Guide
SOL Staking Yield: How Much Do You Earn? Calculation Method and a 100 SOL Simulation
The Bottom Line
If you stake SOL, the current native staking yield after fees is roughly 5–7% per year (a 2026 ballpark; the net rate has been hovering around 6%). At a 6% APY, staking 100 SOL for one year earns you about 6 SOL (= 100 × 0.06). At 1 SOL = $130, that's roughly $780 worth — but because the SOL price moves, the dollar value is never guaranteed. On top of that, staking rewards are taxable income in most jurisdictions, so your take-home is smaller than the headline number. Below we walk through the formula, compounding, and the after-tax reality with concrete figures.
Key takeaways
- The basic formula for coins earned is staked SOL × APY. At 6% APY, 100 SOL earns about 6 SOL in a year
- APY is set by "inflation rate × staking ratio" and "validator commission," so it is not fixed (net yield is around 6% as of 2026)
- Compounding (re-staking rewards) nudges the effective yield slightly higher. Liquid staking can print somewhat higher figures thanks to added MEV
- Rewards are taxable when received — in Japan, for example, they are treated as miscellaneous income under progressive taxation (up to ~55%), valued at the market price at the time of receipt
The yield formula: how "how much you earn" is decided
The number of SOL you earn can be estimated with a very simple formula.
SOL earned ≈ staked SOL × APY (annual rate, after fees)
The APY (real annual rate) itself is determined by three factors.
| Factor | What it is | 2026 ballpark |
|---|---|---|
| Network inflation rate | Newly issued SOL. Starts at 8% and decreases by 15% each year, eventually fixing at 1.5% | ~3.8% |
| Total staking ratio | What share of all SOL is staked. The lower it is, the larger each staker's cut | Rewards are distributed inversely to this |
| Validator commission | The rate your chosen validator deducts from rewards. Typically 0–10% | ~2–7% |
Combining these, the gross yield before fees is about 6.4%, and the net yield after fees is about 6.0% (one example from publicly available data as of May 2026). These figures shift every epoch (about 2–3 days), so treat them as estimates only.
Simulation: staking 100 SOL for one year
Here is what 100 SOL becomes after one year at various APYs, using simple interest (rewards not reinvested).
| APY (net) | SOL gained in 1 year | Total SOL | Value (assuming 1 SOL = $130) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0% | +5.0 SOL | 105.0 SOL | +about $650 |
| 6.0% | +6.0 SOL | 106.0 SOL | +about $780 |
| 7.0% | +7.0 SOL | 107.0 SOL | +about $910 |
As a rule of thumb, 6% APY earns about +6 SOL per year on 100 SOL. The fiat value tracks the SOL price completely, so if the price rises your gain in dollar terms grows, and if it falls it shrinks (or you can end up below your original stake). Keep that in mind.
The impact of fees
Validator commission directly affects how much you earn. In a 6.4% gross environment, 0% commission earns +6.4 SOL on 100 SOL, while 8% commission earns about +5.9 SOL — a difference of roughly 0.5 SOL a year. How to pick your validator is covered in detail in How to choose a validator.
Compounding: what happens when you re-stake rewards
Because Solana staking rewards are automatically folded into your principal (active stake) each epoch, compounding effectively kicks in. Even at 6%, the compounded effective yield is a fraction of a percent to a few percent higher than simple interest.
- Simple interest 6%: 106.0 SOL after one year
- Compounded (auto-reinvested each epoch, 6% annualized): about 106.1–106.2 SOL after one year
The difference is small, but it grows the larger your stake and the longer the horizon. For how to begin native staking, see How to stake SOL. If you're chasing higher figures, liquid staking (JitoSOL and similar), which adds MEV revenue on top, can show blended APYs of roughly 5.9–7.5% per year — somewhat higher than native during some periods (at the cost of additional smart-contract and other risks).
What actually remains after tax
Staking rewards are taxable income. In Japan, for example, they are treated as miscellaneous income subject to comprehensive (aggregate) taxation — combined with salary and other income under progressive rates, for a maximum of 45% income tax + 10% resident tax = up to about 55%. The taxable amount is locked in at "the market value at the moment the reward is received," and any subsequent price decline is not taken into account.
Example: stake 100 SOL at 6% APY, earn +6 SOL over the year, and if the average price at receipt is 1 SOL = $130, the taxable base is about $780. Someone in a 20% bracket owes roughly $155, and someone in the ~55% band roughly $430 (assessed together with their other income).
- In Japan, a salaried worker must file a tax return once income other than salary and retirement income exceeds ¥200,000 per year
- Dependents, sole proprietors, and others become taxable once they exceed the ¥480,000 basic deduction
- When you later sell or swap the rewards you received, the difference from the value at acquisition is calculated as an additional gain or loss
This article is for educational purposes and is not investment or tax advice. Yields and the SOL price fluctuate, and no future return is guaranteed. The figures shown are estimates as of writing; actual APY, fees, and tax rates vary. Always verify the latest values against Solana's official sources, individual validators, and your national tax authority, and consult a tax professional for your specific filing.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Exactly how much do I earn by staking 100 SOL for a year? A. At a net APY of 6%, about +6 SOL (in coin terms) is the guideline. The fiat amount is not fixed because it tracks the SOL price, and after tax it is smaller still.
Q. Is the yield fixed? A. No. It varies every epoch based on the network inflation rate (which decreases 15% each year), the total staking ratio, and validator commission. It is around 6% net as of 2026, but it will decline over time.
Q. What's the minimum I can stake? A. Native staking is effectively possible with a small amount (even a few SOL), but minimums and fees differ by exchange, wallet, and liquid staking provider. For how to get started, see How to stake SOL.
Q. Am I taxed just for receiving rewards? A. Yes. In Japan, the market value at the moment of receipt is taxable as miscellaneous income. Even if you haven't sold, receiving the reward is itself the taxable event.
Sources
- Solana Official — Staking
- Solana Validator Documentation — Inflation Schedule
- Solana Compass — Staking / PoS Statistics (measured gross/net yields)
- Japan National Tax Agency — Tax treatment and calculation of crypto assets
- Helius — Compare Solana (SOL) Staking Rewards and APYs
A note before investing
This article is for informational purposes and is not investment advice. Crypto assets carry risks including price volatility, hacking, and loss. Make investment decisions at your own responsibility and only with funds you can afford to risk. Tax and regulatory rules can change, so always confirm the latest details against official primary sources.
Sources
FAQ
- Exactly how much do I earn by staking 100 SOL for a year?
- At a net APY of 6%, about +6 SOL (in coin terms) is the guideline. The fiat amount is not fixed because it tracks the SOL price, and after tax it is smaller still.
- Is the yield fixed?
- No. It varies every epoch based on the network inflation rate (which decreases 15% each year), the total staking ratio, and validator commission. It is around 6% net as of 2026, but it will decline over time.
- What's the minimum I can stake?
- Native staking is effectively possible with a small amount (even a few SOL), but minimums and fees differ by exchange, wallet, and liquid staking provider.
- Am I taxed just for receiving rewards?
- Yes. In Japan, for example, the market value at the moment of receipt is taxable as miscellaneous income. Even if you haven't sold, receiving the reward is itself the taxable event.
This article is informational only and is not financial, investment, or trading advice. Prices are reference snapshots and may be outdated. Always do your own research.
