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Crypto Passive Income Calculator 2026 — Compare Staking, DeFi, Copy Trading & AI
Free Tool — Updated March 2026

Crypto Passive Income Calculator
Compare All 4 Methods Side by Side

The only calculator that compares ETH staking, DeFi lending, copy trading, and institutional AI trading simultaneously. Enter your capital. See the real numbers.

$10,000
$500$25k$50k$100k
$
Compound Returns
Reinvest profits each year
ETH Staking
Staking
3.5% APY
$1,093
$30/mo profit
+10.9%
DeFi Lending
DeFi
6% APY
$1,911
$50/mo profit
+19.1%
Copy Trading
Copy Trade
25% avg
$8,052
$208/mo profit
+80.5%
Top Performer
Endotech AI
AI Trading
163% avg annual
$452,170
$12,282/mo profit
+4422%

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Growth Over Time
3-Year Projection

Year-by-Year Breakdown

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Year ETH Staking DeFi Lending Copy Trading Endotech AI

All figures show total portfolio value including original capital. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Method Comparison — 2026

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Method Avg Return Custody Min Capital Track Record Active Mgmt
ETH Staking 3.5% APY Self-custody 32 ETH solo / any pooled Since 2022 None
DeFi Lending 5–8% APY Smart contract Any amount Since 2020 Some
Retail Copy Trading Variable Exchange holds Low 30–90 days Monitoring
Endotech AI / Bit1 ★ 163% avg annual* Your wallet No minimum 8 years live None

★ Based on Endotech BTC Alpha historical performance. 50% performance fee applies on profits. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

How to Use This Crypto Passive Income Calculator

This calculator compares four crypto passive income methods simultaneously so you can see the real difference in outcomes based on your capital and time horizon. Enter your investment amount using the slider or type directly in the input field. Select your time horizon from 1 to 10 years. Toggle compounding on or off — compounding reinvests your profits each year, which significantly amplifies long-term results. Switch to Goal Mode to see how much capital each method requires to hit a target monthly income.

The rates used are based on real 2026 data: ETH staking at 3.5% APY reflects the current Ethereum network staking rate. DeFi lending at 6% APY reflects average rates on Aave and Compound for USDC/USDT. Retail copy trading at 25% average is a generous estimate — most retail master traders have short track records and variable performance. Endotech AI at 163% average annual reflects the verified 8-year live trading record of the Endotech BTC Alpha strategy, subject to a 50% performance fee.

Why Staking Alone Won't Replace Your Income

ETH staking currently yields approximately 3.5% APY. On a $10,000 investment that is $29 per month. To earn $1,000 per month from staking you would need approximately $343,000 in capital. That is not a criticism of staking — it is excellent for wealth preservation on large holdings — but it is not an income strategy for most retail investors who do not have six figures sitting idle.

DeFi lending is better. At 6% APY on $10,000 you earn $50 per month. Still not significant. You need $200,000 to generate $1,000 per month. And DeFi lending carries smart contract risk — Aave has been secure, but not every protocol will be.

For a full comparison of all passive crypto income methods including DePIN nodes and yield farming, see our passive crypto income 2026 guide.

The Copy Trading Track Record Problem

Most copy trading platforms — Bybit, Binance, OKX, Bitget — let retail traders become master traders after 30 to 90 days of positive performance. That is not a track record. That is a hot streak. The calculation above uses 25% average annual as a generous estimate for retail copy trading, but real outcomes vary enormously based on which trader you copy.

The structurally different option is institutional AI copy trading. Endotech on Bit1 Exchange offers access to an AI system with a verified 8-year live trading record averaging 163% annually on BTC Alpha with 83% trade accuracy. Your funds stay in your own Bit1 Exchange Futures wallet via trade-only API — the AI executes trades but cannot withdraw funds. For the full analysis see our best crypto copy trading platform 2026 comparison.

Understanding the Endotech Performance Numbers

The 163% figure shown in this calculator requires important context. This is the BTC Alpha fixed capital average annual return over 8 years of live trading. Fixed capital means profits are not compounded in the calculation — each year is calculated as if starting from the same base. This is the most conservative way to report performance and actually undersells the compounded result.

A 50% performance fee applies on the VIP Retail tier with zero subscription cost. On a year where the strategy generates 163%, your net return after the performance fee is approximately 81.5% — still dramatically higher than any staking or DeFi alternative. The calculator shows gross figures — actual returns will be reduced by the performance fee.

Losing months happen. 10 out of 103 months have been losing months historically. The 90-day compounding strategy explains how to approach this correctly — the most common mistake is disconnecting during a losing month and locking in a loss that would have recovered.

Frequently Asked Questions

ETH staking currently yields approximately 3.5% APY. On a $10,000 investment that is $350 per year or about $29 per month. To earn $1,000 per month from ETH staking you need approximately $343,000 in capital. Staking is better understood as wealth preservation for large holdings than as an income strategy for small accounts.
It depends on your capital and risk tolerance. ETH staking is safest at 3.5% APY. DeFi lending offers 5-8% APY with moderate risk. Institutional AI copy trading through Endotech on Bit1 Exchange has historically averaged 163% annually on BTC Alpha over 8 years with full self-custody — making it the highest return option for those who can tolerate crypto market volatility. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
At ETH staking (3.5% APY): approximately $343,000. At DeFi lending (6% APY): approximately $200,000. At retail copy trading (25% avg): approximately $48,000. At Endotech AI historical average (163% gross, 50% performance fee): approximately $14,724 gross or $7,362 net after fees. These are based on historical averages and past performance does not guarantee future results.
APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is simple interest without compounding. APY (Annual Percentage Yield) includes compounding — reinvesting earnings to generate additional returns. For example, 12% APR compounded monthly becomes approximately 12.68% APY. Most staking and DeFi protocols quote APY. This calculator lets you toggle between compounded and non-compounded views to see the difference.
Endotech connects to your Bit1 Exchange Futures wallet via a trade-only API key. It can execute trades but cannot withdraw funds or transfer your capital anywhere. Your USDT stays in your own named wallet at all times. You can disconnect and withdraw at any moment with no lockup period. The full custody model breakdown is covered in our guide on whether automated crypto trading is safe.
Yes, dramatically — especially at higher return rates. At 3.5% staking APY, compounding adds modest benefit. At 163% AI trading returns, compounding transforms results significantly. Toggle the compounding option in the calculator above to see the exact difference for your capital and time horizon. Over 5 years at 163%, the difference between compounded and non-compounded results is often several multiples of the original investment.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. All crypto trading carries risk.

This calculator is for informational purposes only. Returns are based on historical averages and do not guarantee future performance. Cryptocurrency trading carries substantial risk of loss. Always conduct your own due diligence.

© 2026 Limitless/Bit1 Ecosystem Independent Affiliate.

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