USDG launch boost
The USDG launch boost adds extra yield to the USDG liquidity pools on Arbitrum during their launch. For the first 8 weeks, it targets 8% APR or higher on GLV [USDG-USDG] and 5% APR on the BTC/USD, ETH/USD, and SOL/USD [USDG-USDG] GM pools. The boost is paid into the GLV and GM token prices every 4 hours, so there's nothing to claim. It's funded by Arbitrum's USDG program together with GMX.
The boost comes on top of the pools' regular yield from fees and trader PnL, which stays variable. The rates on this page are targets, not guarantees. For how GM and GLV pools work, see Providing liquidity.
Eligible pools
The launch boost applies to these pools on Arbitrum. Each pool uses USDG to back both long and short positions, so your liquidity stays in a single stablecoin.
| Pool | Type | Who can buy | Target boost, first 8 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLV [USDG-USDG] | GLV vault | Anyone | 8% APR or higher |
| BTC/USD [USDG-USDG] | GM pool | Whitelisted wallets | 5% APR |
| ETH/USD [USDG-USDG] | GM pool | Whitelisted wallets | 5% APR |
| SOL/USD [USDG-USDG] | GM pool | Whitelisted wallets | 5% APR |
GLV [USDG-USDG] holds liquidity in the three GM pools, so it earns the boost from all of them. Direct purchases of the GM pools are limited to whitelisted wallets. To request access, message @GMXPartners on Telegram and mention "USDG whitelist." Selling is never restricted.
Buying GM or GLV tokens in these pools has no deposit fee. Selling them has a withdrawal fee of up to 0.07%. The SWAP-ONLY [USDC-USDG] pool doesn't receive the boost.
How the boost is paid
GMX pays the boost in rounds. A round lasts 4 hours, and rounds end at 00:00, 04:00, 08:00, 12:00, 16:00, and 20:00 UTC. After each round:
- GMX measures the program TVL: the time-weighted average amount of USDG held by the three GM pools during the round. GM tokens held by GLV [USDG-USDG] are part of these pools, so they're counted once.
- GMX deposits the GM pools' reward into each pool as USDG, in proportion to the pool's share of the program TVL. This raises the GM token price.
- GMX donates the GLV's reward to GLV [USDG-USDG] as GM tokens. This raises the GLV token price.
All payments for a round execute together in a single transaction. Because the boost raises the token price instead of sending rewards to wallets, it compounds automatically and there's nothing to claim. There's no lockup and no minimum holding time: you benefit from every round that ends while you hold the token.
Boost rates
The boost rate depends on the program TVL and, for GLV, on how much of the program the GLV holds. The total reward grows with the program TVL up to $100M. Above $100M, the reward stays fixed and the rates dilute.
GM pools
The GM pools earn 5% APR as long as the program TVL is $100M or less:
GM pool boost APR = 5% × min(program TVL, $100M) / program TVL
For example, at a program TVL of $150M, the GM pool boost is about 3.3% APR.
GLV [USDG-USDG]
GLV [USDG-USDG] earns the GM pool rate on the GM tokens it holds, plus a premium. Each round, an extra 3% APR of the program TVL, up to $100M, goes to the GLV only. Because this amount is spread over the GLV's own value, the premium is higher when the GLV holds a smaller share of the program:
GLV boost APR = GM pool boost APR + 3% × min(program TVL, $100M) / GLV value
For example, if the GLV holds 40% of the program TVL, its premium is 3% / 0.4 = 7.5%, for a total boost of 12.5% APR. The GLV can hold at most all of the program TVL, so while the program TVL is $100M or less, the GLV boost is at least 8% APR. Above $100M, both parts dilute.
The boost rate shown in the app is the rate paid in the last executed round, based on average balances during that round. It changes from round to round as balances change, and deposits made after a round don't change it until the next round.
Schedule
The launch boost runs in periods, and each period has its own rates:
| Period | Duration | GM pools | GLV [USDG-USDG] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Period 1 | 8 weeks, starting with the first reward round at the USDG launch (planned for October 6, 2026) | 5% APR | 8% APR or higher |
| Later periods | To be announced | Published before the period starts | Published before the period starts |
Only the rates of the current period are confirmed. Later periods may pay different rates.
Missed rounds
If a round can't be paid, for example because of a technical issue, the next round doesn't make up for it: each round pays only its own amount. GMX records the missed amount, which may be paid later in a separate catch-up payment. Catch-up payments aren't included in the boost rate shown in the app.
Each round's payment is also capped relative to the size of each pool and the GLV, which protects holders against deposit-and-withdraw farming around a round. If a cap limits a round, the shortfall is handled the same way as a missed round.
Get USDG
To buy into the USDG pools, you need USDG, a US dollar stablecoin issued by Paxos. You can swap USDC to USDG on GMX through the USDC/USDG swap pool. See Swap fees for its fees.
Businesses can also mint USDG 1:1 from US dollars directly with Paxos after completing business verification with Paxos. To get started, apply with Paxos. For the conversion steps, see the Paxos convert guide.
Risks
The launch boost doesn't change the risks of providing liquidity. GM and GLV holders still take the other side of trader PnL and pay fees when they buy or sell. Because these pools hold only USDG, the dollar value of your liquidity also depends on USDG holding its peg.
The boost rates aren't guaranteed. They dilute above $100M of program TVL, a round can be delayed or capped, and later periods may pay less. For more, see Risks.
Next steps
- Providing liquidity: how GM and GLV pools work, how token prices are set, and how pool APY is calculated
- Swap fees: fees for swapping into USDG