YieldNest
About
YieldNest is a next-generation DeFi protocol that merges multiple yield strategies into single, unified liquid assets. It offers AI-powered MAX Vaults that dynamically rebalance across restaking and DeFi strategies to provide optimized, risk-adjusted returns. The platform simplifies complex DeFi strategies for both retail and institutional users through automated, non-custodial yield products.
Where Does Yield Come From?
YieldNest creates returns through its MAX tokens, which are liquid tokens that combine several different sources of yield into one simple asset.
The main ways these tokens earn yield are:
- Restaking rewards: By staking assets like ETH on multiple protocols (such as EigenLayer), the ynETHx token earns returns from those services.
- Real-world asset yields: Through partnerships with platforms that handle traditional assets (like loans or real estate), the ynRWAx token earns returns from those dollar-denominated investments.
- DeFi strategy yields: The ynUSDx token earns returns from various decentralized finance activities, such as lending funds, providing liquidity to trading pairs, and capturing price differences across markets.
- StakeDAO-integrated yields: The STAK token earns returns by staking liquidity provider tokens from Curve, a popular trading platform.
A system called NEST AI constantly adjusts how much is allocated to restaking versus DeFi strategies, aiming for the best balance between risk and return.
The protocol is built in layers: the underlying strategies that actually generate yield charge a performance fee, while the top-level MAX tokens themselves do not have any fees.
Users deposit basic assets like ETH, USDC, or BNB and receive corresponding ynTokens in return. These ynTokens automatically reinvest the yields they earn, so the value grows over time.
The system is designed to be secure and reliable. It ensures all transactions settle on the main blockchain, keeps reserves to manage user withdrawals smoothly, and uses AI-powered threat detection to monitor risks in real time.
Persons
Amadeo Brands
Co-founder & CEO
Martin Krung
Advisor, Curve Finance
Ivan On Tech
Advisor, Moralis
Allen Day
Advisor, Google
Wavey
Advisor, Yearn Finance
Nagaking
Advisor, Curve Finance
Audits
| Audit / Date | Findings | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
ChainSecurity06-03-202427-03-202428-03-202408-04-2024 |
| All identified vulnerabilities were fixed during the audit, resulting in a codebase that ChainSecurity assesses as providing a good level of security, though the initial issues revealed inadequate internal review and testing practices. |
Zokyo07-05-2024 |
| The audit found no critical vulnerabilities, with one high and one medium severity issue resolved, indicating the YieldNest contracts were generally well-crafted with appropriate security practices implemented prior to launch. |
ChainSecurity06-03-2024 - 06-08-2024 |
| ChainSecurity concluded the codebase has a high level of security after all identified vulnerabilities were fixed, though the audit noted inherent limitations of time-boxed reviews and recommended continued testing and careful rollout. |
Zokyo12-12-2024 |
| The audit identified configuration validation risks and code quality issues, with the most significant finding being a high-risk decimal validation flaw that could affect asset calculations in the vault system. |
Composable Security13-12-2024 - 20-12-2024 |
| The audit revealed significant accounting and fee mechanism vulnerabilities, with the critical high-severity decimal issue fixed; however, several medium-severity risks remain acknowledged but not fully resolved, indicating residual design risks requiring ongoing attention. |
Zokyo08-01-2025 |
| The audit found no critical or high-severity vulnerabilities, with only medium and low-risk issues identified, indicating a relatively secure codebase with minor areas for improvement in access control and error handling. |
Zokyo04-02-2025 |
| The audit revealed one critical synchronization vulnerability that was successfully resolved, along with several informational improvements, resulting in a low-risk assessment for the YieldNest protocol's EigenLayer integration. |
NFR Audits01-02-2025 |
| The audit found one previously fixed high-severity calculation error and minor low-severity issues, indicating the YieldNest max vault withdrawer codebase is generally well-structured and safe after the recommended fixes were implemented. |
NFR Audits22-05-2025 |
| The audit identified one high-severity issue regarding default asset index management that could cause vault function reverts, plus several medium and low risks primarily around initialization validation and documentation; several findings were already addressed in commits prior to the report publication. |
NFR Audits22-05-2025 |
| The audit found no critical or high severity security vulnerabilities, identifying only minor design inconsistencies and code quality issues that were partially addressed before deployment. |
Zokyo01-04-2025 |
| The audit concluded with a low-risk assessment, with only informational findings identified and resolved, indicating the contracts are securely implemented for their intended staking management functions. |
ChainSecurity09-08-2024 |
| ChainSecurity identified and resolved three high-severity vulnerabilities in YieldNest's LSD implementation, resulting in a codebase that the auditor assesses as having a high level of security following the fixes. |
Zokyo12-12-2024 |
| The audit found one high-severity configuration risk but confirms it was resolved, with most other issues being informational; the codebase appears to follow security best practices with no critical vulnerabilities remaining. |
Zokyo08-01-2025 |
| The audit found no critical or high severity vulnerabilities, with medium issues focused on access control and withdrawal logic, and low severity issues primarily in error handling and code quality. Overall security posture appears reasonable with identified risks at medium or lower severity levels. |
| The retest confirmed that all critical vulnerabilities were resolved, with the high severity issue fixed and most medium issues addressed, though two medium and three low severity findings remain acknowledged but not yet fixed, indicating improved but not fully remediated security posture. | |
Zokyo04-02-2025 |
| The audit found only informational issues related to code quality and gas optimization, with no critical, high, medium, or low severity vulnerabilities identified, suggesting the YieldNest protocol's core security architecture is sound. |
NFR Audits13-02-2025 |
| The audit found no critical vulnerabilities and all identified issues have been resolved, indicating the YieldNest vault and withdrawer libraries are secure for deployment after recommended fixes. |
NFR Audits12-05-2025 |
| The audit found several design and implementation issues in the default asset index update, with one high-severity vulnerability that could affect vault functionality, though some fixes were already implemented. Further validation and monitoring are recommended before deployment. |
NFR Audits17-05-2025 |
| The audit found no critical or high-severity vulnerabilities, identifying only minor design inconsistencies and code quality issues that were partially addressed, recommending fixes before deployment and further audits for future updates. |
Zokyo28-04-2025 |
| The audit identified only minor informational issues in the ynETH staking contracts, suggesting the implementation follows security best practices with no major vulnerabilities found in the reviewed code. |
Zokyo28-04-2025 |
| The audit found no critical or high-severity vulnerabilities, with only one medium-risk issue and several low-risk findings, indicating generally robust security practices for the ynEigen contracts. |
Backers
YieldNest raised $5.2 million in a contribution round in March 2024, led by Faculty Group. Other participants included Backed VC, Proof Capital, LVT Capital, Contango, Mozaik Capital, Kahuna, Rana Capital, Insignius Capital, CKC, and angel investors such as Curve founder Michael Egorov, Kyber Network founder Loi Luu, Convex co-founders Winthorpe and c2tp.eth, Algorand's Steve Kokinos, Curve's Martin Krung and Nagaking, Moralis' Ivan on Tech, Yearn's Wavey, and Google's Allen Day. The round was oversubscribed.
According to YND tokenomics (May 2025), 18% of the total token supply was allocated to private sale investors (strategic contributors and partners) and 2% to a strategic round for future contributors. Both rounds have multi-year vesting schedules.
Legal
Status and notes
YieldNest's official Terms and Conditions state that legal matters shall be governed by the YieldNest DAO (not yet formed). No legal entity name, registration jurisdiction, or legal form is disclosed on the website, Terms and Conditions, About page, or documentation. Contact email: [email protected]. Protocol appears to be transitioning to DAO governance; entity behind initial development not publicly disclosed.