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The Shiba Inu community has taken notice as Shytoshi Kusama, the prominent lead ambassador for the $SHIB project, has remained silent on X for 74 days, marking one of his longest periods of social media inactivity to date.

Kusama’s prolonged absence and project focusKusama has historically engaged with Shiba Inu supporters through regular updates, hints in his bio, and even live broadcasts on X, which has served as his main platform to communicate developments related to the popular memecoin.

His current silence began on May 13, when he stopped posting or interacting on X. Previous stretches of minimal online presence were seen in late 2025 and into 2026, indicating a pattern of stepping back from the public spotlight periodically.

In January, Kusama attributed his lower profile to developing an independent artificial intelligence initiative, revealing some progress on that project as his primary focus at the time.

Despite Kusama’s absence, there is heightened speculation within the Shiba Inu community that an update or announcement may soon follow, citing his past tendency to return with fresh information after a hiatus. As of now, however, there is no official indication that a major update is imminent.

Mini dictionary: Shytoshi Kusama is the pseudonymous lead ambassador and spokesperson for the Shiba Inu ecosystem. He often represents community interests and is seen as the unofficial public face for development updates and communications.

While Kusama remains inactive, community-powered SHIB burn campaigns have continued. On-chain tracker Shibburn reports that 7.15 million SHIB tokens were burned in the last 24 hours, marking a 66% increase in the daily burn rate.

Over the past seven days, 60.58 million SHIB were burned, bringing the 30-day total to 288.61 million. Robinhood, a major U.S.-based trading platform, led monthly burn efforts by sending 152,792,823 SHIB to so-called dead wallets across 106 separate transactions.

PeriodSHIB BurnedMain BurnerTransactions24 hours7.15 millionCommunity–7 days60.58 millionCommunity–30 days288.61 millionRobinhood106Total SHIB burned to date has reached 410,840,455,020,349 tokens, completed in 21,280 individual transactions. A notable contribution came from Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin, who destroyed 410 trillion SHIB in May 2021, significantly reducing circulating supply.

Even in the absence of leadership updates, the Shiba Inu community has maintained active burn efforts, with millions of SHIB removed from circulation weekly and major platforms like Robinhood participating in sizeable burn transactions.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.

PANews reported on September 8th that Coinbase Assets announced on the X platform that the Polkadot and Kusama networks are transitioning from the current Relay Chain networks to the Asset Hub network. Coinbase will support this migration, and users of KSM and DOT tokens from the Relay Chain networks will be automatically migrated to the Asset Hub network. Kusama is expected to upgrade on October 7, 2025, and Polkadot on November 4, 2025. Prior to the migration: Kusama's send and receive functions will be temporarily disabled from October 6th to 8th; Polkadot's send and receive functions will be disabled from November 3rd to 5th; and Polkadot's staking and unstaking functions will be disabled from November 3rd to 5th.

Kusama promised further information on the matter on Shiba Inu's official channels.

TL;DR

Despite shifting priorities toward other initiatives, Shytoshi Kusama assured the SHIB Army that they remain committed to the meme coin project. Earlier this summer, the developer emphasized that Shiba Inu’s future now rests with the community, outlining plans for fair elections to appoint an interim president who will oversee the ecosystem’s growth. Kusama Remains in ‘The War Room’ Shytoshi Kusama – the anonymous lead developer of Shiba Inu – has limited their interactions on the social media platform X lately. Earlier this week, though, they broke the silence on a matter that seems to be concerning for the SHIB community.

Kusama has previously stated that they will switch their focus outside the meme coin to push for AI initiatives “to better all our tokens.” However, that doesn’t mean they have abandoned the self-proclaimed Dogecoin-killer.

“To suggest that I am anywhere except beside Kaal Dhairyia, the devs and other appropriate parties figuring out next steps is utterly preposterous,” the announcement reads. 

In addition, Kusama said the current situation is “a bit complex and deep,” but assured that they remain in “the war room.” The lead developer also promised that further details on the matter will be shared on Shiba Inu’s official channels.

The Whole Saga With Kusama Shiba Inu saw the light of day in the summer of 2020 and over the past five years has expanded its ecosystem and blasted through major milestones. Its creator, Ryoshi, deliberately stepped away after setting the foundation of the project, with Kusama emerging as the lead developer and main public voice.

Earlier this year, the latter said they will step down from their role, mostly because “there is no more vision needed, only execution and communications.” Instead, Kusama revealed plans to become Shiba Inu’s global ambassador to drive mainstream adoption of the world’s second-largest meme token.

A few months ago, Kusama disclosed that the project will have an interim president who will be chosen after “fair elections,” and the voting will go through three sessions.

You may also like: Whales Can’t Get Enough of Meme Coins as FLOKI Explodes 950% DOGE, SHIB, PEPE Explode: Is Meme Coin Frenzy Back in Full Force? “The first allows for anyone to be nominated, while the top 10 move onto the debate phase. Debates will take place LIVE or recorded on various platforms and times, while a secondary vote to find the top 3 will take place after one week,” the announcement reads.

Any community member can nominate themselves for the position and will be required to create a profile to give some details about who they are. The main goal of the appointed president will be to maintain the well-being of the entire ecosystem and oversee the proper execution of the Shib Paper guidelines.

Kusama said their leadership is in the hands of the SHIB Army, ensuring that they will remain committed to posting information on the election date and related updates.

“We will continue working on innovation, and closely with the Treat Dao and strategies therein, and will continue pursuits outside of SHIB that align with our vision and often contribute to the ecosystem or DAOs. In this way, we continue as valued Shibizens of a system we helped build from nothing,” the developer added.

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From 1 to 100: How to grow Web3 users

PANews x BeWater co-produced: After the cold start, how do Web3 entrepreneurs solve the user growth problem of "1 to 100"? This special topic will include expert opinions, successful experiences and market research reports, etc., to provide Web3 entrepreneurs with a clear growth guide.

Shytoshi Kusama, a prominent figure in the Shiba Inu ecosystem, has not posted on the X platform since September 15. This extended silence is particularly notable given recent technical issues and security concerns within the ecosystem.

Silence Amidst Turmoil in ShibariumA rebase error in the LEASH token and an exploit attempt on the Shibarium bridge have heightened community worries. In the latest developments, the hacker who targeted the Shibarium bridge rejected an offered bounty, while Shima from K9 Finance publicly shared the hacker’s trail. Kusama’s continued silence during these tumultuous events has fueled further questions within the community.

In his last statement on X, Kusama emphasized that his silence is not an absence. He affirmed his ongoing collaboration with the Shiba Inu team, citing a focus on advancing artificial intelligence projects. Following an AI-focused technical document released at the end of July, Kusama limited his social media presence, opting instead to update his status and biography without providing further explanation.

December’s Familiar Pattern: Will History Repeat?Historically, December has been a period of increased activity for Kusama. The “Shy Speaks” podcast series, released towards the end of 2024, provided significant insights into the philosophy, technology, and future of Shiba Inu.

In December 2023, his posts highlighting developments in Shibarium garnered significant attention, sharing expectations for the new year with the community. This pattern has led many investors and SHIB community members to closely monitor December for potential developments.

This year, however, is different. With the first six days of December 2025 already past, Kusama remains silent. The cause is again attributed to an intense focus on personal AI projects. Still, the pressing question remains: Will Kusama make a surprise announcement in December, or will his silence extend into 2026?

Amid these discussions, another significant development occurred in the SHIB ecosystem. Last week, the testnet phase for a new version of ShibaSwap was announced. The community hopes Shibaswap 2.0 will increase trading volume and user engagement, heightening the expectation of a potential December announcement from Kusama.

In conclusion, it remains uncertain whether Shytoshi Kusama’s silence is merely a break from social media or a precursor to a major transformation. Considering Shibarium, ShibaSwap, and AI projects within the ecosystem, December has typically been a month for critical announcements. Thus, the community is sharply attuned to any potential declarations in the coming weeks.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.

