Solana News Today: Figure's $YLDS: Bridging Wall Street and DeFi with Compliant Yields

Figure Launches $YLDS, a Yield-Bearing Debt Security on Solana Backed by U.S. Treasuries

Figure Technology Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: FIGR) has launched $YLDS, a registered public debt security designed to operate natively on the Solana blockchain, offering yield backed by U.S. Treasuries and repo agreements. The token, introduced in partnership with Exponent Finance, aims to bridge traditional finance and decentralized finance (DeFi) by providing compliant, on-chain access to yield-generating assets, as noted in a Cryptobriefing report.

$YLDS is structured as a dollar-pegged stablecoin that maintains a fixed value while delivering continuous yield to holders. The security is minted on Solana, a blockchain platform increasingly integrating yield-bearing assets into its DeFi ecosystem, according to a Valuethemarkets analysis. Figure's subsidiary, Figure Certificate Company, will issue the tokens, which are backed by a portfolio of U.S. government securities. The move aligns with Figure's broader strategy to expand real-world asset (RWA) integrations across blockchain networks, positioning $YLDS as a fiat on/off ramp and a foundational asset for DeFi applications, as Stocktitan notes.

Exponent Finance, a leading DeFi yield exchange on Solana, will serve as the first integrator of $YLDS, enabling users to access yield mechanisms within decentralized protocols. The partnership underscores Solana's growing appeal for RWA adoption, with the platform's RWA market approaching $1 billion in value, according to Marketscreener reporting. Figure has also begun accepting Solana (SOL) as collateral for crypto-backed loans, with plans to expand this functionality to locked SOL and incorporate liquidation protection features, as Stocktitan notes.

The launch marks a strategic expansion for Figure, which has originated over $19 billion in loans to date. CEO Mike Cagney emphasized the initiative's potential to "future-proof fiat rails on Solana" while introducing an SEC-registered yielding stablecoin to the ecosystem, as Stocktitan notes. Lily Liu, President of the Solana Foundation, noted that Figure's integration accelerates the tokenization of traditional assets, enhancing utility for Solana's DeFi builders, according to Marketscreener reporting.

$YLDS introduces three key advantages to the Solana ecosystem: real-world utility through immediate applications like cross-border remittances and trade settlement, compliance with U.S. securities regulations, and seamless integration with DeFi tools, according to Marketscreener reporting. The token's design allows developers to leverage it for payments, yield generation, and liquidity provision, potentially boosting Solana's position as a hub for institutional-grade DeFi solutions, as Stocktitan notes.

Figure's move reflects broader trends in blockchain finance, where tokenized assets are increasingly viewed as a bridge between traditional markets and decentralized ecosystems. With $YLDS, the firm aims to address gaps in fiat on/off ramps and yield opportunities, catering to both retail and institutional investors seeking compliant exposure to blockchain-based financial products, as Valuethemarkets analysis notes.