How to use it
- Enter Price change of asset A vs B (%).
The formula
IL = 2√r ÷ (1+r) − 1, where r is the price ratio change.
Worked example
About this calculator
Impermanent loss is the tax that automated market makers quietly charge liquidity providers: because the pool always rebalances toward the weaker asset, an LP ends up with less of the winner and more of the loser than someone who just held both. The formula is unintuitive, which is exactly why this calculator exists.
The practical readings: a 2× divergence costs about 5.7%, a 4× costs about 20%. Those numbers are the hurdle your fee income has to clear before providing liquidity beats holding. Run your expected scenario here first — most disappointed LPs never did.
Frequently asked questions
Why 'impermanent'?
Because the gap closes if prices return to the starting ratio. If you withdraw while diverged, the loss is permanent.
Do fees make up for it?
Sometimes — that's the bet. Pools with strong volume can out-earn the loss; quiet pools with volatile assets rarely do.
Does IL apply to stable pairs?
Barely — pairs that track each other (two stablecoins) suffer minimal IL, which is why stable pools dominate prudent LP strategies.
Tips
- Never invest more than you can afford to lose — crypto is volatile.
- Self-custody means responsibility: back up your seed phrase offline.
- Check fees and spreads — they quietly eat small trades.
Key terms
- Staking
- Locking coins to secure a network and earn rewards.
- DCA
- Dollar-cost averaging — buying fixed amounts on a schedule.
- Impermanent loss
- Value gap from providing liquidity vs simply holding.