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You cannot use DOT staking rewards to pay for AI on Gatewayz yet: DOT is a coming asset, and the program runs on ADA only. The plan is to turn Polkadot's native staking rewards into the same kind of inference discount ADA holders get, without taking custody. Polkadot allows that: bonded DOT stays in the holder's own account, whether they nominate directly or join a nomination pool.
How does native DOT staking work?
A holder bonds DOT and either nominates validators directly, as a nominator, or joins a nomination pool that nominates on its members' behalf. Since the Asset Hub migration, staking runs on Polkadot Asset Hub.
Either way, the bonded DOT stays in the holder's own account. It is locked while bonded, but it does not move to the validator or to the pool. The Polkadot Wiki describes nomination pools as non-custodial for that reason.
Rewards are calculated per era, about 24 hours. Direct nominators need a payout to be triggered, while pool members claim their rewards or compound them. Unclaimed rewards are kept for 84 eras.
How long does it take to unstake DOT?
28 days, or 28 eras. It is a runtime parameter, so governance can change it.
The minimums depend on the route. Joining a nomination pool takes 1 DOT. Direct nomination needs at least 250 DOT to submit an intent to nominate, and the stake has to stay above a dynamic minimum active bond to earn rewards. Both values change over time and through governance.
Slashing applies. If a validator you back is slashed, all of its active nominators are slashed, and so are all members of a pool backing it.
How does DOT staking compare with ADA delegation?
Both keep tokens in the holder's account. DOT is locked while bonded and can be slashed; ADA is neither.
| DOT (native) | ADA (Cardano delegation) | |
|---|---|---|
| Custody | Bonded in the holder's own account, locked; pools are non-custodial too | Stays in your wallet; delegation moves nothing |
| Lock-up / unbonding | 28 days (28 eras), changeable by governance | None; spend or switch pools at any time |
| Minimum | 1 DOT to join a pool; 250 DOT to nominate directly, plus a dynamic minimum active bond | None in the sources we checked; a one-time 2 ADA stake address deposit, refunded on deregistration |
| Slashing | Yes: nominators and pool members share their validator's slash | None |
| Reward cadence | Per era, about 24 hours; claimed or triggered, kept for 84 eras | Every 5-day epoch; first rewards about 15 to 20 days after delegating |
For the general trade-off, read Non-custodial vs custodial staking.
What would Gatewayz need to support DOT?
A validator or nomination pool for holders to back, a way to link a Polkadot account to a Gatewayz account, and a way for Gatewayz to receive the rewards it converts. On Cardano the rewards arrive as the pool's fees; on Polkadot they are paid out per era and have to be triggered or claimed, so someone has to do that every era before anything can be converted.
Custody fits: a 1 DOT pool route keeps funds in the holder's own account and is open to small holders. The trade-offs are the ones Cardano delegators do not face. Leaving takes 28 days, and slashing reaches nominators and pool members, so the choice of validator would carry real risk to principal. Both would be spelled out on this page and on Risks before launch.
Accounting would follow the ADA model: discount calculated only from rewards Gatewayz has actually received, never in advance.
What can I use today?
ADA. It is the one asset the program supports: you delegate from your own wallet, your ADA never moves, and rewards become an inference discount. The program is pre-launch, with a working demo on Cardano's preprod testnet by invitation, and is not available to US or Canadian persons. See ADA and all assets.
Join the DOT waitlist
Waitlist sign-ups tell us which coming asset holders want next.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use DOT staking rewards to pay for AI on Gatewayz today?
No. DOT is a coming asset and no launch date is set. Today the program supports only ADA, and it is pre-launch.
Does a nomination pool take custody of my DOT?
No. The Polkadot Wiki describes nomination pools as non-custodial: bonded funds remain in your own account, locked, while the pool nominates on your behalf.
How long does it take to unbond DOT?
28 days, or 28 eras. It is a runtime parameter, so Polkadot governance can change it.
What is the minimum to stake DOT?
1 DOT to join a nomination pool. Nominating directly needs at least 250 DOT to submit an intent to nominate, and your stake must stay above a dynamic minimum active bond to earn rewards; both values change over time.
Can staked DOT be slashed?
Yes. If a validator you back is slashed, all of its active nominators are slashed, and so are all members of a nomination pool backing it. Cardano delegation has no slashing.
Sources
- Polkadot Wiki: Nominator, as of 2026-10-27
- Polkadot Wiki: Nomination pools, as of 2026-10-27
- Polkadot Wiki: Chain state values, as of 2026-10-27
- Cardano.org: Stake your ada on Cardano, as of 2026-10-27
- Cardano.org Glossary: Stake Address Deposit, as of 2026-10-27
- Cardano Docs: Cardano node (Slots and epochs), as of 2026-10-27
Discounts are a share of staking rewards Gatewayz actually received, can change at any time, and are not a guaranteed return. Not available to US or Canadian persons. Every participant must confirm they are not a US or Canadian person before linking a wallet. Not investment, legal or tax advice. Figures as of 2026-10-27. Program disclosures