Ample | The DeFi Drop: Prize-Linked Savings and Tokenized Stocks

In this episode of The DeFi Drop, we are joined by Zeel, Head of Product at Ample, the prize-linked savings protocol using pooled on-chain yield to fund weekly rewards while users retain their deposited principal. Inspired by the UK Premium Bonds model, Ample redirects the yield from user deposits into prize pools rather than paying it out as a standard savings rate. The goal is to turn passive saving into an experience that is more engaging, while keeping the underlying deposit separate from the reward mechanism. We covered: ↳ How prize-linked savings work and why Ample is designed around redirecting yield rather than charging users for a ticket ↳ The UK Premium Bonds model and why it could translate to on-chain savings products ↳ Why Ample does not frame itself as a lottery ↳ How isolated asset and chain design aims to limit contagion between deposit pools ↳ Why Ample works with institutional-grade curators such as Stakehouse for yield generation ↳ How prospect theory explains why a chance at a meaningful prize can motivate savers more than incremental interest ↳ How tokenized stocks such as cbNVDA can combine price exposure with prize-linked rewards paid in more stock ↳ Coinbase and Base’s role in creating a regulated, on-chain foundation for new consumer financial products ↳ Why the line between traditional finance and DeFi is increasingly blurred ↳ Zeel’s $200 billion prediction for total DeFi TVL by the end of 2026 Ample is a prize-linked savings protocol built on-chain. Users deposit assets and redirect their yield toward prize pools, creating the potential for larger rewards while keeping the deposited asset separate from the prize mechanism. Ample aims to bring this format to stablecoins, tokenized stocks, gold, and other assets through a simple consumer experience. The DeFi Drop is a podcast by Portals.fi, 20-minute conversations with DeFi builders, infrastructure founders, and protocol operators. Learn more: Ample → https://x.com/AmpleHQ Explore Portals: Website → https://portals.fi App → https://app.portals.fi Build with Portals → https://build.portals.fi/ Developers → https://build.portals.fi/docs Join the community: X → https://x.com/portals_fi Telegram → https://t.me/portalsfi