$PNDO Leads the Way in Industry Recognition for the Wider Aleo Ecosystem 

It’s a momentous occasion for any blockchain when the projects tirelessly building in the ecosystem get proper recognition for their innovation. Today, the Aleo Network Foundation marks a significant milestone as Pondo Protocol's $PNDO token becomes the first Aleo-based project to be listed on Gate.io. This listing, which launched on February 10, 2025, is a clear indicator of growing industry recognition of applications built on Aleo's zero-knowledge infrastructure. As the largest liquid staking protocol on Aleo, Pondo's achievement opens new avenues and increased visibility for ZeFi applications as the Network continues to grow and evolve.

Industry-Scale Validation of Our Thesis

Pondo Protocol, Aleo's largest liquid staking protocol, shows the maturity of privacy-preserving DeFi applications. As the first Aleo project to reach this milestone, the Pondo Protocol charts the path of how zero-knowledge applications operate at scale while maintaining the Network’s security guarantees. The protocol processes transactions through Aleo's infrastructure, enabling private, verifiable staking operations.

The $PNDO token drives Pondo Protocol's fee system through a deflationary model. When users stake their $ALEO with Pondo,  10% of the staking rewards flow to the Rewards Pool as a fee. $PNDO holders can claim these rewards in Aleo tokens by burning their $PNDO. This means $PNDO holders are directly rewarded as adoption of Pondo increases, aligning long-term incentives.

The listing of $PNDO on Gate.io represents more than a single project's achievement—it validates the technical capabilities of the Aleo ecosystem. By leading the charge in this exciting new frontier, Pondo is showing how ZK can transform the future of DeFi through fully private verifiable operations.

Gate.io's listing of an Aleo-based token opens the path for other projects building on Aleo to tap into the wider crypto ecosystem's potential. With $PNDO’s listing, developers now have access to validated implementation patterns within the Aleo Network that meet industry requirements. The protocol clearly shows scalable zero-knowledge applications in production, helping future builders envision the possibilities.

Use Pondo

You can stake your ALEO tokens through Pondo Protocol to earn rewards while maintaining liquidity. The protocol automatically rebalances your stake to optimize validator yield, giving you the benefits of staking without locking up your assets. You can learn more about how the $PNDO token works in their official resources, and access technical documentation at docs.pondo.xyz or join the community here.

For more information about the $PNDO listing and Gate.io's ALEO staking campaign, see here.

The Aleo Network Foundation (ANF) supports innovative projects that use zero-knowledge technology to build a better internet. If you're interested, you can apply for a START grant here to learn more about the funding opportunities available.