> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.aftermath.finance/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.aftermath.finance/liquid-staking-afsui/afsui.md).

# Overview

Utilize your staked SUI tokens across DeFI with afSUI

Staking on Sui differs from other Delegated Proof of Stake networks. When staking on Sui, you may delegate to the validator of your choice, and your SUI tokens remain locked in your wallet rather than in a smart contract.

While you retain custody of your SUI tokens, you can not use them for any other purpose while they are staked. Aftermath developed afSUI so staked SUI can be used in DeFi while it earns yield.

At the onset it was not possible to build a fully decentralized liquid staking derivative on Sui. To build an LSD with no centralized components, Aftermath authored [`SIP-6`](https://github.com/sui-foundation/sips/blob/main/sips/sip-6.md), an update to the Sui framework which was enacted by the community.

To preserve decentralization, Aftermath lets you choose any validator to delegate your SUI to. Aftermath does not rely upon an algorithm to choose validators to delegate to, nor do we delegate to our own validator. The yield earned by afSUI is a function of all SUI tokens staked for afSUI across all validators, ensuring every afSUI token is fungible.

The Sui network runs in Epochs of 24 hours. When a user stakes SUI tokens for afSUI, they will receive afSUI at its current exchange rate with SUI for that Epoch. With each passing Epoch, the exchange rate of afSUI for SUI increases as staking rewards are compounded. When you unstake, you receive the principal amount of SUI you staked plus the staking rewards earned while staked. You do not need to do anything other than unstake to receive the rewards.

afSUI is as fungible and composable as the SUI token itself while it earns staking rewards. You can use afSUI as collateral, deposit it into liquidity pools, swap it for other tokens, and bridge it to other blockchains.