Maple (MPL) is a cryptocurrency built on the Ethereum blockchain, purposefully designed to support the Maple protocol's core function—facilitating undercollateralized loans where collateral falls short of the loan amount. Serving as the bedrock of an institutional capital network, Maple empowers credit experts to establish on-chain lending businesses, acting as a vital bridge connecting institutional lenders with borrowers within the decentralized finance landscape. What distinguishes Maple is its remarkable ability to seamlessly merge traditional financial industry compliance and due diligence practices with the transparent and efficient lending capabilities enabled by smart contracts and blockchain technology. In essence, Maple plays a pivotal role in revolutionizing capital markets by providing a secure and efficient platform for financial institutions, pool delegates, and companies seeking capital through blockchain-based lending. MPL, the governance token of the Maple Protocol, endows holders with the authority to participate in governance decisions and earn fees, all while adhering to the ERC-20 token standard for typical token behavior and the ERC-2222 token standard for profit distribution from the Maple Treasury's USDC holdings.

MPL serves several key purposes within the Maple ecosystem, as MPL holders have the power to participate in governance decisions, such as protocol parameter changes and upgrades, shaping the development and operation of the Maple protocol. Additionally, MPL holders can earn fees by engaging in liquidity provision and loan security on the Maple platform, thus encouraging active participation and rewarding contributors. Furthermore, staking MPL tokens in lending pools allows token holders to earn interest and share risks linked to loans facilitated by Maple, effectively transforming them into investors in the protocol's lending activities, with the potential for both rewards and exposure to associated risks.

Established in 2019, this venture is guided by a group of ex-banking and credit investment experts with the objective of enhancing traditional capital markets. Sidney Powell, the CEO, and Joe Flanagan co-founded this initiative.