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Distribute incentives
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Merkl vs. GalxeMerkl vs. Galxe

Merkl and Galxe are both platforms that allow anyone to create campaigns, or "quests," to encourage users to complete specific actions and reward them.
 
While they share some similarities, Merkl and Galxe are very different.

Galxe

Galxe’s primary goal is to drive engagement through social, and community-focused activities.

Users are typically asked to like or retweet posts, follow accounts on X (formerly Twitter), join a Discord server, read an article, or visit a specific page. Additionally, it’s possible to require users to perform onchain actions, such as holding a specific token or NFT in their wallet.

Galxe's main objective is data collection, enabling the retargeting of users by linking a wallet to a social media profile or an email address.

Merkl

Merkl takes an entirely different approach. Its primary goal is to help protocols attract liquidity and grow their total value locked (TVL).

The onchain actions facilitated by Merkl are limitless and far more advanced than those possible on Galxe. With Merkl, rewards can be distributed based on highly specific criteria — for example, to a user who has deposited liquidity into a particular pool within a specific price range, between dates X and Y, while bridging their liquidity from chain Z and holding a specific token in their wallet for at least three months.

Finally, everything on Merkl is pseudonymized. Merkl does not know its users and does not collect their social media accounts or email addresses.

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Concentrated liquidity
Lending and borrowing
Point system
Airdrop
Grant program
Raffle
Boost
Forwarding
Bridging
Social tasks
Campaign leaderboard
User dashboard
Campaign creator dashboard
Pseudonimity (user privacy)
Self-serve campaign creation
Merkl stories

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FAQ

What is Merkl? Merkl is the leading incentive and point management platform in DeFi, backed by a16z. We help blockchains and protocols boost liquidity across any DeFi venue. Since our launch in November 2023, we've distributed over $100 million in incentives across 40+ chains, with 150+ protocols running 16,000+ campaigns. We're the team behind all Uniswap, Euler, ZKsync and Optimism incentives.
How do incentive platforms work? Incentive platforms automate and optimize the distribution of rewards based on user activity. They connect users with web3 projects looking to boost activity and engagement. Users perform actions (hold token, supply liquidity,…) and earn rewards, while web3 projects boost their growth (TVL increase, user engagement,…). There are different types of incentive platforms: custodial, non-custodial, social-focused, DeFi-focused, etc.
What types of incentive campaigns does Merkl support?

Merkl supports a wide range of incentive campaign types across 40+ chains:

  • Liquidity incentives for concentrated liquidity pools (CLAMM) like Uniswap v3 & v4
  • Airdrops (to a predefined list or users meeting specific criteria)
  • Rewards for ERC20 token holders, based on their balance over time (e.g., LP token holders)
  • Lending & borrowing incentives across protocols like Aave, Compound, Morpho, Euler, Silo, Radiant, and Dolomite
  • Point systems to drive engagement and retention

And we're constantly expanding with new use cases!
Does Merkl charge fees?

Campaign creation comes with a 3% maintenance fee, except for airdrop campaigns, which have a reduced 0.5% fee. Merkl is free for retail users, aside from gas fees.

For custom or long-term incentive programs, reach out to us — we’d be happy to discuss tailored pricing!
What are the best incentive strategies?

Choosing the right incentive strategy depends on your goals and needs. For instance, during a token launch, it’s often best to hold off on incentives until the price stabilizes, whereas for a stablecoin, building a liquidity wall can be a smart move. These are just a couple of many possible approaches.

Additionally, optimizing a campaign also means selecting the right reward distribution model—whether it's fixed APR, variable APR, or event-based rewards (e.g., swaps, follows on X, etc.).
How to get started with Merkl incentives?

Distributing incentives with Merkl is quick and easy. Just head over to Merkl Studio, set up your campaign parameters (amount, chain, dates, etc.), and launch it in a few clicks!

If you're planning a large-scale incentive program, need advanced customization, or have any questions along the way, feel free to reach out — we’re here to help!

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