In the past, people have asked me: “What is inBERA?” and how it differs from other cold-start solutions like Royco (Boyco by Berachain) or projects like “Blast” and “Mode.” The end goal is always the same: bootstrapping TVL before a project goes live. However, this approach raises numerous challenges and concerns.

The first major issue is the legal headache, as the project essentially becomes the custodian of user assets. While custody considerations are always part of launching such solutions, this added responsibility increases the risk profile of the project, potentially impacting its overall security. Another important question is whether it makes sense for users to lock up their funds to secure an early slice of the rewards. And, what about impermanent loss? These are valid concerns that need to be addressed.

Especially during a bull market, users are often quick to jump the gun and deposit funds without a second thought. We’ve already seen the disappointments with projects like Blast. Not only did users suffer impermanent loss, but the question remains: was the airdrop even worth it? Mode followed a similar trajectory.

Another example, albeit less focused on TVL bootstrapping and more on locked staking solutions, is Celestia. Investors were able to stake their TIA tokens and dump the yield on those hoping for an airdrop through protocols and projects leveraging the chain’s unique offerings. The result? Many users were left disappointed and burned.

It’s clearer than ever that something needs to change when it comes to TVL bootstrapping and “cold-start” strategies.

While the previously mentioned solutions are considered failures, Royco (or Boyco) represents a new approach that sets Berachain apart from these outdated models. Unlike traditional methods where users could only deposit ETH (or other assets), Boyco offers multiple pools from selected partners. This gives users the flexibility to choose which pool they want to deposit into.

Rather than solely focusing on bootstrapping TVL for the chain, Boyco provides native rewards and cross-protocol rewards to those who make upfront deposits into the ecosystem. This approach benefits not only the TVL of projects like “Dolomite” or the BaB-backed project “Kodiak,” but also introduces a more flexible and user-friendly solution.

Additionally, Boyco introduces multipliers for longer lockup periods, providing a more sustainable way to capture early TVL for the chain while rewarding users who are willing to commit their capital for an extended period. The downside? It’s not capped, leading to a dilution of rewards (and multipliers), which might make the system less appealing to users who contribute less than the general average.

What Berachain, or the foundation as a whole, does exceptionally well is addressing the cold-start problem through upfront deposits with rewards for those who commit to Boyco. But that’s not where it ends! Let me explain why:

Even if you face challenges with Boyco, it’s important to remember that a significant portion of ecosystem projects are set to receive RFB (Request for Broposal) in form of RFA or RFC funding ahead of Berachain’s highly anticipated launch and its novel Proof-of-Liquidity mechanism.

Here’s what this means: Even if you bridge over to the chain by depositing into Boyco, the TVL is effectively recaptured by the ecosystem through RFB initiatives. In essence:

• You deposit into Boyco.

• You earn rewards for locking up your funds.

• You may or may not experience impermanent loss.

• You may or may not be entirely satisfied with your Boyco rewards.

• BUT! Once you’re there, over 100 projects qualified for RFB funding will allow you to use your existing capital on chain to capture additional rewards from the ecosystem.

This approach not only represents a smart way of conducting TVL bootstrapping, but also ensures that the entire ecosystem thrives. It’s a level of sustainability that both Blast and Mode failed to achieve. A comparable example can be found in the large-scale Arbitrum Airdrop/Grant for projects. In that case, TVL was successfully captured, and the majority of it remained on-chain to earn additional rewards incentivized by ecosystem projects.

The conclusion of all this is clear: Berachain has taken notes from previous efforts and is working to implement those lessons effectively. To put it into perspective: the majority of TVL captured upfront is very likely to remain on-chain. This translates to $2.2B (at this moment, with external vaults) ready to flow through and support the ecosystem.

Another conclusion? You’re simply not bullish enough. The biggest challenge now is ensuring Berachain becomes a top contender among the top 10 chains. The answer lies in its bet on Proof-of-Liquidity—arguably the third and most important component for ensuring longevity.

We understand the reality: you can’t satisfy everyone. There will always be FUD, and some users won’t deposit a single cent into these vaults—either because a) they don’t fully understand it or b) they’re simply not bullish on it. And that’s fine. This is an open market, and every user is free to make their own decisions.

