Staking Yield Comparison
Compare ethereum staking yield, solana staking yield, and 6 more networks side by side. Interactive compounding calculator, risk-reward scatter plot, and a breakdown of where yield actually comes from.
Current Staking Yields by Network
Click a bar to explore that network in the calculator below
Compounding Calculator
ETH Staking Methods — Yield & Trade-offs
Native staking pays the most but locks capital. Liquid staking gives you yield and DeFi composability.
Risk vs Reward — All Networks
Hover (or tap) a dot for details. X-axis = composite risk score. Y-axis = staking yield.
Where Does Staking Yield Come From?
Staking yield is not free money — each source has different sustainability characteristics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which crypto has the highest staking rewards?
ATOM (Cosmos) currently offers the highest staking rewards among major networks at ~15% APY, followed by DOT (Polkadot) at ~12% and NEAR at ~9%. However, high yields often come with high inflation — ATOM's supply inflates to fund those rewards, which can erode purchasing power. ETH at ~3.2% has the lowest inflation impact, making its real yield arguably more valuable.
Is staking worth it in 2026?
Staking is generally worth it if you're already holding the asset long-term. Ethereum staking at ~3–4% beats most savings accounts and comes from real network revenue (transaction fees + issuance). The bigger question is whether to use native staking, liquid staking (stETH, rETH), or a CEX. Liquid staking on Lido or Rocket Pool offers the best balance of yield, liquidity, and DeFi composability for most users.
How does staking yield compare to DeFi lending yields?
Staking yields are generally lower but more stable than lending yields. ETH staking: ~3–4% (predictable). Lending ETH on Aave: 0.5–5% (variable, market-driven). Stablecoin lending: 3–8% (higher but stablecoin-denominated). The key difference: staking yield comes from the protocol itself and doesn't depend on borrowing demand. Lending yields fluctuate with market conditions. For risk-adjusted returns, staking often wins.
What is the difference between APR and APY in staking?
APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is the simple interest rate without compounding. APY (Annual Percentage Yield) includes compound interest — reinvesting rewards as they accrue. For ETH staking at 3.5% APR: if you compound daily, APY ≈ 3.56%. If you compound monthly, APY ≈ 3.55%. The gap widens with higher yields: ATOM at 15% APR compounds to ~16.18% APY daily. Most staking dashboards show APR; this calculator shows both.
What are the risks of staking vs just holding?
Staking adds several risks on top of price exposure: (1) Slashing — misbehaving validators lose a portion of their stake; rare but real. (2) Smart contract risk — for liquid staking protocols, a bug could drain the pool. (3) Lock-up — native ETH staking has an exit queue (days to weeks); some chains have mandatory unbonding periods (21 days for ATOM, 28 days for DOT). (4) Liquidity risk — if you need to sell quickly, lock-ups limit you. Liquid staking (stETH, rETH) mitigates lock-up but adds protocol risk.