MayoCalc / Finance

Crypto Staking Rewards Calculator

Estimate your staking rewards with daily, monthly, and yearly projections. Supports any token and APY.

Last updated April 2026
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Disclaimer: This calculator is for general educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice, investment advice, tax advice, or legal advice and is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified professional. No fiduciary or advisory relationship is created by your use of this tool. Results are estimates based on the inputs you provide, standard mathematical formulas, and publicly available data that may not be current and may not reflect your individual financial situation, applicable tax laws, or other relevant factors. Neither MayoCalc nor Cook Media Systems assumes any liability for losses, damages, or other consequences arising from the use of any information or results provided by this tool. Always consult a qualified financial advisor, certified public accountant, or attorney before making financial decisions. See our full Disclaimer and Terms of Service.

What Is Crypto Staking?

Staking means locking up your cryptocurrency to help validate transactions on a proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain. In return, you earn rewards, similar to earning interest on a savings account. Instead of miners solving complex math problems (like Bitcoin's proof-of-work), proof-of-stake networks select validators based on how much crypto they have staked. Popular staking coins include Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), Polkadot (DOT), and Cosmos (ATOM).

How Staking Rewards Are Calculated

Staking rewards are expressed as an annual percentage yield (APY). The actual APY varies by network, validator, and market conditions. With daily compounding (the most common approach), your rewards are added to your staked balance each day, and the next day's rewards are calculated on the larger balance. This compounding effect means your effective yield is slightly higher than the stated APR.

Daily Reward = Staked Amount x (APY / 365)

With Compounding: Ending Balance = Amount x (1 + APY/365)days

Staking APY by Coin

Staking yields change frequently based on network participation and protocol rules. As of early 2026, approximate ranges are: Ethereum (ETH) 3-4% APY, Solana (SOL) 5-7%, Cardano (ADA) 2.5-4%, Polkadot (DOT) 10-14%, Cosmos (ATOM) 12-18%, and Polygon (MATIC) 3-5%. These rates are not guaranteed and fluctuate with network conditions, total staked supply, and protocol changes.

Risks of Staking

Staking is not risk-free. The primary risks include price volatility (the value of your staked coins can drop significantly while locked), lock-up periods (some networks require you to wait days or weeks to unstake), slashing (validators can lose a portion of staked coins for misbehavior or downtime), smart contract risk (bugs in staking contracts can lead to loss of funds), and platform risk (if you stake through an exchange or service, that platform could be hacked or go bankrupt).

Where to Stake

You can stake directly on the blockchain by running your own validator node (requires technical knowledge and often a large minimum stake), through a staking pool (combine your stake with others, lower minimums), or through a centralized exchange like Coinbase, Kraken, or Binance (easiest but you give up custody of your coins). Each approach has trade-offs between convenience, control, and fees.

Staking vs. Lending vs. Yield Farming

Staking earns rewards from the blockchain protocol itself for helping secure the network. Lending earns interest by loaning your crypto to borrowers through platforms like Aave or Compound. Yield farming earns fees and token rewards by providing liquidity to decentralized exchanges. Each carries different risk profiles: staking is generally considered the safest of the three, while yield farming often offers higher returns with significantly higher risk.

Staking Calculator FAQ

What is a good staking APY?
It varies by coin and network. Established networks like Ethereum offer 3-4% APY, while smaller or newer networks may offer 10-20% or more. Higher APYs often come with higher risk or inflation. Compare the staking APY to the token's inflation rate to understand your real yield.
Is staking taxable?
In the United States, staking rewards are generally treated as taxable income at the time they are received, valued at fair market value. When you later sell the rewards, any gain or loss from the price change is subject to capital gains tax. Tax treatment varies by country. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Can I lose money staking?
Yes. While you earn additional tokens as rewards, the value of those tokens (and your original stake) can decrease if the price drops. Slashing penalties can also reduce your staked amount on some networks. Staking does not protect against market downturns.
What is the minimum amount to stake?
It depends on the network and method. Running your own Ethereum validator requires 32 ETH. Staking pools and exchanges often have much lower minimums, sometimes as little as a few dollars. Cardano has no minimum. Check your chosen platform for specific requirements.
Does staking compound automatically?
It depends on the platform and network. Some staking setups automatically compound rewards (like many Solana validators). Others pay out rewards that you must manually restake. Exchanges often auto-compound. The calculator above lets you model both scenarios.

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How Crypto Staking Returns Work

Staking rewards aren't fixed interest rates. They fluctuate based on network participation, validator performance, and protocol rules. Ethereum staking yields have ranged from 3-7% APR since the merge, depending on network activity and MEV rewards. Solana typically offers 6-8%, Cardano 4-6%, and Polkadot 10-15%. These rates change constantly.

Compounding frequency matters significantly over longer time horizons. Most staking protocols distribute rewards every epoch (which varies by chain), and those rewards can be restaked to compound. The difference between simple and compound returns over 5 years can be substantial, especially at higher APR rates.

This calculator models both simple and compound staking returns, letting you adjust the APR, compounding frequency, and time period. It also accounts for any staking fees charged by your validator or staking service, which typically run 5-15% of rewards. Enter your holdings and expected APR to see projected returns over any timeframe.