Best Ways to Earn Yield on Base
Rift Research
Last updated
TLDR: Yield on Base is not one product. Rank the risk bucket, then send assets onto Base. Rift is an aggregator with best price execution. It includes CCTP, Across and other inbound venues, adds 0 fee, and selects the best send onto Base automatically.
A ranked APY table goes stale inside a quarter. Use categories, then the live protocol UI.
Yield types
| Type | What you earn | Main risk |
|---|---|---|
| Lending (Aave and similar) | Variable borrow demand | Smart contract + opportunity cost |
| Stablecoin lending | Usually lower, more stable | Still contract risk |
| DEX LP | Fees + incentives | Impermanent loss |
| Restaking / points | Points or token incentives | Lockups, program ending |
| Incentive farms | High headline APY | Emissions end |
Stablecoin lending is not memecoin LP. Match the bucket to the risk you will take.
The inbound send is part of the return
USDC from Ethereum or Arbitrum usually belongs on CCTP unless an intent rail is cheaper after speed. ETH follows aggregator quotes.
Other options: canonical Base bridge, Across, Relay, LI.FI.
Then Rift. Rift supported chains include Ethereum, Arbitrum and Base. If CCTP wins the USDC send, Rift gives you CCTP with 0 added fee. A 20 bp worse inbound send can erase a week of yield on a short hold. Best price execution on the send is part of the yield.