> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://maplefun.gitbook.io/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://maplefun.gitbook.io/docs/overview-and-basics/introduction.md).

# Introduction

## Protocol Overview

Maple.fun is a platform built on Solana where anyone can earn rewards on their favorite tokens by joining or creating pools.

Think of it like this: pools are shared treasure chests. You toss in your tokens, get shares representing your slice of the chest, and as the chest fills up with rewards, your slice becomes worth more. No middlemen holding your funds, just connect your wallet and you're in.

Maple.fun runs on Solana. Every pool has a verifiable on-chain address, and all fees, rules, and parameters are transparent and enforced by the smart contract, not by us.

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## How It Works

### Joining a Pool

Drop your SOL or SPL tokens into any pool and receive shares in return. These shares are non-transferable (minted via Token-2022), meaning they're locked to your wallet, so no selling them off or moving them around. Your shares simply represent your ownership of the pool's assets.

When the pool accumulates rewards through funding or fees, the value behind each share grows. Want out? Burn your shares and withdraw your portion of the pool. Simple as that.

A few things to know: pools charge a small deposit fee that stays in the pool (benefiting everyone), and some pools offer early-bird discounts based on timing or TVL thresholds. Withdrawals may have cooldown periods or early-exit penalties depending on how the pool creator configured things. Always check the parameters before diving in.

### Creating a Pool

Anyone can spin up their own pool with custom rules. You control the deposit fees, withdrawal fees, cooldown periods, reserve ratios, and more. Want to reward early depositors with lower fees? Set up discount tiers. Worried about bank runs? Configure a reserve ratio that keeps a safety buffer in place.

Pool creators earn half of the project fees generated by their pool, with the other half going to the Maple treasury. It's a straightforward revenue-share: you build it, you benefit from it.

Pools are created with rent-exempt accounts and deterministic addresses, so costs stay low and everything remains verifiable.

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## Safety Stuff

The protocol includes several built-in safeguards. Pools can auto-pause if the exchange rate drops too sharply (loss cap protection). Reserve ratios prevent withdrawals from draining a pool below a safe threshold. Bootstrap locks stop pool creators from immediately yanking out their initial deposit.

That said, crypto is crypto. Pools are only as good as their configuration. Do your homework, check the parameters, and never deposit more than you're comfortable with.

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## Getting Started

Connect a Solana wallet, browse the available pools, and deposit into one that catches your eye. If you'd rather run your own show, create a pool with your preferred settings and start earning from the fees it generates.