How to Harvest Symbol (XYM): Delegated Harvesting Guide
A practical guide to Symbol (XYM) delegated harvesting, including the 10,000 XYM requirement, importance, node selection, key linking, activation, and ACTIVE status.
Updated
You do not need to run your own Symbol node to harvest XYM. With delegated harvesting, your account can delegate harvesting to a node while rewards still depend on your account’s importance.
This guide reflects the current Symbol documentation and Desktop Wallet behavior reviewed in October 2026.
What do you need to start harvesting?
Before you start, check these requirements:
- At least 10,000 XYM
- A little more than 10,000 XYM to cover transaction fees
- An importance score greater than zero
- A current Symbol Desktop Wallet
- A Symbol node that accepts delegated harvesters
On Symbol mainnet, importance is recalculated every 720 blocks, roughly every six hours at the target block time. For a newly funded account, it can take around 12 hours before the effective harvesting importance becomes greater than zero.
Step 1: Install Symbol Desktop Wallet
Use the official release page:
Do not download a wallet from an unofficial mirror.
Step 2: Fund your account
Send at least 10,000 XYM to the account you want to use for harvesting.
If you are withdrawing from an exchange for the first time, sending a small test amount before the full transfer can help reduce the risk of an address mistake.
Step 3: Wait for importance
Holding 10,000 XYM does not always make the account harvest-ready immediately.
If your importance is still zero, wait for the next recalculation. A newly funded account may need around 12 hours before it becomes eligible in practice.
Step 4: Open Harvesting
In Symbol Desktop Wallet, open the Harvesting screen.
Choose a node, link the required keys, and then send a delegated harvesting request.
Step 5: Choose a node
You can use the harvest-xym node:
symbol-node.harvest-xym.comAs of October 5, 2026, public Symbol node monitors show it online as a Peer / API node.
See How to Choose a Symbol Harvesting Node for the main factors to compare.
Step 6: Link all keys
Run Link all keys in Desktop Wallet.
The wallet creates the transactions needed to register the harvesting keys. After they are confirmed, Harvesting Status should become KEYS LINKED.
Step 7: Activate delegated harvesting
Select Activate to send the Persistent Delegation Request to the node.
The status may temporarily show IN PROGRESS. If the node accepts the delegation, the status becomes ACTIVE.
Step 8: Confirm ACTIVE
ACTIVE means delegated harvesting is enabled.
It does not mean you will receive a reward within a fixed period. Harvesting probability depends mainly on your account’s importance.
If harvesting does not start
Check the following:
- Your balance is above 10,000 XYM.
- Your importance is greater than zero.
- Harvesting Status is ACTIVE.
- The selected node is online.
- The node still has delegation capacity.
- You have waited long enough for importance and probability to take effect.
For troubleshooting, see Symbol Harvesting Requirements and Status and the Symbol Harvesting FAQ.