How to Calculate Stablecoin Yield
What is Stablecoin Yield?
The Stablecoin Yield Comparison Calculator compares interest rates across DeFi lending protocols, centralized platforms, and on-chain strategies for earning yield on USD-pegged stablecoins like USDC, USDT, and DAI.
Formula
Annual Yield = Principal × APY × (1 - Platform Fee%) - Gas Costs
- P
- Principal ($) — Stablecoin amount deposited for yield
- APY
- Annual Percentage Yield (%) — Advertised or current supply rate on the protocol
- F
- Fees ($) — Gas costs and any platform fees
- R
- Risk Factor (%) — Estimated probability of partial or total loss
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1Enter the stablecoin amount and select the stablecoins you hold
- 2Compare current supply APY across protocols (Aave, Compound, MakerDAO DSR, etc.)
- 3Factor in platform fees, gas costs for deposits/withdrawals, and compounding frequency
- 4Evaluate risk-adjusted yield by considering protocol risk, smart contract risk, and depeg risk
Worked Examples
Input
$100K USDC, Aave V3 supply rate 4.5%, no platform fee, $20 gas to deposit
Result
Annual yield = $100K × 0.045 = $4,500 - $20 gas = $4,480 net
Input
$100K DAI in MakerDAO DSR at 5%, no gas (already in Maker vault)
Result
Annual yield = $100K × 0.05 = $5,000
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✕Chasing the highest rate without considering the protocol smart contract risk
- ✕Not accounting for stablecoin depeg risk — not all stablecoins are equally safe
- ✕Ignoring that DeFi rates are variable and can drop significantly within days
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a safe stablecoin yield in DeFi?
Yields of 3-6% on major stablecoins via established protocols (Aave, Compound, MakerDAO) are generally considered sustainable and safe. Yields above 10% on stablecoins typically involve higher risk or unsustainable token emissions.
Which stablecoin is safest for yield farming?
USDC (Circle) is generally considered the safest due to regulated reserves and attestations. USDT (Tether) has the most liquidity but less transparency. DAI is decentralized and crypto-collateralized. Each has different risk profiles.