Your real RWA return has two parts: the income it pays (yield) and any change in the asset's value (capital gain or loss). To calculate it honestly you combine both, subtract all fees, and account for time - a 6% return over two years is not the same as 6% in one. This guide walks the simple math so you know your true net return, not just the headline yield a platform advertises.

Step 1: Add up your income

Total the distributions you received for the asset over the period - rent, interest, or other yield. This is your income return, straight from your distribution records.

Expressed against what you invested, it gives your income yield. For a treasury or credit token this is most of the return; for a growth-oriented property deal it may be only part.

Step 2: Add the change in value

Next, the capital piece: the asset's current value (or sale proceeds) minus what you paid. A gain adds to your return; a loss subtracts. For a sold position this is exact; for one still held, it is an estimate from NAV or asset value.

Combine income and capital change for your total return. Reporting only yield while ignoring a value change - up or down - gives a misleading picture.

Step 3: Subtract every fee

Deduct all costs: platform fees, management or performance fees, and any gas paid. Returns are what you keep after costs, and fees quietly erode headline numbers.

A deal with a lower advertised yield and low fees can beat a higher-yield one with heavy charges. Always calculate net, not gross.

Step 4: Annualise to compare

To compare investments fairly, annualise. A simple annual rate, or an APY that accounts for compounding, puts a one-year and a three-year return on the same footing.

Now you can compare RWAs against each other and against alternatives on a true, net, time-adjusted basis. The issuer computes the mirror of this as ROI from the issuer's side.

Where to go next

• Next: RWA taxes.
• The issuer's view: ROI from the issuer's side.
• Glossary: APY.

Sources: platform documentation, as of 2026.