What if I told you that just 5 HIVE could generate more daily liquid HIVE than delegating 100 Hive Power?
Sounds impossible, right?
At first, I didn't believe it either—until I noticed something odd about a transaction that landed in my wallet. The amount wasn't exactly huge; in fact, you could even call it small. Yet, that small figure piqued my curiosity.
That's exactly what made me open my calculator.
The answer led me to an interesting comparison between Hive Grove and Hive Power delegation.
What Is Hive Grove?
Hive Grove is a social game on the Hive Blockchain where you earn a small amount of Hive simply by playing, while interacting with friends and acquaintances and strengthening your friendships.
In this game, you need to water your tree once every 24 hours. After watering your tree, you will receive a reward in the form of liquid Hive sent directly to your wallet.
In addition to watering your own tree, you can also help water other players' trees and interact with them at the campfire.
@ekads/my-first-week-playing-hive
Don't forget to visit my Hive Grove profile at https://hivegrove.up.railway.app/?g=ekads
My Daily Rewards from Delegating Hive Power
Currently, I am delegating portions of my Hive Power to several accounts in varying amounts. Some of these accounts regularly distribute curation rewards on a daily basis, with the payout amounts varying depending on each account's specific policy regarding the percentage of rewards shared with delegators.
The accounts I support that provide daily rewards to delegators are 
The Numbers That Surprised Me
Okay, those were the rewards I received from delegating 100 HP. Now, let's look at the rewards I earned from playing Hive Grove simply by watering my tree.
Do you notice anything unusual when comparing the screenshots of the delegation rewards and the Hive Grove rewards? By the way, for those who don't know, each tree in Hive Grove offers different rewards; the details are shown in the image below.
Let's present this in an APR table to make it easier to read.
The formula I used is:
APR = (Daily reward × 365 ÷ Tree cost) × 100%
Assumptions:
The tree is watered every day (never missed)
Only the base reward is calculated (excluding random bonuses)
Growth stage multipliers are not included
| Tree | Price | Reward/Day | Reward/Year | APR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak | 5 HIVE | 0.04 HIVE | 14.60 HIVE | 292.0% | |
| Maple | 8 HIVE | 0.06 HIVE | 21.90 HIVE | 273.8% | |
| Cherry Blossom | 10 HIVE | 0.07 HIVE | 25.55 HIVE | 255.5% | |
| Willow | 12 HIVE | 0.08 HIVE | 29.20 HIVE | 243.3% | |
| Pine | 15 HIVE | 0.09 HIVE | 32.85 HIVE | 219.0% |
Wait...
The cheapest tree actually gives the highest APR?!
Why Doesn't Everyone Buy Oak Trees?
If a player's goal is purely ROI, the Oak is mathematically the most profitable choice.
However, keep in mind that each tree has its own unique advantages.
Cherry trees grow 25% faster.
Willow trees grow 15% faster.
Bonus chances are higher.
Bonus multipliers also vary.
Rewards increase according to the growth stage (Young, Mature, Elder, Ancient), so the long-term real value depends on more than just the base APR.
This means the APR figures mentioned above are merely the minimums.
The actual APR is likely higher due to factors such as: bonus rewards growth multipliers tree growth speed
Hive Grove vs Hive Power Delegation
| Hive Grove | HP Delegation |
|---|---|
| Active | Passive |
| Daily watering | No maintenance |
| Higher potential APR | Lower but stable |
| Game experience | Pure investment |
| Growth bonus | No growth |
| Social interaction | None |
So... Which One Is Better?
If your goal is...
Passive income
Delegation
If your goal is... Maximizing HIVE with a small budget
Hive Grove
If your goal is... Having fun while earning
Hive Grove wins.
One Thing APR Doesn't Tell You
So, are you interested in playing Hive Grove after seeing the APR above?
However, keep in mind that APR is just a number.
It does not account for:
time
login consistency
forgetting to water
the risk of game changes
reward adjustments
opportunity cost
Conclusion
Can 5 HIVE Beat 100 HP Delegation?
Surprisingly...
Yes.
But only if you're willing to earn it.
If you had 100 HIVE today, how would you split it?
100% into Hive Power?
100% into Hive Grove?
Or would you build a mix of both?