Search "best staking APY" and you'll see 8%, 12%, even 19% plastered across every comparison site. What almost nobody shows you is the number that actually matters: how many dollars land in your wallet each month if you stake $1,000.
The gap between the advertised APY and the money you really receive comes from validator commissions, platform cuts, and the timing of reward payouts. So let's skip the marketing and do honest math on three of the most-staked coins — Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano — with $1,000 each, net of the fees you'll actually pay.
How monthly staking income is really calculated
The formula is simple: ($1,000 × net APY) ÷ 12. The tricky word is net.
Advertised APY is always quoted before anyone takes a cut. In practice, three layers stand between that number and your wallet. First, the validator commission — typically 5–10% of rewards — goes to whoever runs the node your stake is delegated to. Second, if you stake through an exchange or custodial platform, they take their own cut on top, sometimes 15–25% or more. Third, some networks charge small transaction fees when you claim or compound rewards.
Key takeaway: Always subtract every middleman before doing the monthly math — the advertised APY is never the number that lands in your wallet.
The numbers: ETH vs SOL vs ADA on $1,000
These figures reflect typical mid-2026 conditions for self-custody staking with a reputable validator, before compounding within the month:
| Coin | Advertised APY | Typical validator cut | Net APY | Monthly income on $1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethereum (ETH) | ~3.0% | ~10% | ~2.7% | ~$2.25 |
| Solana (SOL) | ~6.8% | ~8% | ~6.3% | ~$5.21 |
| Cardano (ADA) | ~3.5% | ~2% + pool fixed fee | ~3.4% | ~$2.83 |
Here's the Solana row worked out step by step: $1,000 × 6.8% = $68 per year gross. Subtract the validator's 8% commission ($5.44), leaving $62.56. Divide by 12 and you get about $5.21 per month.
Notice how unglamorous the honest numbers are. Nobody's getting rich on $1,000 of staked ETH at current yields — and anyone telling you otherwise is quoting gross figures. If you're comparing coins, our guide to the best proof-of-stake coins for passive income breaks down which networks currently offer the strongest risk-adjusted returns.
Why your actual payout will differ from the table
Price moves dwarf yield. This is the big one. Staking rewards are paid in the native coin, so your dollar income floats with the market. A 5% dip in SOL's price wipes out nearly an entire year of staking income at these rates. Yield smooths returns; it doesn't protect them.
Compounding and payout frequency matter. The table above ignores intra-year compounding. If your rewards auto-compound (or you manually restake monthly), you'll earn slightly more — roughly an extra 0.1–0.3% effective APY at these levels. Small, but free.
Minimums and lock-ups add hidden costs. Solo ETH validating requires 32 ETH — far beyond $1,000 — so smaller stakers use pools or liquid staking, which adds another small fee layer. Some networks also have unbonding periods (days to weeks) where your capital earns nothing while you wait to exit. Before sizing any position, it's worth reading how much crypto you need to start staking profitably.
For reference on how Ethereum's own staking rewards work at the protocol level, the official Ethereum staking documentation is the most reliable source.
Crypto Staking Calculator: Plug in your own coin, amount, and APY to see your projected daily, monthly, and yearly staking rewards instantly — calculate your staking income here.
Conclusion
With $1,000 staked in 2026, realistic net monthly income sits around $2–5 across the major coins — coffee money, not rent money. Fees shave more off the headline APY than most beginners expect, and price volatility can erase a year's yield in a week.
That doesn't make staking pointless. It makes it a long game: the yield is a bonus on top of holding an asset you already believe in, and it compounds quietly over years. Just size your expectations with the same honesty as your math.
Financial Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice. Cryptocurrency staking carries significant risk, including price volatility, slashing penalties, and lock-up periods. Historical yields are not indicative of future results. Always conduct your own thorough research and consult a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
