Grand Line Research Grand Line Research

Protocol revenue and holder payouts

Which protocols and chains pay their token holders through buybacks, burns or fee share, and how much.

Updated 3 Nov 2026, 06:01 UTC

Last 12 monthsFrom our holder-payouts dataset, as of 24 Oct 2026, 00:00 UTC.

Protocol revenueAll protocols; $5.03B without the stablecoin issuers$13.53B
Holder payoutsBuybacks, burns and fee share; $1.83B from the main protocols: 79 paid $1M or more, 22 paid $10M or more$1.88B
Payout share of revenueWithout the stablecoin issuers; 13.9% with Tether, Circle, Paxos and RLUSD37.4%
Top-3 concentrationOf the main protocols' payouts, from HYPE, PUMP, AERO59.1%

Last 30 daysDefiLlama's own count across every protocol.

Revenue$1.25B
Paid to holders$229.65M
Fees paid$2.28B
Fees kept as revenue54.9%
Revenue, 12 months$13.48B

Leaderboard

#Token (protocol)12m trend (H2 vs H1)How it pays
1HYPE (Hyperliquid)Buyback: 99% of perp and spot fees go to the Assistance Fund, which buys HYPE; HYPE paid in spot token auctions is burned$706.84M$895.34M$19.92B3.55%Falling −13%$376.19M to $326.93MBuyback: 99% of perp and spot fees go to the Assistance Fund, which buys HYPE; HYPE paid in spot token auctions is burned
2PUMP (Pump)Buyback (PUMP bought back and burned, tracked from on-chain burns)$282.97M$341.31M$1.80B15.75%Falling −23%$159.18M to $123.01MBuyback (PUMP bought back and burned, tracked from on-chain burns)
3AERO (Aerodrome)Fee share: swap fees go to veAERO lockers who vote$90.99M$188.37M$474.15M19.19%Falling −17%$49.53M to $40.96MFee share: swap fees go to veAERO lockers who vote
4LINK (Chainlink)Buyback: LINK bought with revenue from on-chain and off-chain sources$59.76M$65.81M$8.48B0.70%Rising +1%$29.28M to $29.49MBuyback: LINK bought with revenue from on-chain and off-chain sources
5UNI (Uniswap)Buyback and burn: part of swap fees buys and burns UNI (Ethereum since 28 Dec 2025, more chains since)$55.63M$143.56M$4.33B1.28%Rising +262%$12.03M to $43.60MBuyback and burn: part of swap fees buys and burns UNI (Ethereum since 28 Dec 2025, more chains since)
6CAKE (PancakeSwap)Buyback and burn of CAKE from a share of swap, prediction and lottery fees$49.40M$48.01M$584.18M8.46%Falling −41%$30.12M to $17.84MBuyback and burn of CAKE from a share of swap, prediction and lottery fees
7EDGE (edgeX)Buyback of EDGE from protocol revenue$47.27M$7.44M$109.67M43.10%Rising +455%$7.22M to $40.05MBuyback of EDGE from protocol revenue
8JUP (Jupiter)Buyback: 50% of platform revenue buys JUP (since 17 Feb 2025)$41.42M$37.38M$802.84M5.16%Falling −41%$25.91M to $15.31MBuyback: 50% of platform revenue buys JUP (since 17 Feb 2025)
9ORE (ORE Protocol)Buyback and burn: 99% of fees buy ORE, which is burned or given to stakers$41.03M$34.56M$72.77M56.38%Falling −32%$24.36M to $16.66MBuyback and burn: 99% of fees buy ORE, which is burned or given to stakers
10LIT (Lighter)Buyback of LIT from fees$29.76M$32.49M$775.60M3.84%Falling −4%$15.19M to $14.57MBuyback of LIT from fees
