Crypto Staking Calculator

Last reviewed: June 2026

APR vs. APY — the gap that matters

Staking platforms quote yield in two ways, and the difference is not cosmetic. APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is the simple nominal rate — it does not account for the compounding that happens each time rewards are restaked. APY (Annual Percentage Yield) is the effective annual rate — it already includes compounding and represents what you actually earn over a full year.

The relationship between them is:

where n is the number of compounding (restake) periods per year. This is the same formula the SEC uses for deposit accounts and the same one published by Coinbase Institutional for Ethereum staking yield.

The gap is real but modest at typical staking rates. At 10% APR, daily restaking (n = 365) produces an APY of 10.5156% — an ending balance of 1,105.16 tokens on 1,000 staked. Monthly restaking (n = 12) produces an APY of 10.4713% — a balance of 1,104.71 tokens. The daily advantage is 0.45 tokens on 1,000 over one year. The compounding cadence matters; it just does not matter as much as the rate or the horizon.

If a platform quotes APY rather than APR, restake frequency becomes cosmetic: the annual result is the same regardless of how often rewards are distributed, because the APY already captures the full compounding effect. The calculator's APR/APY toggle makes this explicit.

Why this calculator shows tokens, not dollars

The defensible, deterministic output of staking math is the token count: 1,000 ETH staked at 5% APR for five years grows to 1,284 ETH. That number is correct given the inputs and does not require any further assumption.

Converting to dollars requires a price forecast. If ETH is at $2,000 today, the ending 1,284 ETH could be worth $2,568,000 — or $12,840 if the price falls 99%, or zero if the protocol fails. A staking yield of 5% APR is entirely irrelevant to the fiat outcome if price drops 80%. Presenting a dollar projection as a result would imply a level of certainty this calculator cannot and will not fake.

The optional price field shows what the ending token balance would be worth at a price you enter, held flat for the entire horizon. It is an illustration of scale, not a forecast. The label on that line says so plainly. This is the same “show only what's defensible” stance that governs every tool on this site.

What this calculator assumes

• Everything is denominated in the native token. Rewards are paid and compounded in the token you stake. The calculator tracks token count, not dollars.
• The rate is held constant over the whole horizon. Real staking APR/APY is variable and moves with network participation, validator set size, and protocol-level issuance schedules.
• The rate you enter is the net rate you actually receive. Validator commission, platform cut, gas-to-compound, and token inflation are not modeled separately. A platform headline APR of 8% might net 6–7% after commission and gas. Enter the net figure.
• Compounding happens exactly at the chosen restake cadence. Auto-compounding cadence varies by protocol; manual restaking costs gas. As with the Compound Interest Calculator, additional-stake contributions fire at the same cadence as compounding — monthly contributions with daily compounding cannot be modeled together; choose monthly compounding for that scenario.
• No slashing, downtime, lock-up, or unbonding effects are modeled. Slashing can permanently reduce your staked balance; unbonding periods may prevent you from accessing rewards for days or weeks.
• Any dollar figure assumes the entered price stays constant for the entire horizon. It is an illustration, not a forecast. Token-price volatility — not yield — dominates real fiat outcomes.
• Not financial, tax, or legal advice. Staking rewards may be treated as taxable income in your jurisdiction. Consult a qualified professional.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between APR and APY?

APR is the simple nominal rate with no compounding factored in. APY folds in compounding via (1 + APR/n)^n − 1 and represents what you actually earn over a full year when rewards are restaked at frequency n. Banks are required to disclose both for deposit accounts; crypto platforms are not, and some quote APR while others quote APY. The calculator's APR/APY toggle lets you match whatever the platform shows you.

Does restaking more often really help?

Yes, but modestly at typical staking rates. At 10% APR, daily restaking (APY 10.5156%) outperforms monthly restaking (APY 10.4713%) by about 0.04 percentage points. On 1,000 tokens over one year, that is roughly 0.45 extra tokens. The rate and the horizon matter far more than compounding cadence.

Why don't you show my dollar returns?

Because it requires a price forecast, and we will not fabricate one. A 5% staking yield on ETH says nothing about your dollar return if ETH falls 50%. The optional flat-price illustration lets you see the scale of the token balance at a price you choose, held flat and clearly labeled as not a forecast. That is the honest version of a fiat figure.

Is staking yield guaranteed?

No. Staking yields are variable, set by protocol parameters and validator participation rates. They can and do change. Beyond yield variability, the token itself can lose most or all of its value; slashing can permanently reduce your staked balance; and lock-up or unbonding periods may prevent you from exiting during a downturn.

What about validator commission and gas costs?

Enter the net rate you actually receive. Headline platform APRs are typically quoted before the validator's commission cut (often 5–10%) and before any gas cost to compound rewards. If a platform shows 8% APR and your validator takes a 10% commission, your gross staking rate is approximately 7.2%. Gas-to-compound erodes further, especially at small balances or on chains with high gas costs.

Are staking rewards taxable?

Tax treatment varies by jurisdiction and is evolving. In the United States, the IRS has indicated that staking rewards are generally taxable as ordinary income at the fair market value when received. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice specific to your situation. This calculator does not model taxes.