The project was created by Justin Hyun, former head of incubation at the TON Foundation, with the goal of improving access to DeFi yields through a fully integrated experience inside the messaging app. The platform runs on The Open Network (TON) and allows users to generate interest by depositing assets with a single click, without dealing with the technical complexities typical of decentralized platforms.
The initiative blends traditional financial tools with modular blockchain infrastructure. Hyung Lee, co-founder of Affluent and an expert in financial derivatives, worked with the team to design a system that replicates institutional risk management practices through smart contracts. To achieve this, they implemented automated vaults that manage deposits using asset allocation strategies overseen by both algorithms and institutional operators.
Each deposit is automatically distributed across multiple lending markets, optimizing returns without requiring any action from the user. Additionally, the protocol relies on isolated lending pools, which confine any potential bad debt to a specific segment, shielding the rest of the funds. This approach helps reduce systemic exposure, one of the main vulnerabilities of conventional DeFi platforms.
According to Hyun, Affluent operates on TON by leveraging its asynchronous design, which neutralizes certain risks historically linked to flash loans in other protocols. Even so, the platform clarified that, for now, user deposits are not insured against losses, although it plans to consider this as its user base expands.
The system features a Strategy Vault module and a vault manager that adjusts yield strategies based on market conditions. This enables active portfolio management without requiring users to intervene. Affluent has already undergone a security audit by Trail of Bits, a firm specializing in cybersecurity, which reviewed the protocol’s integrity ahead of its official launch.
The project marks a new chapter for Hyun, who during his time at the TON Foundation led institutional growth initiatives and international programs aimed at bringing funds into the ecosystem. Meanwhile, Lee contributes his expertise in traditional financial engineering applied to decentralized infrastructure
