When you hear "ApeSwap," most people think of high-yield farms on Binance Smart Chain, fast swaps, and a strong community. But what about ApeSwap on Telos? If you’re wondering whether it’s worth your time in 2026, the answer isn’t what you might expect.
What Is ApeSwap on Telos?
ApeSwap on Telos is the same platform you know from Binance Smart Chain - but running on the Telos blockchain. It lets you swap tokens, provide liquidity, farm yields, and stake your holdings - all without a central authority. The native token, BANANA, works across chains, including Telos. You can trade BANANA against ETH, BTC, USDT, USDC, and TLOS. The platform uses an Automated Market Maker (AMM) model, meaning trades happen through liquidity pools instead of order books.It launched on Telos in October 2022 as part of a multi-chain expansion. At the time, Telos was pushing to become a serious DeFi player with low fees and fast confirmations. ApeSwap brought its full suite of tools: Farms, Treasury Bills, staking, and a DAO-governed treasury. The idea was simple: bring ApeSwap’s proven DeFi engine to a faster, cheaper network.
How ApeSwap on Telos Works
Using ApeSwap on Telos follows the same flow as other DEXs. You connect a Web3 wallet like Scatter or TokenPocket that supports Telos. Then you buy some TLOS to pay for gas - it costs less than a penny per transaction. Once funded, you can:- Swap any supported token instantly
- Deposit tokens into a liquidity pool to earn trading fees
- Stake your LP tokens in a Farm to earn extra TLOS rewards
- Use Treasury Bills to lock up LP tokens and get discounted TLOS in return
The fee structure is unique. Every trade on Telos costs 0.2%. Here’s how it breaks down:
- 0.075% goes to buy back and burn BANANA
- 0.0375% to ApeSwap Treasury
- 0.0375% to the Telos network
- 0.05% goes directly to liquidity providers
This design rewards those who add liquidity - and burns tokens to reduce supply. Sounds good on paper. But theory doesn’t always match reality.
Real-World Performance: The $0.00 Problem
Here’s the hard truth: as of January 2026, ApeSwap on Telos has recorded $0.00 in 24-hour trading volume according to CoinGecko. That’s not a typo. Zero. Not $50. Not $5. Nothing.Compare that to Swapsicle V2, the top DEX on Telos, which handles over 64% of all trading on the network - with $742 total daily volume across all Telos DEXs. That’s still tiny compared to Ethereum or Polygon, but at least it’s moving. ApeSwap isn’t.
Why does this matter? Because DeFi rewards activity. No volume means no trading fees. No fees mean no rewards for liquidity providers. If you stake your LP tokens in an ApeSwap Telos Farm, you’re earning from a pool that’s not being used. The TLOS rewards might look high on paper, but if no one’s trading, the pool dries up fast.
Even the platform’s own metrics show nothing. DappBay lists 0.0 user reviews and no star ratings. YouTube videos? Almost all focus on BSC. Reddit threads? Zero mentions of Telos-specific experiences. The community simply isn’t there.
Why Did ApeSwap on Telos Fail to Gain Traction?
It’s not because the tech is broken. The interface is clean. The features are solid. The security was audited by Paladin. The problem is adoption.Telos never became a mainstream DeFi chain. It launched with promise - fast, cheap, scalable - but didn’t attract enough developers, projects, or users to create network effects. Without users, there’s no liquidity. Without liquidity, traders go elsewhere. And without traders, yield farmers have nothing to earn from.
ApeSwap’s multi-chain strategy worked brilliantly on BSC, Polygon, and even Arbitrum - chains with millions of daily users. But Telos? It’s a ghost town. The 12-month revenue-sharing partnership between ApeSwap and Telos ended in October 2023. Without ongoing incentives, there’s no push to bring users over.
Also, most users who tried ApeSwap on Telos quickly realized: why bother? You can get better yields, deeper liquidity, and real trading activity on BSC or Base. Why tie up your funds on a chain where you can’t even swap 100 USDT without 20% slippage?
Is ApeSwap on Telos Safe?
