Recently observed an interesting phenomenon.

The new tokenomics model of the AI project HeyElsa, with airdrops and incentives accounting for 40%, initially looks like a common tactic chasing the trend. But at the same time on the BNB Chain, the major lending platform Lista DAO is doing something else—directly linking USDT with US Treasury bonds to provide users with a stable 4% annual yield.

It seems these two projects are taking completely different paths.

Lista has over $43 billion in assets locked, but it clearly doesn't want to stop at being just a "digital pawnshop." Its new roadmap aims to create a true financial supermarket, even exploring the old rule of "must collateralize to borrow" and experimenting with pure credit lending models. Some community voices worry that it’s spreading itself too thin, but based on the current RWA products it’s launching, at least it shows a grounded approach to product development rather than just hype.

On the HeyElsa side, the focus is on solving another pain point—making on-chain operations less complicated. Enabling you to complete transactions just through chat essentially lowers the entry barrier for the entire crypto world. Although the token model allocates a significant portion to the foundation and team, with long unlock periods, the direction is clear—technology should serve a smoother user experience.

Thinking carefully, these two are actually evolving two dimensions of the same ecosystem: the former expanding how assets generate yields and diversify pathways; the latter optimizing how people interact with the system and making it more hassle-free. Compared to any grand narrative, users care more about this—being able to earn steadily without hassle. That’s the truly attractive financial ecosystem.