How much does crypto staking really pay?
ethereum.org showed a rate of 2.5% a year when we read it. Exchanges advertise higher numbers on other coins, but the coin’s price can fall by far more than that.
Staking means locking coins to help run a network, in return for rewards. The rate is not a promise and it changes. On Ethereum you need 32 ETH to run your own validator, or you can use a pool or an exchange with less, and accept their risks. In the US, the IRS treats rewards as income. This page recommends no coin.
What do you need for crypto staking?
- Coins you already own and can afford to loseA falling price can wipe out years of rewards.
- A way to stake32 ETH for your own validator. With a pool, any amount: some pools accept as little as 0.01 ETH.
- A record for taxThe IRS lists staking income on Schedule 1 of Form 1040.
What the rates look like
| Way to stake | Figure | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Ethereum, network rate | 2.5% a year | Shown on ethereum.org when we read it. It changes |
| Own validator | 32 ETH minimum | Plus a machine that stays online |
| Pools | Virtually any amount | A third party stands between you and the network |
| Kraken advertises | “Up to 21%” a year | Depends on the coin. Higher bonded rates tie your coins up |
| Pool and exchange fees | Set by each provider | ethereum.org says pooled staking comes with a fee |
At 2.5%, 1 ETH earns about 0.025 ETH in a year, before fees and tax. That is our sum, and the rate moves.
What it adds up to
| ETH staked | A year at 2.5% |
|---|---|
| 1 ETH | 0.025 ETH |
| 10 ETH | 0.25 ETH |
| 32 ETH, your own validator | 0.8 ETH |
Before fees and tax. The rate moves, and the coin’s price can fall by more than it earns. Our sums on ethereum.org’s rate above: an example, not a promise.
When does crypto staking pay you?
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Paid out at | Set by the provider |
| First money | Kraken advertises weekly rewards. Others differ |
What is the catch with crypto staking?
- Rewards come in the coin, so a price fall can leave you with less than you started with.
- Validators that go offline lose small amounts, and provable misbehaviour can destroy part of the stake.
- With pools and exchanges you carry the provider’s risk too.
- The FTC says: “Only scammers will guarantee profits or big returns.”
How to start with crypto staking
- Decide if you should hold the coin at allStaking does not change that risk.
- Compare the real rateAfter fees, in your own country.
- Check how you get outRead the rules on unstaking and any bonded term first.
- Keep recordsYour rewards may be taxable when you receive them.
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Sources
- ethereum.org: staking, checked 5 Nov 2026
- ethereum.org: pooled staking, checked 5 Nov 2026
- Kraken: crypto staking, checked 5 Nov 2026
- IRS: digital assets, checked 5 Nov 2026
- FTC: what to know about cryptocurrency scams, checked 5 Nov 2026