Yield Lottery · Review
ActivePoolTogether V5 Review 2026: No-Loss Prize Savings on Ethereum L2s
PoolTogether V5 is a decentralized no-loss prize savings protocol. Deposits earn yield, and that yield funds prizes instead of paying every depositor. The main caveat is that returns are random and smart-contract risk remains.
By the DappsAtlas editorial team · Updated
DappsAtlas score
7.1/10
Good
Our verdict on PoolTogether V5
7.1/10PoolTogether V5 suits crypto users who want to put idle stablecoins or other assets to work with a chance at a prize, and who accept variable results. Its main strength is the no-loss design: prizes come from yield, with no stated protocol fees and withdrawals possible any time. The main caveat is risk. Smart-contract and yield-source failures can still cost you money, TVL is modest and falling, and prize odds are not detailed publicly. Read the docs and start small.
Score breakdown
How PoolTogether V5 scores
- Security
- 6.8/10
- Ease of use
- 7.5/10
- Fees
- 7.5/10
- Features
- 6.5/10
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 PoolTogether V5?
PoolTogether V5 is a decentralized protocol for no-loss prize games. DefiLlama lists it under Yield Lottery, and the homepage describes it as the permissionless protocol for saving and winning. Users deposit funds, and the yield those deposits generate funds prizes instead of being paid out to everyone.
The site says more than 100,000 people use the protocol, which is the project's own claim and not independently verified here. The stated mission is financial freedom for all, with prize savings presented as an alternative to lotteries that destroy wealth.
DefiLlama shows deployments on Optimism, Base, Ethereum, World Chain, Gnosis, Arbitrum and Scroll. TVL is about 1.8 million USD, down 14.7% over seven days, and the project has been listed since October 2023. It has a POOL token and two audits listed.
How PoolTogether V5 works
Users deposit funds into a prize vault. The vault puts those funds into a yield source, which generates interest. Instead of paying that interest to each depositor, PoolTogether pools it and allocates it as prizes to depositors.
The odds of winning depend on how much you deposit relative to everyone else and on how the protocol structures prizes. The project does not give exact draw frequency or prize tiers, so check the documentation for current mechanics.
The protocol is permissionless, so developers can add their own vaults. A static, IPFS-hosted interface is also listed in the ecosystem section. The code runs as smart contracts, which means the rules are set in code and not changed by a company.
6 features
Key features
01
No-loss prize savings
Users deposit into vaults, and the yield those deposits earn is used to fund prizes. Depositors can win without the principal being staked.
02
Withdraw any time
The homepage says there are no fees and withdrawals are possible at any time. Network gas costs still apply, as on any chain.
03
Multi-chain deployment
DefiLlama lists seven networks, including Ethereum, Optimism, Base, Arbitrum, Scroll, Gnosis and World Chain, so users can choose cheaper chains.
04
Permissionless vaults
The site invites developers to add their own vault and build on the protocol, so wallets, yield sources and chains can integrate prize savings.
05
Promotional rewards tool
A promotional rewards tool lets projects create campaigns that give their ERC20 tokens to PoolTogether depositors.
06
Open source and documented
The project publishes developer docs, user docs, security and FAQ pages, and its code is described as open source.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Prizes come from yield, so depositors are not wagering their principal.
- The homepage says there are no fees and you can withdraw any time.
- It is available across seven networks, including low-cost layer-2s.
- It is open source and permissionless, with developer docs and an option to add vaults.
- Two audits are listed on DefiLlama and the site has a dedicated security section.
- Documentation is available in many languages.
Watch out for
- Deposits are exposed to smart-contract risk, including the risk in whichever yield source a vault uses.
- Prizes are random, so an individual depositor may win nothing for long stretches.
- TVL of about 1.8 million USD is small, and DefiLlama shows it down 14.7% over seven days.
- The project does not give prize sizes, odds or exact yield sources, so expected returns are hard to judge.
- Network gas fees apply when depositing and withdrawing, and they are not covered by the 'no fees' claim.
- Only two audits are listed, and the project does not say which parts of the protocol they cover.
