# What is $stNEAR?

## stNEAR

stNEAR is a yield bearing asset, **accruing in value every epoch** (\~12 hours) meaning that you keep earning staking rewards, while you can use stNEAR for DeFi (e.g. lending, farming, borrowing) on NEAR and Aurora.

<figure><img src="/files/nNNYWIQFzNCxDVUiYqyF" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

With the stNEAR tokens handed to you, you now have the unique opportunity to simultaneously get the staking yield of your $NEAR and get additional APY from the DeFi protocols where your depositing stNEAR.

stNEAR can be traded and farmed on multiple DeFi platforms and can also be used as a collateral asset on lending and borrowing platforms to receive additional income.

<figure><img src="/files/JkT7zJmYCxjvozWA50Wg" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Your Total APY with stNEAR can then be well above the \~10% native staking APY:

<figure><img src="/files/72ZVZHEpyFWL2xgVSuEq" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


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