Last updated 7 months ago
Cardano DeFi growth is limited by complex liquidity farming, high barriers for new users, and low risk transparency for liquidity. This can discourage participation and slow ecosystem adoption.
Auto-Harvester simplifies Cardano DeFi by letting users access multiple pools in one step, increasing on-chain liquidity, cutting congestion, and making yield farming more accessible.
This is the total amount allocated to VyFi Auto-Harvester.
Please provide your proposal title
VyFi Auto-Harvester
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
335000
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
9
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
What is the problem you want to solve?
Cardano DeFi growth is limited by complex liquidity farming, high barriers for new users, and low risk transparency for liquidity. This can discourage participation and slow ecosystem adoption.
Supporting links
Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
No
Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'
No dependencies
Will your project's outputs be fully open source?
No
License and Additional Information
Not open source. This is a first-to-market product that we will refine over time. Keeping it closed initially preserves its competitive advantage and protects the value we are creating. While our funding request covers only part of the total build cost, VyFinance will invest the additional resources needed to complete the Auto-Harvester.
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal
DeFi
Describe your established collaborations.
VyFi is one of the longest-standing projects building on Cardano, collaborating within the ecosystem for almost 5 years. In that time, we’ve partnered with numerous projects, delivering tailored staking solutions for Cornucopias, NEWM, Charli3, NMKR, and most recently Dedium (just to name a few). Most recently we provided The Palm Economy & Dedium with a streamlined distribution solution for delivering $PALM tokens to their IDO participants.
Describe funding commitments.
We have never received external funding commitments for collaborators and have remained entirely self-funded since our inception, covering all development, operational, and expansion costs internally.
Describe your key performance metrics.
Our key performance metrics are clearly outlined within the defined milestones, providing measurable targets and benchmarks that will allow us to track progress, evaluate success, and ensure project accountability.
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf-eNPOcN6k
Liquidity: The Lifeblood of DeFi
A healthy DeFi ecosystem relies on access to deep, accessible liquidity. The more liquidity we can grow on-chain, the more users will be encouraged to participate, creating a positive feedback loop that strengthens engagement across the Cardano blockchain.
Barriers to Entry
Despite the opportunities, liquidity farming and DeFi still present steep learning curves for both newcomers and experienced participants. Challenges like impermanence risk, complex portfolio management, and overly technical language make it harder to get involved. The Auto-Harvester is designed to break down these barriers, simplifying the process so anyone can contribute liquidity to Cardano.
Network Efficiency
At times of high activity, Cardano can experience slowdowns that degrade the user experience. While various Layer 2 solutions exist, one effective Layer 1 approach is transaction aggregation — bundling multiple user actions into fewer on-chain transactions to reduce network strain.
What is the Auto-Harvester?
The Auto-Harvester is a portfolio management tool that enables liquidity farming across multiple Cardano protocols in just one transaction. Users simply select a strategy and deposit ADA or VyFinance tokens, and the Auto-Harvester deploys them automatically. Think of it as an index fund for LP tokens from a diverse range of Cardano projects.
Who is it For?
New users: Enter multiple liquidity pools with a single transaction, no deep technical expertise required.
Experienced users: Discover curated strategies, automate portfolio segments, and reduce manual management.
Potential Impact
Yeild Aggregtors have a TVL of $4.962b across all blockchains combined. Some specific examples are:
Yearn: $567.61 M TVL, ranked 15th on Ethereum.
Beefy: $337.37 M TVL across chains.
Yearn alone holds more liquidity individually than the entire Cardano DeFi ecosystem, illustrating the transformative potential this tool could have for Cardano.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
1. Lowering Barriers to Liquidity Provision
The Auto-Harvester streamlines the process of participating in Cardano DeFi, making it significantly easier for both newcomers and experienced users to provide liquidity. Instead of manually navigating multiple protocols, managing impermanence risk, and calculating portfolio allocations, users can simply choose a preferred risk level and strategy, then deploy funds in a single transaction. This reduction in complexity encourages more participation, meaning more liquidity entering Cardano’s DeFi ecosystem.
