Sturdy Finance
Sturdy Finance is a DeFi lending protocol offering permissionless, interest-free borrowing and AI-optimized yields through a two-tier architecture of risk-isolated lending pools and Yearn V3 aggregators, serving lenders, leveraged yield farmers, and token project teams globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersMenlo Park, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Sturdy Finance does
Sturdy Finance is a decentralized finance (DeFi) lending protocol that enables permissionless, interest-free borrowing and AI-optimized yield generation. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Menlo Park, the protocol serves three user segments: lenders seeking passive yield on stablecoins or ETH, yield-farmer borrowers accessing up to 10x leverage, and project teams wanting to launch lending markets for their tokens without governance delays. Users interact directly with smart contracts through a self-serve web application (v2.sturdy.finance) without KYC or traditional onboarding.
The protocol's core technology is a two-tier architecture introduced in Sturdy V2 (2023). Tier 1 consists of siloed lending pairs — isolated pools pairing a single lending asset with a single collateral asset for risk isolation. Tier 2 consists of Yearn V3-compatible aggregators that distribute deposits across whitelisted silos, providing deep shared liquidity while preserving risk isolation at the silo level. On the backend, Sturdy operates Bittensor Subnet (SN10), where AI miners compete to generate optimal allocation strategies and validators incentivize the highest-performing ones; API3's Airnode bridges the on-chain aggregators to the off-chain subnet. The protocol has been audited by six independent firms (CertiK, Code4rena, Quantstamp, Zellic, ChainSecurity, Spearbit) and runs a $100,000 Immunefi bug bounty. Governance is conducted via the $STRDY token (100M total supply) through Sturdy DAO.
Sturdy generates revenue through two streams: a 10% protocol fee on interest paid by borrowers (with the remaining 90% going to lenders), and optional aggregator management and performance fees set by aggregator managers. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. The company is backed by SoftBank, Pantera Capital, Y Combinator, KuCoin Ventures, OrangeDAO, and Oneblock Capital, with approximately $4.025M raised across seed (2021) and a 2022 round. The team is small (1-10 employees) and the protocol operates across global markets including the US, UK, Germany, France, and Singapore.
Sturdy Finance firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sturdy Finance
- Legal name
- Sturdy
- Website
- https://sturdy.finance
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Sturdy Finance is a DeFi lending protocol offering permissionless, interest-free borrowing and AI-optimized yields through a two-tier architecture of risk-isolated lending pools and Yearn V3 aggregators, serving lenders, leveraged yield farmers, and token project teams globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sturdy Finance industry classification
Industry- Product category
- DeFi Lending Protocol
- NAICS
- Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525), Other Financial Vehicles (525990)
- SIC
- Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Decentralized Lending Protocols (DeFi Money Markets) (FSADAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Yield, Vaults & Asset Management (vault strategies, robo-vaults, structured yield) (FSAPAEAG), Margin Lending & Equity Financing (FSACAFAC), Pricing, Risk-Based Offer & Limit Management (FSAGAHAE)
Keywords
Where Sturdy Finance is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Menlo Park
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Sturdy Finance business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Interest Fees: 10% of interest paid by borrowers is collected as a protocol fee. The remaining 90% is paid to lenders. Each silo has its own interest rate contract with variable rates based on utilization.
- Aggregator Management Fees: Aggregator managers can set management fees (percent of AUM per year) and performance fees (percent of yield earned). Both fees are assessed at harvest.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Sturdy Finance product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sturdy Finance is a decentralized lending protocol that enables permissionless creation of money markets for any token pair through a novel two-tier architecture. Tier 1 consists of risk-isolated lending pools (silos) each pairing a single lending asset with a single collateral asset. Tier 2 consists of Yearn V3-compatible aggregators that distribute deposits across whitelisted silos to optimize yield. Lenders earn AI-optimized yields powered by a Bittensor subnet (SN10), and borrowers can access 0% interest loans when utilization is under 80% with leverage up to 10x for yield farming.
