Zama Unlocks Mainnet Staking: How the FHE Pioneer Powers Its Decentralized Network

Zama, the open-source cryptography company pioneering fully homomorphic encryption solutions for blockchain, has officially activated token staking on its mainnet. This marks a critical infrastructure milestone for the privacy-focused network. Starting February 2nd, token holders can delegate their holdings to participate in a sophisticated 18-node network, with the potential to earn protocol rewards. The move represents Zama’s commitment to building a truly decentralized cryptographic infrastructure that balances technical robustness with community participation.

The Architecture: How Zama’s Dual-Node System Operates

The staking ecosystem Zama has engineered involves two distinct node types, each serving specialized functions within the network. FHE nodes handle the heavy computational lifting—performing cryptographic operations and complex calculations that power the protocol’s privacy guarantees. KMS nodes manage threshold decryption, a critical security layer ensuring no single entity can compromise the system’s encryption. This separation of concerns is fundamental to Zama’s security model. Rather than a homogeneous node structure, this dual-layer approach distributes responsibility across the network and reduces systemic risk.

Incentive Alignment: Understanding the Reward Model

Zama has structured its staking rewards using a role-weighted distribution system designed to incentivize network security. FHE nodes receive 40% of the total reward pool, while KMS nodes capture 60%—a ratio that reflects the computational burden and security criticality each role carries. The allocation methodology is weighted by the square root principle, meaning rewards scale in a non-linear fashion as network participation grows. This elegant mechanism encourages balanced node participation without creating extreme concentration of rewards. Token holders earn staking benefits proportional to their contribution, and these rewards accumulate on staking tokens that can be claimed at any time without forcing immediate withdrawal.

Participation Details: The Path to Staking

For those looking to join Zama’s staking ecosystem, the timeline is straightforward. Public sale participants and community members can begin claiming their tokens on February 2nd. Once tokens are claimed, staking can commence immediately through the newly opened Zama staking portal. The protocol includes a 7-day unbinding period, allowing participants to exit their staking position if needed—though this built-in flexibility comes with a managed timeframe to ensure network stability. The combination of instant reward access and structured exit mechanics creates a balanced incentive environment that protects both individual participants and overall network health.

Looking Forward: What Mainnet Staking Means for Zama

The launch of staking functionality represents more than a feature update—it signals Zama’s evolution from a technology company to a truly decentralized protocol. With 18 operational nodes now governing the network, Zama transitions from centralized management to community-driven security. This transition underscores the project’s commitment to building sustainable, long-term infrastructure for privacy-preserving computation in blockchain.