Shiba Inu Teases AI “Beyond Crypto” Project After Long Hiatus

PANews reported on March 7th that the Web3 Foundation announced a strategic shift, returning to its core mission of promoting and managing Web3 resources, supporting community, governance, and technological infrastructure, and focusing more on its long-term vision and resource management. Based on this strategic shift, the Web3 Foundation will transfer several projects and initiatives, including the JAM Prize, Polkadot governance support, the Polkadot Wiki, the knowledge base, Kusama Vision, and developer documentation, to other teams and organizations to ensure long-term impact and a healthy ecosystem.

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COLOGNE, Germany (AP) — A mirror room dappled with colored dots. Contorted, bright sculptures of flowers on a rooftop at the foot of Cologne’s famed cathedral. A vast showroom with giant octopus-like tentacles that offer up a mesmerizing meander through space and obstacles.

The renowned Museum Ludwig in the western German city is celebrating its 50th anniversary by opening a nearly five-month exhibit on Saturday, with more than 300 works of the famed Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.

The trek through the time and transformation of the now nonagenarian artist assembles works ranging from her first drawing in the mid-1930s to a newly commissioned “Infinity Mirror Room” made for the show.

Kusama, who turns 97 this month, has become a social media sensation with her use of bright colors and oozy shapes that reflect her feeling of awe about life. Her own life carried her from patriarchal postwar Japan to New York to the Flower Power and anti-Vietnam war movements in the 1960s. She returned home to Japan in 1973.

Curator Stephan Diederich says the exhibit, which runs through Aug. 2, is “very diverse, wide-ranging, and depicts an immensely rich, creative life spanning more than eight decades, still looking ahead.”

Works include her series “My Eternal Soul, 2009-2021,” including a patchwork of paintings, to “The Universe as Seen from the Stairway to Heaven” — made of mirror, glass and acrylic sheet. The museum entrance hosts her widely-recognized 2009 “Pumpkin” of fiber-reinforced plastic and polyurethane paint, belonging to Museum Voorlinden in the Netherlands.

The rooftop display features painted-bronze sculptures “Flowers That Speak All about My Heart Given to the Sky” from 2018, and “I’m Here, but Nothing,” whose origins date back to 2000, involves fluorescent stickers and ultraviolet fluorescent lights illuminating a room of household objects.

“Kusama is undoubtedly one of the most significant artists of our time,” he said. “Her mirror rooms, balloon installations and polka dots have achieved cult status and are now iconic.”

Her multifaceted works often relate to the world of nature. She grew up in the greenhouses and fields of her family’s enormous seed nursery in Matsumoto, Japan. When Kusama was young, she began having vivid hallucinations, some of which involved polka dots or flowers spreading around her. She has fought through existential anxieties.

“In my more than 70 years as an artist, I have always been in awe of the wonder of life,” she said in a statement. “More than anything, this strong sense of the life force in artistic expression is what has supported me and gave me power to overcome feelings of depression, hopelessness and sadness.

“I have been guided by my belief in this power,” Kusama said.

Diederich said that Kusama has been living in relative seclusion in a Tokyo clinic for years, and communicated “indirectly” with the curatorial team. She still works every day, “as far as her health allows” and has taken an active interest in the show, he said.

Yayoi Kusama is one of Japan's foremost contemporary artists. She's known for her Instagramable "Infinity Rooms" — immersive installations that use mirrors, lights and reflective surfaces to create the illusion of endless space — as well as her large-scale polka dot sculptures. While her works often appear playful, behind them lies the story of a woman who has faced major social and mental health challenges.

Around the age of 10, Yayoi Kusama began experiencing hallucinations, seeing dots and net patterns enveloping everything in her mind's eye. She has attributed these early visions to the psychological strain of growing up with an unloving mother, who forbade her from painting and tried to impose traditional expectations on her behavior.

Although she continues to experience hallucinations, Kusama has learned to live with them and channel them into her art. "My artwork is an expression of my life, particularly of my mental disease," Kusama once told US arts publication Bomb Magazine.

After attending the Kyoto School of Arts and Crafts, Kusama held her first exhibitions in her hometown of Matsumoto. She was unusually open about her mental health at a time when such topics were heavily stigmatized. "It was extraordinary that she addressed it so openly," said Stephan Diederich, curator of the Kusama retrospective at Cologne's Museum Ludwig, which is on show until August 2, 2026.

"For her, art was a survival strategy and a form of therapy, which she always made clear without making it the main focus," Diederich told DW.

The Hong Kong exhibition 'Dots Obsession' at M+ Museum was a hit with fans of all agesImage: Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/ZUMA/picture alliance Kusama's escape to New York For Kusama, who was born on March 22, 1929, life in Japan soon became too stifling.

"[My parents] were always trying to rope me into arranged marriages with men I'd never met who came from very particular families," Yayoi once told writer Andrew Solomon, referring to her early 20s as "my era of mental breakdown." She increasingly felt like "a prisoner surrounded by a curtain of depersonalization."

Finally, she broke free from the conventions and expectations of postwar Japan and moved to New York in 1958. "She was exceptionally self-confident and determined to go her own way and pursue a career," said Diederich. Kusama's mother provided her with financial support to get started — on the condition that she never return to Japan.

Fellow artist Georgia O'Keeffe, to whom Kusama had previously sent a selection of her works, helped her gain a foothold in the US.

Kusama often spent entire days working and produced a vast body of art. She became part of the New York avant-garde scene, where her meticulous "Infinity Net" paintings drew attention for their hypnotic, repetitive patterns.

Her works, including soft, often phallic fabric sculptures, paralleled some of the approaches of contemporaries like Andy Warhol and Claes Oldenburg.

"She was very confident in saying that she set the benchmarks that her male colleagues later drew on," explained Diederich. However, he added, it's impossible to determine definitively who was first.

Kusama's 'Infinity Nets' have been on display all over the world, including in a 2021 exhibition in Tel AvivImage: Debbie Hill/UPI Photo/newscom/picture alliance In any case, her male fellow artists were more commercially successful than the young Asian woman, contributing to her attempted suicide, which she fortunately survived. Kusama made a statement about the gender pay gap with her sculpture "Traveling Life" (1964), which features a ladder covered in phallic shapes with women's shoes on the steps. Phalluses are another recurring motif Kusama used to process her "fear of sex as something dirty," as she wrote in her 2022 autobiography.

Returning to the universe through self-obliteration In the 1960s, Kusama held "happenings" as protests against the Vietnam War. They were often provocative, sometimes involving nudity and sexual activity, although Kusama often noted that she didn't personally participate in the sexual aspects of these events.

"Why should people who share pleasure with each other go to war and kill others? Through free sex, the wall between me and others can be torn down," Kusama wrote in her autobiography.

She was known for painting nude female and male bodies with dots, with the aim of erasing the individuality of those painted. She calls this "self-obliteration," and it runs through her entire body of work. "By obliterating one's self, you return to the infinite universe," Kusama once said.

In 1966, Kusama staged her work "Narcissus Garden" at the Venice Biennale. She placed 1,500 mirrored spheres on the lawn outside the entrance of the Venice Biennale, which she hadn't been invited to, and attempted to sell them for $2 each. Biennale officials eventually intervened and stopped the sale, but the work still served as a pointed critique of the commercialization of the art world and the role of artists in it.

Kusama's 'Infinity Room' exhibition in London in 2024 asked viewers to have an existential experienceImage: Justin Ng/Avalon/Photoshot/picture alliance Fame later in life In 1993, Kusama returned to the Venice Biennale as an officially invited artist, representing Japan.

She later told the Financial Times that she wanted "to become more famous, even more famous," a remark that reflects how important recognition had become in her career and one that some commentators critiqued as overly focused on fame.

An 'Infinity Mirrored Room' in a 2026 exhibition in Basel features inflatable elementsImage: Stefan Boness/Ipon/picture alliance Today, she could hardly be more famous: in 2018, The Broad museum in Los Angeles quickly sold 90,000 advance tickets for a Kusama exhibition. A yearlong show at London's Tate Modern in 2022 sold out in no time, as did the one-year extension. Her artworks now fetch millions at auction.

Yayoi Kusama returned to Japan in 1973 and chose to live in a psychiatric clinic in Tokyo, where she continues to receive treatment for her mental health. She remains highly productive, creating paintings, sculptures, installations and other works that are exhibited around the world.

