Yield per Hour
Yield per Hour (YpH) is the quantitative metric professionals use to compare the real hourly return of Web3 gaming activities on a level playing field. It equals gross earned rewards minus gas fees and asset depreciation, divided by active played hours.
Defined by Sean Sandoval in The P2E Bible (Buy One Media LLC, 2026), Ch. 6 (p. 125). Cite as: Sandoval, Sean. "Yield per Hour." The P2E Bible, 2026, Ch. 6 (p. 125).
Formal Notation & Variable Definitions
| Symbol | Variable Name | Unit | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| YpH | Yield per Hour | USD / Hour | Net realized hourly monetary rate of return |
| R_G | Gross Rewards | USD | Total market value of tokens and NFTs received during period |
| C_O | Operating Costs | USD | Gas fees, entry fees, subscriptions, and secondary market asset depreciation |
| H_A | Active Hours | Hours | Actual focused time spent operating or playing |
The Formula & Variables
YpH = (R_G − C_O) ÷ H_A
Gross rewards (R_G) are converted to USD at the exact time of calculation. Operating costs (C_O) include gas fees, marketplace fees, asset rental, and asset value loss. Active hours (H_A) measure actual effort, excluding idle waiting.
Worked Example
A player earns $180 in utility tokens over a month, spends $30 in gas and marketplace fees, and logged 40 active played hours. YpH = ($180 − $30) ÷ 40 = $3.75/hour.
Compare that to a guild manager earning $220 net over 12 management hours = $18.33/hour. YpH exposes true efficiency regardless of gross volume.
Common Anti-Patterns
1. Ignoring Asset Depreciation: Failing to deduct the lost resale value of gaming NFTs from gross earnings inflates perceived YpH.
2. Counting Elapsed Time as Played Time: Measuring passive waiting instead of active operating hours skews productivity calculations.
FAQ
Why use Yield per Hour instead of daily earnings?
Daily earnings hide how much time an activity actually costs; YpH exposes efficiency so you can compare unlike activities fairly.
What counts as an operating cost in YpH?
Gas fees, entry or asset costs, subscriptions, and secondary market asset depreciation.