How do I use On-chain Earn?

Published on Aug 18, 2023Updated on Sep 4, 20267 min read69

What's On-chain Earn?

OKX On-chain Earn offers you two ways to earn rewards: Proof-of-Stake (PoS) staking and DeFi protocols. PoS staking involves holding and staking cryptocurrency tokens to secure the network and receive rewards in the form of newly minted tokens or transaction fees. DeFi protocols enable you to earn rewards by providing liquidity, participating in yield farming, and borrowing or lending cryptocurrency. This guide explores different methods, including mining, staking, liquidity mining, and lending, to help users earn passive income with cryptocurrencies.

How can I do staking?

On the app

  1. Open the OKX app, go to Explore, and select On-chain Earn (using ETH as an example)

    Opening On-chain Earn page

  2. Find the ETH banner and select Find out more to access the staking page

    Select Find out more on the On-chain Earn page

  3. Select Stake now to begin ETH staking

    Select Stake now to begin ETH staking

  4. Insert your amount in the Amount field. If you've got an insufficient amount, you can select Top up to deposit a sufficient token amount before continuing.

  5. Read through the schedule summary and select the checkbox to agree with the user agreement

  6. Select Confirm to complete the request

    Insert the subscription details to complete your order

On the web

  1. Log in to your account at okx.com and go to Grow > Earn > On-chain Earn

  2. Select Stake now to begin ETH staking

    Select Stake now to begin ETH staking

  3. Insert your amount in the ETH amount field. If you've got an insufficient amount, you can buy or deposit a sufficient ETH token amount before continuing.

  4. Select the checkbox to agree with the user agreement and Confirm to complete the request

    Insert the subscription details to complete your order

FAQ

1. What tokens are supported by On-Chain Earn?

You can visit the On-Chain Earn page to view the full list of supported tokens, including supported networks, minimum amounts, reward distribution frequency, and availability.

2. Are there any fees for using On-Chain Earn?

We charge a service fee on rewards earned through On-chain Earn, and this is clearly outlined in our FAQ before you subscribe. The annual percentage yield (APY) you see already includes all fees.

3. Why can't I borrow USDT using my On-chain Earn staked assets as collateral?

A USDT borrowing request may fail even if you hold staked assets in On-chain Earn. The asset must be supported as collateral for the selected borrowing product, available in the correct account, and provide enough adjusted collateral value for the requested amount. Borrowing limits and account-level risk controls also apply.

Note: staked-asset collateral and USDT borrowing aren't available to every user or in every region. Log in and check the relevant product page for the rules that apply to your account.

First, identify which borrowing product you're using:

Margin or cross-margin trading

Your asset must be supported and enabled as collateral in the applicable account mode. Its adjusted value contributes to your account equity and available borrowing capacity.

Flexible Loan

Flexible Loan uses its own list of eligible collateral assets, discount rates, loan-to-value requirements, and borrowing limits. Changing the collateral setting in your margin account may not affect Flexible Loan collateral.

What should I check?

1. Confirm that the asset is eligible collateral

Check whether your staked asset appears in the collateral list for the selected borrowing product.

Not every asset subscribed to On-chain Earn can be used as collateral. Successfully staking an asset doesn't automatically make it eligible for borrowing.

2. Check that collateral is available

Confirm that the asset shows as available in the selected borrowing product. An amount may be unavailable if it's frozen, being redeemed or transferred, supporting another position, or otherwise restricted.

3. Check the adjusted collateral value

Collateral is generally valued after applying the asset's applicable discount rate. As a result, its effective collateral value may be lower than its market value.

If the available value is insufficient, reduce the USDT borrowing amount or add other eligible collateral.

4. Check your borrowing limit and platform availability

The amount you can borrow may be limited by:

  • Your account or user-level borrowing limit

  • The platform's current USDT borrowing cap

  • Available market liquidity

  • Product-specific minimum and maximum amounts

Refer to the amount displayed on the borrowing page for the current maximum available to you.

5. Check your LTV or margin level

The request may be rejected if it would cause your loan-to-value ratio or account margin level to exceed the permitted threshold.

You may need to reduce the borrowing amount, add eligible collateral, or repay an existing liability before trying again.

6. Check your account eligibility

Make sure that:

  • You've completed the required identity verification

  • The borrowing product is available in your region

  • You're using a supported account mode

  • Your account isn't subject to borrowing or security restrictions

  • The product isn't temporarily under maintenance

4. Will I continue receiving staking rewards while my assets are used as collateral?

When your staked asset remains held as supported collateral, it continues to follow the applicable staking-reward rules shown in your account. Staking rewards and the interest charged on borrowed USDT are separate.

Using an asset as collateral also introduces borrowing and liquidation risk. If the applicable risk threshold is reached, some or all of the collateral may be sold according to the borrowing product's rules.

5. Why am I still unable to borrow?

If the issue persists, please contact OKX Support through the secure in-app or Help Center channel and provide:

  • The exact error message

  • Whether you were using Margin or Flexible Loan

  • The collateral asset and requested USDT amount

  • Your account mode

  • The approximate time of the attempt, including your time zone

  • A screenshot showing the error, without exposing passwords, verification codes, or other sensitive information

This information helps Support identify whether the request was blocked by collateral eligibility, risk controls, borrowing limits, liquidity, or an account restriction.

Important Notes

OKX integrates with third-party DeFi projects and provides services such as project information display and reward distribution. OKX isn't responsible for any losses arising from smart contract vulnerabilities, security breaches, hacking incidents, or risks associated with third-party projects, including project discontinuation or changes by the project team.