- KernelDAO topped TVL Incentive Program #5, earning 3,956 BNB for restaking impact
- BNB Chain delegated rewards based on strict TVL growth and security benchmarks
- LSTs and LRTs gain traction as core pillars for BNB Chain’s decentralized growth
BNB Chain has officially concluded its TVL Incentive Program #5, a key initiative aimed at strengthening the BNB Smart Chain’s restaking infrastructure. The program focused on boosting protocols that support staked BNB, liquid staking tokens (LSTs), and liquid restaking tokens (LRTs).
By incentivizing top-performing protocols, the campaign sought to enhance the network’s decentralized foundation. Delegation support was provided as up to 5% of each protocol’s incremental staked BNB, encouraging growth and adoption within the ecosystem. This strategic move not only rewarded high performers but also helped secure the BNB restaking stack for long-term resilience.
3/Delegation support was awarded as up to 5% of each protocol's incremental staked BNB.
— BNB Chain (@BNBCHAIN) April 22, 2025
This direct incentive helps strengthen BNB Chain’s restaking stack and reward protocol-level participation.
Top Performers Rewarded for Protocol-Level Impact
The top five protocols from this round demonstrated significant progress in TVL growth and user participation. KernelDAO led the pack with a 5% delegation share, receiving 3,956 BNB. AsterDEX followed closely, earning 3,512 BNB with a 4% allocation.
YieldNestFi secured 97 BNB, while Tranchess and ListaDAO received 149 BNB and 1,704 BNB respectively. These rewards will be distributed in BNB or WBNB within ten days of the official announcement. Delegation durations range from one to three months, depending on performance and ongoing protocol security.
To be eligible, protocols had to meet strict benchmarks, including two completed security audits and a minimum of $10 million in TVL. Moreover, BNB Chain actively reviewed each protocol’s risk management status, maintaining the right to revoke support if any vulnerabilities arose. This added a layer of accountability, ensuring only robust protocols received backing.
4/Here are the top 5 protocols from this round:@Kernel_DAO
— BNB Chain (@BNBCHAIN) April 22, 2025
– 5% Delegation Support
– 3,956 BNB@Aster_DEX
– 4% Delegation Support
– 3,512 BNB@YieldNestFi
– 3% Delegation Support
– 97 BNB@Tranchess
– 2% Delegation Support
– 149 BNB@lista_dao
– 1% Delegation Support
-…
Driving Sustainable Growth through Structured Incentives
The incentive program, which capped delegation support at 20,000 BNB per protocol and 50,000 BNB in total, rewarded projects based on both absolute and relative growth. Metrics included the increase in staked BNB and total TVL. Each was weighted to fairly assess impact. BNB Chain encouraged participating protocols to launch user incentives, further enhancing adoption.
Significantly, this round reflects a broader commitment to DeFi expansion. KernelDAO’s separate $40 million initiative for BNB restaking is one example of how the space is rapidly maturing. The program’s success also highlights the increasing role of LRTs and LSTs in powering new decentralized infrastructure such as AI networks, DVNs, and bridges.
