Yearn.finance: The Yield Aggregator that Redefined DeFi
Yearn.finance (YFI) is a decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol that automates yield farming strategies to maximize returns for users. Its native token YFI is a governance token with no pre-mine, no founder allocation, and a capped supply of 36,666 tokens.
The protocol was launched in July 2020 by the pseudonymous developer Andre Cronje and has since evolved into a multi-product ecosystem including vaults, strategies, and lending services. As of early 2026, YFI remains a critical asset for passive income seekers and governance participants in the Ethereum ecosystem.
Yearn.finance operates as a yield aggregator, automatically moving user deposits between different DeFi protocols to find the highest available returns. It charges fees on vault deposits: a 2% management fee (annualized) and a 20% performance fee on profits. These fees are distributed to YFI stakers and the treasury.