Staking
Last updated July 19, 2025
Staking in ZED Champions lets you add $ZED or reZED to any racehorses, whether you own them or not! Back another player's horse or boost your own horse’s potential in the racing pool by adding to their balance. Stake to earn a share of the winnings when the horse is retired by the owner!
Quick Terms to Know
- Staking: Adding $ZED or reZED tokens to a horse.
- Staked Balance: Your share of the horse.
- Internal Balance: The horse’s balance from racing and breeding.
Why Stake?
Boost Horse Performance
Add $ZED or reZED to any active horse, even if you don’t own it, to increase its racing balance and keep it competing.
Earn When It Retires
If the horse performs well, you’ll earn a share of its total balance when the owner retires it, based on how much you contributed.
No Horse? No Problem.
Staking lets you get involved, support top horses, and earn, without owning or managing a stable.
How to Stake
Staking is easy, just follow these steps:
- Find a Horse: Go to the profile page of the race horse you want to stake on.
- Click ‘Add Balance’: Choose how much you want to stake (in multiples of 10).
- Stake Limits: Between 100 and 1,000,000 $ZED/reZED.
Note: Staking is locked shortly before and during races. If you try to stake during this period, you will see a pop up that says Staking is Unavailable.
Where Does Your Stake Go?
When a stake is applied, fees are distributed as follows:
- 80% becomes your stake.
- 8% boosts all existing stakeholders (including owner and stud stake).
- 5% to VHS treasury.
- 5% to game treasury.
- 2% to the horse's internal balance.
Note: The horse owner is treated as the first staker and the stud owner is treated as the second staker on a new foal. Every new stake benefits existing stakeholders, creating a rewarding cycle for early stakers!
Staking Kickbacks Example
If a horse has an internal balance of 100,000 $ZED and three stakers with 10,000 $ZED each (including the stud owner), and a new player stakes 10,000 $ZED:
| Fee/Commission Type | Percentage | Amount $ZED | Recipient |
| VHS Fee | 5% | 500 | VHS Treasury |
| Treasury Fee | 5% | 500 | Treasury |
| Owner Commission | 2% | 200 | Horse Internal Balance |
| Split Share | 8% | 800 | Distributed proportionally |
| New Stake | 80% | 8,000 | New Staker |
The 800 $ZED split share would be distributed approximately as follows:
| Recipient | Current Balance | Share % | Split Amount | New Balance |
| Internal Balance | 100,000 $ZED | 76.9% | 615 $ZED | 100,815 $ZED |
| Staker 1 | 10,000 $ZED | 7.7% | 62 $ZED | 10,062 $ZED |
| Staker 2 | 10,000 $ZED | 7.7% | 62 $ZED | 10,062 $ZED |
| Staker 3 | 10,000 $ZED | 7.7% | 62 $ZED | 10,062 $ZED |
Note: Owners can stake their own horse. This is tracked as a stake and not added to the internal balance, and still incurs fees.
Managing Your Stakes
Easily track stakes through horse details and marketplace views.
- A stake icon will show on the horses you’ve backed
- The horse details page shows the total balance (internal + sum of stakes) and your current stake
- The marketplace displays the internal balance only.
Racing & Your Stake
When a horse races, the total horse balance (internal + stakes) determines race rewards. Its balance is the sum of its internal balance and all of the stakes, so staking increases the total stake the horse has in the race.
Your stake increases or decreases based on how the horse performs. Gains and losses are shared proportionally among all stakeholders.
On retirement:
- Owners receive the internal balance
- Backers receive based on % share
Selling a Horse
Selling a horse does not affect staked balances. The new owner inherits the internal balance, which is shown in the listing on the Marketplace.
Collecting Your Rewards
Stakes remain active until horse retirement. Upon retirement, you receive a payout based on your stake percentage.
For example, a total horse value of 100,000 $ZED at retirement, payouts would look like this.
| Player | Share | Payout |
| Jim (Owner) | 70% | 70,000 $ZED |
| Deb | 18% | 18,000 $ZED |
| Bob | 12% | 12,000 $ZED |
Strategic Tips
- Stake early in promising horses for bigger returns.
- Watch leaderboards to identify rising stars!
Staking adds excitement and strategic depth to your ZED Champions experience. Support the right horses, build your stake and race towards rewards!
FAQs
What is staking in ZED Champions?
Staking means adding $ZED or reZED to a horse’s balance. You can stake on your horses or others. When the horse retires, you earn a share of the total payout based on your contribution and its performance.
Do I need to own a racehorse to stake?
No. Staking lets you earn from race horses you don’t own. You can back any active race horse from the leaderboard or pre-race screen.
What happens to my stake during races?
Your stake increases or decreases based on the horse’s performance. Gains and losses are shared proportionally between the internal balance and all stakers.
When do I get paid out?
Stakes are locked until the horse retires. Once it retires, your share of the balance is paid out automatically.
Can I unstake or remove my balance?
No. All stakes are permanent until the horse retires. Choose carefully and consider long-term potential.
Where can I see which horses I’ve staked on?
You’ll see a stake icon next to any horse you’ve backed. You can also view your current stake amount on the horse’s detail page.
Can I stake on my own horse?
Yes. Owners can stake on their own horses. These stakes are treated the same as any other and are tracked separately from the internal balance.
Is there a minimum or maximum stake amount?
Yes. Stakes must be at least 100 $ZED or reZED, and must be in multiples of 10. The maximum per stake is 1,000,000 $ZED.
What are the fees for staking?
A portion of your stake goes to the VHS treasury, ZED treasury, internal balance, and existing stakeholders. 80% becomes your staked balance. A full breakdown is available above.