I will be honest. Investing is hard. Whether its Fiat or Crypto. But WHY HARD?
Its because we don't understand the things properly and shy away from learning them because they are way-way-wayyyyyy technical. And that's SAD.

How about a normal, easy-to-understand resource to get you started? Not me. But my friends say that the following piece of knowledge on Staking in Crypto - particularly Solana is going to help you! If you did not understand things in the last sentence, It's OKAY! The following will help you :) .

Introduction 🌱

Since you are longing for a departure from the complexities of conventional staking protocols? Enter Marinade.Finance—a game-changer, is set to redefine your staking experience and usher in a new era of simplicity and rewards. 🎉

Bid farewell to the days of grappling with intricate systems. Marinade.Finance is here to demystify staking, putting the power of growth back in your hands. Powered by Solana, this innovative platform introduces a fresh perspective on token staking that's intuitive, user-friendly, and designed for everyone. 🌟

Imagine a world where staking your tokens becomes a seamless journey. Whether you're an enthusiast looking for straightforward ways to earn, or a newcomer navigating the world of decentralized finance (DeFi), Marinade.Finance has you covered. Let's dive a bit more into Marinade to understand it from inside out! 🌍🔍

Marinade.Finance is a staking protocol built on the Solana blockchain, enabling users to stake SOL tokens using an automated strategy for potential returns. Users can choose native staking or liquid staking, receiving marinated SOL (mSOL) tokens for DeFi use.

Key Highlights 🌟

You should have a glance at the following to understand the basic ethos at what is the motive behind Marinade and the community that is running it: 🌐

• Marinade operates as a community-governed platform. It was funded through the MNDE token, allowing holders to engage in the Marinade DAO. This decentralized organization facilitates decision-making, ensuring the protocol's direction reflects the community's interests. 🙌🏽💬

• Marinade's mission is to establish a censorship-resistant layer for Solana, fostering security, efficiency, and growth. This aligns with the long-term goal of providing secure and inclusive opportunities for stakeholders across the Solana network. 🛡️

Hmm.. So How Do I Start Staking? 🤔

No worries. I'll show you a step-by-step procedure here.

1. Go to the Website:

   • Here -> https://marinade.finance/app/

   • There is a ton of information about Marinade here and I would highly suggest you check it out.

   • Click on the 'Start Staking' button that you are seeing on the screen.

     

2. 'Connect your Wallet'. You will be provided with a couple of options. I will be choosing Phantom as I have been using it for a long time now and it's great btw :)

   

3. You can see that your current stake is 0. Let's start Staking!

   

4. Choose a suitable amount. I will go with 0.001 (because don't have much right now)

   

5. And just approve the transaction

   

Viola! You've done it! 🎉 You've completed your first-ever stake at Marinade. How cool is that?

You can also choose other options such as Manual mode and all. We will discuss them further in this article. Just stay tuned.🤓

There are a lot of parts that are still unexplored. Although you can check them on the application itself, the following parts will help you understand what they are.

Diving Deeper into Marinade 🌊

What is Marinade Native? 🌱

Marinade Native: Marinade Native is an integral part of Marinade.Finance, leveraging Solana's features to optimize staking. Stake accounts in Marinade Native possess distinct stake and withdraw authorities. The stake authority handles various transactions, such as delegating stake, while the withdraw authority manages actions like withdrawing un-delegated stake. Marinade Native receives stake authority for user accounts while keeping withdraw authority linked to their wallets. 💼

Why should I go for Directed Stake? 🎯

This can be best argued when you see the benefits it holds: 🌟

• "Directed Stake" is a Marinade feature that caters to mSOL holders, enabling them to support a chosen validator while utilizing mSOL's liquidity. When staking with Marinade, you have the option to select between the algorithmic delegation strategy and "Directed Stake."

• Using this, you can pick a validator to direct your stake to. This validator will be chosen based on the holdings of mSOL in your wallet or DeFi platforms. 🛍️💰

• The directed stake accounts for 20% of Marinade's stakepool. This allocation varies based on the amount of mSOL used to direct stake and the proportion of SOL represented by 20% of Marinade's TVL.

• Validators eligible for "Directed Stake" must meet specific criteria, including commission limits and a quality score threshold. mSOL holdings in supported DeFi protocols count toward directed stake.

