CartelFi, the new, cartel-themed yield farming protocol, has raised $500k within 24 hours after launching its CARTFI token presale.
The team aims to connect the $90 billion world of DeFi and the growing meme coin sector. The ICO went live yesterday, 8th April and has already attracted significant attention.
The half-million day one raise comes after the announcement that the protocol is already in development, which generated significant attention last week. Prices are currently at just $0.0251 with a limited-time presale ongoing ahead of CartelFi’s planned market debut.
CartelFi is the first-ever DeFi platform built specifically for meme tokens. The platform, which refers to itself as a “memecoin cartel,” enables users to deploy their tokens to generate passive income without needing to sell, offering functionality not previously available in this space.
This marks the first time a product of this kind has entered the market, reflecting significant ambition from the team. CartelFi had already gained notable traction prior to launch, which has continued following the start of its presale.
The protocol is currently being developed for a Q3 launch, providing early participants with a six-month window before the full rollout, along with initial pricing incentives.
Prices are set to increase by 5% every three days throughout the 90-day presale period. The initial exchange listing is scheduled for 7th July, with Stage One prices set at a significant discount compared to the final stage.
Head to the CartelFi website to learn more.
CartelFi’s yield plantation: Memes with DeFi takes off
Yield farming for meme coins has not been successfully executed until now—CartelFi introduces a new approach that aims to address the long-standing challenge of balancing long-term holding with the opportunity for passive income. The platform raised $500k on day one of its presale.
Currently, accessing yield typically requires selling meme tokens and reallocating funds into more stable assets, such as stablecoins, within liquidity pools (LPs). While this can provide relatively predictable returns—often around 5% APY—it may involve selling during unfavorable market conditions.
This means that a large portion of meme coin market capitalization—reportedly amounting to tens of billions—often remains inactive in wallets, generating no returns while holders await market shifts. CartelFi aims to put this capital to use by introducing a dedicated yield mechanism designed specifically for meme-based assets, turning passive holding into a more utility-driven model.
The platform also includes conventional liquidity pools, offering stablecoin yield opportunities—such as around 10% on USDC/USDT. For those open to higher-risk options, there are meme-focused pools with higher APYs, including pools tied to well-known tokens like PEPE, which recently reached a market cap of nearly $3 billion.
Another notable feature is CartelFi’s deflationary mechanism—positioning it as the first yield platform of its kind. The protocol uses 99% of its fees to automatically buy back CARTFI tokens, with 50% of those tokens permanently removed from circulation. This approach aims to manage supply dynamics while maintaining incentives for participation.
From an economic perspective, mechanisms that reduce supply while encouraging participation can influence token dynamics. This may help explain the significant interest observed during the first day of activity.
The CartelFi presale has started with notable early interest, reaching $500,000 in its first day. The project positions itself as part of the evolving “DeFi 2.0” landscape, aiming to introduce new mechanisms for yield generation.
25% of CARTFI’s 1 billion total supply went on sale yesterday. The presale runs for 90 days, and consists of 30 three-day stages with prices increasing by 5% each stage. Prices started at $0.0251.
Once the platform’s foundational features are completed in Q3, it will introduce yield-earning mechanisms. This practical approach stands in contrast to many highly speculative projects currently on the market and may appeal to those conducting thorough due diligence.
Combined with the structured rollout and early interest, CartelFi presents itself as a potentially noteworthy project to watch in the current crypto landscape.
Learn more about CartelFi on the official website.