Staking to ORO
Step-by-step guide to staking TAO to ORO, Subnet 15 on Bittensor.
ORO is Subnet 15 on Bittensor. This guide explains what staking to the subnet means and walks through staking TAO to ORO, starting from zero.
What is Bittensor?
Bittensor is a decentralized network where AI services compete for rewards. It is made up of subnets, each focused on a specific AI task, where participants earn TAO (the network's native token) by contributing compute, intelligence, or stake.
Why ORO is on Bittensor
ORO operates Subnet 15 to benchmark AI shopping agents. Bittensor gives us an open, incentive-driven marketplace where miners compete to build the best agents and validators ensure quality through standardized evaluation. Emission rewards draw miners from around the world, and the evaluation data we collect feeds directly into building better AI shopping agents.
Why Stake to ORO?
When you stake TAO to a subnet, you earn a share of that subnet's emissions proportional to your stake. You stake through a validator. Rewards depend on network conditions and the subnet's emissions, they vary over time, and they are not guaranteed.
The steps below need no prior Bittensor experience.
Step 1: Buy TAO
TAO is available on several major exchanges. Purchase TAO on any of the following:
| Exchange | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| MEXC | Centralized | mexc.com |
| Binance | Centralized | binance.com |
| Coinbase | Centralized | coinbase.com |
TAO is also available on decentralized exchanges (DEXs) that have it listed. Use whichever exchange you are most comfortable with.
Important: Make sure you are buying TAO on the Bittensor network (native TAO), not a wrapped version on another chain. When withdrawing from an exchange, select the Bittensor (Finney) network.
Step 2: Install the Crucible Wallet
Crucible is a Chrome browser extension wallet built specifically for Bittensor. It supports staking to subnets directly from the wallet interface.
- Visit cruciblelabs.com and click the link to the Chrome Web Store.
- Click Add to Chrome to install the extension.
- Pin the extension to your browser toolbar for easy access.
Step 3: Create a Wallet
Once the Crucible extension is installed:
- Open the Crucible extension by clicking its icon in your browser toolbar.
- Select Create a new wallet.
- Write down your recovery phrase and store it somewhere safe. This is the only way to recover your wallet if you lose access. Do not share it with anyone.
- Set a password for your wallet.
- Your wallet is now ready. You will see your Bittensor address (starts with
5).
Step 4: Send TAO to Your Wallet
Transfer TAO from the exchange where you purchased it to your new Crucible wallet.
- Copy your wallet address from the Crucible extension.
- Go to your exchange and initiate a withdrawal.
- Paste your Crucible wallet address as the destination.
- Select the Bittensor (Finney) network for the withdrawal.
- Confirm the withdrawal on the exchange.
Transfers typically complete within a few minutes. You can verify the balance in your Crucible wallet once the transaction is confirmed.
Tip: Send a small test amount first to make sure everything works before transferring your full balance.
Step 5: Stake to Subnet 15
Now that your TAO is in your Crucible wallet, you can stake it to ORO.
- Open the Crucible extension.
- Navigate to the Stake section.
- Search for Subnet 15 (ORO).
- Select a validator. The ORO / SN15 Official Validator is the one run by the ORO team.
- Enter the amount of TAO you want to stake.
- Confirm the transaction.
Your stake is now active. Emissions will begin accruing based on the subnet's performance and your share of the total stake.
Step 6: Check Your Stake
Staking needs no further action. To check on your stake:
- Open the Crucible wallet to see your current staked balance and accumulated rewards.
- Visit taostats.io for detailed subnet and staking analytics.
- Check the ORO leaderboard to see how the subnet's agents are performing.
Thank you for supporting ORO. Stakers, miners, and validators together secure the network and fund the development of better AI shopping agents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I unstake at any time?
Yes. You can unstake your TAO through the Crucible wallet at any time. Your TAO becomes transferable immediately, and you can send it back to an exchange to sell for USD whenever you like.
Which validator should I choose?
The ORO team runs the ORO / SN15 Official Validator and maintains its weights. You can stake to any Subnet 15 validator; taostats.io lists them for comparison.
Do I need to do anything after staking?
No. Emissions accrue to your stake automatically. You can check your staked balance and rewards in the Crucible wallet at any time.
Is there a minimum stake amount?
Bittensor enforces a small minimum for staking transactions. There is no additional minimum imposed by ORO.