What is SOIL (SOIL)?
Quick Facts
- Blockchain: Polygon (EVM-compatible)
- Protocol type: Regulated DeFi lending and debt marketplace
- Core asset focus: Real World Assets (RWAs) and institutional credit
- Supported assets: USDC, RLUSD, XRP
- Token utility: Yield boosting, governance, fee payments, staking rewards
- Target users: Stablecoin holders seeking yield; SMEs seeking financing
- Smart contracts automate loan agreements and risk management
Introduction
Soil is a fully regulated DeFi protocol that bridges the gap between traditional finance and the crypto ecosystem. It operates as a blockchain-based debt marketplace, allowing crypto investors to lend their stablecoins and earn yield backed by Real World Assets (RWAs).
Unlike typical DeFi yield platforms that rely on speculative token emissions, Soil anchors its returns to off-chain corporate credit markets, making its yield streams less exposed to crypto market volatility.
History & Background
Soil was founded with roots in private debt investment. The protocol's co-founder previously led Mount TFI, a licensed asset management company in Poland specializing in private debt — one of the leading private debt funds in South-Eastern Europe. This traditional finance background shaped Soil's focus on institutional-grade credit as the foundation for DeFi yield.
The protocol launched on the Polygon blockchain and has since expanded its infrastructure across XRPL and EVM-compatible networks.
How SOIL Works
Soil connects two groups: crypto lenders and corporate borrowers (primarily SMEs).
Lenders deposit stablecoins into Soil's lending pools. These funds are extended as loans to established companies, which repay principal and interest using cash flows from their real-world operations. Smart contracts automate loan agreements and risk management, removing the need for traditional intermediaries.
Borrowers, in turn, can also access fiat liquidity by locking stablecoins or other crypto assets as collateral, with funds transferred directly to their bank accounts.
Tokenomics
The SOIL token is the core utility and governance asset of the protocol. It is distributed across five stakeholder groups, with the community receiving the largest allocation — covering liquidity providers, lender incentives, and staking rewards. Private investors and the team account for the remainder, with a multi-year emission schedule designed to align long-term incentives.
Revenue for the protocol is generated from fees and a share of interest payments, supporting protocol sustainability without relying solely on token inflation.
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Circulating Supply
| 75.95 million SOIL |
|---|---|
| |
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Total supply
| 99.00 million SOIL |
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Max supply
| 99.00 million SOIL |
Ecosystem & Use Cases
- Stablecoin lending: Deposit USDC or other supported assets to earn fixed yield from institutional credit markets.
- Yield boosting: Holding and locking SOIL tokens increases a lender's APY within the lending pool.
- Corporate financing: SMEs access alternative financing through the Soil debt marketplace.
- Governance: SOIL holders can create and vote on protocol proposals.
- Fee payments: SOIL is used to pay protocol fees.
Team, Governance & Community
The Soil team combines backgrounds in traditional asset management, private debt, and blockchain technology. Governance is token-based, with SOIL holders participating in key protocol decisions through on-chain proposals and voting. The community is active across Telegram and Twitter, and the team has participated in institutional DeFi and RWA industry events.
Advantages
- Real-world yield: Returns are backed by institutional credit, not speculative token emissions.
- Regulated framework: Soil operates as a fully regulated protocol, offering stronger compliance assurances.
- Reduced volatility exposure: Cash flows stem from off-chain business operations, insulating lenders from crypto market cycles.
- Multi-chain access: Operates across Polygon and XRPL, broadening accessibility.
- Token utility: SOIL provides meaningful utility through yield boosting, governance, and fee payments.
Risks & Challenges
- Credit risk: Loans to SMEs carry default risk if borrowers fail to repay from their operations.
- Regulatory complexity: Operating at the intersection of DeFi and traditional finance means navigating evolving regulatory environments.
- Liquidity risk: As an RWA-backed protocol, redemptions depend on loan repayment timelines rather than instant liquidity.
- Adoption barriers: Regulatory and KYC requirements may limit the addressable user base compared to permissionless DeFi protocols.
Long-Term Vision
Soil aims to become a leading on-chain infrastructure layer for institutional credit markets, connecting the multi-trillion-dollar fixed-income world with decentralized finance. By expanding across multiple chains and supporting a growing range of assets, Soil is positioning itself at the frontier of the RWA tokenization movement — bringing predictable, real-world yield to a global base of crypto-native investors.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is SOIL used for?
The SOIL token serves several purposes within the protocol: it can be locked to boost lending yields (APY), used to pay protocol fees, and staked to earn rewards. Token holders also use SOIL to participate in governance by voting on protocol proposals.
- How does Soil generate yield for lenders?
Soil pools stablecoin deposits from crypto investors and extends them as loans to established companies and SMEs. These businesses repay principal and interest from their real-world cash flows, which are then distributed back to lenders as yield.
- What blockchain does SOIL run on?
SOIL is deployed on the Polygon blockchain, an EVM-compatible network. The Soil protocol has also expanded to support the XRP Ledger (XRPL), allowing access across both ecosystems.
- Is Soil a regulated protocol?
Yes, Soil describes itself as a fully regulated DeFi protocol. This means it operates within a compliance framework, which may include KYC and other requirements for participants depending on jurisdiction.
- What assets can I use on Soil?
Soil supports USDC, RLUSD, and XRP for its fixed-yield lending opportunities. These assets are available across both XRPL and EVM-compatible network infrastructure.
- How is Soil different from other DeFi lending protocols?
Unlike most DeFi protocols where yield depends on speculative token incentives or crypto-native borrowers, Soil anchors its returns to real-world corporate credit markets. This means yields are tied to business cash flows rather than volatile crypto market conditions.
- Who are the borrowers on the Soil platform?
Borrowers on Soil are primarily established companies and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) seeking alternative financing. They access fiat liquidity through the protocol and repay loans using revenues from their traditional business operations.
- How is token distribution structured?
The SOIL token is distributed across community participants (the largest allocation, covering liquidity providers, lender incentives, and staking rewards), private investors, and the team. Emissions follow a multi-year schedule designed to sustain long-term protocol growth.