# API3 staking guide: governance rights, reward targets and APR

Canonical: https://tokenprimer.com/news/4298df46-d20b-46d1-9ca6-d797a3f1afb3
Published: 2026-09-11T02:22:03.889Z
Publisher: Token Primer

API3 holders can read staking rewards and governance proposals more clearly by separating participation targets, annual reward rates and token unlock schedules.

Staking API3 gives token holders access to weekly token rewards and voting rights on active DAO proposals. The reward system adapts to participation, and governance can adjust its staking target. Understanding that target helps holders read proposed incentive changes without confusing them with a promised return. [dao-docs.api3.org](https://dao-docs.api3.org/overview/rewards.html); [dao-docs.api3.org](https://dao-docs.api3.org/technical/distribution.html)

The participation target is a percentage of total token supply, while APR is an annualized reward rate denominated in API3 tokens. The DAO documentation treats the target, the weekly APR adjustment step, and minimum and maximum rates as governable parameters. They describe different parts of the same incentive system. [dao-docs.api3.org](https://dao-docs.api3.org/technical/distribution.html)

The documented process creates rewards when the pool’s mintReward function is called, once per weekly epoch. Newly minted API3 enters the staking pool, and the rate is adjusted according to participation: it rises below the target and falls above it. APR remains within its configured minimum and maximum. [dao-docs.api3.org](https://dao-docs.api3.org/technical/distribution.html)

Reward tokens unlock one year after receipt, creating a rolling schedule for weekly rewards. The staking guide also describes a seven-day unstaking wait. These timing rules belong alongside the participation target and current APR when assessing how the documented system works. [dao-docs.api3.org](https://dao-docs.api3.org/overview/rewards.html); [dao-docs.api3.org](https://dao-docs.api3.org/members/staking.html)

Related reporting from our network: [Yield Dispatch: API3 Staking-Target Proposal Exceeds Support Threshold; Tracker Lists It as Pending](https://yielddispatch.com/news/4d202246-b354-4c34-a3ef-4fa5543d5ba8).

## Sources

- [Reward calculation and distribution](https://dao-docs.api3.org/technical/distribution.html) — API3 DAO documentation
- [Api3 | DAO Documentation](https://dao-docs.api3.org/members/staking.html) — dao-docs.api3.org
- [Api3 | DAO Documentation](https://dao-docs.api3.org/overview/rewards.html) — dao-docs.api3.org

## Related reporting

- [API3 Staking-Target Proposal Exceeds Support Threshold; Tracker Lists It as Pending](https://yielddispatch.com/news/4d202246-b354-4c34-a3ef-4fa5543d5ba8) — Yield Dispatch

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