"I will continue to create artwork as long as my passion keeps me doing so. I am deeply moved that so many people have been my fans," she said. "I suppose I would not be able to know how people would evaluate my art until after I die. I create art for the healing of all mankind."

The Museum Ludwig in Cologne is showing the retrospective "Yayoi Kusama" until August 2, 2026.

This article was originally written in German.

The Shiba Inu ecosystem has once again become the center of attention following the return of one of its key community leaders, Shytoshi Kusama, to the social media platform X. After a nearly two-week hiatus, Kusama reignited interest and speculation about the project’s future direction with his latest remarks and updates to his profile. This move has led to fresh debate among Shiba Inu supporters and market watchers about possible new projects and strategic shifts in the near term.

All eyes on Shiba Inu as Kusama reappearsAs a prominent figure and strategic voice in the Shiba Inu community, Shytoshi Kusama plays a vital role in setting the project’s roadmap. Kusama broke his silence after 13 days, having been inactive since April 9, by re-engaging on X. He drew attention by replying to a message about erasing the past and also announced a major community event scheduled for Saturday. By updating his profile and biography, Kusama hinted at the beginning of a new phase for the Shiba Inu project.

“A date has been set: Saturday. Let us set an appointment using only evidence within holy texts; see you at the start of the next phase,” Kusama invited the community to the upcoming event, after earlier signaling technological advancements and bringing ethical debates to the table.

With these words, Kusama rallied the community to the anticipated gathering. In previous statements, he also hinted at a renewed focus on technological innovation as well as ethical discussions shaping the project’s roadmap.

Price swings and key indicators for SHIBAccording to data from CryptoAppsy, SHIB’s price dipped by 1.8 percent within the last 24 hours, falling to $0.000006235. This correction follows a three-day rally that began on April 20. During that uptrend, SHIB rebounded from $0.00000589 to peak at $0.00000629 on April 22 but ran into resistance at that level.

Short-term movements reveal a resistance point forming around $0.00000629. Open interest in SHIB futures dropped by 11 percent in the past 24 hours, reaching $58.99 million. This decline signals a brief cool-off in derivatives market activity. Investors are closely watching to see if SHIB can sustain itself above the $0.00000629 mark for ongoing upward momentum.

On daily charts, support near the 50-day moving average at $0.0000059 is seen as a pivotal short-term threshold. Market analysts suggest that if this support holds, the next targets could be $0.0000076 and potentially $0.000008. However, if SHIB loses strength at these levels, sideways trading and a period of consolidation may follow.

Market uncertainty persistsThe latest shifts in Shiba Inu’s price are mirroring broader trends in market liquidity and the overall behavior of meme coins. On-chain indicators and positioning in the derivatives market now serve as important drivers for SHIB’s direction. The heightened community engagement around the upcoming event is expected to keep short-term volatility elevated.

While the community eagerly awaits further developments, many traders remain focused on short-term price action and key technical levels as the signals for Shiba Inu’s next move.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.

Shiba Inu lead developer Shytoshi Kusama has continued to maintain a low profile on X, even as broader market weakness weighs heavily on SHIB’s performance.

Kusama has remained inactive on the social media platform for more than a month. His last appearance came on May 13, when he shared an enthusiastic post and tagged fellow developer Kaal Dhairya.

At the time, many community members believed the developers were preparing to unveil a major update that could potentially support SHIB’s price. However, shortly after that post, Kusama went completely silent. 

Since then, he has neither published new posts nor interacted with other X users through likes or replies.

A Familiar Pattern for the Shiba Inu Community For long-time members of the Shiba Inu community, Kusama’s absence is not unusual. The lead developer has developed a reputation for stepping away from social media for weeks or even months at a time. 

One notable example occurred in December 2025, when he temporarily left X while exploring artificial intelligence (AI) solutions aimed at strengthening the broader Shiba Inu ecosystem.

He eventually returned in late January 2026 to a warm reception from community members. Since then, he has repeatedly disappeared for brief periods before resurfacing. This latest absence, however, has now stretched beyond five weeks, with no indication of when he plans to return. 

AI Project Continues to Command Kusama’s Attention Meanwhile, Kusama has consistently linked his social media inactivity to his ongoing artificial intelligence initiative, which he previously described as the next phase of Shiba Inu’s evolution.

Although he initially connected the AI effort to the SHIB ecosystem, recent updates suggest the project, known as R. OS, will operate independently of Shiba Inu.

According to information in his updated bio, Kusama is currently focused on developing the project’s application. He also noted that the website’s beta version has been completed and that the final bug-testing phase has been passed. 

Shiba Inu Lead X Profile The continued development of R. OS has fueled concerns among some investors who still view Kusama primarily as Shiba Inu’s lead developer.

Their concerns stem from the fact that the project is not directly designed to support core ecosystem tokens such as SHIB, BONE, LEASH, or TREAT. As a result, some community members have begun questioning whether Kusama’s priorities have shifted away from Shiba Inu altogether.

SHIB Risks Losing Top 30 Spot Kusama’s latest disappearance comes at a challenging time for SHIB. The broader cryptocurrency market has exerted significant downward pressure on the token, pushing it below the $0.000005 level in recent days. At press time, SHIB trades at $0.000004677 with a market cap of $2.75 billion.

The token has declined 32.3% since the start of the year and remains 94.73% below its all-time high of $0.00008845. As a result, SHIB now faces the risk of slipping out of the top 30 cryptocurrencies by market cap. The token currently ranks as the world’s 29th-largest cryptocurrency, while PYUSD and AVAX trail closely behind with market capitalizations of $2.74 billion and $2.72 billion, respectively. 

Shiba Inu ranking on CMC DisClamier: This content is informational and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author's personal opinions and do not reflect The Crypto Basic opinion. Readers are encouraged to do thorough research before making any investment decisions. The Crypto Basic is not responsible for any financial losses.

Bitcoin, Polkadot, Hedera Interoperability Protocol Takes Significant Step Forward

Centralized exchange Crypto.com has announced a Shiba Inu prize pool for users, with a $250,000 reward in SHIB for select participants.

Crypto.com has launched a new event in its Airdrop Arena, an earn section on its platform that rewards participants for staking the native CRO token. This time, it involves Shiba Inu, the second-largest meme coin by market cap.

Users to Receive Shiba Inu in Prize Pool For context, Crypto.com announced in a recent tweet that it has started a new reward program, where eligible users will share $250,000 worth of Shiba Inu. The new event requires users to stake the CRO token in the Airdrop Arena to participate.

Notably, the exchange will distribute the SHIB token to the top-ranking participants on a point basis. As a result, the more CRO tokens a user allocates, the better his chances of sharing in the prize money.

Meanwhile, Crypto.com is offering early birds an advantage. It will increase the points of the first 10,000 users to allocate to the new event by 120%. Furthermore, participants who lock up to 1,500 CRO in the Airdrop Arena will also receive a daily 120% boost.

According to the announcement, the reward program will last for one month, specifically from July 5 to August 4, 2025. Seven days after the event ends, qualified users who choose the Loot Locker option will receive a share of the $250,000 Shiba Inu prize money in their wallets.

The ongoing program demonstrates Crypto.com’s long-standing support for the Shiba Inu ecosystem and its ever-faithful community. The Singapore-based exchange listed Shiba Inu in May 2021 and has held a significant amount of the tokens in its reserve over the years.

In March 2023, it listed the Bone ShibaSwap (BONE) token, further increasing the visibility of the Shiba Inu ecosystem token. CEO Kris Marszalek also applauded the support of the Shiba Army towards the exchange following the listing event.

The Shiba Inu Ecosystem Continues to Build Meanwhile, the Shiba Inu team has demonstrated a commitment to building the ecosystem, despite recent price challenges. Luice, the ecosystem’s marketing lead, has assured enthusiasts that Shiba Inu is not going anywhere, as it is not built on 5,000 to 10,000 holders.

