> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.enterprise.ledger.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.enterprise.ledger.com/help-center-v2/reference/networks/hedera.md).

# Hedera (HBAR)

Hedera on Ledger Enterprise: activating an Account before first use, tokens, and how HBAR staking differs from other networks.

## How Hedera differs

Hedera is not a blockchain. It runs on a hashgraph, and a fixed group of member organizations, the Hedera Council, governs the network and sets its rates.

Two consequences appear in this product:

* An Account must be created on the network before it can hold anything. Every other network here gives you an address you can use straight away.
* Fees are priced in US dollars, then converted to HBAR. A fee is therefore steady in dollar terms and variable in HBAR.

For the protocol itself, see the [Hedera documentation](https://docs.hedera.com/).

## Token coverage

Ledger Enterprise supports **HBAR**, **Hedera Token Service (HTS) tokens**, and **ERC-20 tokens** on Hedera's EVM layer.

An HTS token can carry its own additional fees, set by whoever issued it. Those are the issuer's, not Hedera's and not Ledger's.

## Activation before first use

Hedera requires an Account to exist on the network before it can hold or move assets. So a new Hedera Account needs an **activation** step before you can use it. No other network works this way.

**An Administrator does this once, when the Account is created.** After that the Account behaves normally and nobody needs to repeat it.

The steps are:

1. Send funds to the Account's public key address, shown on the Account. Send them from an external wallet.
2. Wait for that transaction to clear. The network then creates the Account address.
3. Find your transaction on a Hedera block explorer. Copy the Account address it created.
4. Paste the address into the field on the Account, then activate.

Until the Account is active, it cannot send.

> **Important:** Copy the address from the explorer record of your own transaction. Do not take it from anywhere else.

## How tokens are held

Hedera tokens sit in token Accounts attached to a parent Hedera Account. The parent pays their network fees. This is the standard parent and token Account model described in [**Finding Accounts and balances**](/help-center-v2/guides/accounts/finding-accounts-and-balances.md).

If a token transfer fails because of fees, add funds to the **parent** Account.

Some assets need a **token activation** step before the Account can hold them. This has its own Rule. See [**Creating and editing Accounts**](/help-center-v2/guides/accounts/creating-and-editing-accounts.md).

## Staking

HBAR staking differs from the shared flow in [**Staking**](/help-center-v2/guides/staking.md).

### Your HBAR never moves

Staking HBAR does not transfer it anywhere. Your balance stays in your Account. Staking only points your Account at a node, which is why several things other networks worry about do not apply here:

|                                   | HBAR staking |
| --------------------------------- | ------------ |
| Lock-up period                    | None         |
| Bonding period                    | None         |
| Time to unstake                   | Instant      |
| Risk of losing stake to a penalty | None         |

Because the HBAR never leaves the Account, you keep it available throughout.

### You stake the whole balance

**You cannot stake part of an Account.** Staking applies to the entire balance, and unstaking releases all of it.

Any HBAR that arrives later **joins the staking position automatically**. You do not have to stake it again.

There is no amount to choose, and nothing to top up.

### Changing node

You do not unstake first. Staking to a different node performs the switch in one step.

The switch also pays out the reward accumulated up to that point.

### How rewards are paid

The Hedera Council sets the reward rate.

Rewards do not arrive on a fixed schedule. Hedera pays the accumulated reward into the Account when one of these happens:

* You stake to a different node.
* The staked Account's balance changes.
* The Account auto-renews.

Rewards accumulate over a rolling 365 days. Beyond that, only the most recent 365 days can be collected. Rewards do not expire outside that window, they stop accumulating further back.

## Related

* [**Staking**](/help-center-v2/guides/staking.md)
* [**Finding Accounts and balances**](/help-center-v2/guides/accounts/finding-accounts-and-balances.md)
* [**Networks**](/help-center-v2/reference/networks.md)


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