Direct Staking allows users to manually delegate their SOL tokens to specific validators. This option provides greater control over staking preferences and strategies.

Users can select validators based on various parameters and choose whether to stake directly or natively. If you stake directly, you receive JSOL tokens and all associated benefits. This flexibility enables tailored staking strategies aligned with individual goals.

Direct Staking offers personalized control over validator selection and staking configurations, allowing users to optimize their staking experience according to their preferences.

Direct Staking requires users to actively manage their staking choices, which may involve more complexity and responsibility compared to Liquid Staking.

Direct Staking is best suited for experienced users or institutions seeking granular control over their staking activities and validator selection.

Any user who delegates their SOL to a validator (either directly or via a stake pool), enabling them to validate new blocks and keep the network alive, becomes a delegator. Anyone who has some SOL in their wallet may delegate it – and earn rewards by doing so.

Your JSOL tokens represent your share in the pool’s total stake, which grows constantly as rewards are accrued. It’s reflected in the JSOL-SOL exchange rate, which will be used to calculate the SOL you get back when you unstake. Total JSOL price growth is equal to the pool’s APY.

Read more at https://docs.solana.com/staking