Yes, technically. The smart contracts were audited. No exploits have been reported. The DAO structure means no single entity controls the funds. But safety isn’t just about code - it’s about sustainability.If a protocol has zero volume, it’s not just inactive - it’s dying. Liquidity can vanish overnight. If you lock your LP tokens in a Treasury Bill and the pool collapses, you might not be able to exit cleanly. Even if the code is secure, the ecosystem around it isn’t.
Compare that to ApeSwap on BSC: millions in daily volume, hundreds of active farms, a thriving community. That’s where the real safety lies - in activity, not just audits.
Who Should Use ApeSwap on Telos?
The short answer: almost no one.If you’re a researcher, a developer testing multi-chain integrations, or someone who believes Telos will explode next month - maybe. But if you’re looking to earn yield, swap tokens reliably, or build a DeFi portfolio - skip it.
There’s no downside to trying it with $5. But don’t deposit $500 expecting returns. You’re not investing - you’re speculating on a dead chain.
The only scenario where it makes sense: you hold TLOS and want to support the network. Even then, there are better ways - like using Swapsicle or TelosSwap. They’re the only DEXs on Telos with real traffic.
Alternatives to ApeSwap on Telos
If you want ApeSwap’s features - without the dead chain - go where the volume is:- ApeSwap on Binance Smart Chain - Still the main hub. High liquidity, active farms, low fees, strong community.
- Swapsicle V2 (Telos) - The only Telos DEX with real usage. Better volume, better rewards.
- Uniswap (Ethereum or Base) - DeFi gold standard. Deep pools, low slippage.
- PancakeSwap (BSC) - Similar to ApeSwap, even bigger user base.
Stick to chains with daily volume over $1 million. That’s the threshold where DeFi becomes reliable.
Final Verdict: Don’t Waste Your Time
ApeSwap on Telos is a ghost. It has all the features of a working DeFi platform - but none of the users. The tech works. The tokenomics make sense. But without adoption, it’s just a beautiful empty house.Don’t be fooled by the name. ApeSwap is a strong brand - but not on Telos. If you’re looking to earn, trade, or farm - go where the money is. That’s not here.
For now, ApeSwap on Telos serves one purpose: as a case study in how even great platforms can fail if they pick the wrong chain.
Is ApeSwap on Telos still active in 2026?
Technically, yes - the smart contracts are still live. But practically, no. As of January 2026, ApeSwap on Telos has recorded $0.00 in 24-hour trading volume. There are no user reviews, no community activity, and no meaningful liquidity. It’s a dormant implementation.
Can I still earn rewards on ApeSwap Telos?
You can stake LP tokens and see APRs displayed, but those rewards come from trading fees. With zero volume, no fees are generated. So while the system says you’re earning, you’re actually earning nothing. The rewards are theoretical, not real.
Is it safe to deposit tokens into ApeSwap on Telos?
The code has been audited and there are no known exploits. However, safety isn’t just about code - it’s about liquidity and sustainability. With no trading activity, your funds could become trapped if liquidity dries up. It’s low risk of theft, but high risk of losing access to your earnings.
Why did ApeSwap choose Telos in the first place?
In 2022, Telos was promoting itself as a fast, low-cost alternative to Ethereum and BSC. ApeSwap, like many DeFi platforms, was expanding to multiple chains to capture growth. The partnership included a 12-month revenue-sharing deal. When that ended and adoption didn’t follow, ApeSwap shifted focus to chains with real users.
Should I bridge my BANANA to Telos to use ApeSwap?
Only if you’re experimenting or supporting Telos as a project. Don’t do it expecting to earn. The liquidity is too thin. You’ll pay bridge fees, lock up your tokens, and likely get zero returns. Your BANANA is far more useful on BSC or Polygon.
What’s the best ApeSwap chain to use in 2026?
Binance Smart Chain remains the strongest. It has the deepest liquidity, the most active farms, the highest trading volume, and the largest community. ApeSwap’s core strength is on BSC - everything else is experimental or inactive.