Monad is a next-generation Layer 1 blockchain that achieves 10,000 transactions per second through parallel execution. Learn more about how it works here.

Scalability remains a critical bottleneck for blockchain adoption, with current solutions forcing difficult trade-offs between performance and compatibility. As existing platforms struggle with these limitations, Monad emerges as the “most performant 

 and backed by $225 million in funding, Monad aims to solve blockchain's scalability challenge through innovative architecture. This article looks at its technical components, examines potential use cases, analyzes key challenges and explores its road map toward mainnet launch.

 is a next-generation Layer 1 blockchain that achieves 10,000 

 (TPS) through parallel execution. With full EVM compatibility at its core, Monad enables seamless deployment of high-performance blockchain applications.

Monad Labs emerged in 2022 from a team with extensive experience in high-frequency trading systems at Jump Trading. The project was founded by three technical pioneers: Keone Hon (CEO), James Hunsaker (CTO) and Eunice Giarta (COO).

The inspiration behind Monad came from the team's direct experience with blockchain infrastructure limitations. Having worked on low-latency trading systems, they recognized that sequential processing in EVM-compatible chains created unnecessary bottlenecks.

 platform, its technical constraints have held the entire industry back. Monad’s founders believed their background in distributed systems and high-performance computing could help solve these challenges.

Their vision gained significant validation in early 2024 when the project secured $225 million in funding through a round led by Paradigm. Notable investors included Electric Capital, Coinbase Ventures and GSR Ventures, providing the resources needed for their planned Q1 2025 mainnet launch.

Monad aims to solve the fundamental scalability challenges that have plagued EVM-compatible blockchains. Traditional chains like Ethereum can only process 15–30 TPS, creating bottlenecks during high-demand periods.

Monad addresses the growing frustration with high gas fees and slow transaction times that have limited blockchain adoption. By implementing parallel execution, Monad targets a throughput of 10,000 TPS, with 1-second block times and single-slot finality.

Most existing scaling solutions require developers to learn new programming languages or adapt to unfamiliar environments. Monad takes a different approach, maintaining full EVM compatibility so developers can port their Ethereum applications without code modifications.

Monad's architecture introduces four key technological components that work together to achieve its performance goals.

 is a custom consensus mechanism derived from the HotStuff algorithm. Optimizing the traditional three-phase process into two phases enables faster block finalization, while maintaining 

Monad's parallel execution enables simultaneous processing of multiple transactions. Rather than checking for dependencies up front, the system optimistically executes transactions in parallel and efficiently resolves any conflicts that arise.

Monad implements deferred execution by separating 

 from transaction processing. This approach lets nodes agree on transaction orders first, creating a more efficient pipeline that enhances overall throughput.

 provides a custom-designed database optimized for parallel processing. It focuses on maintaining current state data rather than complete history, enabling faster reads and writes during transaction execution.

Monad introduces several key benefits that address critical challenges in the blockchain space.

Monad's innovative architecture represents a breakthrough in blockchain scalability. Through parallel execution, MonadBFT's optimized consensus and efficient state management, the platform achieves 10,000 TPS while maintaining decentralized security.

The synergy between these components enables one-second block times and near-instant transaction finality. This performance unlocks new possibilities for blockchain applications that require exceptional throughput and rapid processing, from 

As an EVM-compatible blockchain, Monad solves developer accessibility at the bytecode level. This allows teams to deploy existing applications directly to Monad, eliminating the need for code rewrites or the adoption of new tooling.

Developers can continue to use familiar frameworks, wallets and analytics tools while gaining access to Monad's superior performance. This compatibility-first approach removes traditional barriers to adopting new Layer 1 platforms.

As the Monad network prepares for its mainnet launch, the platform faces challenges in converting its technical advantages into widespread adoption.

While Monad's technical architecture is impressive, success in the blockchain space requires more than just advanced technology. Building a thriving Monad ecosystem depends upon attracting developers, projects and users to the platform.

Despite full EVM compatibility that makes it easier for Ethereum developers to port their applications, convincing teams to migrate to a new Layer 1 requires significant community building, ecosystem support and grants for new teams.

Significant venture capital involvement in Monad, while providing substantial resources for development, raises questions about potential centralization. With over $225 million in funding from major investors, there are concerns about token distribution and governance control.

