Decentralised finance (DeFi) today has a problem: While protocols generate substantial yield, accessing and utilising that yield remains complex and fragmented.
We envision a different future, one where yield isn’t just something your assets earn — rather, it’s a fundamental carrier of value that powers everyday digital experiences.
Beyond the $YLAY token we explored previously, our mission is to transform how businesses and users interact with yield. Imagine your idle crypto assets not just earning returns, but automatically funding your Netflix subscription, accumulating airline miles, or even supporting your favorite charity — all without touching the principal investment. That’s our vision for DeFi and the future of the yield economy.
The Vision for Yield
We see yield as an essential part of everyday life — a regular, welcomed companion to your crypto wallet. As your idle digital assets grow, so too does their yield earning potential, and we see a future ripe with possibilities of how that yield can best be applied.
It’s why we envision yield as a carrier of value — the idea that yield-funded products can change how businesses incentivise and reward their customers.
Instead of traditional loyalty programs or discounts, companies can offer products or services that are essentially “self-paying” through the yield generated on customers’ collateralised assets.
Building the Infrastructure
This vision is enabled by infrastructure credits (ICs), the backbone of Yelay’s ecosystem. Infrastructure credits give builders access to our SDK and smart contract architecture, allowing them to create innovative yield-powered products without deep DeFi expertise. Through ICs, businesses can integrate yield generation directly into their applications, creating self-sustaining reward systems and services.
Builders can acquire ICs through two primary methods:
Direct purchases with USDC, which creates buy pressure on $YLAY through our smart treasury system.
Node operation, allowing infrastructure credits to be earned through $YLAY staking.
It’s important to note, 50% of protocol fees are distributed to node operators and 50% of protocol fees are retained by the protocol treasury.
$YLAY token holders will also have other opportunities to utilise their tokens for additional rewards as we enter our second phase. As the network decentralises, other node operators will be invited to join the network on a permissioned basis.
This approach ensures immediate access for builders, continued value for holders, and long-term protocol sustainability.
Path to Decentralisation
The path to Yelay’s future runs through decentralisation. Node operators form the backbone of our infrastructure, processing transactions and managing yield strategies across multiple protocols. By staking $YLAY, node operators earn the right to generate ICs and receive protocol rewards.
This creates a natural market dynamic where nodes compete with one another to provide the best services to $YLAY stakers. They do this by customising their reward structures — offering stakers various combinations of protocol fees, native tokens, and IC generation as incentives for choosing their nodes.
The more nodes that join our network, the more our ecosystem becomes increasingly resilient and innovative.
Current Progress
We’re already seeing our vision take shape through our extensive network of partner integrations.
Our infrastructure connects with leading protocols like Aave, Compound, and Curve, providing access to blue-chip DeFi yields.
Partners like Armor Wallet are combining AI-assisted trading with yield optimisation, while PERQ enables multi-chain yield farming with token allocation opportunities.
Each partner integration is carefully vetted to ensure security and performance — creating a foundation for sustainable yield generation — and our multi-chain support maximises flexibility, allowing builders to access yield opportunities across the DeFi landscape.
The Road Ahead
The real revolution begins with YelayMart, which we’re launching early 2025. This yield marketplace will showcase the full potential of yield-funded products like self-paying gift cards, travel rewards, subscription services, gaming assets, and much more — with each product representing a new way for businesses to engage customers through the power of yield.
Think of it like this: Instead of spending your crypto, you can collateralise it and let the yield work for you. Want that new streaming subscription? Your staked assets can generate the monthly payment. Planning a vacation? Your yield could be accumulating travel points while you save.
Below are more detailed examples of the yield-funded products you can expect to see on YelayMart:
- Self-Paying Gift Cards: Customers’ yield funds gift card balances over time.
- Travel and Experiences: Accumulate points and credits for flights, hotels, or unique experiences.
- Apparel and Merchandise: Earn brand-specific items through yield generation.
- Multi-chain Yield Farming: Through our integration with PERQ, allow your yield to access to blue-chip DeFi pools, where yield on assets can be exchanged for rewards and token allocations.
- Subscription Services: Use yield to pay for streaming services, software subscriptions, or news outlets.
- AI-Assisted Trading: Level up your yield through our Armor Wallet integration, which offers dynamic yield opportunities within its AI trading-assisted, non-custodial, multichain wallet.
- Charitable Donations: Direct yield to chosen causes, creating passive philanthropy.
- Education and Courses: Fund online courses or educational materials through asset yield.
- Gaming and Entertainment: Unlock in-game items or content using generated yield.
This isn’t just a new way to earn yield — it’s a fundamental shift in how we think about digital assets and their utility. Through Yelay’s infrastructure, we’re building a future where yield becomes an everyday tool, as familiar and useful as the credit cards in your wallet.
The future of yield is here, and it’s powered by Yelay. Check us out and see how Yelay can help your money make money today.
