> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.safefoundation.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Lock-up and withdrawals

> How Safenet staking withdrawals work, including the 2-day withdrawal delay.

Staked and delegated SAFE can be withdrawn at any time, subject to a **2-day withdrawal delay**.

There is no separate minimum staking period before a withdrawal can be initiated. Once a withdrawal starts, the SAFE being withdrawn remains locked until the delay has elapsed and the withdrawal is completed.

## Withdrawal process

To withdraw SAFE:

1. Open [a Safenet staking interface](https://safefoundation.org/safenet#stake-safe) and select the staking or delegation position you want to withdraw from.
2. Choose the amount of SAFE to withdraw.
3. Initiate the withdrawal transaction.
4. Wait for the 2-day withdrawal delay to expire.
5. Complete the withdrawal through a staking interface.

Both partial and full withdrawals are supported. SAFE that is not included in the withdrawal remains staked or delegated.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/safeecosystemfoundation/N2plbGU78sgl-Czz/assets/safenet-withdrawal-timeline.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=N2plbGU78sgl-Czz&q=85&s=226e2acc01efb43dadd7203a60a7a175" alt="Withdrawal timeline showing staked SAFE, withdrawal initiation, the 2-day waiting period, and withdrawal completion." width="1821" height="522" data-path="assets/safenet-withdrawal-timeline.png" />

*SAFE stops earning staking rewards once the withdrawal transaction is successfully executed. The 2-day waiting period must pass before the withdrawal can be completed.*

## Withdrawal delay

The withdrawal delay is currently **2 days**.

During this period:

* The SAFE being withdrawn remains locked.
* The SAFE cannot yet be transferred from the staking contract.
* The SAFE no longer earns staking rewards.

The delay starts once the withdrawal transaction is successfully executed.

If more than one withdrawal is initiated, they are processed in the order they were submitted. Each one must be completed before the next becomes available.

**Changing the delay**

The withdrawal delay is a protocol parameter governed by SafeDAO. Any approved change must wait **7 days** before taking effect, so SAFE holders always have advance notice before a change applies. The maximum withdrawal delay that can be set is 7 days, so the delay will never exceed 7 days under the current, immutable staking contract.

<Note>
  The current withdrawal delay is 2 days. If this changes upon SafeDAO approval, the new value will be reflected here.
</Note>

## Completing a withdrawal

After the 2-day delay has elapsed, the withdrawal becomes available to complete.

Completing the withdrawal requires a separate transaction. Once completed, the SAFE is transferred from the staking contract to the receiving wallet.

A staking interface can show pending withdrawals and when they become available.

## Changing Validators

There is no direct redelegation between Validators.

To move delegated SAFE from one Validator to another:

1. Initiate a withdrawal from the current Validator.
2. Wait for the 2-day withdrawal delay.
3. Complete the withdrawal.
4. Delegate the SAFE to the new Validator.

The SAFE does not earn staking rewards while it is in the withdrawal process.

See [How to stake](/safenet-aegis/staking/how-to-stake) for the delegation process.

## Effect on rewards

Rewards use time-weighted stake.

SAFE contributes to a reward period only while it is actively staked or delegated. Initiating a withdrawal therefore reduces the time-weighted stake used for that reward period.

See [Rewards](/safenet-aegis/staking/rewards) for the reward calculation.

The staking contract is deployed on Ethereum Mainnet at [`0x115E78f160e1E3eF163B05C84562Fa16fA338509`](https://etherscan.io/address/0x115E78f160e1E3eF163B05C84562Fa16fA338509), the same contract used for Safenet Beta staking.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="How to stake" href="/safenet-aegis/staking/how-to-stake">
    Choose a Validator and delegate SAFE.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Rewards" href="/safenet-aegis/staking/rewards">
    Review Validator and Delegator rewards.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Risks" href="/safenet-aegis/staking/risks">
    Review the risks of staking and delegation.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Staking" href="/safenet-aegis/staking/overview">
    Return to the Safenet staking overview.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>
