KAT Pre-Staking: Stake Early, Earn More
First, a word to the samurai.
Over the past several months, thousands of you have been sharpening your blades - bridging assets, providing liquidity, and helping spin the Katana flywheel. The vKAT Armory was always designed to reward the highest conviction participants in the network.
Today we begin that journey together.
KAT Pre-Staking is live.
Commit your KAT before launch and your tokens will vote with 3x weight and earn with 3x weight. stepping down over the first 8 weeks, benefiting early active stakers with higher voting participation and rewards.
No token transfers before the Token Generation Event (TGE). Simply commit and your KAT will be automatically staked on launch day.
Here’s how it works. But first, why?
Why Pre-Stake? The Benefits
Pre-staking rewards the people who commit early, when Katana’s DeFi flywheel and the vKAT Armory need it most. Staking manually within 72 hours still qualifies you as a Founding Staker, but only Pre-Stakers get the boosted share.
And the first 350M KAT staked? Guaranteed 35% over the first 60 days with top ups in vKAT.
The pre-staking campaign rewards loyalty. Early KAT believers and holders receive: more influence, more rewards, and a head start from day one.
Founding Staker eligibility is determined using a balance floor. The floor is calculated as the minimum of:
Your KAT balance at the snapshot before pre-staking, or
the amount of KAT you have staked within 72 hours after TGE
Your total staked balance is continuously checked against this floor during the stabilization window. Staking additional KAT after TGE is allowed and simply creates a buffer above the floor. If your balance drops below the floor at any point you lose Founder Staker eligibility.
Here’s what early participants receive.
35% Guaranteed Yield for Early Pre-Stakers (Capped)
For the first 350M KAT pre-staked, the guarantee is 35% over the first 60 days with top ups in vKAT.
That yield is expected to come from a blend of:
accumulated exit fees
trading fees
vote incentives
If total organic yield over that period is below 35%, the KAT treasury will top up the difference, subject to program terms and conditions. This guarantee is capped at the first 350M KAT staked, so early participation matters. Pre-stakers after the cap still receive 3x boost, founding status, and organic yield - the floor guarantee is the only thing that's capped.
Any treasury top-up is distributed in vKAT, keeping the yield in the staking system.
On the yield sources — yes, they're mixed:
At Day 60, to check the floor: User initially pre-staked 10,000 KAT tokens. Program administrator calculates the USD-denominated earnings (fees + vote incentives) into KAT equivalent at current price (i.e., 7-day TWAP), add the KAT-denominated exit fees, and compares total against 3,500 KAT (i.e., 35% of 10,000 pre-staked KAT tokens). If the returns of the pre-staked KAT are below 3,500 KAT, the Katana treasury will top up the difference in vKAT.
Your KAT Votes and Earns with 3x Weight
For the first 8 weeks after launch, pre-staked KAT receives a reward and voting multiplier.
This means:
More voting power when directing KAT emissions to liquidity pools
A larger share of rewards, including trading fees, vote incentives, and a share of accumulated exit fees distributed to Founding Stakers after Day 60
The boost begins strong and gradually steps down over time.
Example: If pre-stakers hold half the staked supply in the first two weeks, they could control about 75% of KAT emission decisions while earning 3x their normal share of rewards.
Note: If you enter the exit queue, the boost pauses. Cancel the exit, and it resumes at the current level. Complete a withdrawal, and the boost is gone forever.
Earn from Those Who Leave: “Founding Staker” Status
Pre-staking qualifies you for Founding Staker status, which rewards long-term commitment.
During the first 60 days after TGE (the stabilization window), users who exit their vKAT position pay elevated exit fees. These fees accumulate and are later distributed to Founding Stakers.
Pre-stakers automatically qualify if they maintain their committed amount for the full 60-day period. This creates a simple dynamic:
If others exit early, committed early stakers benefit.
Pre-stakers also receive a boosted share of these fees thanks to their reward multiplier.
Manual stakers can still qualify for Founding Staker status by staking within 72 hours of TGE, but only pre-stakers receive the boosted share.
Every vKAT holder who exits pays a fee, that fee goes to you.
Skip the Launch Rush
If you already plan to stake your KAT, pre-staking ensures your position is active from the start and gaining 8 weeks of outsized influence and rewards (plus that guaranteed 35% if you’re the first 350M KAT to stake)
No manual transactions at launch and no risk of missing the early reward window.
