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Introducing $YO: Powering the Yield Engine for Crypto

By YO
Announcements

YO provides automated, risk-optimized exposure to DeFi’s best yield sources through tokenized vaults like yoUSD, yoETH, yoEUR, yoBTC, and yoGOLD. Each vault operates through algorithmic, predefined parameters to generate stable and predictable returns for users.

$YO is the native governance token that fuels the YO ecosystem. $YO is designed to empower its community to shape the future of onchain yield generation by enabling its holders to participate in decentralized governance, influence how YO vaults evolve, and guide the protocol toward long-term maturity.

What is $YO?

$YO is more than just another governance token. It represents a stake in shaping the engine that powers the future of decentralized yield. Holding $YO will give you a direct vote on key decisions around the protocol, including:

  • Future initiatives to grow and enhance the YO ecosystem
  • Allocation and use of the protocol treasury
  • Adjustments to vault parameters and revenue share mechanisms
  • Distribution strategies to onboard new users and communities

Decentralization has been at the core of YO’s vision since day one. After TGE, token holders can participate in guiding the protocol’s future direction. In the initial phase, governance will be guided by the team, with community feedback informing key proposals and priorities. As YO’s decentralization roadmap is executed, control will progressively transition to token holders until governance is fully onchain.

Non-Transferability Phase

$YO will launch with an initial non-transferable phase, where claimed tokens cannot be sold, traded, or transferred to another wallet. This decision was made to prioritize active governance participation and long-term alignment with real users over short-term speculators. We believe this period offers several advantages that allow the protocol to:

  • Expand fair distribution to a wider community
  • Mature governance processes
  • Improve partnership and ecosystem strength
  • Secure strong exchange listings and long-term liquidity partnerships

This is a temporary phase that ensures a stable foundation before market trading of the $YO token begins. We expect transferability to be enabled via governance vote as soon as practicable.

Token Distribution

The $YO distribution is designed to balance fairness, growth, and long-term alignment between contributors, investors, and the community.

Total Supply: 1,000,000,000 $YO

Distribution:

  • Genesis Airdrop: 8.0% of the total supply is set aside for the community, rewarding early supporters and active participants. The community has expressed strong support for larger allocations in this category, emphasizing YO Protocol’s belief in shared ownership.
  • Community Growth & Future Rewards: 30.0% of the supply is reserved to fund yield programs, vault rewards, insurance and future incentive mechanisms that expand participation and deepen liquidity.
  • Ecosystem Development & Strategic Partnerships: 21.5% of the supply is designated for initiatives that strengthen and expand the YO ecosystem. This includes crosschain partnerships, platform integrations, and other strategic efforts that enhance protocol growth. This allocation can be flexibly adjusted later to support additional strategic collaborations and evolving ecosystem needs.
  • Core Contributors: 24% of the supply is dedicated to those who build and maintain the protocol from its earliest stages. This includes early contributors and future hires to ensure continued innovation and development.
  • Investors: 16.5% of the supply is allocated to early investors who supported the protocol’s vision and helped establish its foundation.

This framework ensures that the community remains at the core of $YO’s governance while providing the flexibility and resources needed for sustainable growth.

How can I claim?

If you have previously deposited into any YO vaults or related DeFi activities, you will be eligible for the $YO airdrop. Claims will open on Thursday, February 5th.

Users can claim their $YO tokens by checking eligibility at app.yo.xyz/claim. To claim, connect your wallet on Base network and follow the instructions to confirm your $YO allocation.

Rewards Program: How to Earn $YO

The YO Points program has now concluded. To accelerate community growth and open the door for broader participation, YO launched the $YO Rewards Program on January 29th. This program is your entry point into earning sustainable rewards and governance power.

For our first reward campaign, the reward rate will be 14% across all vaults for a period of two weeks. This is calculated based on an assumed FDV (Fully Diluted Valuation) of $90M for the $YO token. You can adjust the FDV assumptions directly in YO dApp under Reward Settings based on your own calculations. Rewards are earned in addition to each vault’s base yield.

To start earning $YO rewards:

  1. Deposit into YO Vaults (live)

    Choose between yoUSD, yoETH, yoEUR, yoBTC, or yoGOLD vaults and start earning base yield plus additional $YO rewards.

  2. Participate in DeFi activities (not live yet)

    Add liquidity to all of our supported DeFi activities to earn $YO rewards.

Early participation means higher rewards and stronger influence over the protocol’s evolution. Rewards will be available to claim at app.yo.xyz/rewards.

The Future is YO

$YO rewards will start accruing across all vaults at launch.

With $YO, yield generation now becomes a collective opportunity: transparent, fair, and decentralized.

Join us at TGE and help shape the future of onchain yield.