Lending · Review
ActiveBlend Pools Review 2026: Custom Lending Pools on Stellar
Blend Pools tracks the lending markets created with Blend, a permissionless lending protocol on Stellar. It offers flexible pool creation, but the tracked liquidity is small and risk varies by pool.
By the DappsAtlas editorial team · Updated
DappsAtlas score
6.5/10
Good
Our verdict on Blend Pools
6.5/10Blend Pools suits DeFi users on Stellar who want to lend or borrow in markets they can inspect and, if they are builders, to create pools for a DAO or asset. Its main strength is the flexible, permissionless pool design with non-custodial contracts and listed audits. The main caveat is risk that varies by pool, plus very small tracked liquidity of about $43,600. Start on testnet, then use small amounts.
Score breakdown
How Blend Pools scores
- Security
- 6.5/10
- Ease of use
- 6.5/10
- Fees
- n/a
- Features
- 7.0/10
Scores run from 0 to 10 and are based only on facts we could verify. Where information was missing we mark the score n/a rather than guess.
What is Blend Pools?
Blend Pools covers the lending markets created with Blend, a decentralized lending protocol on the Stellar network. The homepage describes it as a universal liquidity protocol primitive, with pools created by users, DAOs and institutions.
Instead of a single pooled market, each pool has its own assets and parameters. That gives builders and asset issuers room to design markets, but it also means risk differs from one pool to the next.
The protocol has been tracked since June 2024 and has its own token, BLND. Tracked TVL for these pools is about $43,600, a small figure that suggests limited depth. The team and fee details are not published on the homepage.
How Blend Pools works
Blend is a liquidity protocol where lending pools are created on-chain. A pool is a set of smart contracts that hold deposited assets. Lenders deposit and earn interest, and borrowers post collateral to take loans.
What sets Blend apart is that pools are not one global market. Anyone can create a pool and choose its assets and settings, so a DAO, institution or asset issuer can run a market that suits its needs. Documentation describes tools to freeze a pool or change its parameters.
One write-up notes pools adapt to market conditions so that idle capital is used efficiently. Because every pool differs, a lender should check the assets, collateral rules and who manages the pool before depositing.
6 features
Key features
01
User-created lending pools
Users, DAOs and institutions can set up their own lending markets rather than relying on a single shared pool.
02
Adaptive pool behavior
Pools are meant to adjust to market conditions so that capital is used efficiently, according to one write-up on the protocol.
03
Non-custodial lending
Lending and borrowing are described in the docs as permissionless and non-custodial, with assets held in smart contracts.
04
Pool management tools
Pool creators can freeze or unfreeze a pool and adjust parameters or add assets, as the pool management docs describe.
05
Anchor-focused markets
Docs describe letting asset issuers, called anchors, build markets featuring their own assets to improve liquidity and adoption.
06
Testnet and open repositories
A testnet and public code repositories are linked from the homepage for experimentation and review.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Anyone can create a custom lending pool, including DAOs and institutions.
- Non-custodial design keeps assets in smart contracts instead of with a company.
- Two audits are listed in tracking data.
- Testnet and public repositories let users and developers inspect the product first.
- Documentation covers pool creation, management and lending.
Watch out for
- Tracked TVL is small at roughly $43,600, so liquidity in these pools is thin.
- Each pool is created by a different party, so risk depends on who set the parameters and which assets are listed.
- Only available on Stellar, which limits asset choice compared with multi-chain lenders.
- The project does not publish a fee schedule on its homepage, so costs are hard to compare up front.
- Smart-contract risk remains despite the two listed audits, and the audit details are not summarised on the homepage.
Blend Pools fees
The project does not publish a fee schedule. Lenders earn interest paid by borrowers and borrowers pay interest, with rates set by pool parameters and utilisation, so costs vary by pool.
Before depositing, check the specific pool's rates in the app and the protocol docs. You will also pay normal Stellar network transaction fees.
Is Blend Pools safe?
Blend is described as non-custodial, so funds are held by smart contracts and not by a company. Tracking data lists two audits, but the homepage does not summarise their scope or findings, so read the audit reports in the docs.
Main risks are smart-contract bugs, poorly configured pools, volatile or illiquid collateral and liquidation events. With tiny tracked TVL, exits and liquidations may be less smooth than in larger markets. The project does not publish information about regulatory status here. Check the rules in your country before using any DeFi lending product.
6 steps
How to get started with Blend Pools
- 1
Read the Blend docs and FAQ to understand how pools, collateral and liquidations work.
- 2
Try the testnet first to practise lending and borrowing without real funds.
- 3
Set up a Stellar-compatible wallet and fund it with the asset you plan to use.
- 4
Open the app and compare available pools, their assets and their parameters.
- 5
Start with a small deposit in a pool you understand, and review its rates and collateral rules.
- 6
Monitor your positions and borrowing health if you borrow.
Who Blend Pools is for
Blend Pools fits Stellar users comfortable with DeFi lending, DAOs or asset issuers that want a dedicated market, and developers curious about customizable pool design. It is less suited to beginners who want a single, simple, deeply liquid venue.
Blend Pools FAQs
What is Blend Pools?
Blend is a lending protocol on the Stellar network. Instead of one shared market, users, DAOs and institutions can create their own lending pools with their own assets and settings.
Which blockchain does Blend run on?
The tracked data lists Stellar as the only chain. The protocol's documents and pool tools are built around the Stellar network.
Does Blend have a token?
Yes, the protocol has a token called BLND. Public sources reviewed here do not describe its exact utility, so check the project documentation for its role.
Is Blend safe to use?
Lending is non-custodial, meaning assets sit in smart contracts rather than with a company. Risks still include smart-contract bugs, bad pool parameters, volatile collateral and liquidations. Two audits are listed in tracking data, but audits do not remove risk.
Who can create a pool on Blend?
Anyone can create a lending pool. Pool creators choose the assets and parameters, and the protocol documentation covers how to freeze pools or adjust settings.
Is there a way to try Blend without real money?
The homepage links to a testnet. Trying it there first lets you learn the interface without risking real funds.
Compare
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How we checked
Sources
Last updated . Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it.