What is Mean Rate of Return?

What Is Average Return Rate?

The average return rate is a method for consolidating multiple returns into a single “average level,” making it easier to assess overall performance. It can aggregate returns across time periods (such as several months) or across different assets (such as multiple cryptocurrencies), enabling quicker comparison and better investment decisions.

Return rate refers to the ratio of profit to investment. For example, if you invest 1,000 yuan and end up with 1,100 yuan, the return rate is 10%. The average return rate is similar to calculating the average score across several exams in a semester; in investing, it combines returns from multiple periods into a comparable metric.

Why Is Average Return Rate Important?

Average return rate transforms fragmented performance data into a clear, unified overview, helping you compare the effectiveness of different strategies, assets, or timeframes. It provides a consistent way to answer, “How much did I make overall during this period?”

In crypto markets, where asset prices are highly volatile and strategies vary (spot trading, savings, grid trading, quantitative strategies), average return rate helps you quickly evaluate which approach is more stable or which period had abnormal performance, enabling adjustments to your portfolio or take-profit/stop-loss actions.

How Is Average Return Rate Calculated?

The most common methods are arithmetic mean and geometric mean. Choose the approach that best fits your specific scenario.

Step 1: List the return rates for each period. For example, returns over three months are +10%, -10%, and +10%.

Step 2: The arithmetic average return rate is the sum of each period’s return rate divided by the number of periods: (+10% -10% +10%) ÷ 3 = 3.33%. This approach is intuitive but does not account for the compounding effect.

Step 3: The geometric average return rate treats each period as “capital multiplied by a coefficient,” then takes the nth root to find the per-period growth: [(1+10%)×(1-10%)×(1+10%)]^(1/3) - 1 ≈ 2.89%. This method accounts for drawdowns and compounding.

For multi-asset portfolios in a single period, use “weighted arithmetic average.” For example, if your capital weights are BTC 60%, ETH 20%, and stable savings 20%, and the returns are 5%, 8%, and 1% respectively, then the portfolio’s average return rate for that period is: 0.6×5% + 0.2×8% + 0.2×1% = 4.8%.

Difference Between Arithmetic and Geometric Average Return Rate

The key difference lies in whether compounding and drawdowns are considered. Arithmetic average is more straightforward, while geometric average better reflects actual capital growth.

When there is volatility, geometric average return rate tends to be lower than arithmetic average because a large drawdown reduces the capital base, and subsequent gains must first offset those losses. For long-term strategy assessment or multi-period comparisons, geometric average is preferred. For comparing assets within a single period or for quick estimations, arithmetic average is more convenient.

A simple guideline: If you care about “how much your account has grown in total,” use geometric average return rate; if you want “the average gain across multiple assets at the same time,” use weighted arithmetic average.

How Is Average Return Rate Used in Crypto Investing?

Average return rate can be used to evaluate spot holdings, savings products, automated strategies, and their performance across different periods. It’s useful for comparing assets and strategies.

On Gate:

• Spot portfolios: Track monthly portfolio returns to see if the average return rate is stable or dragged down by any single asset.
• Savings products (flexible or fixed): Convert weekly or monthly income into return rates and calculate average return rates for different products or terms.
• Grid strategies: Use historical monthly or weekly returns to compute geometric average return rates for long-term compounding ability; compare stability across different grid parameters.

In any scenario with significant volatility or multi-period compounding, prioritize geometric average return rate to avoid being misled by short-term high averages.

Relationship Between Average Return Rate and Risk

Average return rate itself does not directly indicate risk level, but risk affects how meaningful the average is. In high-volatility environments, the geometric average return rate will often be lower than the arithmetic average, resulting in slower long-term capital growth.

If two strategies have similar average return rates, the one with lower volatility is usually preferable since its geometric average will be higher and its growth curve smoother. Effective risk management (position sizing, stop-losses, diversification) can improve compounding efficiency and turn the same average return rate into better long-term outcomes.