11CRV (Curve Finance)Fee share: 90% of the protocol share of pool fees (plus crvUSD fees and bribes) to veCRV lockers$27.75M$20.52M$418.62M6.63%Falling −54%$19.01M to $8.72MFee share: 90% of the protocol share of pool fees (plus crvUSD fees and bribes) to veCRV lockers
12ASTER (Aster)Buyback of ASTER from fees (burned before 2 Feb 2026; since 17 Jun 2026 given to veASTER stakers)$26.94M$43.45M$1.74B1.54%Rising +25%$11.95M to $14.99MBuyback of ASTER from fees (burned before 2 Feb 2026; since 17 Jun 2026 given to veASTER stakers)
13PONS (Pons)Buyback and burn: about 80% of revenueDouble-counted$21.39M$136.85M$135.49M15.79%Newnone to $21.39MBuyback and burn: about 80% of revenue
14AAVE (Aave)Buyback of AAVE by the treasury (since 9 Apr 2025)$18.87M$0$1.94B0.97%Falling −96%$18.04M to $732.10KBuyback of AAVE by the treasury (since 9 Apr 2025)
15RAY (Raydium)Buyback: 12% of AMM swap fees buy RAY; 25% of LaunchLab fees buy and burn RAY$18.76M$51.94M$409.22M4.58%Falling −13%$10.00M to $8.68MBuyback: 12% of AMM swap fees buy RAY; 25% of LaunchLab fees buy and burn RAY
16STONK (StonkFun)Buyback and burn of STONKDouble-counted$16.41M$165.69M$82.22M19.96%Newnone to $16.41MBuyback and burn of STONK
17GODL (GODL protocol)Buyback and burn: 99% of fees, with value to GODL stakersNo market cap$14.21M$3.45M——Falling −67%$10.69M to $3.52MBuyback and burn: 99% of fees, with value to GODL stakers
18MET (Meteora)Buyback of MET from protocol revenue, plus small USDC rewards to MET stakers$13.76M$998.85K$152.70M9.01%Falling −99%$13.62M to $132.55KBuyback of MET from protocol revenue, plus small USDC rewards to MET stakers
19BONK (BONK.fun)Buyback and burn (50% of launchpad fees since 10 Jun 2025) plus small rewards$13.20M$64.81M$242.18M5.45%Falling −4%$6.74M to $6.45MBuyback and burn (50% of launchpad fees since 10 Jun 2025) plus small rewards
20PENDLE (Pendle)Fee share: 80% of revenue to sPENDLE holders (100% before Sep 2025)$12.82M$3.81M$303.01M4.23%Falling −49%$8.48M to $4.30MFee share: 80% of revenue to sPENDLE holders (100% before Sep 2025)
21CVX (Convex Finance)Fee share: CRV/CVX/FXS and bribes to CVX lockers and cvxCRV stakers$12.79M$10.68M$178.86M7.15%Falling −47%$8.34M to $4.43MFee share: CRV/CVX/FXS and bribes to CVX lockers and cvxCRV stakers
22PHAR (Pharaoh Exchange)Fee share: swap fees and vote incentives to xPHAR votersMicro-cap$11.42M$32.42M$2.13M535.13%Rising +27%$5.03M to $6.37MFee share: swap fees and vote incentives to xPHAR voters
23APEX (ApeX Protocol)Buyback: 50% of fees buy APEX weekly$9.98M$2.38M$31.08M32.12%Falling −85%$8.68M to $1.30MBuyback: 50% of fees buy APEX weekly
24ETHFI (ether.fi)Buyback of ETHFI$9.46M$0$575.41M1.64%Falling −100%$9.46M to $0Buyback of ETHFI
25BLACK (Blackhole)Fee share: swap fees to veBLACK votersMicro-cap$9.39M$1.42M$801.54K1171.57%Falling −84%$8.01M to $1.26MFee share: swap fees to veBLACK voters
26MAMO (Mamo)Fee share: Aerodrome LP fees to MAMO stakersDouble-countedMicro-cap$9.22M$3.36M$3.41M270.34%Falling −82%$7.74M to $1.41MFee share: Aerodrome LP fees to MAMO stakers
27GEOD (Geodnet)Buyback and burn: 80% of fees buy GEOD and remove it from circulation$7.52M$9.32M$173.38M4.34%Rising +34%$3.20M to $4.31MBuyback and burn: 80% of fees buy GEOD and remove it from circulation
