Convex Finance is a decentralised finance (DeFi) protocol built to enhance rewards for holders of staked Curve Finance tokens (CRV). It simplifies staking on Curve by providing a single interface for Curve liquidity providers to earn extra interest incentives and Curve trading fees. Convex Finance operates on the Ethereum blockchain and is primarily focused on optimising returns for users of the Curve Finance ecosystem.
Convex Finance leverages Curve Finance's infrastructure to maximise rewards for liquidity providers and CRV stakers. By pooling the staking power of users, Convex is able to distribute larger rewards efficiently. It functions on the Ethereum blockchain, using smart contracts to manage staking processes, distribute rewards, and convert CRV to cvxCRV. This protocol allows users to earn additional CRV incentives without locking up their CRV tokens and provides a platform for voting on Curve governance via cvxCRV tokens.
Convex Finance can be used for several purposes in the DeFi space:
Additionally, with integrations such as its partnership with Frax Finance, Convex enhances its use cases by offering more robust economic and governance features.
Founded by an anonymous team, Convex Finance was introduced in April 2021 and launched in May 2021. The protocol quickly gained traction, expanding its total value locked (TVL) to $68 million within its first month and peaking at $21 billion in January 2022. Convex Finance has distributed significant fees and rewards and launched a decentralised autonomous organisation (DAO) to allow CVX holders to govern the protocol. Notably, it integrated with the Frax Ecosystem to strengthen its market position and governance structure, continuously evolving to expand its capabilities within the DeFi space.