> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mars-protocol.gitbook.io/mars-protocol/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mars-protocol.gitbook.io/mars-protocol/tokenomics/staking.md).

# Staking

MARS holders who wish to participate in governance can stake their MARS tokens and receive xMARS in return, with an unstaking period of 7 days. xMARS has a few key properties:

* **Governance:** 1 xMARS = 1 unit of voting power. Only xMARS (and MARS that’s locked for Mars Joint Venture contributors) can participate in governance, making decisions on asset listing, risk parameters, treasury spending and more.
* **Fees:** xMARS holders receive a share of protocol interest-rate revenue. Similarly to SushiSwap’s SushiBar contract, this is done by using the revenue to buy MARS on the open market and adding it to the xMARS pool.
* **Safety Fund:** xMARS holders backstop protocol risk. A pool of reserved aUST (the ‘Safety Fund’) is used as a first-resort source of recovery for shortfall events. Staked Mars is used as a last-resort source of recovery for Shortfall Events, with up to 30% of their stake being locked and sold in case of a shortfall event