Staking has always been one of those features in crypto that people talk about but not everyone tries. Honestly, it makes a lot of sense. Instead of letting your coins sit in a wallet doing nothing, you can put them to work.
You help validate transactions, keep the network secure, and at the same time earn passive income. It’s like your crypto is doing a little side hustle while you go about your day.
Now, Gemini exchange is rolling out Ethereum and Solana staking to customers across the European Union. That means millions of people in Europe can start compounding their holdings without needing to dive into complicated setups or decentralized protocols. And let’s be real, for a lot of people, simple compounding passive income is exactly what they want.
Expanding Staking Options for EU Users
Staking isn’t exactly new in Europe. Platforms like Coinbase, Kraken, and Binance have already been offering it for a while. But Gemini adds another regulated option. It’s not groundbreaking, but it gives more people an easy way to get started.
What’s interesting is that this move shows staking is becoming more mainstream. It’s not just some trick for people who read DeFi tutorials. The more exchanges offering staking, the more people get involved. That’s good for the ecosystem overall, even if the rewards aren’t massive.
Why ETH and SOL Are Perfect for Beginners
Ethereum is the largest proof-of-stake network in the world. Solana has earned a reputation for being fast, cheap, and popular with DeFi, NFTs, and gaming. By focusing on these two, Gemini is giving EU users access to staking rewards from two of the most widely recognized and used ecosystems in crypto.
For crypto investors, this move is another step toward mainstream adoption. Staking is becoming part of the standard exchange experience. And with Gemini offering it to EU users, the competition among global exchanges to attract stakers is only heating up.
Staking Rewards: Convenience Comes with Trade-Offs
One thing to keep in mind: while staking rewards are appealing, the actual returns are often modest, usually in the low single digits annually for ETH and slightly higher for SOL.
Plus, when you stake through an exchange, you don’t control your private keys. That means you’re trusting Gemini (or whichever platform you use) with custody of your coins. For some, the convenience is worth it. For others, the mantra “not your keys, not your crypto” still carries weight.
The staking rewards on Gemini fluctuate each day depending on network conditions. Here’s a recent snapshot of the Annual Percentage Return (APR) available. It can be up to 6% for Solana, while Ethereum is also a variable rate:
KYC and Privacy
To stake, EU users must complete Know Your Customer (KYC) verification. This ties your identity to your crypto activity, which some users may prefer to avoid for privacy reasons.
For users who want a way to earn modest staking rewards, Gemini’s EU launch is a positive development. More people now have the opportunity to participate in staking, which can help grow interest and engagement in the crypto ecosystem.
But if your priorities include higher yields, full control over your funds, privacy and anonymity then other coins might be a better choice.
ETH and SOL Staking Alternatives
Higher staking APYs, although desirable, are often associated with low-cost cryptos such as BEST, a multi-utility asset tied to one of the fastest-growing multichain wallet brands: Best Wallet.
Currently available on token sale at a discounted rate of $0.02, BEST incentivizes early adopters with a significant APY of up to 85% at press time, positioning it as a highly attractive option for those hunting for the best ETH and SOL staking alternatives.
In addition to its own APY perks, holding $BEST also unlocks other high-yield staking opportunities embedded within the Best Wallet ecosystem, giving users multiple passive ways to grow their investment in 2025. And thankfully, the wallet itself is fully self-custodial, meaning users maintain full control over their funds and can access their rewards anytime they want.
Another reason why people are increasingly drawn to BEST and the staking opportunities provided on Best Wallet is its transparent model. Users can access real-time performance metrics, including reward rates, validator status, withdrawal timelines within a single interface, adding more depth to the overall experience.
Best Wallet does not require KYC verification, even for staking, appealing to those who want to remain off the radar while growing their investment. However, this doesn’t mean security is left to chance, as the platform has integrated cutting-edge solutions like Fireblocks to keep all assets safe, ensuring that users can manage their investment with full confidence.
That said, holding BEST doesn’t just enable staking – it also gives users valuable perks within the Best Wallet ecosystem, especially lower transaction fees, voting rights in governance, and early access to other promising cryptos with strong potential. Combined with its high growth potential, it’s no surprise that many experts consider BEST as an excellent option for maximizing your investments in 2025.
And as for Best Wallet, its multichain functionality gives users the flexibility to manage thousands of assets across different blockchains without having to open additional wallets. Basically, the goal is to add support for over 60 blockchains, and it has already hit the ground running by integrating popular networks like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Base, Polygon, and Binance Smart Chain.
The latest update v2.10, rolled out early last month, added Solana to the list alongside crucial features like gamified rewards, Bitcoin swaps, a new on-ramp provider Wert, and support for the Korean language. With another rollout also in the pipeline, Best Wallet is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to deliver high-quality experience to its growing user base.
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