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Un-bonding Requested while your request waits for the daily 9AM WIB batch, Un-bonding In-Progress while the coins are withdrawn from the validator node on-chain, and Un-bonding Done once they are back in your wallet and available again. Any rewards you already earned up to the point of your unstaking request are still paid out on the next Tuesday distribution. Because the wait is network-enforced, plan for it before you unstake.

• The three unbonding stages. After you request unstaking, your position moves through Un-bonding Requested (awaiting the daily 9AM WIB batch), then Un-bonding In-Progress (coins being withdrawn from the validator node on-chain), then Un-bonding Done (coins returned to your Pluang crypto wallet and available for trading or withdrawal).
• Coins are locked and earn nothing during unbonding. From the moment your request is submitted, no new staking rewards accrue and your coins cannot be traded or withdrawn. They only become usable again once the status reaches Un-bonding Done.
• Already-accrued rewards are still paid. Rewards that built up before you submitted your unstaking request are not forfeited — they are still distributed on the next Tuesday payout, just like rewards for active positions.
• The network sets the duration, not Pluang. Just as with bonding, the unbonding period is enforced by the blockchain protocol as a security measure, so Pluang cannot speed it up. The exact wait depends on the coin's own network rules.
• Unbonding length varies by coin. ETH, SOL, and ATOM can each have a different unbonding duration, and it is not necessarily the same as that coin's bonding period. Check the staking detail page in the app for the specific figure before you unstake.
• You cannot cancel an unstaking request. Once submitted, an unstaking request cannot be reversed. If you change your mind, you must wait for unbonding to complete and then submit a fresh staking request — factoring in the bonding period all over again.

Related questions:

Q: Can I trade or withdraw my coins during the unbonding period?
No. Your coins stay locked for the entire unbonding period and cannot be traded or withdrawn. They only become available again once your status reaches Un-bonding Done and the coins are back in your Pluang crypto wallet. This lock-up is enforced by the blockchain network, not by Pluang, so the timing depends on the coin — check the staking detail page in the app for the specific duration.

Q: Do I still receive accrued rewards after I submit an unstaking request?
Yes. Any rewards that accrued up to the point you submitted your unstaking request are still distributed on the next Tuesday payout, so you do not lose what you have already earned. What stops is new accrual — from the moment you request unstaking, no further rewards build up, because your coins are being withdrawn from the validator rather than actively staked.

Q: Is the unbonding period the same as the bonding period?
Not necessarily. Each blockchain sets its bonding and unbonding durations independently, so they can differ for the same coin, and they differ from coin to coin. There is no single fixed figure across the board. Always check the staking detail page in the Pluang app for the specific unbonding duration that applies to the coin you are unstaking before you submit the request.

Q: Can I re-stake the same coins immediately after unbonding is complete?
Yes. Once your status reaches Un-bonding Done and the coins are returned to your Pluang crypto wallet, they are fully available again, so you can submit a new staking request right away. Keep in mind that a fresh stake starts a new bonding period before rewards resume, so there is a short gap during which the coins are neither earning nor unbonding.

Q: Why does unbonding take time at all?
The unbonding period is a built-in security feature of proof-of-stake networks. Requiring a delay before staked coins can move again protects the network against sudden mass exits that could weaken its security. Because the rule lives in the blockchain protocol, it applies to everyone staking that coin — whether directly on-chain or through a platform — and no exchange or app can bypass it.