Etherlink Exits Beta with $3M Apple Farm and DeFi Push

Key Points:

• Etherlink exits public beta, launching a $3M Apple Farm rewards program to promote adoption.
• The Apple Farm initiative, powered by Merkl, rewards DeFi activity with “Apples.”
• Etherlink sees $2M DEX volume and expands with builder programs and key partnerships.

Etherlink, a Layer 2 blockchain powered by Tezos Smart Rollups, has officially exited public beta and is now production-ready. To mark the launch, the firm is unveiling multiple initiatives aimed at driving ecosystem adoption, including the $3 million Apple Farm rewards program and a dedicated builder’s program to attract developers.

The announcements coincide with ETHDenver 2025, where the team is highlighting the network’s growing activity in decentralized finance (DeFi) and real-world asset (RWA) applications.

$3M Reward Pool Offered by "Apple Farm" Launch

The Apple Farm program, set to launch in March 2025, will distribute up to $3 million in rewards to users engaging with DeFi applications on the network. The incentive platform will introduce a points-based system, where users earn "Apples" for participating in on-chain activities such as trading, lending, and liquidity provisioning.

“The launch of Apple Farm and the builder’s program is just the beginning. With key platforms like uranium.io and strategic partnerships with DeFi projects, we are laying the foundation for a robust ecosystem.”

Cédric Roche, Head of Business Development at Nomadic Labs, emphasized Etherlink’s long-term growth strategy.

Founding partners include Superlend, Hanji, and IguanaDEX. Participants can track earned points, monitor leaderboard rankings, and engage with integrated protocols through a comprehensive dashboard. Rewards will include exclusive NFTs, special Discord roles, and other incentives.

The Apple Farm program is powered by Merkl, a DeFi incentive platform that has distributed over $80 million in tokens across more than 40 blockchain networks.

Pablo Veyrat, co-founder of Merkl, also highlighted the importance of their collaboration, stating, “Merkl is excited to power Apple Farm, reinforcing our role as a leading incentive distribution platform.”

Etherlink Ushers $2M DEX Volume Amid Program Launch

Alongside Apple Farm, Etherlink has launched a dedicated builder’s program, designed to simplify dApp deployment on its Layer 2 network. The waitlist for the program is open, with developers being offered resources and incentives to encourage adoption. The initiative is expected to accelerate the development of DeFi and real-world asset applications.

Etherlink has seen strong momentum leading up to its official launch. The network has processed over $2 million in DEX trading volume, facilitated the Bifröst network upgrade, and supported the launch of uranium.io, the first decentralized platform for tokenized uranium trading. Additionally, multiple NFT collections have sold out, further demonstrating growing adoption.

The network has also expanded its infrastructure through partnerships and integrations. It now features ".etherlink" domains powered by Freename and has secured collaborations with Spiko, Midas, Rabby Wallet, and Nebula by Thirdweb.