Latest Gearbox Protocol (GEAR) News Update

Deep Dive

1. Etherlink Integration (22 December 2025)

Overview: Gearbox joined Etherlink's Tezos-based EVM chain during its Farfadet upgrade, which increased throughput to 1,000 TPS and cut withdrawal times to <1 minute. This integration positions GEAR within a DeFi/gaming ecosystem that grew 5566% in TVL during 2025.

What this means: This is bullish for GEAR as it expands protocol reach to Tezos' high-growth sectors (438,500 gaming users) and leverages low-fee transactions for yield strategies. However, adoption depends on Etherlink's traction against established L2s. (CoinMarketCap)

2. Monad Lending Launch (24 November 2025)

Overview: Gearbox deployed permissionless lending on Monad, featuring USDC pools by UltraYield and MON pools by Tulip Capital, backed by 1.4M weekly MON rewards.

What this means: This is positive for GEAR's utility as it taps into Monad's emerging ecosystem, potentially increasing TVL through yield incentives. Bearishly, reward-dependent growth may stall if incentives taper. (Gearbox Protocol)

3. Discord Curator Roles (18 November 2025)

Overview: Gearbox introduced role-based Discord channels letting users customize updates from specific lending pool curators like Chaos Labs or Re7 Labs.

What this means: This is neutral for GEAR – it improves user experience but doesn't directly impact protocol metrics. Success hinges on sustained curator participation and user adoption. (Gearbox Protocol)

Conclusion

GEAR's chain expansions and UX refinements signal strategic growth, though reward-driven adoption carries sustainability questions. Will Q1 2026 integrations translate to organic TVL growth beyond incentives?