Crypto APR from APY Calculator

About the Crypto APR from APY Calculator

Many DeFi protocols advertise APY (Annual Percentage Yield) because it looks more impressive than the underlying APR. But if you want to compare across protocols with different compounding frequencies, or you need the base rate for your own compounding strategy, you need to reverse-engineer the APR from the displayed APY.

The conversion is straightforward but not intuitive. A 100% APY with daily compounding corresponds to roughly 69.3% APR — not 100%. The higher the APY and the more frequent the compounding, the larger the gap between APY and APR.

This Crypto APR from APY Calculator lets you input any APY and compounding frequency to reveal the nominal APR. Use it to verify protocol claims, compare rates on a level playing field, or plan your own manual compounding strategy.

Use the result to map token-release or fee scenarios and revisit the model when market conditions, unlock terms, or portfolio assumptions change.

When This Page Helps

When protocols advertise APY, the underlying APR is what you actually earn per period before compounding. Knowing the APR helps you compare rates across platforms, calculate per-period earnings, and understand what return you'd get without auto-compounding.

How to Use the Inputs

1. Enter the APY displayed by the protocol or vault.
2. Select the compounding frequency used by the protocol.
3. View the calculated APR — the nominal rate before compounding.
4. Compare the APR across protocols to find the true best rate.
5. Use the per-period rate to estimate earnings between compounding events.

Example Calculation

Tips & Best Practices

• Always verify which metric a protocol displays — APR or APY.
• The gap between APY and APR grows with higher rates and more frequent compounding.
• Use the calculated APR to estimate daily or weekly earnings without compounding.
• For manual compounding, the APR tells you the rate between your restaking events.
• Compare APR across protocols when compounding frequencies differ.
• Continuous compounding APR = ln(1 + APY) — useful for per-block protocols.

When APY Misleads

Protocols advertising 1,000% APY sound incredible, but the underlying APR might be 234% with daily compounding. While still high, it's a very different number. Understanding the APR keeps expectations grounded and helps you model realistic short-term returns.

Practical Use: Planning Manual Compounding

If your protocol doesn't auto-compound, knowing the APR lets you calculate exactly how much you earn between restaking events. For a 69% APR, you earn about 0.19% per day. You can then decide if the gas cost of daily restaking is worth the compounding benefit.

APR in Lending Markets

DeFi lending protocols like Aave and Compound display supply APY and borrow APR (or vice versa). Converting between the two lets you compare the true cost of borrowing against the true return of lending across platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why is APR always lower than APY?

  APR is the simple rate without compounding. When you compound (reinvest earnings), you earn interest on interest, which pushes the effective annual return (APY) above the nominal rate. The more frequent the compounding, the bigger the gap.

• How do I know the compounding frequency of a protocol?

  Check the protocol's documentation or smart contract. Auto-compounding vaults often compound daily or per-block. Manual staking compounds whenever you claim and restake. Lending protocols typically accrue per-block.

• What if the protocol doesn't auto-compound?

  If you must manually claim and restake, your effective compounding frequency is however often you perform that action. The APR is what you'd earn with zero compounding — your actual APY depends on your restaking frequency.

• Can I use this for traditional finance rates?

  Absolutely. The APY-to-APR formula is the same in traditional finance. Banks, bonds, and savings accounts all use the same math. The formula is universal for any compounding scenario.

• What is continuous compounding APR?

  Continuous compounding assumes infinite compounding periods. The APR equals ln(1 + APY). For a 100% APY, continuous compounding APR is ln(2) ≈ 69.31%, which is the theoretical lower bound for the APR.

• Does the APR change if I invest more?

  No. APR and APY are percentage rates and don't change with position size. However, very large positions can affect pool dynamics (like increasing TVL), which may reduce the rewards distributed per token.