Etherlink Launches $3M Apple Farm Season 2 with 20% Immediate Rewards 80% Unlocked Over 6 Months

Etherlink has launched Apple Farm Season 2, a $3 million incentive program designed to expand its decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. The initiative, which began on July 24, 2025, follows the success of Season 1, which saw over $50 million in total value locked (TVL) and distributed $3 million in XTZ rewards. This new campaign introduces a dynamic reward structure and enhanced collaboration with DeFi protocols, aiming to drive long-term user engagement and infrastructure scalability.

A key innovation in Season 2 is the introduction of applXTZ, a reward token that allows participants to claim 20% of their earnings immediately, with the remaining 80% unlocked over six months. This mechanism balances liquidity needs with long-term retention, addressing challenges common in incentive programs. David Relkin, Head of DeFi at Nomadic Labs, highlighted that Season 1 demonstrated strong demand for structured incentives. He emphasized that Season 2’s enhancements, including increased partner participation and flexible reward mechanics, are intended to “build real, lasting value for the ecosystem” [1].

The program includes 10 partner protocols, such as Jumper.Exchange, Lombard, Curve, and Gearbox. Rewards will rotate every two weeks based on user activity and market demand, ensuring alignment with evolving trends. Pablo Veyrat, co-founder of Merkl, the platform managing Apple Farm, described the season as “dynamic and accessible,” anticipating broader engagement across DeFi platforms [1].

Etherlink has also prioritized performance upgrades, including 30x faster smart contract storage speeds and bridging times reduced from 15 days to under a minute. Recent integrations, such as Midas’ tokenized assets and Oku’s DeFi aggregator (which incorporates Uniswap v3 functionality), enhance the platform’s utility. These improvements position Etherlink to compete with established Layer 2 solutions by emphasizing scalability and user experience [1].

The $3 million reward pool reflects Etherlink’s confidence in attracting and retaining DeFi users. Season 1’s peak TVL of $47.7 million and on-chain asset value of $88.5 million demonstrated the platform’s scalability. Season 2’s phased reward release via applXTZ aims to mitigate early liquidity drain, a known risk in incentive programs. This approach signals a strategic shift toward sustainable growth, balancing immediate rewards with long-term ecosystem development [1].

As DeFi evolves, structured incentives like Apple Farm underscore the importance of fostering user retention and infrastructure adaptability. Etherlink’s focus on flexible rewards, expanded partnerships, and performance optimization aligns with ongoing demand for scalable, user-friendly DeFi platforms. The initiative not only tests the platform’s infrastructure limits but also addresses retention challenges inherent in incentive-driven models [1].

Source: [1] [Apple Farm Season 2 Now Live on Etherlink with $3M in Rewards] [https://finbold.com/apple-farm-season-2-now-live-on-etherlink-with-3m-in-rewards/].