• Marinade's snapshot system regularly updates mSOL holdings, ensuring the accuracy of directed stake allocations. 📊📸

In essence, "Directed Stake" allows mSOL holders to align their support with a chosen validator while benefiting from mSOL liquidity, contributing to a more diversified and dynamic staking ecosystem. 🌐🌈🤝

Don't worry. Just one bit at a time. :)

But. Why should I trust Marinade? 🤔

I understand your concern fully and since it's crypto, it makes people more susceptible to doubt. Don't worry. To clear your points on Trust, you should look over the Governance of the DAO behind Marinade and their strategy for the delegation of your tokens. 💡

MNDE Governance and Delegation Strategy: 🏛️

Marinade is a decentralized ecosystem governed by MNDE token holders who lock their tokens to obtain veMNDE, thereby participating in Marinade's DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization). This DAO constitution guides the governance and objectives of Marinade. 🌐

• DAO Constitution: 📜⚖️ Marinade's DAO is based on a constitution ratified by MNDE holders. This constitution outlines Marinade's goals as a DAO, emphasizing key aspects such as building a censorship-resistant Solana layer, transparent delegation strategy, separation of powers, fees usage, MNDE distribution goals, and amendment procedures. 🏛️🔗

• Marinade Governance: 🌐👥 The DAO's powers are distributed among different entities. MNDE token holders and an ecosystem council make up the Marinade Governance, responsible for main program upgrades and the MNDE treasury. The Marinade Core Team, comprising the team council, handles main program parameters, DAO programs, and fees. 💼💰

• Locking MNDE for veMNDE: 🔒🔑 Participation in Marinade's governance and the benefits of MNDE's utility require locking MNDE tokens to obtain veMNDE. Once locked, veMNDE can be used to vote on proposals. The lockup initiates a 30-day unlock process. ⏳🗳️

• Realms Setup: 🏰🔧 Marinade's governance and token locking occur on Realms, a platform configured with distinct parameters, authorities, and mints to facilitate the governance process. 🛠️🔐

Delegation Strategy: 🌐🔍

Marinade's stake delegation strategy is designed to enhance Solana's decentralization and security. The strategy involves evaluating validators based on multiple components such as APY performance, stake concentration, and block production. Each validator's performance score is calculated over the past 10 epochs.

• Performance-Based Score: 🔢📊 APY performance, stake concentration, and block production contribute to a validator's performance score. Performance metrics are normalized and analyzed to determine a weighted average score.

• MNDE Votes: 🗳️📈 MNDE holders can vote for validators, influencing the distribution of stake. A validator's MNDE votes are capped at 10% of total votes. Overflow votes are distributed proportionally among other eligible validators.

• Eligibility for Stake: ✔️🔄 Validators eligible to receive stake must adhere to specific criteria, including commission limits, block production, and being in the top 100 by score. MNDE-voted stake eligibility requires similar criteria with adjustments.

• Blacklist and Removal: ⛔🚫 Marinade maintains a blacklist for validators harming the network through actions like slow voting, commission rugs, or inadequate response after cluster restarts. Validators can be removed from the blacklist based on certain conditions.

In summary, Marinade's governance through MNDE token holders ensures a democratic decision-making process, while its unique delegation strategy emphasizes transparency, decentralization, and performance evaluation for validators. This approach contributes to a robust and secure Solana ecosystem. 🌱🔒

Conclusion

And there you have it, fellow explorers of the crypto frontier! Marinade.Finance isn't just a platform; it's your ticket to a new era of staking. With its intuitive approach, user-friendly interface, and community-driven ethos, Marinade is like a guide taking you by the hand through the intricate world of blockchain rewards.

So, whether you're a DeFi enthusiast seeking simplicity or a newcomer looking to dip your toes in the waters of decentralized finance, Marinade has your back. It's your ally in the world of staking, offering options like Directed Stake that make your journey even more exciting. And remember, it's not just about the technology; it's about the trust. With a rock-solid governance structure and a community that's at the heart of every decision, you're in good hands.

As you navigate the cosmos of crypto, let Marinade be your North Star. Say goodbye to complicated processes and hello to a world where staking is as easy as a summer breeze. So go ahead, dive in, stake smartly, and watch your investments grow. Here's to Marinade.Finance – where simplicity meets rewards, and the world of staking becomes an adventure worth taking. 🚀🌟