Figment Launches Institutional Stablecoin Staking Product With OpenTrade and Leading Digital Asset Platform

New Structure for Stablecoin Yield

Figment, a prominent provider of institutional staking infrastructure managing $18 billion in assets under stake, has announced a strategic partnership with OpenTrade to introduce an innovative stablecoin yield product specifically designed for institutional clients. This collaboration represents a significant advancement in the institutional digital asset landscape, offering a sophisticated approach to generating returns on stablecoin holdings.

The product is custodied by a leading digital asset platform and aims to deliver an annual return of approximately 15% on stablecoins, based on historical performance data. This innovative offering introduces a unique methodology that combines traditional staking rewards with an advanced hedging strategy engineered to minimize price volatility and protect investor capital.

The yield mechanism underlying this product is built on Solana staking rewards generated through a dedicated Figment validator infrastructure. These staking rewards are strategically paired with an offsetting perpetual futures strategy managed by OpenTrade, which serves to neutralize directional exposure to SOL price fluctuations. This dual-layer approach ensures that investors can capture staking yields while remaining insulated from the cryptocurrency's inherent price volatility.

According to both companies, this sophisticated structure has historically delivered returns exceeding double Solana's standard 6.5–7.5% staking rate, while simultaneously maintaining liquidity for deposits and withdrawals. The architecture allows institutional investors to benefit from enhanced yields without sacrificing the flexibility to access their capital when needed.

The product, marketed as OpenTrade Stablecoin Staking Yield Powered by Figment, positions itself as a compelling alternative to traditional DeFi lending markets, which have frequently faced criticism for counterparty risk and smart contract vulnerabilities. Figment and OpenTrade emphasize that their product's architecture specifically addresses these concerns by operating within a segregated, institution-friendly framework that prioritizes security and regulatory compliance.

The custodial partner serves as both custodian and exchange partner for all transactions within the product ecosystem. The underlying SOL assets are held in fully segregated accounts, legally secured for investors and completely isolated from the exchange's operational funds. This segregation provides an additional layer of protection and aligns with institutional requirements for asset security.

Institutional customers can seamlessly deposit and withdraw stablecoins through Figment's intuitive application interface or via APIs, with interest beginning to accrue immediately upon deposit. Notably, the product features no lockup periods, providing institutional clients with the flexibility to manage their liquidity needs while still earning competitive yields.

Demand for Institutional Stablecoin Yield Products

The launch of this innovative stablecoin staking product comes at a time when demand for stablecoin-based yield offerings continues to surge among exchanges, wallet providers, fintechs, and other digital asset companies. These entities are increasingly seeking revenue opportunities that exist outside the realm of traditional crypto lending, which has been associated with various risks and uncertainties.

Market participants across the digital asset ecosystem have progressively sought alternatives that avoid exposure to unsecured lending practices, liquidity-pool impermanence loss, or opaque DeFi structures that lack transparency and regulatory clarity. The growing institutional interest in digital assets has created a need for yield products that can meet stringent risk management and compliance requirements.

"Stablecoin Staking Yield represents the culmination of extensive efforts to create a product that offers higher returns along with stronger protections for institutional investors," explained Jeff Handler, co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer at OpenTrade. He elaborated that the product is meticulously designed to combine elements of staking and derivatives hedging, creating an institutional-grade yield option that is not available through existing real-world asset (RWA) or DeFi strategies.

The product addresses a critical gap in the market by providing institutions with a yield-generating mechanism that maintains the stability characteristics of stablecoins while delivering returns that significantly exceed traditional fixed-income alternatives. This combination of stability and enhanced yield has proven particularly attractive to institutional investors seeking to optimize their digital asset portfolios.

Karl Turner, a director at the custodial platform, emphasized that the exchange's infrastructure was purposefully designed to support the evolving demands of institutional digital asset customers. "We are proud to support Figment in enabling a stablecoin staking offering that clients are increasingly looking for," he stated, highlighting the platform's commitment to institutional-grade service and security.

Institutional Positioning and Security Framework

Figment, which provides comprehensive staking services to asset managers, custodians, exchanges, and other large token holders, has positioned this product as a natural extension of its security-first approach to validator operations. "We're bringing our proven infrastructure and security mindset to the stablecoin yield space," said Andy Cronk, co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Figment.

The company's extensive experience in managing institutional staking operations, combined with its robust security protocols, provides a solid foundation for this new product offering. Figment's validator infrastructure has been battle-tested across multiple blockchain networks, and this expertise is now being applied to create a secure and reliable stablecoin yield solution.

