LONDON, United Kingdom, February 18, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- EarnPark, a UK-based CeDeFi yield platform, today released findings from a three-month industry analysis revealing that only three out of 20 major cryptocurrency yield platforms provide adequate transparency to users. The study, which combined competitive analysis of platforms managing $35 billion in combined assets, a survey of 847 cryptocurrency users, and on-chain performance verification, found that 73% of retail investors could not explain how yields were generated on platforms they previously used.

Market Analysis Results

The analysis evaluated 20 platforms across a 10-point transparency index measuring risk disclosure quality, fee transparency, performance reporting accuracy, and user education resources. Only three platforms — Aave (9.2), Nexus Mutual (8.8), and EarnPark (8.1) — scored above 8.0. The remaining 17 platforms averaged 4.2 out of 10.

Common deficiencies included lack of risk categorization (85% of platforms), undisclosed or hidden fee structures (72%), absence of historical performance data (65%), and minimal educational resources explaining yield generation mechanisms (58%).

User Impact Data

Among 847 surveyed users, 41% reported experiencing losses on previous platforms due to unclear risk warnings — with 18% reporting losses exceeding 10% of their deposited assets. When asked to rank priorities, 67% of respondents identified risk transparency as their primary consideration when selecting a platform, compared to 23% who prioritized APY levels.

The survey also found that 82% of users would accept 2–3% lower annual returns in exchange for clearer risk disclosure and yield source transparency. Users rated the importance of monthly Proof of Reserves verification at 8.7 out of 10.

On-Chain Verification

Analysis of on-chain performance data from 10 major DeFi protocols between January 2024 and January 2026 revealed a 40% average variance between advertised and actual yields. Platforms scoring above 8.0 on the Transparency Index demonstrated yield variance of ±0.5%, while platforms scoring below 5.0 showed average variance of ±8.7%.

"The data suggests a direct correlation between transparency practices and return predictability," said Eugine Netso, co-founder of EarnPark. "Retail investors consistently tell us they prioritize clarity over maximum returns — the industry needs to respond to that demand."