Yearn Finance (YFI) is a decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol built on the Ethereum blockchain that allows users to optimize their yield farming strategies. By using various automated tools and strategies, Yearn Finance helps users earn the highest possible yield on their cryptocurrency assets across different DeFi platforms. The native token, YFI, is used for governance, allowing holders to vote on protocol updates and changes.
Yearn Finance operates as a yield aggregator, automatically moving users' funds across different DeFi protocols to maximize returns. It offers products like "Vaults," where users can deposit cryptocurrencies, and the protocol uses automated strategies to earn the highest possible yield. The platform also provides "Earn," which finds the best lending rates, and "Zap," which bundles multiple actions into one transaction. YFI, the governance token, allows users to participate in decision-making regarding updates and changes to the protocol.
Yearn Finance is primarily used by DeFi users looking to optimize their returns on digital assets without manually managing multiple protocols. It's ideal for investors seeking passive income through yield farming and staking. YFI token holders can also participate in the governance of the protocol, influencing the development and future direction of Yearn Finance.
Yearn Finance was created by Andre Cronje and launched in July 2020. It quickly gained popularity in the DeFi space due to its innovative approach to yield farming and the unique feature of distributing YFI tokens without any pre-mine or initial offering. Since its launch, Yearn Finance has become one of the most influential DeFi platforms, offering a range of automated yield optimization strategies.