2. Expanding the Liquidity Pool for the Entire Ecosystem
Greater liquidity directly benefits traders by tightening spreads and reducing slippage. For protocols, it ensures healthier markets, more efficient swaps, and higher capital availability. At the chain level, deeper liquidity drives more transaction activity, attracts new projects, and strengthens Cardano’s position as a competitive DeFi hub.
3. Improving Network Efficiency & Reducing Congestion
The Auto-Harvester aggregates liquidity transactions across multiple users into single, bulk transactions on-chain. This means that what would typically be dozens (or even hundreds) of individual transactions can be condensed into one. The effect is twofold:
Reduced On-Chain Load: Less congestion during high-traffic periods.
Better User Experience: Faster confirmations and smoother interactions for everyone using the network, not just Auto-Harvester participants.
4. A Positive Feedback Loop for Growth
As more liquidity enters the system, yields improve and trading becomes more efficient. This, in turn, attracts more users and projects to Cardano. By simplifying the entry point and enhancing the underlying infrastructure, the Auto-Harvester helps accelerate this growth cycle.
What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?
We’ve been in the ecosystem for almost 5 years. We have already delivered a unique suite of products for the ecosystem (Our DEx, our distributive BAR, first on-chain lottery, and our Vaults, SafeSwaps (PLUTUS V3), BundleSwaps), and continued to build and innovate within the Cardano ecosystem. We are confident with our track record and that we have the capability to deliver the Auto Harvester.
We are a registered business in Australia, with our registration under International Markets.
ABN: 84 649 719 433
Abn lookup: https://abr.business.gov.au/ABN/View?abn=84649719433
The Funds (wallets) used for the development of the Auto Harvester will be public and transparent. We intend on using these funds in a transparent manner that will be auditable on chain.
Project Visibility
The VyFinance team has attended (and will continue to attend) each major Cardano event in the community, including:
Here we have been able to build confidence with the community and create relationships with many projects and leading figures in the Cardano community.
Milestone Title
On-Chain Code
Milestone Outputs
This includes developing the essential smart contracts and on-chain data handling that form the backbone of the product, delivering the primary functionality and core utilities of the Auto-Harvester..
Acceptance Criteria
To verify the milestone has been achieved we will be releasing a monthly review (we currently have a monthly update that will provide status checks on the Catalyst Milestones), which will culminate in our Test-Net.
Evidence of Completion
Users will have the ability to interact directly with the smart contract deployed on the Cardano testnet environment.
Delivery Month
5
Cost
120000
Progress
40 %
Milestone Title
Off-Chain code
Milestone Outputs
This involves many crucial aspects of the product. Including, but not limited to: direct interactions with our previously built on-chain code, data query servers, data based handling and transaction construction.
Acceptance Criteria
The principal deliverable will be testnet, where our off-chain code will be working synchronously to achieve the final product. User will in turn be able to engage with the entire product on the testnet enviroment.
Evidence of Completion
To verify the milestone has been achieved we will be releasing a monthly review (we currently have a monthly update that will provide status checks on the Catalyst Milestones), which will culminate in our Test-Net.
Delivery Month
8
Cost
100000
Progress
80 %
Milestone Title
Frontend Application/UI
Milestone Outputs
This is a crucial part and gateway for users to interact with the product/protocol. The purpose of the Auto-Harvester is to simplify and on-board new users, our UI will have to reflect that vision.
We are aware of users expectations and needs due to our previous experience. We are confident our Auto-Harvester will be easy to use and simple to follow for users of all experience levels.
Acceptance Criteria
We are aware of users expectations and needs due to our previous experiences. We are Based on our extensive experience and deep understanding of user expectations, we are confident the Auto-Harvester will deliver an intuitive, accessible, and efficient interface for users of all experience levels.
Evidence of Completion
To verify the milestone has been achieved, we will release (alongside monthly updates of our Catalyst progress) footage and on-going samples of development. which will culminate in our Test-Net, where users can experience the Auto-Harvester with its complete UI.
Delivery Month
10
Cost
30000
Progress
90 %
Milestone Title
Audit
Milestone Outputs
The audit is crucial for ensuring the safety of the smart contracts prior to launch. It is essential that users are safe and secure when engaging with our platform/products. An audit of the Auto-Harvester ensures for the public utility of these smart contracts.