PoolTogether V5 fees
The homepage states 'No fees, withdraw any time.' the project does not publish a fee schedule, so there is no protocol fee to quantify from this research.
Users should still expect network gas fees on the chain they pick when depositing and withdrawing. Those are charged by the blockchain, not by PoolTogether, and appear in the wallet before you confirm. The cost of participating is also the yield you give up, since yield funds prizes rather than paying each depositor directly.
Is PoolTogether V5 safe?
The protocol runs through smart contracts, so you keep custody of your funds in your own wallet, but you accept smart-contract risk. DefiLlama lists two audits and the homepage points to independent security audits. Audits reduce risk and do not remove it, and the project does not detail what they covered. Vaults also depend on external yield sources, which add their own risk.
Public sources show no license or regulatory status. The site links a Terms of Service and a Protocol Disclaimer, which users should read. Because prizes are chance-based, some places may regulate this like a lottery. You must be 18 or older, or the legal age where you live, and should check local law. Treat it as savings with a random bonus, not a way to make money, and keep to money you can afford to have at risk.
6 steps
How to get started with PoolTogether V5
- 1
Read the user docs, FAQ, Terms of Service and Protocol Disclaimer on the official site, and check that this kind of product is legal where you live.
- 2
Set up a self-custody wallet and fund it with a supported asset on one of the listed chains, such as Base, Optimism or Arbitrum.
- 3
Open the official PoolTogether app and check the available prize vaults, their yield sources and the chain each runs on.
- 4
Start with a small deposit and confirm the transaction, keeping in mind gas costs.
- 5
Track your deposit and any prize claims in the app.
- 6
Withdraw whenever you choose, remembering that gas is paid again.
Who PoolTogether V5 is for
This is for crypto-curious savers comfortable with a self-custody wallet and layer-2 networks who prefer a chance at prizes over a fixed, predictable interest rate. It is less suitable for anyone who needs guaranteed returns or who cannot accept smart-contract risk.
PoolTogether V5 FAQs
What is PoolTogether V5?
It is a decentralized protocol for no-loss prize games. You deposit funds into a vault, the funds generate yield, and that yield is allocated as prizes to depositors. The homepage describes it as a permissionless protocol for saving and winning.
Is PoolTogether really no-loss?
The homepage says the protocol has no fees and that you can withdraw any time. Your principal is not what funds prizes, because prizes come from yield. You can still lose money through smart-contract failure or a problem in the underlying yield source, and no protocol can remove those risks.
Is PoolTogether gambling?
It is a prize-linked savings product built on yield, not a casino game where the stake is wagered. It does involve a chance-based payout, though, so some jurisdictions may treat it like a lottery. Check the rules where you live and read the Terms of Service and Protocol Disclaimer.
Which blockchains does PoolTogether V5 run on?
DefiLlama lists Optimism, Base, Ethereum, World Chain, Gnosis, Arbitrum and Scroll. Which vaults exist on each chain is not detailed publicly, so check the app.
Does PoolTogether have a token?
POOL is the protocol's token according to DefiLlama. The project does not explain its exact role in V5, so check the official documentation before assuming it is needed to deposit or win.
Is PoolTogether safe?
Funds are held in smart contracts rather than by a company. DefiLlama lists two audits, and the homepage references independent security audits, but audits do not guarantee safety. Only deposit what you can afford to have at risk.
Compare
PoolTogether V5 alternatives
PoolTogether V3 is a no-loss prize savings protocol where deposit yield funds prizes, for users who want to save with a chance to win.
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PoolTogether V4 is a no-loss prize savings protocol where deposit yield funds prizes, for crypto users who want a lottery-style chance without a ticket cost.
Tramplin is a non-custodial Solana staking platform that pays pooled staking revenue to randomly selected users, with on-chain proof of the draws.
PoolTogether is a decentralized no-loss prize savings protocol on Ethereum, Base and Optimism where deposit yield funds prizes for depositors.
Tardly is a no-loss lottery on Algorand where staked ALGO yield funds the prize and depositors can withdraw at any time.
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