Staking FAQ
General Questions
What tokens can I stake?
You can stake TST (Trading Scientist Token). This is the native governance and utility token of the Trading Scientist protocol.What rewards do I earn?
Stakers earn USDC rewards. These come from vault performance fees — real protocol revenue, not inflationary token emissions.How are rewards calculated?
Rewards are distributed proportionally based on your share of the total staked TST:When can I claim rewards?
You can claim your earned USDC rewards at any time. There is no lock period on rewards — only on the staked principal.Lock Period
Is there a lock-up period?
Yes, staked tokens are locked for 3 days before you can withdraw them. This prevents flash loan attacks and ensures fair reward distribution.What happens if I stake more tokens?
Each new stake resets the lock timer. If you stake additional tokens, the full 3-day lock period starts over for your entire balance.Can I claim rewards during the lock period?
Yes! You can claim USDC rewards at any time. The lock period only applies to withdrawing your staked TST tokens.Rewards
Where do rewards come from?
Rewards come from vault performance fees. When trading vaults generate profits, 20% of the performance fee is converted to USDC and distributed to stakers.How often are rewards distributed?
Rewards are distributed continuously over 7-day cycles. As soon as USDC is deposited into the staking contract, it begins distributing to stakers proportionally.Is the APY guaranteed?
No. APY is variable and depends on:- Total vault performance fees generated
- Total TST staked in the contract
- Token prices
What if no one is staking?
If the total staked amount is zero, rewards cannot be distributed and may be lost. However, this is unlikely in practice.Risks
What are the risks of staking?
- Smart Contract Risk: While the contract is audited and battle-tested, all smart contracts carry some risk
- Variable APY: Returns are not guaranteed and depend on vault performance
- Lock Period: You cannot access your staked tokens for 3 days
- Opportunity Cost: Staked tokens cannot be used elsewhere
Is the contract audited?
The staking contract is based on the well-audited Synthetix StakingRewards pattern and includes additional security features like access control and pausability.What happens if there’s an emergency?
The contract includes a pause function that can halt all staking and withdrawal operations in case of an emergency. Existing stakers can still claim earned rewards.Technical
How do I get TST tokens?
TST tokens can be acquired through:- Participating in the protocol
- DEX trading (when available)
- Community distributions
Which networks support staking?
Staking is currently available on Base network. Additional networks may be added in the future.What wallet do I need?
Any EVM-compatible wallet works, including:- MetaMask
- Coinbase Wallet
- WalletConnect-compatible wallets
- Rainbow
- And more
Are there any fees for staking?
There are no protocol fees for staking or claiming. You only pay standard network gas fees for transactions.Troubleshooting
Why can’t I withdraw?
If you see a “locked” message, your tokens are still in the 3-day lock period. Wait until the lock expires to withdraw.Why are my rewards showing as zero?
Possible reasons:- You just staked and haven’t accumulated rewards yet
- No rewards have been distributed to the contract recently
- The reward period has ended
My transaction failed. What should I do?
- Check that you have enough ETH for gas
- Ensure you’re connected to the correct network (Base)
- Try increasing your gas limit
- If the issue persists, reach out on Discord