Prologue

On a cozy evening at Bumi Seduh Coffee, a discussion about Web3 was underway. The event began at 7:00 PM WIB, with @FitriZulfa11963 as the main speaker, sharing insights about staking on Meta Pool ( @meta_pool). The topic drew attention since the world of decentralized finance continues to grow, and Meta Pool has become one of the gateways often talked about. This event was not intended to offer profits or invite anyone to invest, but rather to provide a comprehensive understanding of how staking mechanisms work. Several key points were discussed during the evening, namely:

1. Getting to Know Meta Pool and the Concept of Liquid Staking

@FitriZulfa11963 opened the discussion by introducing Meta Pool as a liquid staking protocol that originated from the NEAR Protocol ecosystem and has now expanded to other networks. Meta Pool was created with a simple goal: to give users flexibility in staking while still being able to use their assets for other activities. In traditional staking, locked assets cannot be used until a certain period ends. Meta Pool bridges this gap. For example, users who stake NEAR will receive a derivative token called stNEAR. This token represents their ownership. With stNEAR, they can still participate in DeFi activities, such as joining liquidity pools or simply holding it as proof of their staked NEAR. This discussion highlighted that staking with Meta Pool is not just about locking assets to earn rewards, but about keeping assets liquid without losing the staking function.

2. Staking and Tokenization Process

After the audience understood the general overview, Fitri ( @FitriZulfa11963 ) then explained the steps of the staking process. Users first connect their NEAR wallet to the official Meta Pool website. Once they select the amount of NEAR to stake, the system automatically issues stNEAR tokens into the user’s wallet. The stNEAR token is not only a token of ownership but also serves a dual purpose. On the one hand, it confirms that the primary asset is locked in staking. On the other hand, this token can be used on various other platforms within the DeFi ecosystem. This is what makes staking on Meta Pool called liquid staking, as the asset remains virtually alive even while it is staked. Interestingly, each time staking occurs, the daily reward is reflected in the stNEAR value. So, even though users don’t directly see the NEAR increase, the value of their stNEAR continues to follow the staking progress.

3. Unstake Options: Fast and Delayed

This section was one of the most frequently asked questions by participants. Fitri (@FitriZulfa11963 ) explained that Meta Pool provides two mechanisms for unstaking. The first option is fast unstake, also known as liquid unstake. This way, users can exchange their stNEAR directly back to NEAR whenever needed. However, as a consequence of this fast access, there is a fee to pay. The fee depends on the liquidity conditions in the pool. The second option is delayed unstake, or traditional unstake. This option is free of charge, but users must wait approximately two to three blockchain business days, which in NEAR terms is four to six epochs. After this waiting period is over, the previously staked NEAR will be returned to the user’s wallet. Both options offer flexibility. Some prefer the fast route despite the fee, while others prefer to wait patiently to avoid deductions. The evening’s discussion helped the audience understand that both options are valid; it’s just a matter of adapting to individual needs.

4. Stake Distribution and Rebalancing Mechanism

The discussion then continued on how Meta Pool distributes the received stakes to various validators. This distribution process is not carried out haphazardly. The Meta Pool system uses an algorithm to determine validators based on performance. Selected validators must meet criteria, such as a minimum uptime of 95 percent, reasonable commission fees, and consistent performance. Furthermore, the community plays an equally important role. Through a voting mechanism, the community can determine a portion of the stake distribution to their chosen validators. This proportion is approximately thirty percent of the total stakes. To maintain balance, Meta Pool also has a rebalancing system. If there are changes in validator performance or community voting results, the stake distribution will adjust. This process occurs gradually, not all at once, to maintain network stability. This explanation made participants aware that staking is not just about personal assets, but also concerns decentralization and the overall health of the network.

Conclusion

The evening’s discussion at Bumi Seduh Coffee was very concise and delivered in an easy-to-understand style. Participants who initially only knew the term staking now left with a more comprehensive understanding. They realized that staking in Meta Pool is not simply placing assets in anticipation of rewards, but rather part of a dynamic and participatory ecosystem. Fitri reiterated that this discussion was not intended to encourage anyone to enter the world of staking without understanding the risks. The goal was to provide insight so that anyone interested could make a well-informed decision.