APR versus APY
APR is the simple annual rate. APY is what you actually earn over a year when rewards are reinvested, so it's higher than APR for the same underlying rate, and the gap grows with compounding frequency. Protocols and exchanges quote whichever looks better. The calculator converts between them so the comparison is fair.
The compounding formula
With compounding, each period's reward is added to the stake and earns in the next period. Without compounding, rewards accumulate but don't earn, and the balance grows in a straight line. Most native staking compounds automatically or on a claim schedule; liquid staking tokens compound continuously through their exchange rate. The staking mechanics guide covers the difference.
What the yield doesn't tell you
Staking rewards are paid in the token, so a 5% yield on a token that falls 40% is a loss. Much of the yield is new issuance, so it's partly the network paying you with dilution, and the real yield is the reward rate minus the inflation rate; the tokenomics guide shows where to find that rate. And stake can be slashed or locked during an unbonding period. None of that is in the table below, and all of it matters more than the compounding frequency.
Frequently Asked Questions
The guides behind this calculator
- Staking mechanics Validators, delegation, liquid staking and slashing.
- Proof of stake Where the rewards come from.
- Tokenomics The inflation rate to subtract from the yield.
- Delegated proof of stake How delegation and operator fees work.
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Formulas last reviewed 2026-09-10. Educational tool, not financial advice. Results depend entirely on the numbers you enter.