Updated October 10, 2026. Rewritten with current Tangem features, its 2025–2026 security findings, realistic staking rates after inflation, and sources. Earlier versions listed staking networks and a “$400 billion” industry figure that could not be verified, and framed staking mainly as a way to maximize rewards.
Staking lets you earn rewards for helping secure a proof-of-stake blockchain. Doing it from a hardware wallet means you keep control of your coins instead of handing them to an exchange. Tangem is one of the more popular ways to do that. This guide explains how it works, what the rewards really are and what risks to weigh.
What Tangem is
Tangem is a hardware wallet in the shape of a contactless card. You tap it on your phone to approve transactions. Its private keys are created and stored on a secure chip certified to the EAL6+ security standard, and by default there is no seed phrase: you buy a set of two or three cards, and each card can approve transactions on its own. Newer cards can optionally create a standard 12- or 24-word seed phrase as an extra backup. As of September 2026, a two-card set cost $59.90 and a three-card set $69.90.
How staking works in Tangem
Tangem’s app connects to outside staking providers, including Yield.xyz and P2P.org, for assets such as Solana, Cosmos and Ethereum. Your coins stay in your wallet; you sign the staking transaction with your card, and the provider runs the validator. Available assets and terms vary by network and provider, so check the app for what is offered in your region. Tangem also offers a separate “Yield Mode” that lends eligible assets, mainly stablecoins, through the Aave lending protocol, for a 15% fee on earnings. That is lending, not staking, and carries smart contract risk.
Realistic staking rates
Headline rates overstate what you earn, because many networks pay rewards by creating new coins. Subtract the network’s inflation to get your real yield. Approximate 2026 ranges:
| Network | Headline rate | Approx. real yield | Unstaking wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethereum | 2.8–4% | about 2–3% | days, varies with demand |
| Solana | 6–8% | about 0–3% | 2–3 days |
| Cardano | 3–4% | about 2–4% | none |
| Cosmos | 10–19% | about 2–8% | 21 days |
| Polkadot | 7–14% | about 2–5% | 1–2 days |
Rates change constantly, and none of this protects you from the coin’s price falling. A 5% reward on a token that drops 30% is still a loss.
Security: what to know
Tangem’s security record is good but not perfect, and it is worth knowing the details:
- December 2024: a bug could write private keys for seed-phrase wallets into app logs. Tangem fixed it in app versions 5.19.1 (iOS) and 5.19.2 (Android).
- February 2026: an audit by Cure53 found 12 issues, none rated critical or high, with 10 fixed and 2 low-impact issues remaining.
- 2025–2026: researchers at Ledger’s Donjon lab, a competitor, published physical attacks on the cards, including one in July 2026 that needed lab equipment and possession of the card. Tangem disputes the risk to ordinary users, but card firmware cannot be updated, so affected cards cannot be patched.
- The card has no screen, so you rely on your phone to show what you are signing.
Before you stake
- Keep your backup cards in separate, safe places. You cannot add a replacement card later.
- Check the provider, fees and unstaking period for each asset.
- Look at real yield, not the headline rate.
- Only stake what you are prepared to hold through price drops.
Sources
- CryptoSlate: Tangem wallet review (updated October 4, 2026)
- Tangem: How to stake cryptocurrency in Tangem Wallet
- SpotedCrypto: Crypto staking APY comparison 2026 (July 2026)
- Webopedia: Tangem wallet review (October 2026)
This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not financial or investment advice. Staking involves risks including price declines, lockup periods, provider failures and smart contract bugs. DynamicACG does not endorse any wallet, platform or staking service.