That said, let’s explore an idea that could make this model far more appealing. Imagine a protocol like Royco (Boyco), but without requiring any actual deposits until the day the chain or project goes live. Such a model would eliminate concerns about impermanent loss and the premature lock-up of funds. Furthermore, it would resolve upfront security risks since no funds would be locked prior to launch.

Let’s Talk About inBERA:

“inBERA is a groundbreaking pre-commit protocol that redefines how users and projects engage before their official launch. By enabling participants to pre-commit assets without requiring upfront deposits, inBERA removes capital lock-ups, reduces barriers, and attracts a wider, more authentic user base. Rewards accrue in real-time and seamlessly carry over to launch, with vesting mechanisms ensuring sustained participation and long-term alignment.”

If no actual deposits are happening, how does this translate to TVL bootstrapping? The answer is simple: inBERA verifies the user’s on-chain assets across multiple networks and asset types to eliminate any manipulation of virtual TVL.

You might wonder, “What if I pre-commit, say, 1,000 USDC on Arbitrum, but since there’s no actual deposit upfront, I could just take the rewards and run?” The answer is no. Rewards are unlocked through linear vesting only after actual deposits are made when the chain or project goes live.

Together with our partners, we track the USD-equivalent amount deposited. This ensures that the project’s pool distributes rewards earned during the pre-commit phase solely to users who follow through with their deposits.

TL;DR: Virtual TVL won’t fully translate to actual TVL, but this approach protects users from capital-inefficient lockups and impermanent loss. At the same time, it encourages projects to deliver and fosters a user-friendly environment both pre- and post-launch.

The risks associated with this approach are minimal—both from a legal and security standpoint. Here’s why: inBERA will never ask users to approve or transfer any funds during the pre-commit phase. It’s simply not necessary.

The entire process, from pre-commit to the snapshot, operates almost entirely off-chain. All that’s required is a wallet signature to verify ownership of the address holding the assets. That’s it. The rest of the process remains off-chain. Until deposits are enabled, the user’s assets stay with the project, not with inBERA. This means inBERA is never a custodian of user assets. Even when claiming rewards, inBERA does not act as the custodian. Instead, we provide the service in collaboration with our partners and providers, keeping security risks to a minimum.

The worst-case scenario would be the manipulation of off-chain components. By contrast, other TVL bootstrapping solutions that require actual deposits present significant security risks, with millions—sometimes billions—of dollars locked in smart contracts. While audits can reduce these risks, they’re not bulletproof, as history has shown.

What sets Boyco apart is that it’s chain-backed, with the foundation selecting the strongest projects in the ecosystem to support this cold-start approach. This generally means the incentives offered through Boyco might be more robust than what inBERA can provide.

While Boyco’s incentives are carefully curated, inBERA takes a more inclusive approach. Any project with a credible name, backing, upcoming or existing audits, and a solid reputation can sign up with inBERA. Our goal is to offer incentives that are not only up-to-date, but also align with the best practices of the industry.

Unlike other TVL bootstrapping solutions that primarily rely on tokens as incentives, inBERA takes it a step further by offering diverse rewards such as prize pools, NFTs (ERC-721s), tokens, and points. This expanded approach aims to capture more user interest, providing not just a means of securing initial liquidity but also rewarding long-term commitment through additional incentives like points.

Each project has the flexibility to determine the vesting duration, initial unlock, and the type of rewards offered to incentivize pre-commits. Users who only pre-commit won’t be rewarded immediately; however, once the snapshot is taken, the project requires a deposit to unlock the accrued rewards.

This means the USD equivalent of your selected asset on the supported network must be deposited into the project’s pool. Only then can you start claiming the rewards as usual. Depositing less than the committed amount will result in the rewards remaining locked.

Projects also have the ability to decide what happens to unclaimed rewards when deposits aren’t made. Options include burning those incentives or redistributing them to users who did claim and deposit into the pools.

Let’s talk about the flow.

