Baking, also known as “staking” is a process used in many different proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain networks. The term refers to the way that users on these networks can validate and add new blocks of transactions to the blockchain by holding coins or tokens for a set period of time. Bakers are rewarded for their participation with newly created coins or tokens.
In PoS blockchains, miners are replaced by bakers who act as bookkeepers and validators of the network’s transactions. These bakers lock up their own funds (coins/tokens) in order to participate in baking and earn rewards from doing so. In essence, they stake their own funds to help secure the network and verify its transactions while receiving rewards for doing so.
The amount of rewards earned depends on how much one has staked within a specific timeframe; more staked means more potential reward earnings which incentivizes users to put down larger amounts over longer periods of time – this is referred to as “longer stakes” or “deep staking” which yields higher returns than shorter stakes over shorter periods of time. This helps ensure that only those with skin in the game will be participating in securing the network since it requires them investing something into it first before earning any returns from baking activities..
Depending on what type crypto asset you have chosen there may be different requirements associated with baking such as minimum balance requirements, vesting schedules etc., but all involve locking up your holdings for some predetermined length of time where you cannot access them until after that period has expired – often referred to as ‘vesting periods’.
If you would like to start baking then most likely you need an appropriate wallet application such as Exodus etc., capable enough for handling baked assets along with compatible hardware wallets supporting PoS protocols if needed depending upon your particular choice coin/token selection . Additionally other software tools might also be required according customer specific needs i.e., delegated bakeries services etc….