBA from IIM, Lucknow and a prolific speaker on emerging technologies like Blockchain, IoT and AI/ML.
Passionate About: Blockchain, Supply Chain Management, Digital Lending, Digital Payments, AI/ML, IoT
That the contents of third-party articles/blogs published here on the website, and the interpretation of all information in the article/blogs such as data, maps, numbers, opinions etc. displayed in the article/blogs and views or the opinions expressed within the content are solely of the author's; and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of NASSCOM or its affiliates in any manner. NASSCOM does not take any liability w.r.t. content in any manner and will not be liable in any manner whatsoever for any kind of liability arising out of any act, error or omission. The contents of third-party article/blogs published, are provided solely as convenience; and the presence of these articles/blogs should not, under any circumstances, be considered as an endorsement of the contents by NASSCOM in any manner; and if you chose to access these articles/blogs , you do so at your own risk.
Zeeve is an enterprise-grade Blockchain Infrastructure Automation Platform. Join the growing list of clients that trust us with their Blockchain initiatives
As cryptocurrency gains mainstream acceptance in 2024, crypto exchanges are playing an essential role in facilitating digital asset trading, acting as gateways for users to buy, sell, and trade a wide range of cryptocurrencies. More than just…
The cryptocurrency market is booming, and launching your own cryptocurrency exchange platform can be a highly profitable business venture. However, one of the most common questions business owners have is: "How long will it take to create a…
As the cryptocurrency market continues to expand and evolve, businesses venturing into the world of crypto exchanges need to stay competitive by incorporating the right features. A modern crypto exchange is not just about facilitating…
Introductions
Tokenization in blockchain is a transformative process that will enable the representation of real-world assets as digital tokens. This really does represent the approach which is really leading towards better asset management and…
Web3 has been painted as the democratic version of the internet, which empowers users to have control over their personal data. It aims at distributing power among the participants rather than vesting trust in centralized agencies, such as the…
In the bustling world of emerging technologies, blockchain is making a notable comeback as a pillar of trust and transparency. For all the hype cryptocurrencies generated, nothing much happened of them, with the noise causing a decline in the…
