Tony Kim
May 10, 2026 12:58
Three DeFi protocols—Hyperliquid, EdgeX, and Pump.fun—distributed $96.3M in revenue to token holders in 30 days, signaling a focus on real earnings.
Three emerging DeFi protocols—Hyperliquid, EdgeX, and Pump.fun—returned a combined $96.3 million in revenue to their token holders over the past 30 days, according to data from DefiLlama. The figures highlight a growing shift in the crypto sector toward revenue-based valuations rather than traditional metrics like transaction volume or network growth.
Hyperliquid led the trio, distributing $50.95 million in revenue during the period, with all earnings going directly to token holders without any incentive spending. Pump.fun followed, returning $22.09 million out of $38.81 million in total revenue. EdgeX distributed $23.26 million to holders, a figure that exceeds its $8.26 million in protocol revenue, suggesting the project is tapping reserves or alternative income streams to reward participants.
On an annualized basis, Hyperliquid has generated $945.87 million in revenue, all of which has been returned to token holders. Pump.fun and EdgeX follow with $481.15 million and $236.42 million, respectively. These numbers significantly outpace other major DeFi protocols like Chainlink, which returned $4.63 million in the last 30 days, and PancakeSwap, which distributed $2.48 million after spending $905,260 on incentives.
Revenue Takes Center Stage in DeFi
This focus on revenue marks a turning point for the DeFi sector. Token holders are increasingly demanding real earnings as evidence to justify valuations, moving away from speculative metrics like transaction throughput. Robbie Klages, co-founder of The Rollup, summed up the sentiment: “Nobody cares that your chain does 10x the TPS anymore. The market is ‘show me the money right now.’ Treat it like a business.”
Other commentators agree, noting that protocols unable to deliver real revenue risk being valued like pre-revenue startups—a precarious position in a high-interest-rate environment. This shift underscores a maturing DeFi ecosystem that’s beginning to operate more like traditional financial systems.
DeFi as Financial Infrastructure
Andre Cronje, founder of Yearn.Finance, believes the DeFi sector in 2026 is evolving into a foundational layer for the broader on-chain economy. Stablecoins now represent a $320 billion market, while decentralized exchanges process $160 billion in monthly spot volume. Perpetual DEXs handle $540 billion in monthly trades, and lending protocols like Aave and Maple Finance manage $28 billion in active loans.
“DeFi is no longer just competing for APY. It is becoming the backend for the on-chain economy,” Cronje noted, emphasizing the sector’s pivot toward real-world financial use cases, including tokenized assets as collateral.
The success of protocols like Hyperliquid, EdgeX, and Pump.fun reflects this broader trend. As DeFi matures, the emphasis on tangible revenue rather than speculative growth could reshape how protocols are valued and drive sustainable innovation in the space.
Image source: Shutterstock
