PoolTogether V3 vs V5: chains, fees and features (2026)

Both versions use the same basic model: deposits earn yield, and that yield funds prizes rather than being distributed evenly to depositors. The projects say users can withdraw at any time and that there are no protocol fees. Neither guarantees a return; prizes are random, and a depositor may go a long time without winning.

The clearest difference is breadth of deployment. V3 is listed on four chains, while V5 is listed on seven. V5 also has a promotional rewards tool that lets projects distribute ERC20 tokens to depositors. V3 highlights multilingual support and developer tooling, including an option to add a vault. V3’s homepage describes the current PoolTogether protocol without clearly explaining what is specific to that version, so version-level details are less clear.

V3 is listed on Ethereum, Polygon, Celo and BNB Chain. V5 is listed on Ethereum, Optimism, Base, World Chain, Gnosis, Arbitrum and Scroll. Both include Ethereum, but V5 gives users more listed network choices, including several layer-2 networks. Network availability alone does not establish which chain will be cheapest at the time you transact.

The listed TVL favors V3: about $4.77 million compared with about $1.81 million for V5. TVL is a snapshot, not a promise of future activity, safety or prize size. V5’s project information does not publish prize odds, prize sizes or exact yield sources, making expected returns difficult to assess; returns are not guaranteed in either version. Compare the available vaults and network costs in the app before depositing, and do not treat TVL as a measure of how much you can earn.

Both projects state that there are no protocol fees and that withdrawals are available at any time. Neither publishes a detailed fee schedule. That does not make participation cost-free: you pay network gas to deposit and withdraw, and gas costs vary by chain and transaction. Ethereum can be costly for small deposits, while choosing another network does not guarantee a particular fee.

There is also an opportunity cost built into the model. Yield funds prizes instead of being paid out to every depositor, so your result depends on whether you win. Check the wallet’s displayed gas estimate before confirming a transaction, and review the app’s current vault information. Do not assume that “no fees” means you will keep the yield generated by your deposit or that you can withdraw without paying network costs.

Both versions rely on smart contracts and external yield sources. A contract flaw or a problem with a vault’s yield source could affect funds, and the fact that prizes are funded by yield does not remove those risks. Each has two audits listed. For V3, the project does not name the auditors or audit dates; for V5, audit coverage is not detailed. Audits can help identify issues, but they do not guarantee safety.

Both are described as open source and permissionless, and users interact from their own wallets. Read the relevant terms and protocol disclaimer before using either version. Since prizes are chance-based, rules may vary by location. Check that participation is legal where you live, and only participate if you are at least 18 or the legal age in your jurisdiction. Do not deposit money you cannot afford to put at risk.

Choose V3 if the four listed networks suit you and you prefer the version with the higher listed TVL. It also highlights multilingual support and an option for developers to add a vault. Bear in mind that V3’s version-specific details are unclear, and its higher TVL does not establish that it is safer or more rewarding.

Choose V5 if you want more listed networks or are interested in its promotional ERC20 rewards campaigns. Its wider deployment offers more chain choices, but the listed TVL is lower, and the project does not publish prize odds, prize sizes or exact yield sources. Neither version is a fit if you need predictable returns: both use random prizes, and both retain contract, yield-source and network-cost risks. Consider the version’s available vaults and your own risk tolerance before choosing.