Common Misunderstandings About Average Return Rate

Three typical mistakes:

1. Wrong calculation method: Using arithmetic average for long-term/multi-period evaluation can overestimate strategy performance; using geometric mean for single-period multi-asset comparison is unnecessarily complex.
2. Ignoring cash flows: If there’s net deposit/withdrawal during the period, simply using ending minus starting value will misrepresent returns. Adjust for net inflows first; use capital-weighted methods for investor experience or time-weighted methods for strategy capability.
3. Misled by averages: An arithmetic mean of +50% and -50% is 0%, but the actual geometric result is (1.5×0.5)-1 = -25%. The “average” looks break-even but in reality the capital shrinks.

How to Quickly Estimate Average Return Rate on Gate?

Use a simplified process to get a credible estimate without complex coding:

Step 1: Choose timeframe and method. For long-term evaluation, use geometric average; for cross-sectional comparison of assets in one period, use weighted arithmetic average.

Step 2: Get your data. Export beginning balance, ending balance, and net deposits/withdrawals from Gate’s asset records or transaction logs. For strategy assessment, export each period’s results from strategy history.

Step 3: Calculate per-period returns: For each month/week, single-period return = (ending balance − starting balance − net deposits) ÷ starting balance.

Step 4: Consolidate into average return rate:

• Arithmetic average = sum of per-period returns ÷ number of periods.
• Geometric average = product of (1 + per-period returns), take nth root, then subtract 1.

Before estimating, clarify your purpose and keep your calculation method consistent. When leverage or derivatives are involved, volatility and risk are amplified—exercise extra caution.

Connection Between Average Return Rate and Annualized Return Rate

Annualized return rate converts an average return rate over any period into a yearly figure for easy comparison across timeframes. When using geometric mean for annualization, compounding must be considered.

For example, a monthly geometric average return rate of 2% annualizes to about (1+2%)^12−1≈26.8%, not simply 2%×12=24%. Multiplying arithmetic averages by number of periods can overestimate or underestimate real compounding effects.

Always clarify two points when comparing: which calculation method (arithmetic vs geometric) underlies the annualization, and what is the base period (week/month/quarter). Consistency in both ensures comparability.

Risk warning: Crypto asset prices are highly volatile; historical averages do not guarantee future results. When using leverage or derivatives, potential losses may be magnified. Assess risks and personal tolerance before investing.

FAQ

How Do You Calculate Average Return Rate?

The basic formula for average return rate is: (Ending balance − Starting balance) / Starting balance × 100%. For instance, if you invest 1,000 yuan and have 1,200 yuan after one year, your average return rate is (1200-1000)/1000 × 100% = 20%. For actual calculations, consider the investment duration and select either arithmetic or geometric mean. Using Gate’s asset management tools with built-in calculators can yield results quickly.

Why Do Some Say a 20% Return Rate Is Great While Others Say It’s Not Enough?

The evaluation of a return rate depends on investment duration and risk level. In short-term trading (like daily trades), 20% might be excellent; over a year, compare against market benchmarks. For high-risk assets (such as small-cap tokens), 20% could be low; for low-risk assets (like stablecoins), it’s quite attractive. Benchmark against similar assets’ averages and your own risk tolerance rather than chasing absolute numbers.

I Hold Multiple Cryptocurrencies on Gate—How Can I Quickly Check Overall Return Rate?

Gate’s "Asset Overview" page shows your overall yield. Alternatively: (Current total assets − Total invested) / Total invested × 100%. If you have multiple buy/sell transactions, export data from Gate’s "Transaction History," segment by period, then calculate weighted averages. For long-term portfolios, consider recording results monthly/quarterly to track trends over time.

My Average Return Rate Is High But Volatility Is Also Large—Is This Investment Reliable?

High returns with high volatility indicate increased risk—these investments are usually less stable. The average return rate only shows the mean performance; it doesn’t reflect risk fluctuations. An investment could have an annualized return of 50% but suffer an 80% loss in a single month—not acceptable for risk-averse investors. The best practice is to monitor both "return rate" and "Sharpe ratio" (risk-adjusted returns); check volatility indicators in Gate’s advanced analytics for a comprehensive view.

What Are Common Misconceptions New Investors Have About Return Rates in Crypto?

Most beginners confuse single trade profits with long-term average returns or ignore inflation’s impact on real returns. Earning 20% may look impressive until you factor in a concurrent 10% inflation—real gain is only around 9%. Another pitfall is assuming historical averages guarantee future performance despite changing market conditions. Newcomers should record full-cycle weighted returns and compare data across periods rather than focusing only on single trades.