Moreover, the Shiba Inu lead, Shytoshi Kusama, has teased major updates for July, telling enthusiasts to prepare for what is in the pipeline. Specifically, he insinuated that the updates could be from the artificial intelligence (AI) front, as he noted that “July is JUL-AI.”

Notably, Kusama has been working on an AI-driven innovation for months, an aspect he believes will shape the Shiba Inu ecosystem’s future. The community expects the release of the whitepaper this month, as he suggested, with the recent partnership with AI gaming platform TokenPlayAI teased as a party starter.

DisClamier: This content is informational and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author's personal opinions and do not reflect The Crypto Basic opinion. Readers are encouraged to do thorough research before making any investment decisions. The Crypto Basic is not responsible for any financial losses.

Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

The mysterious Shiba Inu leader famous in the community under the pen name Shytoshi Kusama has surprised the SHIB army by adding radical changes to his bio section on the X platform, which has remained unfilled most of the time until now.

A SHIB fan from Japan @kuro_9696_9696 noticed it and shared it on his X account.

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Shytoshi Kusama endorses ShibaCon, mentioning RyoshiWhat the enigmatic SHIB lead added to his X bio is basically an invitation to attend the approaching ShibaCon event in Bangkok this November. However, what caught the attention of the SHIB army was also the mention of initial Shiba Inu founder Ryoshi. Kusama wrote that ShibaCon was tied to Ryoshi’s vision.

Ryoshi disappeared from the public space in May 2022, following the example of the mysterious Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto, who did it in 2010 as he left Bitcoin in the hands of the loyal and enthusiastic developers and went on to work on other projects.

Kusama’s bio now says: “ShibaCon, vision of Shiba Inu creator Ryoshi, is set to make history in Thailand. Join the movement!”

SHIB army excited about ShibaCon approachingEarlier this week, Shytoshi Kusama directly endorsed ShibaCon in an X post, sharing a tweet published by the official Shiba Inu account (@Shibtoken) about it. The event takes place on Nov. 7-17, roughly on the same dates as DevCon in the same city.

ShibaCon attendees will get a chance to listen to keynote speakers from the blockchain and Web3 industries, to discuss various hot topics and network with each other. This will be an important event for the Shiba Inu community, and many SHIB holders are looking forward to attending it or, at the very least, to reading reports from ShibCon.

Shiba Inu lead Shytoshi Kusama has announced the launch of the TREAT token, a major addition to the SHIB ecosystem. Originally envisioned by SHIB’s creator, Ryoshi, Treat is designed to replace BONE as ShibSwap’s reward token and provide liquidity for SHIB, the ecosystem’s stablecoin.

Beyond these functions, TREAT aims to enhance governance and trust within the Shiba Inu ecosystem. This development reflects the community’s commitment to advancing decentralized finance (DeFi) capabilities and strengthening SHIB’s position in the crypto space.

TREAT Token to Strengthen Ecosystem with Kusama’s Vision Shytoshi Kusama, the developer driving the Shiba Inu ecosystem, hinted at the anticipated launch of the TREAT token, exciting the SHIB community. The announcement marked Treat as a transformative addition to the ecosystem, with Kusama emphasizing its role in advancing Shiba Inu’s mission to improve trust, governance, and utility in decentralized finance (DeFi), on November 23.

In response to a recent reported incident where live streamer Jack Doherty scammed his followers with a fraudulent meme coin, Kusama highlighted the importance of accountability. He revealed that Shiba Inu’s ecosystem would incorporate “Karma and Reputation” systems, with TREAT powering these mechanisms. These systems aim to foster a trustworthy environment by rewarding positive contributions and discouraging scams, potentially solving trust issues in the crypto space.

Karma and Reputation built into the foundational elements of Shib's ecosystem and advanced features powered by Treat will solve this once and for all. https://t.co/j0xhHGMSxB

— Shytoshi Kusama™ (@ShytoshiKusama) November 23, 2024

While the token has yet to launch, the community eagerly awaits its arrival. Once live, Treat is expected to replace BONE as ShibSwap’s reward token. It will also provide liquidity for SHI and support governance within the Shiba Inu ecosystem.

Shiba Inu Rallies Amid Soaring Market Optimism Analysts predict that Shiba Inu (SHIB) could double in price, following a growth pattern like Dogecoin. With increasing interest in meme coins, SHIB is gaining traction and could mirror Dogecoin’s success. Besides, it also comes as SHIB burn rate noted a major spike today, sparking market optimism.

Currently, SHIB price trades at $0.0000273, up by 10% in the last 24 hours. The coin has surged 55% over the past week, showing strong market momentum. Its 24-hour low and high are $0.00002437 and $0.00002794, respectively. SHIB maintains a market cap of $16 billion, with a 24-hour trading volume of $3.36 billion, demonstrating robust investor confidence.

Mysterious personality Shytoshi Kusama clarified in a podcast that aired Tuesday that not he but Ryoshi is the founder of the Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: SHIB) ecosystem.

What happened: In the first episode of a 44-part podcast series, Kusama said he joined Shiba Inu like any other member of the community.

"I get that question or that comment all the time. ‘You're the founder of SHIB.' No, I'm not. Ryoshi is the founder," the pseudonymous lead stated. "I actually joined SHIB six months after its birth."

Kusama revealed that he was lured to the vision that SHIB would eventually overtake Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE), the preeminent meme coin project. “Our drive was to overtake DOGE,” he said.

He added that he was working on the roadmap provided to him by Ryoshi in the early days, which included five tokens and four pieces of technology.

The five tokens are SHIB, Doge Killer (LEASH), Bone ShibaSwap (CRYPTO: BONE),  the upcoming and "extremely important" TREAT, and SHI, the stablecoin.

The technologies are decentralized exchange ShibaSwap, Layer-2 chain Shibarium, the ShibaCon conference, and stablecoin SHI, which stands in both categories.

See Also: ‘Pharma Bro’ Martin Shkreli Predicts Liquidation Doom For MicroStrategy Amid Fall Below $300, Says Bitcoin Will Hit $250K Without Michael Saylor

Why It Matters: Kusama has steered the Shiba Inu ecosystem since the abrupt exit of Ryoshi in 2022. 

In July of last year, he stated that the project was nearing completion of founder Ryoshi's vision of a completely decentralized system with no leader and that he, too, would "step away from the limelight" at some point.

Price Action: At the time of writing, SHIB was exchanging hands at $0.00002201, up 4.37% in the last 24 hours, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

Read Next: 

Donald Trump’s $9.9 Million Crypto Portfolio: Over 50% Growth Since September – How Many Cryptocurrencies Does Trump Own? Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

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The Shiba Inu team recently reminded Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin that SHIB funds were instrumental in supporting the Crypto Relief charitable organization.

This comes after Buterin thanked Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) for donating $10 million worth of BNB in support of his biotech project. In a tweet, the Ethereum founder noted that CZ’s financial donation will help protect humanity from airborne disease.

In a follow-up message, Buterin also expressed gratitude to Polygon’s CEO, Sandeep Nailwal, and the charitable organization Crypto Relief (now Blockchain for Impact). He thanked them for funding biomedical infrastructure in India and returning surplus funds to Balvi for global research and development.

Also worth reiterating thanks for all the support from @sandeepnailwal @CryptoRelief_, who both funded important biomedical infra in India and returned a large portion of to Balvi to expand on its research and dev mission globally.

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) July 1, 2025

However, Buterin’s appreciation post notably ignored the contributions of Shiba Inu to the charitable effort. In response, members of the SHIB community called out the omission.

Team Points Out SHIB Omission in Buterin’s Appreciation Post Notably, Kaal Dhairya, a top developer of the Shiba Inu ecosystem, pointed out that Buterin failed to acknowledge the billions of SHIB tokens that were initially used to fund Crypto Relief in its early stages.

Since @VitalikButerin forgot to mention the billions in #SHIB tokens that actually funded @CryptoRelief_, let me help complete his tweet 🐕💸
You’re welcome. https://t.co/QwPpaYVnzm

— Kaal (@kaaldhairya) July 1, 2025

To recap, Nailwal launched the Crypto Relief Fund in April 2021 during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Shortly after its creation, Buterin donated 50.6 trillion SHIB, then valued at approximately $1.2 billion, to the nonprofit.

