Delegators participate in the Inference.net network by staking $INT-DEV tokens to operator pools. This helps secure the network while earning a share of epoch rewards without running hardware.

The Inference.net Staking Protocol is being tested on Solana Devnet with test tokens. These tokens have no monetary value and should not be used for real-world transactions or bought or sold by anyone.

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How Delegation Works

When you delegate tokens to an operator pool:

  1. Your tokens help increase the operator’s priority for receiving inference jobs
  2. You earn a proportional share of the pool’s token rewards
  3. The operator takes a commission fee from rewards before distribution
  4. Your tokens remain yours - operators cannot access delegated tokens

Delegated tokens are not at risk of slashing. Only operator stakes can be slashed for poor performance.

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Getting Started

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Prerequisites

  • A Solana wallet with:
    • Some SOL for transaction fees
    • $INT-DEV tokens from the airdrop or test faucet
  • Basic understanding of staking and delegation

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Step 1: Connect Your Wallet

Important: Before continuing you must ensure your Solana wallet is set to use Solana Devnet. Please see the Wallet Setup guide for more information.

  1. Visit stake.devnet.inference.net
  2. Click Connect Wallet in the top right
  3. Select your wallet provider and approve the connection

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Step 2: Browse Operator Pools

Navigate to the Operators page to view all available pools. Key metrics to consider:

Pool Performance:

  • Rank: Position by total stake (higher rank = more jobs)
  • Total Stake: Combined operator and delegator tokens
  • Operator Stake: Operator’s self-stake percentage

Economic Terms:

  • Commission Rate: Percentage of rewards kept by operator
  • Delegation Allowed: Whether the pool accepts external stake
  • Auto Stake Fees: If commission is automatically compounded

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Step 3: Evaluate Operators

Consider these factors when choosing an operator:

  1. Stake Ratio: Operators must maintain ≥10% of total pool stake
  2. Commission Rate: Lower rates mean higher delegator rewards
  3. Track Record: View historical performance in the operator details
  4. Hardware: GPUs with higher VRAM typically process more jobs
  5. Communication: Active operators often have websites or community presence

Click on any operator to view detailed statistics, historical performance, and pool configuration.

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Staking Process

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Delegating Tokens

  1. Click on your chosen operator pool
  2. Click the Stake button
  3. Enter the amount of $INT-DEV to delegate
  4. Review the transaction details:
    • Amount to stake
    • Current pool commission
    • Estimated share of pool
  5. Click Confirm Stake
  6. Approve the transaction in your wallet

You can stake to multiple operator pools to diversify your delegation strategy.

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Monitoring Your Stake

View your delegations in two places:

My Operators Tab:

  • Shows all pools where you have active stake
  • Displays your stake amount and current value
  • Shows pending unstaking amounts

Individual Pool Pages:

  • Your specific stake in that pool
  • Accumulated rewards
  • Share percentage of the pool

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Managing Delegations

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Adding More Stake

You can increase your delegation at any time:

  1. Navigate to the operator pool
  2. Click Stake
  3. Add the additional amount
  4. Confirm the transaction

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Unstaking Process

Unstaking requires a cooldown period:

  1. Click Unstake on the operator’s page
  2. Enter the amount to unstake (partial or full)
  3. Confirm the transaction
  4. Wait for the cooldown period to complete
  5. Click Withdraw to claim your tokens

When unstaking tokens, if you unstake more tokens while you have existing tokens in cooldown, the cooldown timer will reset for all of the unstaking tokens.

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Claiming Rewards

Rewards are distributed automatically during the unstaking process. When you unstake and withdraw:

  • Your original stake is returned
  • Accumulated rewards are included
  • No separate claim transaction is needed

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Choosing Operators Wisely

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Green Flags

  • ✅ Consistent uptime and performance
  • ✅ Reasonable commission rates (10-30%)
  • ✅ Strong operator stake ratio (well above 10%)
  • ✅ Active community engagement
  • ✅ Professional setup with multiple GPUs

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Red Flags

  • ❌ Operator stake near minimum (exactly 10%)
  • ❌ Very high commission rates (>50%)
  • ❌ Pool marked as “Halted”
  • ❌ No website or contact information
  • ❌ Frequent configuration changes

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Risk Considerations

While delegation is generally safe, consider:

  1. Opportunity Cost: Tokens are locked during staking and cooldown
  2. Variable Returns: Rewards depend on operator performance
  3. Commission Changes: Operators can adjust rates (effective next epoch)
  4. Pool Closure: Operators may close pools, stopping rewards for all delegators

Remember: $INT-DEV tokens are testnet tokens with no monetary value. They exist purely for testing the protocol mechanics.

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Maximizing Returns

Strategies for Delegators:

  1. Diversify: Spread stake across multiple high-performing operators
  2. Monitor Performance: Regularly check operator metrics and adjust
  3. Consider Pool Size: Smaller pools may offer growth potential
  4. Watch Commission: Lower isn’t always better - consider operator quality
  5. Stay Informed: Follow operator updates and network announcements