28GMX (GMX)Fee share: 27% of fees to GMX stakers$7.27M$3.87M$88.26M8.24%Falling −31%$4.30M to $2.96MFee share: 27% of fees to GMX stakers
29DBR (deBridge)Buyback of DBR from protocol revenue (since 20 Jun 2025)$7.19M$5.46M$85.19M8.44%Falling −30%$4.18M to $2.91MBuyback of DBR from protocol revenue (since 20 Jun 2025)
30LDO (Lido)Buyback of LDO (LDO Accumulation Program)$7.06M$27.41M$271.05M2.61%Newnone to $7.06MBuyback of LDO (LDO Accumulation Program)
31ZINC (ZINC)Buyback: SOL fees buy ZINC, 90% burned, 10% to stakersMicro-cap$6.64M$5.10K$22.80K29118.12%Newnone to $6.64MBuyback: SOL fees buy ZINC, 90% burned, 10% to stakers
32BEAN / PEA (PEA)Buyback: fees buy BEAN/PEA, mostly burned, a small share to stakersNo market cap$6.44M$240.96K——Rising +155%$1.81M to $4.63MBuyback: fees buy BEAN/PEA, mostly burned, a small share to stakers
33NEAR (NEAR Protocol)Buyback of NEAR from NEAR Intents revenue (not burned; since 23 Feb 2026)$5.93M$25.21M$4.95B0.12%Rising +509%$836.55K to $5.09MBuyback of NEAR from NEAR Intents revenue (not burned; since 23 Feb 2026)
34BGT/BERA (Berachain Incentive Buys)Fee share: BGT booster incentives paid to BGT holders$5.80M$0$45.85M12.66%Falling −91%$5.23M to $476.35KFee share: BGT booster incentives paid to BGT holders
35VELO (Velodrome)Fee share: swap fees and bribes to veVELO voters$5.72M$4.97M$21.58M26.49%Falling −42%$3.61M to $2.09MFee share: swap fees and bribes to veVELO voters
36CLANKER (Farcaster)Buyback: CLANKER bought back and given to holders (clanker product)$5.62M$0$11.00M51.07%Falling −100%$5.62M to $0Buyback: CLANKER bought back and given to holders (clanker product)
37DYDX (dYdX)Fee share: trading fees to DYDX stakers$5.35M$3.35M$85.05M6.29%Falling −63%$3.87M to $1.43MFee share: trading fees to DYDX stakers
38SLVR (SLVR)Fee share to stakers plus buyback and burnNo market cap$4.29M$13.53M——Newnone to $4.29MFee share to stakers plus buyback and burn
39REX (Etherex)Fee share: swap fees and bribes to xREX votersMicro-cap$4.07M$77.85K$599.04K680.06%Falling −98%$3.90M to $79.66KFee share: swap fees and bribes to xREX voters
40YB (Yield Basis)Fee share: admin fees to veYB holdersDouble-counted$3.90M$43.84K$16.93M23.03%Falling −95%$3.70M to $199.89KFee share: admin fees to veYB holders
41SPK (Spark)Buyback of SPK by the Spark treasury$3.83M$8.61M$55.97M6.85%Rising +422%$615.81K to $3.22MBuyback of SPK by the Spark treasury
42QUICK (Quickswap)Buyback: 70% of protocol revenue (80% before 4 Nov 2025)Micro-cap$3.83M$1.60M$2.77M138.18%Falling −65%$2.83M to $988.17KBuyback: 70% of protocol revenue (80% before 4 Nov 2025)
43NEST (nest)Fee share: swap fees to veNEST lockersMicro-cap$3.54M$7.97M$5.46M64.89%Rising +865%$332.32K to $3.21MFee share: swap fees to veNEST lockers
44THOR (THORSwap)Fee share to THOR holders/stakers, plus 20% buyback and burnMicro-cap$3.51M$2.33M$9.55M36.74%Falling −46%$2.27M to $1.22MFee share to THOR holders/stakers, plus 20% buyback and burn
45VVV (Venice)Buyback and burn of VVV (per-subscription burns plus bulk revenue buybacks)$3.50M$10.98M$1.05B0.33%Rising +557%$463.00K to $3.04MBuyback and burn of VVV (per-subscription burns plus bulk revenue buybacks)