The Ethereum co-founder made the donation using a portion of the 500 trillion SHIB tokens he received from Shiba Inu’s pseudonymous founder Ryoshi.

Of the 500 trillion SHIB tokens, Buterin sent over 410 trillion of these tokens to a dead address, permanently removing them from circulation. He subsequently sent the remaining tokens to other nonprofits, with Crypto Relief receiving 50.6 trillion SHIB (worth about $1.2 billion at the time).

Shiba Inu Craving Buterin’s Recognition Since Buterin’s initial SHIB donation contributed to Crypto Relief’s support for India’s biomedical infrastructure and Balvi’s global R&D efforts, Dhairya believes the Ethereum co-founder owes Shiba Inu a proper acknowledgment.

Additionally, Dhairya’s messages reminded the Shiba Inu community that SHIB played a part in Crypto Relief’s donations. It also positions Shiba Inu as a token that provides financial support for real-world causes, including charitable contributions.

Since last year, the Shiba Inu ecosystem team has been trying to gain Buterin’s attention following his statement that rival Dogecoin deserves to be the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap.

This claim did not sit well with the Shiba Inu community. Many believe SHIB deserves recognition from Buterin, given its contributions to the Ethereum ecosystem. Notably, Kusama requested a 10-minute conversation with Buterin to discuss SHIB’s potential and why it should be recognized as a top digital asset.

Despite efforts by the SHIB community to draw Buterin’s attention to Kusama’s proposal, the Ethereum co-founder has yet to respond.

DisClamier: This content is informational and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author's personal opinions and do not reflect The Crypto Basic opinion. Readers are encouraged to do thorough research before making any investment decisions. The Crypto Basic is not responsible for any financial losses.

If traditional finance got a blockchain makeover, DeFi protocols would inevitably be the result. Here, decentralized apps (DApps) and smart contracts reign supreme, offering you control over your financial future. 

From staking your digital assets for crypto yield to conducting anonymous crypto swaps, this guide introduces you to the top DeFi protocols to keep an eye on in 2026.

In This Guide:

12 Top DeFi protocols in 2026 DeFi protocols comparedWhat are DeFi protocols?How do DeFi protocols work?Should you use DeFi protocols?Could DeFi replace traditional finance?Frequently asked questions12 Top DeFi protocols in 2026

1. dYdX

Best DeFi protocol for liquid staking

Token

dYdX

Token max supply

1,000,000,000 DYDX

Market cap

$1.499B

TVL

$401.81M

The dYdX protocol provides advanced financial instruments like perpetual and margin trading within the DeFi ecosystem. The leading exchange operates without KYC, allowing for anonymous, trustless trading. It supports perpetual and margin trading, alongside lending and borrowing, and offers competitive fee structures and gas-free trading experiences.

The platform provides lower collateralization levels compared to competitors, increasing accessibility. dYdX also utilizes StarkWare for increased efficiency and lower transaction fees and allows for community contributions and governance.

Notably, dYdX also transitioned to an independent blockchain within the Cosmos ecosystem, enhancing performance and furthering decentralization.

Pros

Advanced trading options No KYC required Low fees Layer-2 scalability Dynamic interest rates Interoperability with Cosmos Cons

Complex for beginners Dependent on Ethereum Limited spot trading New chain transition challenges Ecosystem adaptation required Trade features: Perpetual trading, margin trading, decentralized order book, layer-2 scalability, cross-margin capabilities.

Earning features: Lending, borrowing, dynamic interest rates, trading rewards.

Security features: Self-custodial security, third-party audits, secured by Ethereum protocol.

Platform and ecosystem features: No KYC, open-source code, integration with Cosmos ecosystem, decentralized governance, off-chain order matching.

2. PancakeSwap

Best DeFi protocol for cost-effective transactions

Token

CAKE

Token max supply

450,000,000 CAKE

Market cap

$974.4M

TVL

$2.224B

PancakeSwap is a top-tier DeFi protocol. It focuses on the Binance Smart Chain blockchain, but supports a total of eight networks, including Ethereum.

PancakeSwap’s native crypto is CAKE, which has a total supply of 450 million tokens. This decentralized exchange leverages an automated market maker (AMM) model, allowing for direct, wallet-to-wallet trades without intermediaries, enhancing user control and security.

Moreover, it offers a range of services beyond simple trades, such as yield farming, staking, and lotteries, enabling users to earn rewards in various ways. Its user-friendly interface makes it accessible for beginners, while its innovative features, like the zkBridge technology, ensure secure and efficient transactions across different blockchain networks.

PancakeSwap’s growth is underscored by its status as the first billion-dollar project on the Binance Smart Chain and its continual upgrades, such as the current PancakeSwap V3, demonstrating its commitment to improving functionality and user experience.

Pros

Intuitive interface High APY for liquidity providers (LPs) Supports staking and farming NFT marketplace Cons

No mobile app No native crypto wallet Trade features: Instant crypto trading, liquidity pools, asset bridging, perpetual trading, and cryptocurrency purchasing.

Earning features: Farming, pools, liquid staking, simple staking.

Game and NFT features: Gaming marketplace, prediction market, NFT marketplace for NFTs on BNB Chain.

DeFi and ecosystem engagement: Governance, initial farm offerings (IFOs), gauge voting and revenue sharing, and farm booster.

3. De.Fi

Best DeFi protocol for monitoring

Token

DEFI

Token max supply

1,000,000,000 DEFI

Market cap

n/a

TVL

n/a

De.Fi provides detailed smart contract analysis to detect potential vulnerabilities and assign security scores. It offers an extensive dashboard for monitoring wallet transactions and balances, alongside powerful investment tools for analyzing and controlling positions in DeFi protocols, NFT collections, and lending markets.

Additionally, De.Fi includes specialized security features like the De.Fi Shield and Scanner for thorough contract examination. It also comes with user-friendly transaction tools such as secure crypto sending and De.Fi Swap for easy cryptocurrency exchanges across various blockchains, making it a well-rounded solution for utilizing the DeFi space safely and effectively.

Pros

Advanced security scanning Comprehensive dashboard Real-time analytics User-friendly interface Multi-blockchain support Cons

Complexity for beginners Technical knowledge needed Frequent updates required Smart contract and security features: Vulnerability scanning, smart contract security scoring, De.Fi Shield, De.Fi Scanner.

Portfolio and transaction monitoring features: Comprehensive dashboard, address book, wallet balance tracking, deposited and loaned balances overview.

Investment and exploration features: Market analysis tools, NFT portfolio management, exploration of DeFi opportunities.

Security and protection tools: Asset security assessments, approval checks, risk highlights for tokens and NFTs, customizable security settings.

Transaction and exchange features: Secure cryptocurrency sending, De.Fi Swap, slippage tolerance settings.

4. Uniswap

Best DeFi protocol for community

Token

UNI

Token max supply

1,000,000,000 UNI

Market cap

$8.86B

TVL

$5.543B

Uniswap is another leading decentralized exchange. The native token is UNI, which has a total supply of 1 billion tokens.

Governed by its users through the UNI token, it offers a community-driven experience, unlike centralized platforms. Uniswap’s liquidity pools facilitate secure and direct token swaps, ensuring users maintain complete control over their funds. Originally built on Ethereum, it now supports other Ethereum-compatible networks like Polygon and Optimism, offering lower transaction costs.

Uniswap’s simplicity makes it accessible for beginners while providing advanced features for experienced users. This is rare when it comes to DEXs, which can often be tricky to use and less straightforward than their CEX counterparts. Uniswap also boasts broad token availability and deep liquidity, reducing price impact on large trades.

Additionally, the DEX has integrated NFT trading, enhancing its offerings. With nearly 5 million unique wallet addresses and surpassing $1 trillion in trading volume, its popularity and reliability are evident.

Finally, Uniswap’s swap fees are competitive, especially when compared to centralized exchanges, and users can choose cheaper networks to avoid high Ethereum gas fees.

