Unlocking institutional credit in DeFi
Maple Finance is redefining how credit works in the blockchain by connecting institutions with on-chain capital. And now, its token, SYRUP, is available for conversions on Bitso.
What is Maple Finance?
Maple Finance is a DeFi credit protocol that enables institutional borrowers to access liquidity through curated on-chain credit pools. Instead of relying on traditional, collateral-heavy lending, Maple uses credit underwriting to deploy capital more efficiently, attracting major trading firms, market makers, and other institutional borrowers.
The protocol has facilitated billions in loans to institutions, positioning itself as a leader in decentralized credit markets while bridging the gap between DeFi and tradionional finance.
What is SYRUP?
SYRUP is the governance and staking token of the Maple Finance ecosystem. It replaces the legacy MPL token at a 1:100 ratio and introduces a refreshed tokenomics model focused on protocol revenue sharing and governance participation.
SYRUP holders can:
- Participate in governance, voting on protocol upgrades, policies and fee structures.
- Stake SYRUP to earn a share of protocol-generated fees and emissions (via stSYRUP).
- Benefit from Maple’s revenue-driven buybacks, which use protocol earnings to reward SYRUP stakers.
While SYRUP is tied to Maple Finance’s growth, its value depends on market adoption, governance participation, and institutional lending demand.
What makes Maple unique?
- Institutional focus: tailored for large-scale borrowers, not just retail participants.
- On-chain credit pools: providing transparency and efficiency to lending.
- Revenue alignment: token holders benefit from protocol activity via buybacks and staking.
The story behind Maple Finance and SYRUP
Maple Finance, the protocol behind the SYRUP token, was founded by Sidney Powell and Joe Flanagan in 2019. Sidney, with a background in debt capital markets, saw firsthand how slow and opaque traditional credit systems could be. Joe, a software engineer with fintech experience, recognized that blockchain technology could help solve those problems.
The founders shared the goal of making institutional-grade credit faster, more transparent, and less reliant on heavy collateral requirements by building on blockchain-based capital markets. Their vision was for institutional borrowers — such as trading firms and market makers — to access undercollateralized loans through curated on-chain credit pools. Risk assessment would be handled off-chain by trusted credit delegates, while settlement and tracking would be recorded transparently on-chain.
Their combined backgrounds in traditional finance, lending, and technology shaped Maple into a platform that bridges institutional borrowing with DeFi liquidity providers.
Maple Finance launched in 2021 as a protocol on Ethereum. Its original token, MPL, gave holders the ability to participate in governance and access staking rewards tied to Maple’s growth. It was the foundation for aligning token holders with the platform’s mission of building institutional credit markets on-chain.
By 2024, Maple’s lending volume, user base, and feature set had grown far beyond the framework MPL was designed for. Its tokenomics were relatively limited — rewards weren’t directly tied to protocol revenue, and the structure didn’t fully incentivize long-term participation. To better align incentives and give token holders a direct stake in Maple’s success, the community approved a governance proposal to replace MPL with SYRUP.
From a small founding team to a platform that has facilitated billions in institutional loans, Maple and SYRUP reflect a simple idea: use blockchain to build better credit markets for the long term.
Real-world example
David runs a trading firm and needs liquidity without overcollateralizing. Through Maple, his firm accesses a credit pool, borrows capital, and uses it to execute trading strategies. Meanwhile, SYRUP stakers benefit from the fees generated by this loan activity.
How to buy SYRUP on Bitso
Buying SYRUP on Bitso is simple:
- Log in to your Bitso account or sign up.
- Use the conversion feature to swap your local currency (MXN, ARS, BRL, COP, or USD) for SYRUP.
- Enter the amount, review the details, and confirm your transaction.
- You can track your holdings and market performance directly from the app.
Note: SYRUP is only available through conversions on Bitso. It is not supported on Bitso Alpha, and deposits from and withdrawals to external wallets are disabled. However, you can send and receive SYRUP between Bitso users via Bitso Transfer.
Disclaimer
SYRUP is the governance and staking token of Maple Finance, a protocol providing institutional credit through on-chain lending pools. While it offers opportunities tied to the growth of decentralized credit markets, the token’s value remains speculative and depends on adoption, governance activity, and overall DeFi market conditions. Cryptocurrency investments carry risk. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Bitso encourages all users to conduct their own research (DYOR) before buying or using any digital asset.
