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Using Pools: Getting Protection and Protecting

This guide explains how to get protection (deposit as a shielded user) and how to be a protector (deposit as a protector) on YieldShield. Both flows happen on the same pool page: you pick the Shielded or Protector tab, deposit the matching token, and manage your positions. The dApp will suggest suitable pools; you can also browse the Pools list or Dashboard and open a pool to see its pair of shielded and backing tokens, fees, and capacity.

Prerequisites

  • Web3 wallet: MetaMask, WalletConnect, or another supported wallet.
  • Network and gas: Connect to the correct network and hold enough native token for transactions.
  • Tokens: To get protection, you need the pool's shielded token (the yield-bearing asset you want to protect). To protect, you need the pool's backing token (the asset used as collateral).

Basis Points

Rates in pools are in basis points. One basis point is 0.01%, and 10000 basis points equal 100%. For example, 1000 bp is 10%. See the Shield Pool Guide for more on pool parameters.

Receipt NFTs

Each deposit mints a Receipt NFT that represents your position. You can transfer it, sell it, or use it as collateral elsewhere; the rights to withdraw and to claim follow the NFT, so if you sell it, the new owner gets those rights.

ShieldReceiptNFT

When you deposit as a shielded user, you receive a ShieldReceiptNFT. In simple terms it stores:

  • Amount: The shielded tokens in the position (it can change when fees are accrued).
  • Deposit time: When you deposited (used for the minimum pool time if you withdraw as backing token).
  • Value at deposit: The USD value of your deposit at that time (used when you withdraw as backing token, i.e. for a shield activation).
  • Collateral amount: The share of backing tokens allocated to back this position (used to cap the shield activation).

The NFT is updated when you trigger Claim Rewards: fees are taken from the position's amount and the stored amount goes down. Withdrawals and partial withdrawals burn or replace the NFT as needed.

ProtectorReceiptNFT

When you deposit as a protector, you receive a ProtectorReceiptNFT. In simple terms it stores:

  • Amount: The backing tokens in the position.
  • Deposit time: When you deposited.
  • Unlock request time: If you started the unlock process, the time when the locked part becomes withdrawable (0 if you have not started).

Commission is not stored in the NFT. It is tracked in the pool and claimed via Claim Commission; the claimable amount effectively follows the NFT, so the current owner can always claim. For more detail, see Receipt NFTs.

Part I: Getting Protection (Shielded)

Step 1: Open the Pool and Shielded Tab

  1. Go to a pool (from a suggestion, the Pools list, or the Dashboard).
  2. Open the pool page and select the Shielded tab.

Step 2: Deposit Shielded Assets

  1. Enter the amount of shielded token to deposit. The UI shows your balance and a MAX button. If the pool has limited capacity, a Pool-Max (or similar) shows the maximum you can deposit.
  2. Click Deposit Shielded Asset. The dApp may ask you to approve the token first; confirm that transaction, then confirm the deposit. If there are no protectors or no capacity, the deposit button is disabled.
  3. After the transaction confirms, you receive a ShieldReceiptNFT for that position. You can have multiple positions (multiple NFTs) in the same pool.

Step 3: Withdraw

  1. In the Withdraw area, select the position (NFT) you want to withdraw from.
  2. Choose Withdraw as:
    • Shielded token (original asset): You get your position back in the shielded token. Yield is included minus fees (commission, pool fee, protocol fee). You can withdraw immediately. Partial withdrawals are allowed: enter an amount smaller than the position; the remainder stays in a new NFT. The remainder must be at least the pool's minimum deposit.
    • Backing token (shield activation): You receive the value of your deposit in backing tokens, without yield. This is the shield activation: you are effectively taking collateral that was backing your position. It is only available after a minimum pool time (set by the pool, e.g. 1 day). Only the full position can be withdrawn; partial is not supported for shield activation.
  3. For withdrawals as shielded token, you can leave the amount empty to withdraw the full position, or enter an amount for a partial withdrawal.
  4. Click Withdraw or Partial Withdraw (and as the chosen asset). After the transaction, the NFT is burned (or replaced by a new one for the remainder in a partial withdrawal).

Step 4: Claim Rewards (Fee Accrual)

Claim Rewards does not send you tokens directly. It triggers the calculation and accrual of fees from the yield on your shielded position: commission goes to protectors, pool fee to the creator, protocol fee to the protocol. Your position's amount is reduced by the fee share; that needs to happen before you withdraw so that the correct amounts are paid out.

Claim Rewards appears in the Protector and Creator tabs (it applies to all shielded positions in the pool). There is a 24-hour cooldown per position between claims. You or anyone else can trigger it; if you want to accrue fees before withdrawing, use Claim Rewards in the Protector tab. For the full fee logic, see Fee Structure.

Part II: Being a Protector

Step 1: Open the Pool and Protector Tab

  1. Go to a pool and select the Protector tab.

Step 2: Deposit Protector Assets

  1. Enter the amount of backing token to deposit. The UI shows your balance and MAX.
  2. Click Deposit Protector Asset. The dApp may ask you to approve the token first; confirm, then confirm the deposit.
  3. After the transaction confirms, you receive a ProtectorReceiptNFT. You can have multiple protector positions (multiple NFTs) in the same pool.