Pros

Easy-to-use interface Low-cost trades Multiple blockchain networks supported Cons

No mobile app High fees when purchasing crypto (third-party services) Trade features: Instant crypto trading, liquidity pools, asset bridging, cryptocurrency purchasing.

Earning features: Funding liquidity pools, swap fee earnings.

Game and NFT features: NFT marketplace, prediction market.

DeFi and ecosystem engagement: Governance, concentrated liquidity, transaction fee structure.

5. Curve Finance

Best DeFi protocol for stablecoins

Token

CRV

Token max supply

2,091,644,627 CRV

Market cap

$730.32M

TVL

$2.486B

Curve Finance is a leading decentralized exchange (DEX) on the Ethereum blockchain, specializing in the efficient trading of stablecoins and wrapped tokens like wBTC, renBTC, and sBTC. Founded by Michael Egorov, it has quickly risen to prominence, and is particularly famed for its innovative use of liquidity pools and automated market maker (AMM) systems. These allow users to earn high annual interest rates — over 300% in some pools — on deposited cryptocurrency.

The platform distinguishes itself with its unique bonding curve. This is optimized for stablecoins to reduce slippage, allowing significant trades with minimal price impact. This has positioned Curve as a vital component in the DeFi space, especially for those interested in liquidity mining and yield farming.

Curve Finance operates as a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), with its governance token CRV enabling holders to vote on changes and proposals. This shift to a DAO structure allows Curve to operate with enhanced transparency and community-driven development. Despite its complexity and the potential for impermanent loss, Curve Finance offers significant opportunities for liquidity providers and traders, underlined by security measures including multiple code audits and bug bounties to safeguard user assets.

Pros

Specializes in stablecoins Reduced slippage Governed by DAO Multiple security audits Bug bounties for added safety Cons

Complex for beginners Focused mainly on stablecoins and wrapped tokens Reliance on Ethereum blockchain, leading to potential high gas fees Trade features: Stablecoin specialization, efficient liquidity pools, unique bonding curve, minimal slippage in trades.

Earning features: High annual interest rates from liquidity pools, rewards in CRV tokens, participation in yield farming.

Security features: Multiple security audits, bug bounties, governed by decentralized autonomous organization (DAO).

DeFi and ecosystem engagement: Governance via CRV token, high total value locked (TVL), support for various wrapped tokens.

6. Balancer

Best DeFi protocol for multi-tokens pools

Token

BAL

Token max supply

62,244,253 BAL

Market cap

$268.21M

TVL

$1.242B

Balancer is a versatile and innovative DeFi platform that redefines the concept of decentralized exchanges (DEXs) by combining elements of automated market makers (AMMs) and index funds.

Unlike traditional DEXs — which typically focus on two-token liquidity pools — Balancer’s USP lies in its ability to maintain a balanced portfolio through automatic rebalancing, adjusting the pool’s asset allocations in response to market price changes.

Balancer supports three types of pools: public pools, where anyone can add liquidity and earn trading fees; private pools, where only the creator can contribute liquidity and set parameters; and smart pools, which are private pools with adjustable parameters controlled by a smart contract. This flexibility caters to a wide range of user preferences and risk tolerances.

Furthermore, Balancer’s architecture is designed to function on Ethereum and also on six additional blockchain networks, expanding its accessibility and interoperability within DeFi ecosystems. By providing a decentralized platform for multi-asset liquidity, Balancer contributes significantly to the efficiency of the cryptocurrency market.

Pros

Multi-token pools Automated rebalancing Interoperability Cons

Complex for beginners Limited on smaller chains Trade features: Multi-token pools, automated portfolio rebalancing, customizable pool types (public, private, smart), wide asset variety, minimal slippage through dynamic trading fees.

Earning features: Rewards in BAL tokens, high yield from liquidity provision, participation in liquidity mining, diversified income streams through various pool types.

Security features: Regular security audits, bug bounty programs, non-custodial asset management, transparent smart contract operations.

DeFi and ecosystem engagement: Governance via BAL token, significant total value locked (TVL), interoperability across multiple blockchains, support for a variety of digital assets and wrapped tokens.

7. Summer.fi

Best DeFi protocol for services

Token

Summer.fi

Token max supply

N/A

Market cap

N/A

TVL

$5.345b

Summer.fi, initially known as Oasis.app and one of the earliest MakerDAO projects from 2016, has evolved significantly beyond its original scope.

After Maker became fully decentralized, Summer.fi emerged as a standalone platform, dedicated to establishing a highly trusted application for DeFi capital deployment.

It now transcends being merely an interface for the Maker Protocol. It aims to be the most secure place for engaging with DeFi, providing users with advanced automation features like stop-loss, auto-buy, and auto-sell, as well as strategies such as Constant Multiples for optimizing Vault performance. If your Vault’s collateralization ratio hits your Sell Trigger, Constant Multiple will execute.

Summer.fi prioritizes user experience, offering clear insights into positions, returns, and associated risks, backed by a comprehensive knowledge base reflecting community feedback.

Pros

Comprehensive DeFi services Advanced automation features, (stop-loss, take-profit, auto-buy, etc.) User-friendly interface Integration with multiple protocols (Aave and Maker) Cons

Complex for new users Limited to ERC-20 tokens Borrowing features: Flexible repayment schedules, diverse collateral types, integrated with multiple protocols like Aave and Ajna, protection against market volatility through the Oracle Security Module and constant updates from Chainlink.

Multiplying features: Increase or decrease collateral exposure in one transaction, use borrowed funds to buy more collateral, integration with liquid platforms and the 1inch DEX aggregator for best execution prices, dedicated interface for managing positions.

Earning features: Self-custody solutions for yield earning, compatibility with Aave and Maker protocols, increase yield from StETH, participate in the Dai Savings Rate for passive income.

Automation features: Stop-loss to prevent liquidations, take-profit for efficient exits, auto-buy and auto-sell for Vault management, Constant Multiple to maintain predefined exposure levels.

Integration and partnerships: Support for various wallets like MetaMask and Ledger, integration with the 1inch Network for efficient token swaps, launched on Optimism layer-2 for reduced transaction costs, Ajna Protocol integration for curated borrowing and lending pools.

8. Aave

Best DeFi protocol for liquidity

Token

AAVE

Token max supply

16,000,000 AAVE

Market cap

$1.711B

TVL

$10.564B

Aave (AAVE) is a pioneering entity in the DeFi sector. The comprehensive lending platform boasts a significant Total Value Locked (TVL), which surpasses $10 billion in crypto collateral.

Aave enables users to lend and borrow a wide array of tokens across multiple ecosystems, ensuring a versatile and inclusive financial experience.

The platform’s latest iteration, Aave V3, expands its reach beyond Ethereum to include 10 different blockchain networks, further solidifying its position as a key player in DeFi by enhancing accessibility and providing a range of options for its diverse user base.

Pros

High TVL Wide range of tokens Multi-chain accessibility Flash loans availability Governance via AAVE token Cons

Complexity for beginners High gas fees on Ethereum Risk of liquidation Trade features: Flash loans, real-time interest accrual, stable and variable interest rates, Ethereum network integration, multi-asset collateral support.

Earning features: aTokens for deposit interest, decentralized lending and borrowing, yield optimization strategies, liquidity mining.

Security features: Over-collateralization of loans, smart contract audits, safety module for risk mitigation, bug bounties for platform integrity.

Platform and ecosystem features: Governance via AAVE tokens, layer-2 solutions for reduced fees, decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) structure, no KYC requirements, multi-chain accessibility.

9. MakerDAO

Best DeFi protocol for generating a stablecoin

Token

MKR

Token max supply

1,005,577 MKR

Market cap

$2.686B

TVL

$7B

MakerDAO is a pioneering DeFi platform that has revolutionized the way users engage with digital assets. The platform provides a decentralized borrowing and lending system with its stablecoin, DAI, at the core.

Built on the Ethereum blockchain, it allows users to leverage a variety of cryptocurrencies as collateral to generate DAI, maintaining stability through rigorous governance by MKR token holders.

The platform distinguishes itself with features like over-collateralization to ensure loan security, and a dual-rate model offering users the choice between stable and variable interest rates. However, users must navigate complexities such as liquidation risks and market volatility.

