Annual percentage yield calculator for cryptocurrency investments across different timeframes. Calculate your returns by minute, hour, day, month, and year.
Initial investment amount
Annual percentage yield
Investment duration in days
APY (Annual Percentage Yield) represents the real rate of return earned on an investment over one year, accounting for compound interest. Unlike APR (Annual Percentage Rate), APY includes the effects of compounding, making it a more accurate measure of actual earnings.
In cryptocurrency, APY is commonly used in DeFi protocols, staking, lending platforms, and yield farming. Crypto APYs can range from conservative 3-5% (like Ethereum staking) to aggressive 50-100%+ (high-risk DeFi pools). Higher APY typically correlates with higher risk.
APY assumes your earnings are continuously reinvested, creating "interest on interest." A 10% APY with continuous compounding means you don't just earn 10% - you earn slightly more as your returns themselves generate returns. This exponential growth accelerates over time.
This calculator breaks your APY into practical timeframes: minutely, hourly, daily, monthly, and yearly. Understanding your daily or monthly returns helps you track real-time earnings and make informed decisions about reinvestment, withdrawals, or reallocations.
APY includes compound interest; APR doesn't. If a protocol offers 10% APR with daily compounding, the actual APY is ~10.52%. Always look for APY when comparing investment options - it's the true return. Many protocols advertise APR because it looks higher, but APY tells the real story.
In traditional finance, 2-5% APY is typical. In crypto, 5-15% APY is considered moderate and sustainable. 20-50% APY is high but achievable in DeFi. Anything above 50% APY should trigger extra caution - understand the source of yield and associated risks before committing significant capital.
Enter the dollar value of your investment. This can be stablecoins ($1000 USDC), cryptocurrency equivalent ($10,000 worth of ETH), or any crypto asset you're earning yield on. Use current USD value.
Enter the annual percentage yield offered by your protocol. Find this on the platform's dashboard, staking page, or sites like DeFiLlama.com. Make sure you're entering APY (with compounding), not APR. Examples: Ethereum staking ~4.5%, Curve pools ~8%, high-risk DeFi ~30-100%.
Enter your investment duration in days. Use 365 for one year, 730 for two years, etc. Shorter periods like 30 days (1 month) or 90 days (1 quarter) work too. The calculator shows how compound interest grows your investment over your chosen timeframe.
You'll see your returns broken down by timeframe: minutely (smallest unit), hourly, daily (most practical), monthly (great for budgeting), and yearly (total annual earnings). Plus total value after your time period and total return earned.
Use daily returns to track if you're actually receiving expected yields. Use monthly returns for income planning. Use yearly returns to compare with other investment options. Use total return to evaluate if the opportunity meets your financial goals.
This calculator assumes continuous compounding (most accurate for crypto). Real results may vary slightly based on protocol-specific compounding frequencies. Auto-compounding protocols will match these results closely. Manual claiming requires you to reinvest rewards to achieve stated APY.
Invest $10,000 at 12% APY for 1 year:
rate = (1 + APY/100)^(1/periods) - 1
Periods per year:
• Minutes: 525,600
• Hours: 8,760
• Days: 365
• Months: 12
return = principal × rate
Example (10% APY, $10,000):
Daily rate = (1.10)^(1/365) - 1 = 0.000261
Daily return = $10,000 × 0.000261 = $2.61
yearly = principal × (APY / 100)
Example: $10,000 × 0.10 = $1,000/year
value = principal × (1 + APY/100)^years
This accounts for compound interest over your time period. For 2 years at 10% APY:
$10,000 × (1.10)^2 = $12,100
return = final value - principal
Example: $12,100 - $10,000 = $2,100 profit
Verify calculations: Daily return × 365 should approximately equal yearly return (small differences due to compounding). Monthly return × 12 ≈ yearly return. This ensures accuracy across all timeframes.
Understanding your returns across different timeframes helps you make better decisions. Daily returns let you verify protocols are paying correctly. Monthly returns help with budgeting and income planning. Yearly returns facilitate comparison with traditional investments. Seeing minutely/hourly returns demonstrates the power of continuous compounding - your money literally grows every second!
Compare how different APY rates translate to practical daily and monthly earnings:
Daily: $1.37 | Monthly: ~$41 | Yearly: $500
Typical of Ethereum staking, safe and stable
Daily: $2.74 | Monthly: ~$83 | Yearly: $1,000
Common in DeFi lending platforms
Daily: $5.48 | Monthly: ~$167 | Yearly: $2,000
High-yield DeFi pools, increased risk
Daily: $9.59 | Monthly: ~$292 | Yearly: $3,500
Aggressive DeFi strategies, significant risk
Daily: $13.70 | Monthly: ~$417 | Yearly: $5,000
Extremely high risk, verify sustainability
Daily: $27.40 | Monthly: ~$833 | Yearly: $10,000
Extreme risk, often unsustainable
Breaking down APY by timeframe makes abstract percentages concrete. Earning "$2.74/day" is more tangible than "10% APY." It helps you verify protocols are paying correctly and makes it easier to compare opportunities. A $50/month yield might cover a subscription; $500/month could be meaningful passive income. Use these breakdowns to evaluate whether an investment meets your financial goals.