46GNS (Gains Network)Buyback and burn or staking rewards (DefiLlama text gives both)Micro-cap$3.50M$517.31K$8.69M40.29%Falling −73%$2.74M to $752.42KBuyback and burn or staking rewards (DefiLlama text gives both)
47TORN (Tornado Cash)Fee share: TORN from relayer stakes to TORN locked in governance$3.44M$3.94M$28.03M12.28%Falling −14%$1.85M to $1.59MFee share: TORN from relayer stakes to TORN locked in governance
48ZRO (LayerZero)Buyback of ZRO$3.39M$0$686.07M0.49%Falling −69%$2.59M to $804.97KBuyback of ZRO
49FLUID (Fluid)Buyback from the treasury$3.38M$0$153.56M2.20%Falling −100%$3.38M to $0Buyback from the treasury
50THE (THENA)Fee share: fees to veTHE voters and theNFT stakersMicro-cap$3.23M$878.90K$6.23M51.92%Falling −78%$2.63M to $568.55KFee share: fees to veTHE voters and theNFT stakers
51HYDX (Hydrex)Fee share: DEX fees to governance token holdersMicro-cap$3.23M$5.37M$935.51K344.80%Falling −51%$2.16M to $1.05MFee share: DEX fees to governance token holders
52PLSX (PulseX)Paid to governance token holders (DefiLlama text does not say how)No market cap$3.22M$1.90M——Falling −59%$2.26M to $927.90KPaid to governance token holders (DefiLlama text does not say how)
53FLIP (Chainflip)Burn: FLIP bought and burned from fees$3.08M$3.93M$26.54M11.60%Falling −5%$1.57M to $1.50MBurn: FLIP bought and burned from fees
54SYRUP (Maple Finance)Buyback of SYRUP (10% of revenue since Jul 2026; 25% before)$2.97M$1.83M$180.25M1.65%Falling −42%$1.87M to $1.08MBuyback of SYRUP (10% of revenue since Jul 2026; 25% before)
55UP (up)Fee share: swap fees to veUP votersMicro-cap$2.72M$13.57M$3.79M71.78%Newnone to $2.72MFee share: swap fees to veUP voters
56MPLX (Metaplex)Buyback: 50% of revenue buys MPLX$2.68M$281.99K$44.28M6.05%Falling −75%$2.12M to $533.62KBuyback: 50% of revenue buys MPLX
57SHADOW (Shadow Exchange)Fee share: swap fees and early-exit penalties to xSHADOW holdersMicro-cap$2.60M$500.83K$858.21K303.42%Falling −83%$2.18M to $376.69KFee share: swap fees and early-exit penalties to xSHADOW holders
58RAM (RamsesX)Fee share: swap fees and bribes to votersMicro-cap$2.50M$4.97M$2.88M86.91%Rising +44%$1.03M to $1.48MFee share: swap fees and bribes to voters
59STONKBROKER (StonkBrokers)Burn: half of activation fees burned (Safety Deposit Box: no methodology text)Double-counted$2.50M$4.82M$17.98M13.90%Newnone to $2.50MBurn: half of activation fees burned (Safety Deposit Box: no methodology text)
60FWA (Fake World Assets)Buyback (and burn in V2) from protocol fees$2.34M$7.13M$4.30M54.49%Newnone to $2.34MBuyback (and burn in V2) from protocol fees
61HNT (Helium Network)Buyback and burn of HNT$2.30M$0$67.96M3.38%Falling −100%$2.30M to $0Buyback and burn of HNT
62PNKSTR (TokenWorks)Buyback and burn: 10% of fees buy and burn PNKSTRNo market cap$2.17M$3.21M——Falling −60%$1.33M to $534.97KBuyback and burn: 10% of fees buy and burn PNKSTR
63ORCA (Orca)Buyback: ORCA bought and put in the xORCA vault$2.07M$6.16M$84.36M2.46%Rising +13%$968.15K to $1.10MBuyback: ORCA bought and put in the xORCA vault