Both companies emphasize transparency regarding the product's performance expectations. The estimated 15% annual percentage rate (APR) returns are variable and depend on prevailing market conditions, including Solana network staking rates and perpetual futures market dynamics. Figment explicitly states that it does not control or guarantee yield rates, which are determined by OpenTrade's staking and hedging strategy execution.

This transparent approach to yield expectations reflects the institutional nature of the product, where clear communication of risks and performance drivers is paramount. Investors are provided with detailed information about the underlying mechanisms generating returns, allowing them to make informed decisions based on their risk tolerance and investment objectives.

The institutional positioning of this product is further reinforced by its regulatory-conscious design and operational framework. By working within established custodial and exchange infrastructure, the product aims to meet the compliance requirements of institutional investors who must adhere to strict regulatory guidelines.

Expansion Into Exchange-Traded Products

In a recent development that demonstrates Figment's broader institutional ambitions, Figment Europe Ltd partnered with Apex Group to list two new exchange-traded products (ETPs) on the SIX Swiss Exchange. This initiative represents another avenue through which institutional investors can gain exposure to digital assets and staking rewards.

Both ETPs were issued in collaboration with Issuance.Swiss AG, and these products are designed to provide access to staking rewards through traditional brokers or banks. This structure allows conservative institutions, which may be hesitant to directly hold digital assets, to gain exposure to the asset class through the familiar and regulated framework of ETPs.

The listing of these ETPs on a major European exchange underscores the growing mainstream acceptance of staking as a legitimate investment strategy. By packaging staking rewards into exchange-traded products, Figment is making it possible for a broader range of institutional investors to participate in the digital asset ecosystem while maintaining their preferred operational and compliance frameworks.

This multi-pronged approach—combining direct stablecoin staking products with exchange-traded vehicles—positions Figment as a comprehensive institutional staking solutions provider. The company is effectively building bridges between the traditional financial world and the emerging digital asset ecosystem, facilitating institutional adoption through multiple channels and product formats.

FAQ

What is Figment's institutional stablecoin staking product and how does it differ from regular staking?

Figment's institutional stablecoin staking product offers enterprise-grade infrastructure with enhanced security, compliance features, and optimized yields for institutional investors. Unlike standard staking, it provides dedicated custody solutions, transparent fee structures, and seamless integration with OpenTrade, enabling institutions to stake stablecoins with professional-grade operational support and risk management.

What is the expected yield rate for stablecoin staking through Figment?

Figment's stablecoin staking offers competitive yields typically ranging from 4-8% annually, depending on market conditions and staking duration. Actual returns may vary based on network performance and validator participation rates.

What conditions and minimum investment requirements must institutional investors meet to participate in Figment stablecoin staking?

Institutional investors typically need to meet accreditation requirements and maintain minimum holdings. Figment's stablecoin staking product requires institutional participants to have substantial assets under management. Specific minimums depend on partnership agreements with OpenTrade and your digital asset platform. Contact Figment directly for exact thresholds and eligibility criteria tailored to your institution.

How secure is Figment's stablecoin staking product? What risk protection measures are in place for funds?

Figment's stablecoin staking product employs institutional-grade security protocols, including multi-signature wallets, regular audits, and insurance coverage. Funds are protected through segregated accounts, compliance with regulatory standards, and partnerships with leading custodians ensuring robust safeguards against counterparty risks.

What are the main advantages of the OpenTrade and Figment collaboration in launching this institutional stablecoin staking product?

The collaboration combines Figment's institutional staking expertise with OpenTrade's trading infrastructure, offering enhanced liquidity, institutional-grade security, competitive staking yields, and seamless integration for digital asset platforms seeking reliable stablecoin staking solutions.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of stablecoin staking compared to other cryptocurrency staking methods?

Stablecoin staking offers lower volatility and predictable returns, ideal for risk-averse investors. However, it typically yields lower APY than volatile assets. Benefits include stability and reduced liquidation risk; drawbacks include opportunity cost during bull markets and inflation erosion.

Does participating in Figment's staking product require a lock-up period? How can I withdraw rewards and principal?

Figment's staking product offers flexible terms with minimal or no lock-up periods depending on your staking tier. You can withdraw your staking rewards and principal anytime through the platform's dashboard. Withdrawals typically process within 24-48 hours, providing liquidity and accessibility for institutional participants.