Product overview
Sturdy Finance is a DeFi lending protocol operating on a two-tier architecture built on Mode network (formerly Ethereum). Tier 1 consists of siloed lending pairs—isolated pools each containing a single lending asset and single collateral asset for risk isolation. Tier 2 consists of Yearn V3-compatible aggregators that distribute user deposits across whitelisted silos to optimize yield. The protocol uniquely employs a Bittensor subnet (SN10) for AI-driven yield optimization, where miners autonomously generate allocation strategies and validators incentivize the highest-performing ones. Users can lend to earn AI-optimized yields or borrow against collateral with access to up to 10x leverage for yield farming. The $STRDY token governs the protocol through DAO mechanisms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sturdy V2 Core DeFi lending protocol with a two-tier architecture combining siloed lending pairs (Tier 1) for risk isolation with Yearn V3-compatible aggregators (Tier 2) for yield optimization. Enables permissionless creation of liquid money markets for any token pair while maintaining shared liquidity across isolated risk pools. Powers AI-optimized yields through Bittensor subnet integration for individual lenders, borrowers, and project teams.
- $STRDY Governance Token Native governance token of the Sturdy DAO with a total supply of 100,000,000 tokens. Token holders can submit and vote on Sturdy Improvement Proposals (SIPs), requiring 1,000 $STRDY to submit a proposal and 100,000 quorum for ratification. Token distribution: Treasury 60.5%, Contributors 19%, Investors 19% (three-year vesting with one-year cliff), and Airdrop 1.5% (no vesting). Currently non-transferable.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 10x leverage available for yield farmers
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Sturdy Finance
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sturdy Finance technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
AI capability3 records
Feature5 records
Sturdy Finance partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- SpearbitcoreSecurity audit of Sturdy V2 completed October 2023.
- ChainSecuritycoreSecurity audit of Sturdy V2 aggregator smart contracts completed October 2023.
- ZelliccoreSecurity audit of Sturdy V2 completed September 2023.
- QuantstampcoreSecurity audit of Sturdy V1 completed December 2022, with additional Aura integration audit in February 2023.
- Code4renacoreSecurity audit and competitive audit of Sturdy V1 completed May 2022.
- CertiKcoreSecurity audit of Sturdy V1 smart contracts completed February 2022.
- Yearn FinancecoreYearn V3 provides yield optimizer infrastructure for Sturdy's aggregators, distributing deposits across whitelisted silos.
- BittensorcoreSturdy uses Bittensor subnet (SN10) for decentralized AI-driven yield optimization and allocation decisions among silos.
- Convex FinancecoreBorrowers stake LP positions via Convex Finance to earn CRV rewards and boosted yields.
- BalancercoreUsed for flash loans in leverage transactions and for wstETH/WETH pool staking via Aura.
- Curve FinancecoreFRAXBP and stETH/ETH pools used for leverage collateral and staking.
- API3coreAirnode API gateway enables connection between Sturdy aggregator smart contracts and Bittensor subnet for automated allocation decisions.
- RedStonecoreOracle provider securing markets on Mode network.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sturdy Finance competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sturdy Finance social profiles
Digital presenceSturdy Finance compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Sturdy Finance financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sturdy Finance leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Sturdy Finance funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors9 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sturdy Finance M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sturdy Finance
What does Sturdy Finance do?
Sturdy Finance is a decentralized lending protocol that enables permissionless creation of money markets for any token pair through a novel two-tier architecture. Tier 1 consists of risk-isolated lending pools (silos) each pairing a single lending asset with a single collateral asset. Tier 2 consists of Yearn V3-compatible aggregators that distribute deposits across whitelisted silos to optimize yield. Lenders earn AI-optimized yields powered by a Bittensor subnet (SN10), and borrowers can access 0% interest loans when utilization is under 80% with leverage up to 10x for yield farming.
Is Sturdy Finance a public or private company?
Sturdy Finance is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Sturdy Finance founded?
Sturdy Finance was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sturdy Finance based?
Sturdy Finance is headquartered in Menlo Park, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sturdy Finance make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Interest Fees are the primary driver. The others are aggregator Management Fees.
Does Sturdy Finance have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sturdy Finance.
What industry is Sturdy Finance in?
Sturdy Finance's product category is DeFi Lending Protocol. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSADAFAB, Decentralized Lending Protocols (DeFi Money Markets), with a secondary code of FSAPAEAG, Yield, Vaults & Asset Management (vault strategies, robo-vaults, structured yield). Its NAICS code is 525 and its SIC code is 6199.