From base-layer blockchains to liquid staking protocols and DeFi governance staking — each category works a little differently.
Layer 1 blockchains are independent networks with their own validator set. Most use Proof of Stake or a close variant, which means the network is secured by participants who lock up the native coin instead of burning electricity on mining. Staking on a Layer 1 usually means delegating your coins to a validator (or running your own) directly through the project's official wallet.
The Cosmos ecosystem is a family of independent, interoperable blockchains built with the Cosmos SDK and connected through IBC. Each chain runs its own Delegated Proof of Stake validator set, and staking works the same way across almost all of them: delegate your tokens to a validator from the chain's official wallet or app.
Liquid staking protocols let you stake an underlying asset (most often ETH) while receiving a liquid, tradeable receipt token in return. That receipt token keeps earning staking rewards and can still be used elsewhere in DeFi, which is the main trade-off compared to locking coins directly with a validator.
A number of DeFi protocols let holders stake or lock their governance token directly in a smart contract to earn a share of protocol fees, boosted rewards, or voting power. This is different from blockchain-level staking — there is no validator involved, only the protocol's own staking or vote-escrow contract.