Katana | KAT Staking & Voting — vKAT, avKAT, Gauges & Rewards
Understand Katana staking and voting: lock KAT for vKAT, deposit into avKAT, direct gauge incentives, collect rewards and plan exit liquidity.
How staking fits Katana
Katana staking is a coordination system for DeFi incentives. Users can participate directly through vKAT or delegate the work to avKAT. Voting directs incentive weight toward eligible markets and pools during recurring epochs.
Direct vKAT participation
Locking KAT creates a separate vKAT NFT position. The holder manages where voting power is allocated and can claim the rewards generated by eligible gauges. Direct participation provides control but requires ongoing management.
Automated avKAT participation
Depositing KAT into avKAT delegates voting and reward management to a strategy. Rewards are handled and compounded by the vault rather than manually claimed by the user. avKAT remains transferable, providing a different liquidity profile than direct vKAT positions.
Gauge voting
Eligible markets and pools can receive voting weight. The distribution of voting power helps determine where incentives flow during an epoch. This links staking demand to liquidity and usage across the network.
Rewards
Reward tokens depend on the market and source. Direct positions may receive fees, vote incentives or exit-related rewards. Automated avKAT strategies abstract this complexity by managing the reward process internally.
Exits, cooldowns and fees
Staking is not the same as a demand deposit. Direct exits can involve a cooldown and fee mechanics, while avKAT can be traded where liquidity exists or redeemed through the underlying exit route. Users should understand exit timing before committing capital.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the two main KAT staking routes?
Users can participate directly with vKAT or through the automated avKAT vault.
What do vKAT holders vote on?
They direct voting power toward eligible markets and pools that can receive incentives.
Does avKAT require manual claiming?
No. The avKAT strategy is designed to manage reward collection and compounding automatically.
Are exits instant?
Not necessarily. Exit routes can involve cooldowns, fees and available market liquidity.