Fluid's Big Move: Starting Buybacks for $FLUID

Hey folks, if you're into DeFi (that's Decentralized Finance, where you can lend, borrow, and trade crypto without traditional banks), you've probably heard of Fluid. It's a protocol built by Instadapp that's been making waves. Recently, Castle Labs highlighted a major update from Fluid on X (formerly Twitter), and it's all about buybacks for their token, $FLUID.

In a post from Castle Labs, they noted that Fluid has kicked off buybacks amid their impressive growth. Fluid's Total Value Locked (TVL)—which is basically the amount of assets locked in the protocol—has more than doubled since January 2025. Now, it's one of the top lending protocols out there.

The exciting part? For October 2025, 100% of Fluid's revenue from the Ethereum mainnet is going straight into buying back $FLUID tokens. At current levels, that's around $1.7 million!

Diving into the Fluid Reserve Announcement

This all stems from Fluid's announcement of the "Fluid Reserve: Buybacks & Growth Strategy." In just 18 months, Fluid has exploded:

• Over $6 billion in total market size.
• Top 3 lending market with $2.5 billion in active loans across chains.
• More than $117 billion in cumulative trading volume.
• Ranking as the #2 DEX (Decentralized Exchange) by volume and fees on Ethereum, and #3 overall.
• Generating over $15 million in annualized revenue.
• Leading in stablecoin swaps like USDC/USDT, GHO/USDC, and USDE/USDT.
• The fastest-growing lending DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization).
• Their Jupiter Lend on Solana is the second largest lending protocol there.
• Fluid Lite ETH Vault boasts $250 million TVL.
• And a milestone: $FLUID is the first DeFi token invested in by a Nasdaq-listed company, StableX Tech.

They're pioneering "Smart Debt" and "Smart Collateral," which are advanced features to make liquidity (the ease of buying/selling assets) more connected and efficient.

How Buybacks Work and Why They Matter

Buybacks mean the protocol uses its earnings to purchase $FLUID tokens from the market, which can reduce supply and potentially increase the token's value—great for holders. For the first month, it's all-in on Ethereum revenue, done in smaller transactions for transparency and to avoid big market swings.

They've set up a dedicated tracking system for these buybacks, with governance (community voting) deciding the long-term plan. The Fluid Reserve aims to:

• Support governance, stability, and growth.
• Align incentives between the protocol's expansion and token holders.
• Build resilience in any market condition.

This isn't just about buying back tokens; it's a balanced approach to reinvest in the ecosystem while rewarding holders.

Implications for Meme Token Enthusiasts and Blockchain Practitioners

While $FLUID is more of a utility token in the DeFi space, its growth story has meme-like virality potential. For meme token fans, this shows how protocols can blend utility with community-driven value accrual. If you're building or investing in blockchain, Fluid's model—combining high revenue with strategic buybacks—could inspire similar strategies in meme projects.

Fluid is available on Ethereum and other EVM-compatible chains, plus Solana via Jupiter Lend. If you're curious, check out their official site or dive into the announcement details.

Stay tuned—Fluid says they're just getting started. What do you think this means for $FLUID's future? Drop your thoughts in the comments!