Katana, the innovative blockchain optimized for DeFi and powered by the KAT token, is designed to provide liquidity and high yields across various protocols such as Morpho (lending), Sushi (spot trading), and Vertex (perpetual derivatives). Built on five distinct revenue streams, Katana offers users a new and improved way to engage with DeFi. This mission is strategically backed by Conduit, Chainlink, and Blockworks.
May 28, 2025 – The Katana Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the DeFi experience for all types of users, has launched Katana’s private mainnet. This purpose-built chain aims to maximize asset productivity by offering superior yields and deep liquidity. Unlike today’s fragmented DeFi landscape, Katana consolidates liquidity into a coordinated suite of platforms, drawing value from multiple sources and fueling a self- sustaining DeFi ecosystem with a long-term vision.
Pre-deposits are now open, allowing early participants to start earning KAT. The public network launch is scheduled for June 2025.
Katana is the result of the support and guidance from GSR and Polygon Labs. Its launch is further strengthened by strategic partnerships with Conduit, a rollup platform managing over $4 billion in TVL; Chainlink, the leading decentralized oracle provider for secure and reliable data; and Blockworks, a leading crypto media and data analytics firm. These partnerships provide the technical, strategic, and communications support needed to establish Katana as a benchmark in the evolution of DeFi.
Katana’s main goal is to offer a powerful and accessible platform for both casual users and financial institutions. As DeFi users account for a growing share of on-chain activity, Katana provides an optimized environment where they can achieve better yields and explore innovative financial tools.
Katana is specifically designed to meet the demand for high-yield strategies among power users such as degens. As a result, assets on Katana can generate returns that outperform those in other DeFi environments.
An Ecosystem That Solves Key DeFi Challenges
Liquidity fragmentation and value leakage remain critical problems in the DeFi world. Katana was designed to counter these issues by concentrating liquidity and stabilizing rates. This reduces slippage and ensures more stable lending and borrowing rates.
Jakob Palmstierna, Chairman of GSR, said:
“At GSR, we’re excited to collaborate with Katana, as this initiative reflects our growing commitment to incubation and advisory. It’s not just about capital investment—it’s about helping design sustainable and accessible financial ecosystems. With Katana, we apply our deep market expertise to foster real yield generation and efficient liquidity.”
Marc Boiron, CEO of Polygon Labs, added:
“DeFi users need ecosystems that prioritize sustainability and consistent real yield generation. Katana’s user-centric model turns market inefficiencies into opportunities, fostering a truly collaborative and thriving ecosystem.”
Strong and Secure Infrastructure
Katana is built on cdk-opgeth, a tech stack based on OP Stack, connected to Agglayer and using ZK proofs for advanced security. These proofs are generated by Succinct’s SP1 prover, which uses Polygon’s Plonky3 technology for fast and efficient verification. The network is operated with the support of Conduit and its high-performance G2 Sequencer.
Liquidity Consolidation to Enhance the DeFi Experience
Katana consolidates liquidity across leading DeFi ecosystem protocols, improving operational efficiency and reducing costs for users. Participants include:
● Morpho: Optimized lending and borrowing.
● Sushi: Deep-liquidity spot trading.
● Vertex: Perpetual derivatives trading.
Katana also integrates key assets like stablecoins, BTC, and ETH, thanks to partners such as:
● Agora: Issuer of the native stablecoin AUSD.
● Lombard: LBTC, a yield-bearing liquid BTC.
● Ether.Fi: weETH, staked and restaked yield-bearing ETH.
● BitVault: Institutional-grade BTC-backed financial solutions.
Thanks to Universal, users will also be able to trade assets like XRP, SOL, and SUI within Katana, earning higher returns than on their native chains.
Five Pillars of Sustainable Yield
Katana relies on five key pillars that ensure sustainable growth and maximum user returns:
1. VaultBridge: Bridged assets generate yield from the moment they are deposited, accruing interest across both Ethereum and Katana.
2. Network Fees: Fees and a portion of app revenues are reinvested to incentivize users and boost liquidity.
3. AUSD Revenues: AUSD shares its profits with the Katana ecosystem, unlike other stablecoins whose income benefits the issuing companies.
4. Main App Emissions: Each application distributes tokens as incentives to boost user loyalty and increase yields.
5. KAT Emissions: KAT holders determine how future emissions are allocated across DeFi pools, aligning the interests of apps and users.
This model is self-reinforcing: more activity leads to more rewards. Katana ensures a resilient ecosystem that doesn’t rely on short-term, volatile incentives.
TVL That Works for Users
Unlike other chains where TVL sits idle to inflate metrics, Katana actively deploys assets in lending, trading, and yield strategies. This maximizes capital efficiency and delivers real benefits to users and developers alike.
KAT: Governance and Long-Term Value
The Katana Foundation has officially introduced KAT, the ecosystem’s native token. KAT not only provides governance power through the vote-escrow (veKAT) model but also directs emissions toward applications that contribute real liquidity and growth.
Users can earn KAT by pre-depositing ETH, USDC, USDT, or WBTC. After a maximum lock-up period of 9 months, they can convert their tokens into veKAT and participate in key protocol decisions.
KAT is designed to discourage short-term speculation and promote organic, sustained growth within the Katana network.
Private Mainnet Now Active
Katana’s private network is already live, giving developers and early users the chance to experience its operations. To join and contribute to this new DeFi ecosystem, visit katana.network.
About the Katana Foundation
The Katana Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to developing the world’s best DeFi environment. With support from Polygon Labs, GSR, and other ecosystem players, its mission is to maximize liquidity, generate superior yields, and ensure an accessible, efficient, and secure DeFi experience for all.
