Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers about delegating METAL
to the BlockEmpowered validator.
to the BlockEmpowered validator.
- What is the minimum amount of METAL I can delegate?
- The protocol minimum is 25 METAL per delegation — smaller delegations cannot be placed on Metal Blockchain. There is no fixed maximum for you as a delegator, but a validator can only accept stake up to its remaining capacity, which this site shows live on the Overview and Delegate pages.
- Is my METAL locked while I delegate — can I withdraw early?
- Yes, it is locked for the full term you choose, and early exits are not possible. A delegation term runs from 14 to 365 days and must end before the validator's current validation period does. Once submitted on-chain, a delegation cannot be cancelled or shortened, so choose a term you are comfortable committing to.
- Can BlockEmpowered access or spend my delegated METAL?
- No. Delegation on Metal Blockchain is non-custodial: you delegate entirely from your own Metal Wallet, and your METAL never passes into BlockEmpowered's control. Delegating points your stake at our node to back it — it does not transfer your tokens to us, and we cannot move, spend, or hold them at any point.
- When do I receive my staking rewards?
- At the end of your delegation term. Provided the validator met the network's 80% uptime requirement, the protocol settles rewards on-chain when your term completes — your original METAL unlocks and your net reward is delivered straight to your wallet. Nothing is paid out mid-term.
- What fee does BlockEmpowered charge, and when is it taken?
- The delegation fee is a percentage of the rewards you earn — never a percentage of your stake. BlockEmpowered's current fee is always displayed on the Overview and Delegate pages before you commit. The protocol deducts it automatically when rewards are paid at the end of your term, and if a delegation earns no rewards, no fee is taken.
- What happens if the validator goes offline?
- Metal Blockchain applies an 80% uptime rule as a hard gate: if a validator finishes below the 80% observed-uptime threshold, its stakers earn no rewards for that stretch — there is no partial payout. Your staked METAL itself is never at risk from downtime; downtime can only cost the rewards. This is why BlockEmpowered publishes its complete uptime history on the Track Record page.
- Why can't I delegate right now?
- Two situations close the door temporarily. Either the node is effectively full — new delegations need at least 25 METAL of open capacity — or the current validation period is inside its final 14 days, when the shortest allowed term no longer fits before the period ends. In both cases capacity reopens as delegations mature or the node renews, and the Overview and Delegate pages state exactly which situation applies and when space frees up next.