64XVS (Venus)Fee share: 40% of borrow interest plus liquidation income to XVS vault stakers$1.93M$3.74M$47.32M4.08%Falling −40%$1.20M to $715.82KFee share: 40% of borrow interest plus liquidation income to XVS vault stakers
65SSV (SSV Network)Burn before migration; ETH fees to cSSV stakers after$1.83M$3.70M$33.16M5.51%Rising +27%$805.09K to $1.02MBurn before migration; ETH fees to cSSV stakers after
66RENDER (Render Network BME)Burn: 95% of job fees burn RENDER$1.80M$2.89M$795.44M0.23%Falling −2%$905.39K to $884.69KBurn: 95% of job fees burn RENDER
67RAIL (Railgun)Fee share: part of the treasury distributed to claimers every 2 weeks$1.71M$4.06M$128.04M1.34%Rising +21%$774.61K to $939.15KFee share: part of the treasury distributed to claimers every 2 weeks
68INDEX (The Index)Distribution: stocks delivered to INDEX holdersMicro-cap$1.68M$1.50M$5.78M29.05%Newnone to $1.68MDistribution: stocks delivered to INDEX holders
69NXM (Nexus Mutual)Indirect: 50% of premiums kept in the capital pool, backing NXM$1.64M$797.17K$89.65M1.83%Falling −14%$884.79K to $756.82KIndirect: 50% of premiums kept in the capital pool, backing NXM
70ABX (Aborean Finance)Fee share: swap fees and bribes to veABX votersMicro-cap$1.55M$339.97K$8.63K18017.62%Falling −85%$1.35M to $200.61KFee share: swap fees and bribes to veABX voters
71QUBIC (Qubic Idle Compute)Buyback and burn of QUBIC$1.48M$0$58.46M2.53%Falling −64%$928.95K to $338.44KBuyback and burn of QUBIC
72MNDE (Marinade)Buyback: 50% of revenue buys MNDE (since 5 Sep 2025)$1.44M$2.65M$12.67M11.33%Rising +23%$644.56K to $790.66KBuyback: 50% of revenue buys MNDE (since 5 Sep 2025)
73BAL (Balancer)Fee share to veBAL holders (stopped after 23 Apr 2026)Micro-cap$1.43M$0$8.34M17.17%Falling −93%$1.32M to $91.28KFee share to veBAL holders (stopped after 23 Apr 2026)
74EUL (Euler)Buyback of EUL$1.42M$1$25.26M5.61%Falling −98%$1.39M to $24.14KBuyback of EUL
75DUST (Neverland)Fee share (USDC to veDUST) plus buyback and burn of DUSTMicro-cap$1.41M$284.14K$54.43K2581.53%Rising +2%$694.13K to $710.97KFee share (USDC to veDUST) plus buyback and burn of DUST
76PNP/MGP (Magpie Ecosystem)Fee share to vlPNP holders and stakers (Penpie)Micro-cap$1.22M$8.19K$832.97K147.06%Falling −99%$1.19M to $14.73KFee share to vlPNP holders and stakers (Penpie)
77RSUP (Resupply)Fee share: platform fees to RSUP stakersMicro-cap$1.09M$949.09K$2.12M51.19%Falling −58%$757.41K to $320.62KFee share: platform fees to RSUP stakers
78TREE (Tree News)Burn: 100% of subscription revenue burned$1.08M$754.60K$16.22M6.65%Falling −25%$615.63K to $459.78KBurn: 100% of subscription revenue burned
79KITTEN (Kittenswap Finance)Fee share: fees to veKITTEN votersMicro-cap$1.04M$336.12K$331.08K315.00%Falling −30%$609.14K to $428.32KFee share: fees to veKITTEN voters

Sources: DefiLlama (revenue, holders revenue and fees, every protocol) and the Grand Line holder-payouts dataset (DefiLlama's holders revenue added up by token, market caps by CoinGecko id, and how each one pays in plain words).

Need help? Email kyle@grandlineresearch.com. Not financial advice. Read our privacy policy and terms.