Daily
+0.007%Weekly
+0.048%Monthly
+0.208%Yearly
+2.5%Projected Returns
180 DaysCardano Staking
Staking Cardano (ADA) allows you to earn passive income while supporting the network’s security and decentralization. Our calculator above helps you estimate potential returns from delegating your ADA to stake pools. Exploring other staking options? Check out our Ethereum staking, Binance (BSC/BNB) staking, and Solana staking calculators to compare potential yields.
Factors Affecting Cardano Staking Returns
Stake Pool Performance
A pool’s performance affects rewards. Factors include block production efficiency, uptime, and operator skill. Well-maintained pools typically produce more consistent returns.
Pool Saturation
Oversaturated pools (too much ADA delegated) have diminishing returns. The protocol encourages delegation across multiple pools to enhance decentralization.
Pool Fees
Stake pools charge variable fees (typically 0-5%) and a fixed pool fee of 340 ADA per epoch (shared among all delegators). Lower fees mean higher rewards for delegators, but may impact pool sustainability.
How to Use the Cardano Staking Calculator
Enter Your ADA Amount
Input the amount of ADA you plan to stake. Unlike Ethereum, Cardano only requires about 5 ADA minimum (to cover the 2 ADA deposit and transaction fees).
Set Your Timeline
Choose your intended staking period. Cardano distributes rewards every epoch (approximately 5 days), but new delegators should note there’s a 15-20 day (3-4 epoch) delay before first rewards arrive.
Adjust APR Rate
The calculator defaults to 2.5% as a conservative baseline, but many pools achieve 3-5% APR. Adjust based on your chosen stake pool’s historical performance. Rates may vary significantly from Binance staking or Solana staking.
Review Projections
Examine both ADA and USD values of potential rewards across different timeframes to plan your staking strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my ADA locked when staking?
No, your ADA remains liquid in your wallet when delegated. You can spend or transfer it at any time without penalties, unlike staking mechanisms in some other blockchains like Ethereum. The only exceptions are the 2 ADA deposit (refundable when you undelegate) and transaction fees.
How often are Cardano staking rewards distributed?
Rewards are distributed at the end of each epoch (approximately every 5 days). However, there’s an initial delay of 15-20 days (3-4 epochs) after your first delegation before you start receiving rewards. After this initial waiting period, you’ll receive rewards consistently every epoch.
Can I lose my ADA through staking?
No, Cardano’s Ouroboros protocol doesn’t have slashing penalties. Your delegated ADA is never at risk, even if the stake pool you delegate to performs poorly or goes offline. The only “costs” are the refundable 2 ADA deposit and small transaction fees.
How do I choose a stake pool?
Consider factors like historical performance, fee structure, pool size (saturation), and reliability. Many pools also support charitable causes or community projects, which might align with your values. Tools like adapools.org and pooltool.io can help you compare pool metrics.
How do Cardano staking rewards compare to other platforms?
Cardano’s average returns (typically 3-5% but can vary) may be lower than some platforms like Solana or Binance Smart Chain, but Cardano offers unique benefits including no lockup periods, no slashing risk, and strong decentralization.