Staking Reward Calculator
How much will you earn staking crypto? Calculate simple rewards, see the power of compounding, and compare protocols side by side.
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How to Use This Calculator
Tab "Basic Staking"
Enter the amount you are staking, the APY (annual percentage yield) offered by the protocol, and your staking period in months. The calculator shows total rewards earned using simple interest, plus a daily, weekly, and monthly reward breakdown.
Tab "Compounding"
Same inputs as basic staking, plus a compounding frequency selector (daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly). This models auto-compounding where rewards are reinvested at each interval. The result shows compounded rewards, how much extra you earn versus simple staking, and the effective APY.
Tab "Compare Protocols"
Enter a staking amount and period, then compare three protocols with different APYs and risk levels. The side-by-side table shows rewards, total value, and risk rating for each protocol — useful for deciding where to allocate your stake.
The Formulas
Rewards = Principal × APY × (Days / 365)
where APY is expressed as a decimal (e.g. 4.5% = 0.045)
Compounded staking (future value):
FV = P × (1 + APY/n)^(n × years)
Compounded rewards = FV − P
where n = compounding periods per year (365 for daily, 52 for weekly, 12 for monthly, 1 for yearly)
Effective APY:
Effective APY = (1 + Stated APR / n)^n − 1
This shows the true annual yield after compounding is factored in
Extra from compounding:
Extra = Compounded rewards − Simple rewards
All calculations use standard financial mathematics. No taxes, gas fees, or slashing penalties are applied. Results are pre-tax estimates.
Worked Examples
Example 1 — Basic: $10,000 staked at 4.5% APY for 12 months
A user stakes $10,000 worth of ETH at 4.5% APY for one year (365 days).
Calculation: Rewards = 10,000 × 0.045 × (365/365) = $450.00. This is simple interest — no compounding applied.
Example 2 — Compounding: $10,000 at 5% APY, monthly compounding, 12 months
Same amount but with monthly compounding (n = 12) to see the compounding advantage.
FV = 10,000 × (1 + 0.05/12)^(12 × 1) = $10,511.62. Monthly compounding earns $11.62 more than simple staking. The gap widens with larger amounts, higher APY, and longer periods.
Example 3 — Compare: ETH vs SOL vs DeFi on $10,000 for 12 months
Comparing three protocols with different risk/reward profiles, using simple interest for a fair comparison.
| Protocol | APY | Rewards | Total | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ETH Staking | 4.5% | $450 | $10,450 | Low |
| SOL Liquid Staking | 7.2% | $720 | $10,720 | Medium |
| DeFi Pool | 15% | $1,500 | $11,500 | High |
The DeFi pool earns 3.3x more than ETH staking, but carries significantly higher smart contract and protocol risk. The best choice depends on your risk tolerance and investment horizon.
Understanding Staking
What Is Staking?
Staking is the process of locking cryptocurrency in a blockchain protocol to support network operations (like transaction validation) in exchange for rewards. It is the primary consensus mechanism for Proof-of-Stake (PoS) networks like Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, and Polkadot.
Types of Staking
Native staking involves running a validator node or delegating to one. Ethereum requires 32 ETH to run a validator. Rewards come directly from protocol issuance and transaction fees. Risk is relatively low but includes slashing (penalty for validator misbehavior) and lock-up periods.
Liquid staking lets you stake without lock-up. Protocols like Lido (stETH) or Marinade (mSOL) give you a liquid token representing your staked position. You earn staking rewards while keeping liquidity. Extra smart contract risk applies.
DeFi yield farming involves providing liquidity to decentralized exchanges or lending protocols. APYs are often higher (10-50%+) but carry impermanent loss, smart contract risk, and potential for total loss if the protocol is exploited.
APY vs APR
APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is the simple rate without compounding. APY (Annual Percentage Yield) includes the effect of compounding. A protocol advertising 5% APR with daily auto-compounding actually yields an APY of about 5.13%. Always check whether a protocol quotes APR or APY — the difference matters.
Risks to Consider
Staking is not risk-free. Key risks include: slashing (validators can be penalized for downtime or malicious behavior), smart contract risk (bugs in staking contracts), lock-up periods (your funds may be inaccessible for days or weeks), price volatility (the underlying asset can drop in value more than rewards earned), and protocol risk (the entire protocol could fail or be exploited).
Tax Implications
In most jurisdictions, staking rewards are taxable — typically as income when received and as capital gains when sold. The tax treatment varies significantly by country. This calculator does not apply taxes. Consult a qualified tax adviser for your specific situation.