Just commit your KAT ahead of time and it will be automatically staked when the vKAT Armory goes live.
How KAT Pre-Staking Works?
Pre-staking lets you commit KAT to be automatically staked for avKAT at launch.
Pre-staking does not create new tokens and does not modify the KAT contract. It is a voluntary system designed to reward early commitment and make staking seamless from day one.
Here's the basics:
You commit now, but nothing moves yet. You approve a certain amount of KAT for staking. One small transaction that costs less than a cent. Your tokens stay in your wallet until TGE.
Automatic staking at launch. When KAT becomes transferable, an automated relayer service stakes your approved KAT. It's gas-free for you, and it happens within ~48 hours.
Your KAT becomes avKAT. avKAT is the liquid staking path at launch. It can be traded on a DEX like SushiSwap and power users can later convert to vKAT via the Katana App without losing their pre-staking boost or Founding Staker eligibility. This is the start of the journey, additional avKAT utility will be available later this year.
Important: Selling avKAT early may drop your balance below the floor and cost you Founding Staker status.
You can cancel before launch. If you change your mind before launch, you can revoke your approval with no penalty. Once TGE happens, committed amounts are used for staking.
For a deeper explanation of KAT, vKAT, and avKAT, see Inside the vKAT Armory.
How to Get Started
Go to the Dashboard:
Head to the Katana staking page.Connect Your Wallet:
See your KAT balance and a live counter showing progress toward the 350M guaranteed yield cap.Enter Your Amount:
Type how much or hit "Max." Minimum is 100 KAT.Approve Your Tokens:
One small transaction to approve your KAT for staking (costs less than a cent). That's it. The approval is your commitment.Done.
The commitment counter updates in real-time, and you'll see your status update after TGE.
If you change your mind before TGE, revoke your approval on the dashboard. No harm done.
Important Notes
Why Pre-Stake Instead of Staking Manually at TGE?
Staking manually within 72 hours still qualifies you as a Founding Staker, but only Pre-Stakers get the boosted share. And the first 350M KAT staked gets that guaranteed 35% for the first 60 days. The boost increases your share of the exit fee distribution during the first 8 weeks. Founding Staker status is what qualifies you for the full distribution, including the portion paid out after Day 60.Risks and Reality:
Staking boosts your rewards, but KAT's price can fluctuate. In a downturn, stakers feel it too. The system rewards patience: the longer you stake, the better the rewards get.Exit Fees During Stabilization:
Early exits cost a lot at first (Starting at 80% and tapering to 25% over 60 days. From Day 61, the steady-state fee is 25% for instant exit, tapering to 2.5% over a 60-day cooldown.). This protects committed stakers.Founding Staker Rules:
To keep Founding Staker status, your staked balance can't drop below your committed amount in the first 60 days. Additional staking is fine.Questions?
Reach out on Telegram, X/Twitter, or Discord. We're here to help.
The Journey Begins
Pre-staking is live. This is your window to commit early and earn the premium.
The 35% guarantee is capped at the first 350M KAT staked, calculated in KAT, paid in KAT. Commit early to secure your spot.
If you're holding KAT past launch, there's no reason not to pre-stake. Full flexibility to revoke before TGE, and 8 weeks of boosted yield that only pre-stakers receive.
Believe in something. Believe in Katana.
Join the Katana community
Stay informed, engaged, and connected:
Are you a DeFi builder? Join us
Stake early, earn more. The future of DeFi is Katana.
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Program Details & Disclaimer: This post is not investment, legal or tax advice and users are encouraged to consult personal investment, legal and tax advisors. This post and its contents, including the above-referenced program (“Program”), may be modified or terminated at any time without notice, and is subject to the Katana Foundation terms and conditions (here https://katana.network/legal/terms-of-use). Governance of the program, interpretation of terms, and application of the Program to individuals is subject to the interpretation and sole discretion of the Katana Foundation. The aggregate Program payout, including any guarantee or target yield payments in aggregate, will not exceed payment of more than 123,000,000 (123 million) KAT tokens (35% of the 350M participation cap). Participation in crypto and emerging blockchain technology involves risk, and by participating in the Program you agree not to hold Katana Foundation liable for any losses or damages that you may incur for any reason including without limitation technology errors, investment value declines, or Program administration.
