What Is an Unbonding Period?

An unbonding period is the mandatory waiting phase in crypto staking between the moment you submit an unstaking request and the moment your coins return to your spendable Pluang wallet. Like the bonding period, it is set by the blockchain network itself and cannot be shortened by Pluang, and its length varies by coin. During unbonding your coins are locked — you cannot trade or withdraw them — and no new staking rewards accrue. On Pluang the process moves through three stages: Un-bonding Requested, Un-bonding In-Progress, and Un-bonding Done, after which the coins are available again. Any rewards you already earned up to the point of your unstaking request are still paid out on the next Tuesday distribution.

Good to know:

• The three stages: Un-bonding Requested (awaiting the daily 9AM WIB batch), Un-bonding In-Progress (coins withdrawn from the validator node on-chain), then Un-bonding Done (coins back in your wallet and available).
• Locked and earning nothing: from submission onward, no new rewards accrue and coins cannot be traded or withdrawn until Un-bonding Done.
• Already-accrued rewards are still paid: rewards earned before your request are distributed on the next Tuesday payout, not forfeited.
• The network sets the duration: like bonding, unbonding is enforced by the blockchain protocol, so Pluang cannot speed it up.
• Length varies by coin: ETH, SOL, and ATOM can differ, and unbonding is not necessarily the same as that coin's bonding period — check the staking detail page.
• You cannot cancel an unstaking request: once submitted it cannot be reversed; to re-stake you must wait for unbonding, then start a fresh stake and a new bonding period.

Related questions:

Q: Can I trade or withdraw my coins during the unbonding period?
No. Coins stay locked for the entire unbonding period and become available only once status reaches Un-bonding Done. The timing is set by the network, so check the staking detail page for the coin's specific duration.

Q: Do I still receive accrued rewards after I submit an unstaking request?
Yes. Rewards accrued up to the point of your request are still distributed on the next Tuesday payout. Only new accrual stops from the moment you request unstaking.

Q: Is the unbonding period the same as the bonding period?
Not necessarily. Each blockchain sets bonding and unbonding independently, so they can differ for the same coin and between coins. Check the app for the specific figure before you unstake.

Q: Can I re-stake the same coins immediately after unbonding is complete?
Yes. Once status reaches Un-bonding Done and coins return to your wallet, you can submit a new staking request. Note that a fresh stake starts a new bonding period before rewards resume.

Q: Why does unbonding take time at all?
It is a built-in proof-of-stake security feature: the delay protects the network against sudden mass exits. The rule lives in the blockchain protocol, so it applies to everyone and cannot be bypassed by any app or exchange.