As MakerDAO evolves, it continues to solidify its status as a cornerstone of the DeFi landscape with the introduction of upgrades like V3 and the addition of the GHO stablecoin — balancing user empowerment with the intricate dynamics of decentralized finance.

Pros

Decentralized lending DAI stability Ethereum-based Governance by MKR Over-collateralization Variable interest rates Cons

Complexity High gas fees Liquidation risks Trade features: Flash loans, stable and variable interest rates, real-time aTokens, multi-currency collateral, governance-driven updates.

Earning features: Interest on deposits, participation in governance, yield farming opportunities, dynamic interest rates.

Security features: Over-collateralization, liquidation mechanisms, community governance for risk management, security modules for asset protection.

Platform and ecosystem features: Decentralized borrowing and lending, Ethereum-based, MKR token for governance, integration with multiple crypto assets, open-source development, Maker Vaults for asset management.

10. Compound Finance

Best DeFi protocol for staking

Token

COMP

Token max supply

10,000,000 COMP

Market cap

$487.27M

TVL

$2.668B

Compound Finance is a prominent decentralized lending platform operating on the Ethereum blockchain, known for pioneering the DeFi lending space.

Established by Robert Leshner and Geoffrey Hayes in 2018, Compound simplifies the process of borrowing and lending cryptocurrencies without intermediaries, allowing over $2 billion in assets to be locked on its platform.

Unique for its innovations, such as yield farming and governance through COMP tokens, the platform aims to provide financial inclusion, eliminating traditional transaction minimums and credit checks.

While offering competitive returns through real-time interest rates, users engaging with Compound and its governance token, COMP, must be cautious of market volatility and conduct in-depth research prior to investment.

Pros

Decentralized borrowing and lending No transaction minimums User-friendly interface Supports multiple ERC-20 assets Yield farming opportunities Cons

Market volatility risks Requires over-collateralization Complexity for new users High gas fees on Ethereum Trade features: Real-time interest rate adjustments, supports diverse ERC-20 tokens, and a user-centric lending and borrowing system.

Earning features: Yield farming with COMP tokens, competitive APR for lenders, dynamic interest rates based on market conditions.

Security features: Extensive security audits (Trail of Bits, OpenZeppelin), economic risk analysis by Gauntlet, transparent and verifiable contracts.

DeFi and ecosystem engagement: Decentralized governance with COMP tokens, financial inclusion without traditional verifications, continuous platform innovation and updates.

11. Lido

Best DeFi protocol for ETH staking

Token

LDO

Token max supply

1,000,000,000 LDO

Market cap

$2.215B

TVL

$34.445B

Lido Finance is a DeFi staking protocol offering user-friendly, semi-custodial staking services across multiple cryptocurrencies. Known for its simple interface and decentralized structure, Lido allows users to stake their assets and receive liquid staking tokens, such as stETH, which can be utilized in the broader DeFi ecosystem for yield farming.

Supported by major players in DeFi and endorsed for its reasonable fees and rewarding referral program, Lido maximizes decentralization through its governance token, LDO, allowing stakeholders to partake in decision-making. While Lido streamlines the staking process, users should consider the semi-custodial nature, the staking rewards fees, and potential tax implications associated with rewards.

Pros

User-friendly interface Liquid staking tokens Decentralized governance Supported by DeFi leaders Cons

Semi-custodial service Staking rewards fees Potential tax implications Staking features: Easy and unrestricted staking, maximized earning potential, liquid staking tokens for yield farming.

Earning features: Daily staking rewards, assets used as collateral for lending and yield farming, participation in governance for reward optimization.

Security features: Smart contracts audited by Quantstamp and Sigma Prime, semi-custodial nature maintains user control.

DeFi and ecosystem engagement: Governance via LDO tokens, broad DeFi integration, supports multiple blockchains including Ethereum.

DeFi protocols comparedProtocolTypeTVLTokenNo. of blockchains supportedPancakeSwapDEX$2.224BCAKE9UniswapDEX$5.543BUNI8CurveDEX$2.486BCRV14BalancerDEX$1.242BBAL8Summer.fiDEX$5.345bsummer.fi4AaveLending$10.564BAAVE12MakerDAOLending$7BMKR1CompoundLending$2.668BCOMP4dYdXDEX$401.81MdYdX1LidoStaking$34.445BLDO5De.FiTracker and walletn/aDEFI15What are DeFi protocols?DeFi protocols are sets of rules, procedures, and codes that govern decentralized finance (DeFi) systems, enabling users to engage in activities such as trading, lending, and staking tokens within blockchain ecosystems. 

DeFi represents a paradigm shift leveraging blockchain technology, primarily Ethereum, to cultivate an open, permissionless, and borderless financial ecosystem. Unlike traditional systems, developers write smart contracts to deploy DeFi protocols that enable peer-to-peer interactions without intermediaries. By adhering to the same set of rules, DeFi protocols ensure a standardized experience for all participants. 

An example of a DeFi protocol is MakerDAO. The popular DeFi lending platform allows users to borrow against their crypto assets by locking them in exchange for a stablecoin, DAI, thus offering more predictable repayment terms despite the volatility of crypto markets. 

Other protocols allow you to earn a passive income by generating yield from your staked assets. One popular example is the Lido protocol, which allows you to earn on stETH.  Platforms like Lido aim to offer the highest APY on crypto staking, allowing users to maximize returns on their staked assets within the Ethereum ecosystem.

The total value locked (TVL) is often used as a metric to gauge a protocol’s adoption and utility, with MakerDAO being one of the largest by TVL, highlighting its significant role in DeFi.

In 2026, new and more efficient technologies are being developed. For instance, some protocols incorporate asynchronous smart contracts, which allow transactions and agreements to be executed without needing all parties to be present or online simultaneously. This helps streamline operations within networks like Ethereum.

According to DeFiLlama, the top protocol categories are lending, DEXs, bridges, CDP (protocols that mint their own stablecoin using collateralized lending), and restaking. 

Protocol categories: DeFiLlamaWhy do you need DeFi protocols?DeFi allows decentralized apps (DApps) and platforms to provide services like crypto lending and crypto yield earning through staking. Users can participate in AMM (automated market maker) systems to improve liquidity. 

These features offer a fertile ground for startups to innovate beyond conventional financial products, fostering rapid experimentation and potential disruption. The global accessibility facilitated by DeFi platforms makes them a significant tool for financial inclusion, allowing startups to reach a worldwide audience. 

The interoperability among various DeFi protocols enhances this further, enabling seamless integration of services like web3 gaming and metaverse tokens, broadening the scope of what blockchain startups can achieve.

The total value locked (TVL) in DeFi platforms serves as a metric of trust and utility, indicating the number of cryptocurrencies staked, lent, or committed to liquidity pools, highlighting the ecosystem’s growth and stability.

By eliminating intermediaries, DeFi significantly lowers transaction costs, making it an attractive model for startups, especially in crypto lending and yield generation. Instead of being worried about your credit score, you can apply for a crypto loan with fewer restrictions than in TradFi. This reduction in costs, combined with the potential for high crypto yield through mechanisms like staking, positions DeFi as an increasingly popular option for both entrepreneurs and investors in the crypto market.

How do DeFi protocols work?DeFi protocols function by leveraging blockchain technology. While most of them are based on Ethereum, some may also support other networks. At the heart of these services are smart contracts, self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code, which facilitate, verify, and enforce the negotiation or performance of a contract.

DeFi, however, requires thorough research and understanding of several factors, including security, liquidity, and the platform’s governance structure. It’s important to assess the user experience, the degree of interoperability with other DApps and blockchain systems, and the level of community involvement in decision-making processes.

1. Decentralized apps (DApps)Users can engage with various DeFi platforms or DApps to access a wide range of financial services. 

One common way to participate is through crypto lending on platforms. Protocols such as Aave or Compound allow you to deposit cryptocurrencies to earn interest. The earnings are measured as Annual Percentage Yield (APY), which is a volatile percentage that corresponds to the market’s demands.

