Echelon (EchelonMarket) is a non-custodial, decentralized lending protocol developed specifically using the Move programming language. It currently operates on Aptos, Movement, and Initia, functioning as the central capital coordination layer for Move-based DeFi. The platform allows users to earn yield by supplying assets and to borrow funds via overcollateralized loans.

The protocol provides several key products:

• Primary lending markets with variable-rate borrowing, where depositors earn interest from borrowers through vault-based accounting.
• Efficiency Mode (E-Mode), which draws inspiration from Aave to offer loan-to-value ratios of up to 90% for correlated asset pairs like stablecoins or liquid staking tokens.
• Isolated pools that segregate risk for long-tail assets, protecting core liquidity from contagion.
• A Fixed Yield product that lets users tokenize, trade, and leverage yield-bearing assets without facing liquidation risk on the yield portion.
• One-click looping, which automates deposit-borrow-redeposit cycles to generate yields of approximately 25% APY.

Echelon supports a wide variety of collateral, including stablecoins (USDC, USDT, sUSDe), various Bitcoin representations (sBTC, xBTC, WBTC, aBTC), composable LP tokens from Thala, and native APT along with its yield-bearing derivatives. This extensive asset support establishes Echelon as the leading stablecoin hub and primary BTCfi venue on Aptos.

To manage risk, the protocol uses a multi-layered architecture featuring supply and borrow caps per asset, conservative loan-to-value and liquidation thresholds, rate limits on deposits and withdrawals, and an automated liquidation system. Pricing relies on Chainlink as the primary oracle, with Pyth and Switchboard serving as fallbacks to ensure tamper-resistant data for fair liquidations.

As of late 2025, Echelon has locked between $200M and $400M in total value, placing it among the top DeFi protocols on Aptos. It holds over $90M in sUSDe deposits, commanding the largest share of stablecoin liquidity on the chain, and over $100M in BTC-backed collateral. The Aptos Foundation has identified Echelon as the network's core lending layer and included it in the Liquidity Foundation Module (LFM) growth program.

The protocol integrates with major infrastructure providers such as LayerZero and Wormhole for cross-chain bridging and maintains partnerships with Thala, StakeStone, OKX, Echo Protocol, Ethena Labs, Circle, and PancakeSwap. Backers include Maelstrom, Ethena Labs, Aptos Foundation, Amber Group, Saison Capital, RE7 Capital, Laser Digital, and Interop Ventures.