Step 3: Withdraw

Your position is split into:

  • Available: The part that is not needed as collateral for shielded deposits. You can withdraw it without starting the unlock process, as long as the total you withdraw does not exceed the available amount.
  • Locked: The part that is backing shielded positions. To withdraw it, you must Start Unlock Process, wait until the unlock time has passed, then withdraw. You can cancel an unlock before it completes.

In the UI:

  1. Select the protector position (NFT). The UI shows the total amount and the available amount.
  2. Enter the amount to withdraw.
  3. Click Withdraw Protector Asset. If you request more than the available amount and the rest is still locked, the transaction fails. If you have started unlock and the unlock time has passed, you can withdraw up to the full position.
  4. Start Unlock Process: If you have a locked amount and have not yet started unlock, click Start Unlock Process. After that, the UI shows Unlock in progress and the time left, or Unlock complete when you can withdraw the previously locked part. You can cancel an unlock before it completes.

Step 4: Claim Commission

Commission is your share of the yield earned by shielded positions. It is paid in shielded tokens.

  1. In the Claim Commission area, the UI shows Available Commission for the selected protector position when it is greater than zero.
  2. Click Claim Commission. The shielded tokens are sent to your wallet. The claimable amount follows the NFT: if you transfer the NFT, the new owner can claim.

Step 5: Claim Rewards

Claim Rewards in the Protector tab (and in the Creator tab) triggers fee accrual for all shielded positions in the pool. That causes commission, pool fee, and protocol fee to be calculated and accumulated; your commission becomes claimable via Claim Commission as yield is accrued. You do not need to hold a shielded position to use Claim Rewards; anyone can call it. There is a 24-hour cooldown per shielded position, not per protector. For details, see Fee Structure.

Managing Your Positions

Shielded

  • Several positions: Each deposit creates a new ShieldReceiptNFT. Withdraw and trigger Claim Rewards per position as needed.
  • Partial withdrawal: Only when Withdraw as shielded token. The remainder must be at least the pool's minimum deposit.
  • Shield activation: Only after the minimum pool time; full position only, as backing token.

Protector

  • Several positions: Each deposit creates a new ProtectorReceiptNFT. Commission and unlock are per position; select the position before claiming or starting unlock.
  • Available vs locked: Withdraw the available part anytime. For the locked part, start unlock, wait until the unlock time, then withdraw. You can cancel an unlock before it completes.

Best Practices

Shielded

  • Check that the pool has protector capacity (and, if shown, Pool-Max) before depositing.
  • If you might want to use the shield activation (withdraw as backing token), be aware of the pool's minimum pool time.
  • Claim Rewards has a 24-hour cooldown per position; if you want fees accrued before a withdrawal, trigger it in the Protector tab in time.

Protector

  • Available and locked depend on how much shielded value the pool has and on the collateral ratio. Utilization can change; the UI's "available" reflects the current state.
  • If you plan to exit the locked part, Start Unlock Process in advance; the unlock duration is set per pool (e.g. 28 days).
  • Claim Commission when the amount is meaningful to you; it is paid in shielded tokens.

Troubleshooting

Shielded

  • Deposit button disabled: The pool may have no protectors or no capacity. You need protector collateral to deposit as shielded.
  • "Insufficient backing token balance" (or similar): The pool does not have enough backing value to back your deposit; try a smaller amount or another pool.
  • "Insufficient deposit" / "Deposit too large" / "TVL limit exceeded": Your amount is below the pool's minimum, above the maximum per deposit, or would exceed the pool's TVL limit. Adjust the amount.
  • Cannot withdraw as backing token: The minimum pool time has not passed. Check the pool's settings or withdraw as shielded token instead.
  • "Partial withdrawal below minimum": The amount you want to leave in the position would be below the pool's minimum deposit. Withdraw less or withdraw the full position.

Protector

  • "Insufficient unlocked tokens": You are trying to withdraw more than the available amount. The rest may be locked; use Start Unlock Process and wait, or withdraw only the available part.
  • "Unlock process not over" (or similar): The unlock time has not passed yet. Wait until the UI shows Unlock complete.
  • "Insufficient token balance": The amount is above your position size or the pool's available balance. Check the selected position and the amount.

General

  • Approval fails: Ensure you are connected with the correct account and that the token is not paused. If the error mentions the approver, try reconnecting the wallet.
  • Deposits or withdrawals blocked: The pool may use access control and restrict who can deposit or withdraw. See Pool Access Control. The pool could also be paused; in that case, deposits and withdrawals are disabled, but fee and commission claims may still work.

Further Reading

  • Receipt NFTs: Structure and behavior of Shielded and Protector NFTs.
  • Fee Structure: How yield is split and how commission, pool fee, and protocol fee are accrued and paid.
  • Shield Pool: Pool behavior, deposits, withdrawals, and accounting.
  • Pool Access Control: Optional restrictions on who can deposit and withdraw.
  • Shield Pool Guide: How to create and configure a shield pool.