The APY rate assumes continuous compounding. Use protocols that auto-compound (Yearn, Beefy, Convex) or manually reinvest rewards regularly. Compounding daily vs. monthly can add 0.5-1% extra APY annually.
Always compare protocols using APY (includes compounding), not APR. A protocol advertising 15% APR with daily compounding actually offers ~16.18% APY. Unscrupulous platforms may advertise higher APR to hide lower actual returns.
APY rates fluctuate based on protocol usage, TVL, and market conditions. A pool offering 25% APY today might drop to 15% tomorrow. Check rates weekly and be ready to reallocate to maintain optimal returns.
50% APY sounds amazing but often carries 10x the risk of 10% APY. Consider splitting capital: 50% in conservative 5-10% APY options (stable, audited protocols) and 50% in higher-yield 15-30% APY opportunities.
Earning 10% APY on USDC means you actually get 10% more purchasing power. Earning 20% APY on a volatile token that drops 30% results in net loss. For reliable income, focus APY strategies on stablecoins.
Higher APY often requires locking funds for weeks or months. If you need liquidity, choose flexible options even if APY is 2-3% lower. Being locked during a market crash or better opportunity costs more than the extra yield.
Beginner: Start with 5-10% APY on stablecoins via reputable platforms (Coinbase, Aave, Compound). Learn the basics with minimal risk.
Intermediate: Allocate 60% to stable 5-10% APY, 30% to moderate 10-20% APY, 10% to experimental 20-40% APY. This balances safety and growth.
Advanced: Actively manage positions, chase optimal APY across protocols, use leveraged strategies, but always maintain 30-40% in conservative positions as a safety net.
Advertised APY is a snapshot, not a promise. Rates can drop significantly without warning as protocol conditions change. A 30% APY pool today might be 15% next week. Never assume current rates will persist.
All DeFi protocols use smart contracts that could have bugs or exploits. Even audited contracts have been hacked. Only use established, audited protocols with proven track records. Diversify across multiple platforms.
If earning APY through liquidity pools, you face impermanent loss risk. High APY might be offset by IL if token prices diverge. Understand the mechanism before providing liquidity to earn yield.
Earning 50% APY is worthless if the token price drops 60%. Your net result is negative despite high APY. For volatile tokens, consider whether APY adequately compensates for price risk. Stablecoins eliminate this concern.
Some high APYs come from token inflation, not real value creation. If a protocol prints 100% more tokens annually to pay 100% APY, your relative share hasn't grown - you've just kept pace with inflation.
Extremely high APY (100-1000%+) is often used to lure victims into scam protocols that steal funds. If APY seems too good to be true, it probably is. Research team, audits, and protocol mechanics thoroughly.
APY earnings are typically taxable as income when received (not just when withdrawn). High APY means high tax liability. Consult a crypto tax specialist to ensure compliance and optimize your tax strategy.
Some high-APY protocols require locking funds or have limited liquidity for withdrawals. You might be unable to exit during market stress when you most want to. Always understand withdrawal terms and restrictions.
APY: 3-5% | Risk: Low | Liquidity: Liquid (stETH, rETH)
Safest crypto yield. Auto-compounds, fully liquid, blue-chip protocols.
APY: 2-8% | Risk: Low-Moderate | Liquidity: Instant
Lend USDC/DAI/USDT. Established platforms, continuous compounding, fully liquid.
APY: 4-15% | Risk: Moderate | Liquidity: Variable
Native staking on proof-of-stake chains. Cardano fully liquid, Polkadot 28-day unbonding.
APY: 5-20% | Risk: Moderate | Liquidity: Instant
Stablecoin liquidity pools. Moderate IL risk, boosted by CRV rewards.
APY: 10-30% | Risk: Moderate-High | Liquidity: Variable
Auto-compounding vaults. Optimized strategies, moderate smart contract risk.
APY: 5-20% | Risk: High | Liquidity: Variable
Algorithmic stablecoin platforms. Higher APY but depegging risk.
APY returns from cryptocurrency are typically taxable as ordinary income when received, not when withdrawn. Each time you earn rewards (daily, weekly, or when claimed), that creates a taxable event. The tax treatment varies significantly by jurisdiction, and crypto tax laws are actively evolving.
Cryptocurrency APY taxation is extremely complex and varies by country, state/province, and individual circumstances. Tax authorities worldwide are actively developing guidance, and rules change frequently. Consult with a crypto-specialized tax professional or CPA to ensure compliance, optimize your tax strategy, and avoid penalties. The cost of professional advice is typically far less than potential tax liabilities, interest, or fines from non-compliance.