Gauntlet or RockawayX: Which Should You Choose in 2026?

Gauntlet is the more flexible starting point if you want to compare different types of curated strategies. Its vaults include lending, restaking and multi-strategy approaches, and the project also supplies yield programs to partner apps. RockawayX focuses more narrowly on curated lending exposure through Morpho and other DeFi lending protocols, with strategies described as market-neutral and involving stablecoins, ETH, BTC and SOL. That description does not establish which assets are currently available in each vault.

Neither is a token you buy to gain exposure to its services: neither lists a token. The choice is between specific vaults or strategies, not between two coins. If you use either, judge the exact product rather than relying on the curator’s broad description.

Neither publishes one consistent fee schedule across all strategies. Gauntlet says charges can depend on the vault or the partner app, so check for management, performance or other fees in the specific terms. RockawayX does not publish strategy-specific fees; look for curator charges as well as any costs associated with the underlying lending protocol. With either service, network gas is a separate cost and varies by chain and transaction.

Yield is not a fixed rate or a promise of profit. Lending demand, rewards, market conditions and strategy allocations can change returns, and losses are possible. Before comparing displayed yields, check whether they are gross or net of fees and how they are calculated. If a vault’s fees or net return are unclear, you may not be able to make a meaningful cost comparison—and should not assume the cheaper option based on a headline rate.

Neither lists audits in the project details, so neither has a published audit record here that establishes an advantage. Gauntlet describes its vaults as non-custodial and outlines monitoring and risk-management practices. Those measures do not guarantee that a vault or the protocols it uses are free of vulnerabilities. RockawayX’s specific custody arrangement is not established, and its vaults also carry smart-contract, lending-market and redemption risks.

Before depositing, identify the exact vault contract and review its security information and the underlying protocols. A curator’s risk controls cannot guarantee repayment or prevent losses. Also check whether you can redeem on demand or whether a notice period, limit or other condition applies. Treat each strategy separately: a general claim about a curator does not confirm the safety or liquidity of every vault it offers.

Gauntlet may be easier to approach if you want a wider selection of vault types, but the experience depends on whether you use a direct vault or a partner app. The partner may set its own onboarding and withdrawal process. For a direct deposit, you generally need a compatible wallet, the right network and the asset required by the chosen vault. There is no single published set of fees or withdrawal terms for every strategy.

RockawayX also requires you to check the chosen vault’s network, deposit asset and redemption conditions. Its descriptions do not establish one standard sign-up flow or withdrawal speed. Neither publishes a universal KYC rule, and partner or product requirements may differ. Check the exact terms before connecting a wallet or approving a transaction, and confirm that the network and asset shown in your wallet match the vault you intend to use.

Gauntlet stands out for breadth: it lists more networks and offers lending, restaking and multi-strategy vaults, alongside yield programs that other apps can provide to their users. Its reported TVL is also higher—about $1.59 billion versus about $279 million for RockawayX—but these figures are undated snapshots, not measures of safety or guaranteed liquidity.

RockawayX may suit you if you specifically want to investigate curated lending markets and its strategy fits the asset and network you need. Its narrower service description may help focus your research, but key details such as strategy-level fees and redemption conditions need checking. For either curator, choose only after verifying the live vault, its underlying markets, fees, contract security and exit rules. If you need guaranteed returns, deposit protection or uniform withdrawal terms, neither is a good fit.