Do I have to unstake to change ATOM validators?
Key Takeaways
- You do not have to unbond or unstake your ATOM to switch validators.
- You can move your staked ATOM from one validator to another by redelegating.
- Redelegating is done in-wallet.
- Redelegating only takes a few seconds.
- You can only redelegate staked ATOM tokens once in 21 days.
For links to resources within the article and to see the FAQs please click through to our blog.
The best Cosmos ATOM validators
What makes one Cosmos validator better than another? There are obvious criteria, like 100% uptime, self-staked tokens, a website, a way to contact them, voting record, presence on social channels and community involvement, etc. Check out our article, How to Choose a Validator for more detail.
There are other factors at play too, though. Is the validator one of the biggest? Because it’s important to stake with smaller validators. Does the validator interact with delegators on social channels? Does the validator vote on network proposals and do you mostly agree with how they vote?
Pro tip: Your vote as a delegator always trumps your validator’s vote. Just click the “governance” tab in your wallet to vote with your staked ATOM.
Cosmos Hub proposal 848 to reduce inflation was contentious. There were valid arguments for and against. The community was largely in favor of reducing inflation, but several of the largest validators were opposed to it. The huge number of ATOM staked with those validators gave them enormous voting weight.
Most of the smaller validators, like us were in favor of the proposal. We feel ATOM tokenomics can be improved while still maintaining adequate network security.
Proposal 848 narrowly passed and was an excellent example of why it is important to stake in the lower half of the active set on any blockchain. Allowing several large validators to control the direction of the ecosystem is a bad thing.
Many people have decided to move their staked ATOM from those large validators and redelegate to smaller validators. That spreads out the voting power.
WE WELCOME ALL REDELEGATIONS and would be thrilled to have you as a staking partner.
How to redelegate staked ATOM to a different validator
We have good news for you! You DO NOT have to unbond or unstake your ATOM tokens to switch validators. You can change from one ATOM validator to another in just a few seconds. However, you can only do it once in 21 days.
Here’s our step-by-step guide to redelegate your Cosmos tokens.
Redelegate staked ATOM in Keplr wallet
1. Click the Keplr browser extension and then click, “Manage Portfolio in Keplr Dashboard” to open up the full-screen view. (see image below)
2. Under the, “My Validators” tab click on the validator you would like to move staked tokens from. (see image below)
3. Click “Redelegate.” (see image below)
4. Type, “Blocks United” into the search box or scroll down the list to find us. Click on Blocks United and then click, “Next.” (see image below)
5. Click “MAX” or enter the number of tokens you would like to move from your current validator over to us at Blocks United. Then click, “Redelegate.” (see image below)
6. A window will pop up for you to verify and approve the transaction in your wallet. Click “Approve.”
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That’s it! You will then see Blocks United listed under your “My Validators” tab. Rewards begin accruing immediately.
Thanks so much for staking with us!
Redelegate staked ATOM in Cosmostation wallet
Redelegate staked ATOM in Cosmostation wallet
1. Navigate to Cosmostation’s web interface and then click, “Connect Wallet” to connect your Cosmostation browser extension or a Ledger.
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2. Click the “Delegate” tab in the left pane. You will then see your current staked ATOM under the “My Validators” section. Click, “Redelegate” next to the validator you would like to move tokens from.
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3. Scroll down the list to find Blocks United and click on the row. (see image below)
4. Click “MAX” or enter then number of staked tokens you would like to move from your current validator over to us at Blocks United. Then click, “Generate & Sign Transaction.” (see image below)
5. A window will pop up for you to verify and approve the transaction in your wallet. Click “Sign.”
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6. A popup will appear showing that the transaction went through. It also provides you with a transaction hash for your records. Click, “Confirm” to be taken back to the Cosmostation delegation page.
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That’s it! You will then see Blocks United listed under your “My Validators” tab. Rewards begin accruing immediately. (see image below)
Thanks so much for staking with us!
Want to be notified when there are Cosmos ecosystem airdrops to claim? Sign up for our Cosmos Airdrops newsletter. As a bonus, you’ll receive our wealth building series sent straight to your inbox!
Redelegate staked ATOM in Leap wallet
1. Click the Leap browser extension and then click, “Stake” at the bottom of the popup. (see image below)
2. Your current validator appears at the bottom of the wallet. Click on your current validator. (see image below)
3. Click, “Switch Validator.” (see image below)
4. Type “Blocks United” into the search box and then click on our validator name. (see image below)
5. Click “Redelegate all” or enter then number of staked tokens you would like to move from your current validator over to us at Blocks United. Scroll down a bit and then click, “Review.” (see images below)
6. Review the transaction to verify that you are switching tokens from your current validator to us at Blocks United. Then click, “Switch Validator.”
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7. The wallet will show you that the redelegation transaction went through. It also provides you with a transaction hash for your records.
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8. Click, “Stake” and you will see that your ATOM tokens are now delegated to us at Blocks United. (see image below)
Thanks for staking with us!
Redelegate staked ATOM using Trust wallet
Redelegating staked tokens in Trust wallet could not be any simpler.
1. Click on the staked ATOM position in your wallet and then click, “Redelegate.” (see image below)
2. Enter the number of staked ATOM tokens you would like to move from your current validator over to us at Blocks United.
3. Click the “To Validator” box and scroll down to locate and then select, “Blocks United.”
4. Click, “Continue.” (see image below)
5. Review the transaction details and then click, “Confirm.”
(see image below)
6. It will sh0w that the redelegation is processing and you can click the, “Transaction details” button to be taken to mintscan. Save the mintscan URL or transaction hash for your records.
(see image below)
That’s it! You will then see Blocks United listed under your “My Validators” tab. Rewards begin accruing immediately. (see image below)
Thanks so much for staking with us!
Now you now how to redelegate ATOM tokens. It’s important to stake with small validators, like us because it distributes voting power. Thank you for redelegating to us at Blocks United.
Other articles and Cosmos tutorials to check out
Grow Crypto Assets and Income by Staking
The Importance of Decentralization
Why You Shouldn’t Stake With Coinbase
Unleash The Power of Staking and DeFi with Kava
How to Auto-Compound ATOM Staking Rewards
How to Auto-Compound KAVA Staking Rewards
Nothing we say is financial advice or a recommendation to buy or sell anything. Cryptocurrency is a highly speculative asset class. Staking crypto tokens carries additional risks, including but not limited to smart-contract exploitation, poor validator performance or slashing, token price volatility, loss or theft, lockup periods, and illiquidity. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Never invest more than you can afford to lose. Additionally, the information contained in our articles, social media posts, emails, and on our website is not intended as, and shall not be understood or construed as financial advice. We are not attorneys, accountants, or financial advisors, nor are we holding ourselves out to be. The information contained in our articles, social media posts, emails, and on our website is not a substitute for financial advice from a professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. We have done our best to ensure that the information provided in our articles, social media posts, emails, and the resources on our website are accurate and provide valuable information. Regardless of anything to the contrary, nothing available in our articles, social media posts, website, or emails should be understood as a recommendation to buy or sell anything and make any investment or financial decisions without consulting with a financial professional to address your particular situation. Blocks United expressly recommends that you seek advice from a professional. Neither Blocks United nor any of its employees or owners shall be held liable or responsible for any errors or omissions in our articles, in our social media posts, in our emails, or on our website, or for any damage or financial losses you may suffer. The decisions you make belong to you and you only, so always Do Your Own Research.
