Name: DeFi Protocols Token Buyback Data 2026
Creator: Buyback Direct
Published: 2024-01-01
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Question 1

What is a token buyback in crypto?

Accepted Answer

A token buyback is when a cryptocurrency project uses its revenue or treasury to purchase its own tokens from the open market. Similar to stock buybacks in traditional finance, this reduces circulating supply and can increase value for existing holders. Common mechanisms include fee switches, protocol revenue distribution, and scheduled burns.

Question 2

What is buyback yield in DeFi?

Accepted Answer

Buyback yield measures the annualized value of token buybacks as a percentage of market cap. For example, if a protocol with a $100M market cap buys back $5M worth of tokens annually, the buyback yield is 5%. Higher buyback yields indicate stronger capital returns to token holders.

Question 3

What is the difference between buyback and burn?

Accepted Answer

In a buyback, tokens are purchased from the market and may be held in treasury, redistributed, or burned. In a burn, tokens are permanently destroyed by sending them to a dead address, reducing total supply forever. Many protocols combine both: buying back tokens and then burning them for maximum deflationary effect.

Question 4

What is real yield in crypto?

Accepted Answer

Real yield refers to returns generated from actual protocol revenue rather than inflationary token emissions. Protocols with real yield generate income from fees, trading activity, or services, then distribute this value to token holders through buybacks, burns, or direct dividends. This is considered more sustainable than emission-based rewards.

Question 5

Which crypto projects have the best buyback programs?

Accepted Answer

Top DeFi protocols with active buyback programs include Aave, Maker (Sky), Uniswap, Hyperliquid, and GMX. Buyback Direct tracks all major protocols with active buyback or burn mechanisms, allowing investors to compare buyback yields and make informed decisions.

Project				Mechanism
Hyperliquid HYPE·Hyperliquid	$26.18	+0.32%	$8.89B	🔥 Burn
Uniswap UNI·Ethereum	$6.28	+3.09%	$4.59B	🔥 Burn
Aave AAVE·Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, Avalanche	$156.99	+1.45%	$2.40B	🔒 Lock
Sky SKY·Ethereum	$0.064903	+3.03%	$1.49B	🔥 Burn
ether.fi ETHFI·Ethereum	$0.727271	+2.41%	$474.74M	🔒 Lock
Clanker CLANKER·Base	$30.43	+0.49%	$30.01M	🔒 Lock

DeFi Protocols with Active Buyback Programs