KernelDAO is about to launch KERNEL to drive further staking ecosystem growth on the BNB Chain.

2025-02-28 13:01

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KERNEL has secured a $40 million ecosystem fund.

Source: KernelDAO

KernelDAO plans to officially launch the KERNEL token in the first week of March 2025. As a project supported by Binance Labs, KernelDAO has developed into a leading player in the staking infrastructure space, with three core products—Kernel, the largest shared security infrastructure on the BNB Chain; Kelp, an LRT protocol ranking second on Ethereum; and Gain, a tokenized treasury with a TVL exceeding $20 billion.

The KERNEL token will serve as the unified governance and utility token for the entire ecosystem, further driving KernelDAO's ecosystem expansion in the staking race.

Leading Position on BNB Chain

Kernel is currently the largest security layer in the BNB Chain ecosystem, with a TVL of $4.5 billion. Over 20 decentralized validation networks (DVNs) have integrated the Kernel infrastructure, and with the support of the ecosystem fund, over 45 new projects are set to join. With the rapid expansion of the staking ecosystem, the BNB Chain is experiencing unprecedented growth.

Strategic Support and Ecosystem Fund

In 2024, KernelDAO successfully raised $10 million in funding, led by renowned funds such as Binance Labs, Laser Digital, SCB Limited, and Hypersphere Ventures.

Additionally, KernelDAO recently announced the establishment of a $40 million strategic ecosystem fund, supported by top-tier investment firms such as Laser Digital, SCB Limited, Hypersphere Ventures, and Cypher Capital. This fund will empower over forty new projects to integrate the Kernel staking infrastructure, accelerate innovation, and further expand the application scenarios of KERNEL in the BNB ecosystem.

KERNEL Is More Than Just a Governance Token

KERNEL runs through the entire KernelDAO ecosystem, offering multiple core functions:

· Shared Security: Users can stake KERNEL to provide economic security for applications within the Kernel ecosystem.

· Staking Slash Protection Mechanism: Staked KERNEL can be used to mitigate the risk of potential slashing penalties, while stakers can also receive a portion of the protocol's rewards.

· Governance Participation: Token holders can participate in the governance decisions of Kernel, Kelp, and Gain, including key topics such as protocol upgrades, fee adjustments, and network expansion.

· Liquidity Provision: Users can provide liquidity on an AMM to earn additional rewards.

Leading protocol partners have fully recognized the value proposition of KERNEL. The AI Coprocessor Mira and the liquidity re-staking protocol YieldNest have committed to directly allocate 1-2% of their total token supply to KERNEL holders, setting a precedent for future protocol integrations. Currently, there are 25 partner projects within the KernelDAO ecosystem, and it is expected that more protocols will adopt a similar distribution strategy in the future.

Tokenomics and Distribution Strategy

KernelDAO's token strategy is centered around community empowerment and sustainable growth, supporting the long-term stability and development of the ecosystem. 55% is allocated to the community, including:

10% for the first-season airdrop;

5% each for the second and third seasons;

35% as long-term community incentives.

In addition, the team holds a portion with a 30-month linear unlock period, and the team had no holdings at the initial token issuance, demonstrating KernelDAO's strong commitment to long-term value creation.

This distribution model fully embodies KernelDAO's core values: community-driven governance, sustainable development, long-term ecosystem growth, and fair distribution.

BNB Re-Staking Economy Foundation

As a leading re-staking infrastructure on the BNB Chain, Kernel has become a key pillar of the network's decentralized economic security. Meanwhile, its Kelp product has developed into the second-largest liquidity re-staking token on Ethereum, further solidifying Kernel's important position in the DeFi ecosystem.

With its community-driven strategy, strong strategic partnerships, and expanding ecosystem, KERNEL is rapidly becoming a core asset in the DeFi space, driving innovation and growth in decentralized finance.

With the token about to go live, KernelDAO's move is not only to introduce a governance token but also to establish the economic cornerstone of re-staking technology, providing support for the future sustainability of the ecosystem.