# Learn about yield-as-inference and Cardano staking > Yield-as-inference turns protocol staking rewards into AI compute instead of paying them out as tokens. These guides explain the idea, how Cardano staking and stake pools work, when rewards arrive, how a reward compares with an inference discount, what custody changes, and the ways to pay for AI with crypto, in a sensible reading order. **In one line:** Start with what yield-as-inference is, learn how Cardano delegation and pools pay rewards, then compare rewards with a discount before you decide. These guides teach yield-as-inference and the Cardano staking it is built on, from first principles. Yield-as-inference means the rewards your staked assets earn are turned into AI compute instead of being paid out as tokens; Gatewayz runs one version of it for ADA. Read them in the order below, or jump to the question you have. ## Key takeaways - [Yield-as-inference](/yield/glossary#yield-as-inference) converts protocol staking rewards into a discount on AI [inference](/yield/glossary#inference); it only makes sense if you spend on AI anyway. - Cardano staking is [delegation](/yield/glossary#delegation): a certificate on your [stake key](/yield/glossary#stake-key), with no transfer and no lock-up. - A [stake pool](/yield/glossary#stake-pool)'s fixed cost, margin, pledge and saturation decide how its rewards are split. - Rewards follow the [epoch](/yield/glossary#epoch) clock: a new delegation is first paid about 15 to 20 days after you delegate. - Taking rewards as an inference discount means giving up ADA rewards; the comparison guide works through the numbers. ## What is yield-as-inference? Start here. [What is inference as yield?](/yield/learn/what-is-inference-as-yield) defines the category, explains why it appeared now that AI spend is a recurring bill, and lays out the possible designs: rewards converted to credits or to a discount, a custodial deposit or a delegation. It ends with who the idea suits and who it does not. ## How does Cardano staking work? Next, learn the chain mechanics. [How Cardano staking works](/yield/learn/how-cardano-staking-works) covers the delegation certificate, the 2 ADA stake address deposit, where rewards come from (monetary expansion, fees and the treasury cut), compounding, saturation and the DRep step needed to withdraw rewards since the Plomin hard fork. ## What is a stake pool and how are its rewards split? [Cardano stake pools explained](/yield/learn/cardano-stake-pools-explained) shows what an operator runs, what fixed cost, margin and pledge mean, and why small pools' rewards vary more. A worked example splits one illustrative epoch's rewards for a low-margin pool and for a near-100%-margin pool like the Gatewayz pool. ## When do staking rewards arrive? [Cardano epochs and reward timing](/yield/learn/cardano-epochs-and-reward-timing) walks through slots, 5-day epochs, stake snapshots and the four-epoch path from delegating to being paid. It also explains why your old pool keeps paying after you switch, and how this timing sets when the first Gatewayz discount appears. ## Should I take staking rewards or an inference discount? [Staking rewards vs an inference discount](/yield/learn/staking-rewards-vs-inference-discount) puts the two side by side and works through 100,000 ADA for one month using the same formula and inputs as the [calculator](/yield/calculator). Read it before deciding. ## Does custody matter when you stake? Yes. [Non-custodial vs custodial staking](/yield/learn/non-custodial-vs-custodial-staking) compares Cardano delegation with staking on Ethereum, Solana, Polkadot and TON and with exchange staking, across custody, lock-ups and slashing, and explains why Gatewayz started with ADA. ## How else can you pay for AI with crypto? [Paying for AI with crypto](/yield/learn/paying-for-ai-with-crypto) compares buying credits with crypto, selling holdings to pay a card bill, and paying from staking rewards while keeping the principal, with a short decision guide. ## Where do I look up a term? Every term used in these guides is defined in the [glossary](/yield/glossary). For the AI side, [What is AI inference?](/learn/what-is-ai-inference), [What are AI tokens?](/learn/ai-tokens-and-pricing) and [What is Gatewayz?](/learn/what-is-gatewayz) explain what the discount is spent on. ## Frequently asked questions ### What should I read first? Start with What is inference as yield?, then How Cardano staking works. Those two explain the idea and the chain mechanics that every other guide builds on, and together they take about fifteen minutes to read. ### Do I need to know Cardano to use these guides? No. Each guide defines its terms the first time they appear and links them to the glossary, so you can read them with no prior knowledge of Cardano or staking. ### Are these guides advice? No. They explain how the mechanisms work, using sourced facts with dates. They are not financial, legal or tax advice; for tax questions, consult your tax advisor. ### Is the Gatewayz program live? Not on mainnet. The program is pre-launch: a working demo runs on Cardano's preprod testnet by invitation, and it is not available to US or Canadian persons. ## Sources - [Cardano.org: Stake your ada on Cardano](https://cardano.org/stake-pool-delegation/), as of 2026-10-27 - [Cardano.org Glossary: Stake Address Deposit](https://cardano.org/glossary/stake-address-deposit/), as of 2026-10-27 ## Related - [Your yield pays for your AI.](https://www.gatewayz.ai/yield) - [How yield-as-inference works](https://www.gatewayz.ai/yield/how-it-works) - [Cardano staking and yield-as-inference glossary](https://www.gatewayz.ai/yield/glossary) - [What is inference as yield?](https://www.gatewayz.ai/yield/learn/what-is-inference-as-yield) - [The risks of ADA delegation with Gatewayz](https://www.gatewayz.ai/yield/risks) --- 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. Updated 2026-10-27. Canonical page: https://www.gatewayz.ai/yield/learn