Recently, Infrared has partnered with Pendle, allowing users to interact with Infrared's liquid staking tokens (primarily iBGT and iBERA) through the Pendle platform and earn Infrared points. This includes PT/YT trading and providing liquidity. Some users may not fully understand what this means, so here's a simple introduction. For beginners, this involves quite a bit of background knowledge and requires breaking down several concepts to understand. First, PT in Pendle refers to Principal Tokens, which represent the principal and are redeemable upon maturity. YT refers to Yield Tokens, which represent yield and allow users to claim earnings in real-time. Essentially, through the Pendle protocol, users can split Infrared's yield assets (iBGT and iBERA) into PT (principal tokenization) and YT (yield tokenization). PT tokens can be redeemed for the original assets (iBGT, iBERA) upon maturity, while YT tokens represent future yield over a specific period. For instance, iBGT can earn BGT rewards, and iBERA can earn staking rewards (BGT rewards + transaction fees calculated by Bera, etc.). In other words, Infrared's collaboration with Pendle primarily leverages Pendle's yield splitting mechanism. So, what motivates Infrared users to engage in such splitting operations? For users new to Infrared (experienced users can skip this), it's helpful to first understand Infrared (@InfraredFinance). Infrared is a DeFi infrastructure protocol on Berachain designed to lower the entry barrier for users into the Bera ecosystem. Berachain (@berachain) operates on a core mechanism of PoL (Proof of Liquidity) and a tri-token model (BERA, BGT, HONEY). Infrared is designed around Berachain's PoL mechanism and token model. To participate in the Bera network—such as providing liquidity to Berachain's whitelisted DeFi protocols, liquid staking, earning higher rewards, or participating in governance—users can do so more easily through Infrared. In a sense, Infrared can be likened to Lido in the Ethereum ecosystem, as both aim to lower the barrier for asset staking and provide liquidity for staked assets. Infrared is currently a core infrastructure in the Berachain ecosystem, with over 60% of BGT staked through it, and a total TVL exceeding $500 million. However, there are differences between Infrared and Lido, mainly due to differences in consensus mechanisms, token models, governance mechanisms, etc. (This could be a topic for another detailed article). Simply put, users can stake Bera (Berachain's native token) through Infrared to participate in PoL consensus or provide liquidity to earn BGT (a non-transferable governance token). By staking or performing LP operations on Infrared, two types of tokens are generated: iBera and iBGT, which are pegged 1:1 to Bera and BGT, respectively. So why wouldn't users directly perform these operations themselves instead of using the Infrared protocol? The main reason is that Berachain's PoL operational process is too complex for ordinary users, such as providing liquidity to whitelisted DeFi protocols, staking LP tokens in vaults, and managing BGT distribution. With Infrared, users only need to deposit Bera or LP token assets to participate in PoL, and Infrared handles the rest of the operations. In addition to lowering operational barriers, Infrared also unlocks liquidity (similar to Lido). iBGT and iBERA effectively release the liquidity locked in BERA staking and address the liquidity of BGT tokens, which are non-transferable governance tokens. So why would Infrared users be motivated to engage with Pendle? Here are some reasons: 1. To seek yield based on market changes or personal needs. iBERA and iBGT can be split into PT (Principal Tokens) and YT (Yield Tokens). Users can trade YT or PT on Pendle, allowing them to lock in fixed yields, hedge risks, or amplify exposure based on their market outlook. For example, users can monetize YT in advance without waiting for staking maturity. This appeals to some Infrared users who want to sell early to earn yield, while buyers often benefit from discounted prices. Ultimately, the value changes of iBERA and iBGT are crucial. 2. To earn additional rewards. Infrared has introduced a points reward mechanism on Pendle. For instance, users interacting with iBGT and iBERA on Pendle (providing LP, trading, holding YT, etc.) can earn points, which might be used for future airdrops (this is speculative and subject to official announcements). Finally, tokenizing the yield of iBGT and iBERA enhances their liquidity, benefiting both the Infrared protocol and the Berachain ecosystem. Why would Pendle users be motivated to participate in Infrared's asset interactions on Pendle? Here are some reasons: 1. The opportunity for high yields. Pools on Pendle offer high APRs, which attract Pendle users. 2. Additional points rewards. Pendle users holding YT assets of iBGT and iBERA can earn double points. For experienced Pendle users, they can go long on YT for high yields, buy PT to lock in returns, or provide liquidity in Pendle's AMM pools to earn trading fees and Infrared points rewards. Finally, unless you're a DeFi veteran, if you're a beginner, remember that high yields often come with high risks. Evaluating risks is always a critical prerequisite. Participating in DeFi requires not only focusing on high yields but also understanding the associated risks and assessing market changes to develop strategies that align with your risk tolerance and yield preferences.