APY vs APR
APY assumes reinvestment of rewards; APR does not. If rewards aren’t auto-restaked, realized yield may sit closer to APR.
Yield math
Crypto Staking Rewards Calculator
Inputs
Enter amount, APY, and time to see rewards.
How to interpret the output
- Rewards show the incremental tokens earned over the period at the entered APY.
- Final balance assumes rewards are restaked (compounded) at the same rate.
- For days or months, the APY is annualized: we convert to years and apply the annual rate.
- Real-world staking can vary: validator commissions, downtime, slashing, or variable rates can change realized yield.
Fun facts about staking
Commission drag
Validator fees reduce your net yield. Two validators with the same gross rate can pay very different net rewards.
Net vs gross
Lockups & liquidity
Some networks enforce lockups or unbonding delays. Liquid staking removes lockups but adds smart-contract and depeg risk.
Access risk
Slashing risk
Misbehavior by a validator (double signing, downtime) can slash stake. Diversifying across operators can reduce validator risk.
Validator
Rate drift
Staking yields fluctuate with network inflation, participation, and fee revenue. Treat fixed APY calculators as a snapshot, not a promise.
Dynamics
Deep dive: how staking yield actually works
Staking returns are often quoted as an APY (annual percentage yield) or APR (annual percentage rate). APY assumes you reinvest rewards as they arrive, compounding them over the year, while APR does not. This calculator models a fixed APY with compounding, but real-world staking is messier: validator commissions, network inflation, participation, fee revenue, and slashing penalties all affect realized yield. Treat the output as an educational estimate, not a guarantee.
On many proof-of-stake networks, validators (or node operators) receive block rewards and transaction fees. They pass a share to delegators after taking a commission. Effective yield is therefore gross yield × (1 – commission), minus any downtime or slashing. High advertised yields can shrink if the validator has poor uptime, high fees, or if network issuance declines. Likewise, networks with dynamic inflation adjust rewards based on total stake: as more tokens are staked, the per-token yield often falls.
Reinvestment frequency matters. If rewards are automatically compounded (many liquid staking tokens do this), realized APY can approach the quoted figure. If you only claim monthly or quarterly, or if rewards sit idle, your effective return drops toward APR. Gas costs can make frequent manual compounding uneconomical on some chains, so a longer claim cadence can be rational even if it trims headline APY.
Risk isn’t eliminated by staking. You’re exposed to price volatility, validator risk (commission changes, downtime, slashing), smart-contract risk if you use liquid staking, and sometimes lockup or unbonding delays that limit liquidity. Some networks allow “liquid staking” tokens that trade freely, but they add counterparty and depeg risk: the token may not track 1:1 with the underlying staked asset.
Because this tool is client-side, it fetches no prices or network data. Inputs are yours, computations stay on your device, and nothing is stored. For a realistic plan, consider: your validator’s commission and uptime history, expected rate drift as network participation changes, any gas you’ll spend to restake, and your personal claim cadence. If rewards are taxed or if a portion vests/unlocks slowly, adjust the APY downward to approximate those effects.
Staking can be a way to earn yield on long-term holdings, but it carries operational and market risk. Diversify validators, keep an eye on commissions, and avoid over-reliance on a single smart-contract wrapper. This calculator is a starting point for “what if” questions, not financial advice.