Tezos Layer 2 Etherlink Launches Mainnet and Unveils Rewards Programs

Etherlink, a Layer 2 blockchain on the Tezos network, has moved from the beta phase to mainnet, according to a statement shared with The Defiant.

The platform plans to unveil several initiatives to reward early users and attract builders to commemorate the launch.

The first is a rewards program called Apple Farm, which will distribute up to $3 million to participants in its first season. Apple Farm participants will be rewarded for exploring the Etherlink ecosystem. The program uses a points system, where participants earn “Apples” for participating in Decentralized Finance (DeFi) on Etherlink. Other rewards include exclusive Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs) and special discord roles.

Apple Farm

Apple Farm is supported by Superlend, Hanji, and IguanaDEX, three projects building on Etherlink that have processed over $2 million in trading volume. Additionally, it is powered by Merkl, an incentive platform behind several successful DeFi liquidity programs. Since its inception, Merkl has generated over $80 million in tokens distributed across over 40 chains.

"The launch of Apple Farm and the reveal of a dedicated builder’s program for Etherlink mark a natural progression in Etherlink's growth story, but, most excitingly, this is just the start," said Cédric Roche, Head of BD at Nomadic Labs, a Tezos R&D Hub in Paris.

"With the recent launch of key platforms like uranium.io, and Superlend partnership, we're creating a robust foundation for sustained ecosystem growth that we're set to super-charge with these and other upcoming initiatives."

Etherlink Builders Program

The Etherlink Builders Program is designed to attract developers to build and deploy decentralized applications (dApps) on top of the chain.

Both initiatives will be unveiled at ETHDenver, after which the waitlists will go live.

Etherlink has completed important ecosystem upgrades such as the Bifrost upgrade, completed integrations for Spiko and Midas, and hosted multiple sold-out NFT collections.

[UPDATED 2/25 @ 12pm EST to correct spelling of Merkl]