Minimum stake is the minimum amount of a crypto asset required by a protocol for a particular form of staking participation. The requirement may apply to running a validator, delegating stake, or another role defined by the network.

Minimum stake requirements are not identical across networks or roles. A protocol may require a substantial amount for operating a validator while allowing delegators to participate with a much smaller balance.

The threshold is often denominated in the network's native asset, so its equivalent fiat value changes with the market price. Protocol governance or network upgrades can also change the minimum stake over time.