2. Liquidity miningAnother popular DeFi activity is liquidity mining. You can provide liquidity to decentralized exchanges (DEXs) by depositing your assets into liquidity pools. This deposit is usually made for a pair of assets, such as ETH-USDT, but it can be anything else.

In return, you earn rewards, often in the platform’s native tokens. This process is critical for ensuring there is enough market liquidity for trading and is facilitated by AMMs, algorithms used by DEXs to determine the price of tokens and facilitate trades.

3. Swaps (trading)Trading on DEXs is another key function of DeFi protocols. These platforms allow users to trade cryptocurrencies directly with others in a more private and accessible manner than on centralized exchanges. 

This not only supports the decentralized ethos of blockchain but also contributes to the Total Value Locked (TVL).

Should you use DeFi protocols?Pros  Earn money: You can make your crypto work for you. Put your assets in DeFi platforms to earn interest or rewards. Trade easily: Swap cryptocurrencies directly with others. No need for a middleman. More control: You’re in charge of your money. No bank or institution can block your transactions. Open to everyone: Anyone with an internet connection can join. It’s global and inclusive. Transparent: Everything is recorded on the blockchain. You can see all transactions. New opportunities: Explore new financial services like crypto lending or web3 gaming. Cons  Risky: Crypto values can change fast. Your investments can shrink quickly. Complicated: Some DeFi stuff is hard to understand. It’s not always beginner-friendly. Security issues: Hacks happen. If a DeFi platform gets attacked, you might lose your money. No customer support: If you have a problem, there’s no customer service to call. Research needed: You need to do your homework before investing. Not all platforms are safe. High fees: Sometimes, you’ll pay a lot to make transactions, especially when the network is busy. Could DeFi replace traditional finance?Decentralized finance has the potential to usurp traditional institutions, specifically TradFi. Decentralized finance enables users to transact securely, anonymously, and efficiently and is thus likely to gain popularity as web3 and crypto adoption grows. From crypto lending to staking to market makers, DeFi is exciting but also risky.

Do not interact with any DeFi protocols until you have developed a solid plan and are entirely comfortable with the mechanisms of the platform. Always be aware of the potential for losses, and never invest more than you can afford to lose.

Frequently asked questions What is the most popular DeFi protocol? The most popular DeFi protocol is often considered to be MakerDAO. It frequently leads in terms of Total Value Locked (TVL) and has a wide usage across the DeFi ecosystem. MakerDAO’s platform revolves around the generation of DAI, a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar, and enables decentralized borrowing and saving. Its popularity stems from its innovative approach to maintaining currency stability and providing a decentralized credit service.

What are the top five DeFi tokens? The top five DeFi tokens typically include Maker (MKR), Aave (AAVE), Compound (COMP), Uniswap (UNI), and PancakeSwap (CAKE), based on their market capitalization and impact on the DeFi space. These tokens facilitate governance of their respective platforms, offering holders voting rights on decisions and upgrades. They are integral to the operations of these platforms, from lending and borrowing to providing liquidity and facilitating decentralized trading.

What is TVL in DeFi protocols? Total Value Locked (TVL) in DeFi protocols refers to the total amount of assets currently being staked, lent, or deposited within a DeFi protocol’s smart contracts. It serves as a metric to gauge the overall health and growth of the DeFi market, indicating how much money is actively used in these decentralized financial services. A higher TVL suggests greater user trust and utility of the DeFi ecosystem.

How many DeFi protocols are there? The number of DeFi protocols is constantly growing as the space evolves and new projects are launched. There are hundreds of DeFi protocols across various blockchains, catering to different aspects of decentralized finance such as lending, borrowing, trading, and liquidity provision. The exact number can vary daily due to the dynamic nature of the crypto and DeFi industries.

How many DeFi protocols are there? The number of DeFi protocols is constantly growing as the space evolves and new projects are launched. There are hundreds of DeFi protocols across various blockchains, catering to different aspects of decentralized finance such as lending, borrowing, trading, and liquidity provision. The exact number can vary daily due to the dynamic nature of the crypto and DeFi industries.

Is TVL a good metric? TVL is a good metric for understanding the scale and usage of a DeFi protocol, as it reflects the total capital committed by users. However, it should not be the sole metric for assessing a protocol’s value or success, as it does not account for risks, decentralization level, or liquidity. It’s best used in combination with other factors like user growth, transaction volume, and protocol governance for a comprehensive evaluation.

What is a good FDV TVL ratio? A good FDV (Fully Diluted Valuation) to TVL (Total Value Locked) ratio for a DeFi project is typically below one, indicating that the project’s market valuation is not excessively higher than the value of assets locked in the protocol. Lower FDV/TVL ratios suggest that the protocol is undervalued or efficiently using its capital, which can be attractive to investors. However, this ratio should be considered alongside other metrics and project fundamentals for a complete analysis.

What is the TVL formula? The TVL formula in DeFi protocols calculates the total value of all assets deposited in the protocol’s smart contracts, which can include cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and other tokens. It aggregates the value of these assets, often converting them to a common currency like USD for a standardized measure. The formula is the sum of the value of each type of asset multiplied by its current market price.

How to calculate FDV? The Fully Diluted Valuation (FDV) is calculated by taking the total supply of a token (both circulating and non-circulating) and multiplying it by the current price of the token. This gives an idea of what the market cap would be if all tokens were in circulation and trading at the current price. It’s an important metric for understanding the potential market size and investment risk of a cryptocurrency or DeFi project.

Shiba Inu has teamed up with Astra Nova in an epic partnership that blends the meme-based cryptocurrency with AI-driven innovation.  

The partnership aims to revolutionize the Web3 space by combining artificial intelligence (AI), gaming, and community-driven projects. 

Key Features  The collaboration fuses the strengths of both projects. While Shiba Inu will showcase its expertise in community engagement and decentralization, Astra Nova’s proficiency in Web3 integration and AI storytelling will come into play. 

Under the partnership, Shiba Inu and Astra Nova will leverage their collective strength to foster community-driven initiatives while exploring Web3 opportunities. The partnership will also explore multiple avenues for potential collaboration, particularly those involving AI and blockchain. 

Being an inception partner of NVIDIA, Astra Nova focuses on creating an advanced AI-powered ecosystem that features NPCs and user-generated content. Furthermore, the partnership will create a participatory environment by harnessing the strength of their respective communities to foster innovation. 

Epic Partnership  In a follow-up tweet, Astra Nova emphasized that the partnership is going to be epic. It highlighted two main features of the collaboration. 

First, under the partnership, Astra Nova will integrate its core gaming feature, Survival Mode, into Shiba Inu’s Layer-2 blockchain Shibarium. 

Also, the alliance will leverage Astra Nova’s decentralized application, Nova Toon, to create web comics-themed around Shiba Inu and Astra Nova for rich transmedia storytelling. Users can mint this comic novel as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on Shibarium. 

Astra Nova promised to share additional developments about its partnership with Shiba Inu in the coming days. 

Shiba Inu Lead Reacts  Meanwhile, Shytoshi Kusama, the leader of the Shiba Inu ecosystem, referenced Astra Nova’s involvement in NVIDIA’s Inception Program as the major reason behind the partnership. 

“We’re thrilled to announce we are a part of NVIDIA’s Inception Program to bring AGI-driven innovation and community-first gaming to life,” Astra Nova announced yesterday. 

Leveraging NVIDIA’s tools, specifically its AI and GPU technology, Astra Nova aims to unlock immersive AI NPC Agents, RWA rewards, AI-generative playthroughs, and AI-empowered fandoms. 

Notably, Kusama first hinted about this partnership in a private Ask Me Anything (AMA) session with crypto YouTuber Random Artz. At the time, Kusama disclosed that the Shiba Inu ecosystem team will unveil a new partnership later this month. 

Interestingly, he kept to his word, as Shiba Inu has added another partner, Astra Nova, to its ecosystem, joining projects like Chainlink, Bad Idea AI, K9 Finance, and Unification. 

DisClamier: This content is informational and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author's personal opinions and do not reflect The Crypto Basic opinion. Readers are encouraged to do thorough research before making any investment decisions. The Crypto Basic is not responsible for any financial losses.