User A is a strong supporter of Project B and excited about the solution it plans to deliver. Project B chooses inBERA as its TVL bootstrapping solution to acquire early TVL and reward users who pre-commit.

inBERA records all data from pre-commits, including User A’s information. As Project B nears launch, it takes a snapshot of all pre-commits. inBERA provides the snapshot data to its partner provider and then closes the pool for Project B. The snapshot reveals that 10,000 users, including User A, participated, creating a virtual TVL of $125,000,000.

Project B works with the provider to finalize incentive distribution, ensuring a smooth process for launch. Once Project B opens deposits, inBERA displays the deposit details on the frontend, including the required USD-equivalent amount. The deposit token can be any asset, as determined by Project B in advance.

User A then deposits $1,000 worth of $wBTC into Project B’s pool. This action triggers the vested distributor contract, initiating the vesting process. User A can now start claiming rewards and monitoring their incentives through the interface.

Notably, the rewards can also include cross-protocol incentives, as seen with Boyco, adding additional layers of value to the process.

• For Users:

  • Peace of Mind: Users enjoy reduced risk and a hassle-free experience, knowing their funds remain under their control until deposits are required.

  • Early Incentive Claims: Gain early access to attractive rewards without the need for upfront deposits.

  • Accessibility for All: Encourages participation from hesitant users who prefer to avoid capital lock-ups while still engaging with promising projects.

  • Appeals to DeFi Veterans: Provides a low-risk entry point for established participants looking to explore new protocols without compromising their liquidity.

• For Projects:

  • Genuine Community Signals: Projects receive authentic indicators of user intent and community interest without upfront financial commitments.

  • Regulatory Simplicity: Avoid the legal complexities and risks associated with holding locked funds, allowing teams to focus on delivering their product.

  • Technical Ease: Eliminate the technical overhead of managing locked assets, enabling project teams to channel resources into development and innovation.

• Efficient Reward Allocation:

  • Dynamic Incentive Management: Unclaimed incentives can be reallocated to active participants who deposit, ensuring rewards benefit genuine supporters.

  • Preserved Token Scarcity: Alternatively, unclaimed incentives can be burned, protecting the project’s tokenomics and scarcity.

The only downside of inBERA is that virtual TVL cannot be directly used or translated into actual TVL since there are no pre-deposits. However, if we can protect users and give projects the freedom to focus on building—not just the product but also the community—then inBERA stands as a viable and innovative alternative to traditional solutions.

We believe the era of pre-deposits is coming to an end. inBERA offers a cost-effective, capital-efficient, and fair environment that connects users and communities with promising projects. It provides a seamless way for projects to leverage or translate their hype into a TVL bootstrapping solution without the risks and inefficiencies of outdated methods.

It’s important to understand that inBERA is not the same as Boyco. We reference past projects like Blast and Mode to highlight inefficiencies and showcase potential alternatives. That said, the team is excited about the upcoming release of Boyco and sees great synergy between the two approaches.

We believe inBERA complements Boyco perfectly, offering a solution for users who prefer not to lock up funds.

While inBERA works seamlessly within the Berachain ecosystem, our vision is to make this solution universal, enabling the power of virtual TVL bootstrapping for projects on any chain.

inBERA redefines the approach to TVL bootstrapping by offering a capital-efficient, user-friendly, and secure alternative to traditional models. By eliminating the need for upfront deposits, it reduces risks for users and allows projects to focus on building their ecosystems and communities.

As a complementary solution to options like Boyco, inBERA bridges the gap for those who prefer flexibility, enabling broader participation and fostering genuine engagement.

With inBERA, we’re not just bootstrapping liquidity—we’re building a foundation for sustainable growth, collaboration, and innovation.

We are happy to go live soon with partners and also providers who are helping us to make this protocol better than ever. First we will start with the Berachain ecosystem and then tap into a broader market, where we can provide this solution to everyone.

A special thanks go out to the master mind of this solution:

HALKO - Twitter

The developer of the final solution:

Ozzy - Twitter / Telegram

The team behind inBERA:

Roots (RootsFi) (High-Yield earning lending solution on Berachain) - Twitter
InBERA - Twitter