What it is
Running a validator — or delegating to one — earns protocol rewards, but the headline APY is never what lands in your pocket. Commission takes a cut, downtime silently skips your rewards, and lockups trap capital through volatility. This calculator turns gross advertised yield into the net number you actually keep: enter stake, APY, validator commission, and realistic uptime, and get monthly and yearly profit after all haircuts.
It works for both roles: solo stakers checking whether hardware and effort beat delegating, and delegators comparing validators beyond the advertised rate. Every input is yours alone — nothing leaves the browser, no wallet connects, no account needed.
Why decentralization matters
Where stake flows decides who secures the network. Chasing the highest advertised APY herds everyone into the same giant pools and exchanges — which is precisely how decentralized validator sets quietly become three companies. A calculator that shows net yield reveals an uncomfortable truth: the gap between a mega-pool and a small independent validator is usually tiny after commission. Choosing the smaller one costs you little and buys the network real decentralization. Your stake is a vote; spend it on operators worth having.
How the formula works
Gross yearly reward equals stake multiplied by APY. The validator’s commission is subtracted from rewards (not principal): net equals gross times one minus commission rate. Uptime scales linearly — 98% uptime means roughly 98% of expected attestations and rewards. Monthly figures divide the uptime-adjusted net yearly reward by twelve. The built-in chain presets use illustrative static APYs (Ethereum ~3.5%, Solana ~6.8%, Cardano ~4.2%, Avalanche ~7.1%, Polkadot ~12.5%, Cosmos ~14%, Near ~8.5%, Sui ~5.5%, Aptos ~6.2%) — verify live network rates before committing funds, as issuance and participation shift constantly.
Calculator
Risks
Staking concentrates three risks beginners underestimate: lockup illiquidity during crashes, slashing from validator faults you didn’t commit, and the quiet centralization of delegating to whoever advertises loudest. Diversify operators, prefer independent validators when the net-yield gap is small, and never stake funds you’d need to exit in a hurry.
Worked example
Stake 32 ETH (one full Ethereum validator) at 3.5% APY with a 5% pool commission and 99% uptime: gross yearly is 1.12 ETH, commission takes 0.056, uptime shaves another ~1%, leaving about 1.05 ETH net — roughly 0.088 ETH monthly at current prices. Now the same capital split across two independent small validators at 4% commission versus one giant pool at 10%: the yearly gap is a few hundredths of an ETH — lunch money — while the decentralization contribution differs enormously. Run both configurations above; the math almost always favors spreading.
Common mistakes
Comparing gross APYs across chains with different lockups, volatility, and slashing regimes as if the percentages were interchangeable. Ignoring commission compounding — a 10% commission doesn’t cost 10% of yield in volatile markets where rewards must be sold to cover costs. Forgetting uptime entirely (the default 100% flatters every estimate). And staking the full stack with one operator for a 0.3% edge, concentrating both personal risk and network power for lunch money.
FAQ
Solo stake or delegate? Solo keeps full rewards and maximizes decentralization but demands 32 ETH, hardware, and vigilance. Delegating suits smaller stakes; pick independent validators over the biggest pool.
Does compounding matter? Yes if rewards auto-restake (liquid staking), modestly otherwise. Restaking rewards manually a few times a year captures most of it.
What about taxes? Most jurisdictions tax staking rewards as income when received (or when you gain control). Track everything; this tool is not tax advice.
Related
- Staking · Validator · Delegation
- Staking & Earning · Yield, Staking and Farming Risks
- Ethereum audit — see how stake concentration scores.