# ⚖️ Direct stake vs undirected stake (/stake/direct-vs-undirected-stake)











Every SOL staked with The Vault becomes one of two kinds of stake. The difference is who chooses the validator: with [direct stake](/stake/direct-staking), a [vSOL](/about/vsol) holder chooses; with undirected stake, The Vault's delegation strategy does.

<img alt="Banner: One cream wallet branches into two miniature paths: one leads straight to a chosen orange-accented server, the other to a cream vault connected to multiple servers." src="__img0" />

## Direct stake [#direct-stake]

Direct stake is vSOL whose holder has chosen a validator. You choose a validator on the Direct Stake page and set your wallet to it by approving a transaction. From then on, all vSOL in that wallet counts as direct stake for that validator, and the stakebot delegates the matching stake to it. For the steps, see [How to direct stake](/stake/how-to-direct-stake).

vSOL keeps counting when you use it in a supported location, such as Kamino Lending or a vSOL liquidity pool described in [What counts as direct stake](/delegation/direct-stake-leaders-bucket#what-counts-as-direct-stake). [Kamino Multiply](/kamino-multiply/kamino-multiply-strategy) increases your direct stake by the leverage you choose. If you move vSOL somewhere unsupported, it becomes undirected stake again (Figure 3.15).

<img alt="Flow showing a vSOL holder choosing a validator on the Direct Stake page, setting the wallet by approving a transaction, all vSOL in that wallet counting as direct stake, and the stakebot delegating matching stake; vSOL in supported locations such as Kamino Lending or a vSOL liquidity pool keeps counting, Kamino Multiply increases direct stake by the leverage chosen, and vSOL moved somewhere unsupported becomes undirected stake again." src="__img1" />

Figure 3.15: How direct stake is counted

Any validator that meets The Vault's minimum requirements can receive direct stake. It does not need to be on the [approved list](/approved/approved-validators).

## Undirected stake [#undirected-stake]

Undirected stake is all the other stake in the pool: vSOL whose holder has not chosen a validator, and vSOL held outside the supported locations. The Vault allocates it through its delegation strategy (Figure 3.16):

* 10% through [gauges](/gauges/gauges), split by vote share.
* 40% to the [Direct Stake Leaders bucket](/delegation/direct-stake-leaders-bucket): the top 100 approved validators by direct stake share it equally.
* 50% to the [Elite Performance bucket](/delegation/elite-performance-bucket): the top 50 approved validators with 0% base and 0% MEV commission, ranked by vote credits.

<img alt="Flow showing every SOL staked with The Vault becoming either direct stake chosen by a vSOL holder or undirected stake allocated by The Vault's delegation strategy, with undirected stake split proportionally as 10% through gauges by vote share, 40% to the Direct Stake Leaders bucket for the top 100 approved validators by direct stake in equal shares, and 50% to the Elite Performance bucket for the top 50 approved validators with 0% base and 0% MEV commission ranked by vote credits." src="__img2" />

Figure 3.16: Where staked SOL goes

For how validators qualify, see the [Delegation onboarding guide](/approved/delegation-onboarding-guide).

## Side by side [#side-by-side]

|                                 | Direct stake                                         | Undirected stake                                                                                                                           |
| ------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Who chooses the validator       | The vSOL holder                                      | The Vault's delegation strategy                                                                                                            |
| Which validators can receive it | Any validator that meets the minimum requirements    | Approved validators through the two buckets; any validator that meets the minimum requirements through gauges                              |
| How a validator gets more       | Its own vSOL and its community's vSOL directed to it | Approval, direct stake ranking, vote credits and gauge votes                                                                               |
| Stake-as-a-Service fee          | None                                                 | 25% of main-bucket earnings, subject to exemptions; 75% of Community Pool earnings; manual gauge allocations outside the pool are separate |
| Processing order                | First, together with gauge stake                     | Gauge stake first, together with direct stake; bucket stake after that                                                                     |

## What it means for validators [#what-it-means-for-validators]

Direct stake is the stake you can grow yourself: direct stake your own vSOL to your validator and ask your community to do the same. It needs no approval, carries no Stake-as-a-Service fee, and the stakebot processes it first.

Direct stake also decides your place in the Direct Stake Leaders ranking. Once you are approved, being in the top 100 by direct stake adds an equal share of the 40% bucket on top of your direct stake. That bucket stake is undirected stake and carries the [Stake-as-a-Service](/delegation/stake-as-a-service-saas) fee. Undirected stake from the Elite Performance bucket depends on vote credits and 0% commission instead, and gauge stake on voting weight. Community Pool earnings carry a separate 75% fee, with 25% retained by the validator (Figure 3.17).

<img alt="The Community Pool fee is 75% of earnings from its allocation, funding delegator rewards; the validator retains 25%." src="__img3" />

Figure 3.17: Community Pool earnings and fees

## What it means for vSOL holders [#what-it-means-for-vsol-holders]

Your rewards are the same either way: base staking rewards come from the whole pool. Direct staking lets you choose which validator your SOL supports, for example your own validator or a community you belong to. If you don't choose, your stake is undirected and The Vault's strategy places it. You can change or remove your validator choice at any time on the Direct Stake page.

## Community Pool rewards [#community-pool-rewards]

[Community Pool](/community-pool/overview) delegates veV into the gauge system. Its voting power wins a share of the 10% gauge reserve and is split equally among eligible opted-in validators. The 75% fee on this allocation funds VLP rewards for veV delegators; the validator retains 25%. This does not change the separate 40% and 50% main-bucket shares.