There is difference between proof of stake and locking of tokens

[Dragonfund]

It has become a norm that new projects now used proof of stake or the common phrase "stake" to deceive token holders who do not understand the distinction between proof of stake (POS) and token locking mechanisms.
Proof of stake is simply a consensus technique used by nodes to confirm transactions and protect the network from attacks, and they get a reward based on the quantity of that coin they hold. To be a node, you really need a number of coins to be allocated to the network before you can be one, which is why you can either be a node or simply delegate your coins to a node and simply get a reward, but you may be forced to pay a fee by staking with a node for maintenance cost.

Locking of tokens on the other hand is just what the team used as a tool to reduce the number of coins or tokens in circulation.  When the demand for tokens is low and there appears to be a lot of pressure on token sales on the market, they have no choice but to design a smart contract that locks tokens based on the duration token holders desire to lock their tokens. I've seen 14 days, 30 days, 120 days, 180 days, and annually as the most prevalent. The Annual percentage yield (APY) differs depending on your duration, the APY increases as the lock duration increases.
However, there are things they wouldn't tell you about locking of tokens and this is where things usually get ugly for unaware token holders.

• Once your token is staked, you wouldn't get access to them until the locked period is over, and when the market is dumping, you can't do anything either.
  
• Don't get carried away by the huge APY, that 3000% depends on the total amount of token lock. So as soon you see high APY, they get slash down as soon as everyone locked their tokens and you may end up with an APY of 20% and in any case 0f market dump, that's the beginning of your nemesis, so don't be greedy.
• You should also know that locking tokens on some networks doesn't worth it especially Ethereum network, you may end up spending more than what you locked because the fee is so high, so stay safe and be vigilant.

[dansus021]

you can add masternode mechanism is same with smart chain validator that being used by the bsc locked minimum of coin to join validator or masternode to confirm transcation

and u can locking token on DeFi platfrom like PancakeSwap

[SquirrelJulietGarden]

With proof of stake, I can run it on my computer and can stop staking anytime I want. I wonder that with DeFi, will I be able to unlock my tokens anytime I want and withdraw it from pool to my wallet?

Or after I lock my tokens in pool, I have to leave my tokens there till the contract expiration? Even if I can unlock my tokens from DeFi pool anytime, I see those pools are risky than my computer.

[pooya87]

Locking of tokens on the other hand is just what the team used as a tool to reduce the number of coins or tokens in circulation.

Actually it is just a dumb way of slowing down the demise of their useless token because the dump is inevitable. Those gamblers who bought the useless token in first place wanted to see their "lottery ticket" win and when it didn't they are trying to save some of their money by selling the "ticket". The devs desperately try to slow that down so that they can sell faster and get their money out first.

[cabron]

I was suspicious of a DEFI project that I once tried investing but their term is that STAKING still. Untimely unstaking your tokens will cost a big penalty. The term untimely is because you have to agree on staking plans like for how long you will stake.

I did invest in one before the recent ATH of BTC and token price had been down since while the people who are staking it now suffer the low price.

[hugeblack]

Personally, any currency that the developer team controls, whether it is in the quantity offered or locking tokens or others, is not worth investing and if you like this type, the best is Binance, at least they have enough liquidity without being scammed.

The team’s control over the quantity supplied always makes the continuators the weakest option, as they can manipulate the price and thus flood the market at the moment they want it and vice versa.

POS is decentralized if it follows a decentralized distribution of funds, such as moving from proof of work to POS or ensuring that most currencies are not in the hands of one party and the data is dispersed so that it becomes difficult to obtain 51%.