Acceptance Criteria
The audit report must be published in its entirety on an accessible public platform, include all key findings and recommendations, and be available for review by any community member without restriction.
Evidence of Completion
To verify the milestone has been successfully achieved, we will publicly release the full findings of our audit, ensuring complete transparency and allowing the community to review the results in detail.
Delivery Month
10
Cost
70000
Progress
100 %
Milestone Title
Final Project Completion Report
Milestone Outputs
We will release regular updates about the progress of the product through Medium. We currently release a monthly update to engage the community in the process/progress of these new products. This will include technical reports, alongside more general product updates.
We also have a Trello. Where live progress of current tasks can be viewed. This is available at all times.
Acceptance Criteria
Video:
We regularly engage with the Cardano community, and have partaken in over 150 videos that can be found on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@VyFinance)..) We will continue releasing/publishing content regarding the auto-harvester through until launch. We will continue to share our progress with our community through the various social media platforms.
Evidence of Completion
To verify the video goals have been achieved, we will publish a monthly video on our YouTube channel detailing the progress we have made and what is coming up in development.
To verify the milestone has been achieved, we will publish regular updates about the progress of the Auto-Harvester through Medium as well as visible progress on our Trello. A final report on the Auto Harvester will also be provided for the Catalyst community.
Delivery Month
10
Progress
100 %
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
Project Management & Setup
Legal/Advisors/Regulatory/Accounting – 10,000 ADA
Servers / Software – 5000 ADA
Stage 1.0 – On-chain Auto-Harvester Smart Contracts
Budget: 120,000 ADA
Subtasks:
1.1 Design
1.2 Off-chain
1.3 On-chain
1.4 UI Integration
1.5 Blockchain Query Services
1.6 Testing/Traces
1.7 Testnet
Timeline: week 1 to week 13, staggered for each subtask.
Stage 2.0 – Off-chain Code for Auto-Harvester
Budget: 100,000 ADA
Subtasks:
2.1 Design
2.2 Off-chain
2.3 On-chain
2.4 UI Integration
2.5 Blockchain Query Services
2.6 Testing/Traces
2.7 Testnet
Timeline: Starts around week 11 and runs to week 22, staggered similarly to Stage 1.
Stage 3.0 – UI Integration
Budget: 30,000 ADA
Subtasks:
3.1 Design
3.2 Off-chain
3.3 On-chain
3.4 UI Integration
3.5 Blockchain Query Services
3.6 Testing/Traces
3.7 Testnet
Timeline: Begins around week 21, ending around week 30, with staggered subtasks.
Stage 4.0 – Audit
Budget: 70,000 ADA
Subtasks:
4.1 Testing/Traces
4.2 Testnet – all hands on deck
4.3 Final timeline depends on audit results
Timeline: Runs from week 30 to week 36 with shorter bars for substeps.
TOTAL: 335,000 ADA
We tried to upload this image in every way possible but it "failed to upload" due to the new Catalyst proposal form, here is the link to our Budget:
https://i.postimg.cc/pg8CQnhf5Z/budget-catalyst.jpg
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
By simplifying and lowering the barriers to liquidity provision, the Auto-Harvester will empower a wider range of users, from newcomers to seasoned DeFi participants, to actively contribute liquidity on-chain. This ease of participation is expected to significantly increase the total liquidity available across Cardano’s DeFi ecosystem. Higher liquidity not only benefits individual traders by reducing slippage and improving trade execution, but also strengthens protocols by enabling deeper markets and fostering a more stable, efficient on-chain economy.
Currently, liquidity remains one of the biggest challenges for DeFi growth on Cardano, limiting adoption and capital efficiency. The Auto-Harvester addresses this head-on by providing a streamlined, user-friendly mechanism for integrating liquidity strategies across multiple protocols with just a single transaction. This holistic approach not only helps individual projects grow their own liquidity pools but also contributes to the overall health, scalability, and competitiveness of the Cardano blockchain in the global DeFi landscape.
Terms and Conditions:
Yes
Team:
Steven Ward – CEO
Dylan McCoy – COO
Ryan Felt – CTO
Jon Hendrickson – CRO
Nick Cappiello – CCO
Full team: docs.vyfi.io/team