> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.bound.xyz/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # How Social Staking Works **Social staking is about commitment, not speculation.** Bound turns staking into a social action - a way to signal belief and participate in a community over time. This page walks through how commitment, perks, and identity interact on Bound. *** ## Step 1: Commitment Begins with Binding Tokens When you believe in a project or creator, you bind tokens to their hub. Binding is more than holding: * Tokens are committed to a specific community * Your participation becomes visible * Your belief is recorded on-chain * You may earn rewards during reward cycles Binding signals: > **“I’m here for the long term.”** *** ## Step 2: Hubs Create the Social Context Every hub defines how commitment is recognized. A hub may offer: * Reward cycles * Access or perks * Recognition for long-term supporters Hubs are not generic pools — they are **community homes with utility**. *** ## Step 3: Participation Accumulates Reputation As you stay bound and participate over time: * Your reputation grows * Your position on leaderboards changes * Your status within the hub becomes clearer Reputation is: * Non-transferable * Earned through commitment * Designed to reflect conviction, not timing This is how staking becomes identity. *** ## Step 4: Perks & Rewards Are Earned, Not Farmed Hubs distribute rewards or perks through reward cycles. When a cycle ends: * Eligible participants may claim rewards Rewards are: * Configured by hubs * Fair (based on ve(3,3) logic) *** ## Step 5: Identity Emerges Over Time As you bind across hubs: * Your profile reflects what you support * Your reputation tells a story * Your identity becomes legible Bound doesn’t ask: > *“What did you trade?”* It asks: > **“What do you stand behind?”** *** ## How This Is Different from Traditional Staking **Traditional staking:** * Is passive * Optimizes for yield * Treats holders as anonymous liquidity **Social staking:** * Is participatory * Optimizes for belief * Treats holders as members * Unlocks more than just rewards *** Social staking connects what you stake with who you are — turning commitment into reputation, and participation into identity.