Figment, a major staking infrastructure provider with $18 billion in assets under stake, is partnering with OpenTrade and Crypto.com to offer a new yield product aimed at institutional investors looking for returns on stablecoins.

The product offers roughly 15% annual returns, based on past performance, by staking Solana SOL$141.61 and using perpetual futures to offset the price volatility of the token. Investors deposit stablecoins and receive interest without being directly exposed to the price of SOL. The staked assets are custodied by Crypto.com in legally segregated accounts.

While staking has typically required exposure to the price of the token being staked, this structure separates the yield from the asset's volatility. For example, an institution holding USDC can earn a return similar to SOL staking — usually around 6.5% to 7.5% — while avoiding the risk of price swings. The additional return comes from managing futures positions that neutralize price movements.

This approach is different from typical DeFi lending, which often involves counterparty risk and less transparency. Figment and OpenTrade say the product gives institutions the ability to earn yield while interacting only with known entities and within a legal framework not usually available in on-chain markets.

Crypto.com’s custody arrangement includes security interest provisions and keeps assets separate from the company’s own balance sheet — a feature often required by institutional compliance standards.

The product is accessible through Figment’s platform and application programming interfaces (APIs). Stablecoins can be deposited and withdrawn at any time, with interest accruing from the moment of deposit.

While the structure may not appeal to retail users familiar with decentralized finance, it reflects a shift toward more controlled, predictable yield strategies in crypto markets.