The custom nature of components like MonadDb and the modified EVM implementation also introduces questions about the level of decentralization in the platform's architecture. These proprietary elements require careful consideration regarding their impact on network autonomy.

Monad's combination of high throughput, low fees and EVM compatibility creates possibilities for various blockchain applications previously constrained by technical limitations.

Monad's architecture fundamentally transforms what's possible in 

Monad's architecture creates new possibilities for 

 and digital asset markets that require high-performance transaction processing:

Monad's unique architecture opens up new possibilities for businesses handling real-world data streams and operations at scale:

These use cases leverage Monad's ability to handle multiple concurrent state changes while maintaining data consistency, enabling enterprise-grade applications that were previously impractical on 

Understanding how Monad compares to existing Layer 1 solutions helps contextualize its position in the blockchain ecosystem. Let's examine the key differences between Monad and other major platforms.

Ethereum's Layer 1 mainnet processes 15–30 TPS with high gas fees. While Layer 2 solutions exist for scaling, Monad aims to achieve 10,000 TPS at the base layer while maintaining full EVM compatibility. However, Ethereum's battle-tested security and decentralization are viewed as unmatched in the industry.

Solana achieves high performance through its parallel processing architecture, and has built a thriving ecosystem. The key distinction with Monad lies in its development approach: Solana utilizes a custom Rust-based environment focused on maximum performance, while Monad aims to bring similar scalability benefits to the EVM ecosystem.

 features a theoretical maximum of 2,222 TPS through a network of 29 active validators. While this provides reliability and EVM compatibility, it trades some decentralization for performance. Monad aims to achieve much higher throughput without the same centralization trade-offs, though this remains to be proven in production.

Each of the above platforms has made distinct architectural choices in addressing the 

 of scalability, security and decentralization. Monad's effectiveness in balancing these factors will become clearer once its mainnet launches.

Since its founding in 2022, Monad has achieved several significant milestones in its development journey, including securing $225 million in funding led by Paradigm in early 2024. Its team has successfully built and demonstrated the platform's core technologies, particularly its parallel execution architecture and MonadBFT consensus mechanism.

The primary focus for Q4 2024 is the launch of Monad's public testnet. This will be the first opportunity for developers and users to interact with the platform's infrastructure and publicly validate its performance claims.

The Monad network mainnet launch is scheduled for Q1 2025, marking the official debut of its high-performance blockchain infrastructure. Following mainnet, the team plans to:

The road ahead focuses on careful testing and refinement to ensure a stable and secure mainnet launch while building a sustainable ecosystem.

Monad represents a significant advancement in blockchain technology, offering a solution that combines the best of both worlds: Ethereum's thriving developer ecosystem, and high-performance scalability through parallel transaction execution.

As the project progresses toward its mainnet launch in 2025, its success will depend upon its ability to foster a thriving ecosystem. While challenges lie ahead, Monad's architectural innovations could be on track to shape the future of high-performance, developer-friendly blockchain infrastructure.

Intermediate

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Monad: A High-Performing, EVM-Compatible Layer 1 Blockchain

Story has introduced the Agent Transaction Control Protocol (Agent TCP/IP), a new standard for agent-to-agent transactions in the AI ecosystem. 

The S&P 500 fell 0.09% and is set for weekly losses amid Fed hawkishness and inflation concerns. Coindesk Indices, an index measuring broader cryptocurrency market performance was down by 3.37%, with Bitcoin and Ether dropping by 4.33% and 7.65%, respectively in the past 24 hours.

Today's top performer is MOCA, which surged 38.6% following the launch of Mocaverse 3.0, a chain-agnostic digital identity system that empowers users and connects ecosystems.

Mocaverse (MOCA), founded in 2017, is an NFT collection and community platform by Animoca Brands, providing access to an exclusive web3 ecosystem through unique digital characters and experiences. 

 introduces a chain-agnostic digital identity system that unifies user data and enables interoperable ecosystems. Through its AIR Kit, users gain control over their identity and rewards, while businesses can verify credentials and connect ecosystems. Backed by Animoca's network, it addresses digital fragmentation across sectors like DeFi, healthcare, and gaming.

Check Out the Latest Prices, Charts, and Data of 

, a new standard for agent-to-agent transactions in the AI ecosystem. Developed in collaboration with leading AI agent frameworks, this protocol enables AI agents to autonomously exchange and monetize intellectual property (IP) without human intervention. Agent TCP/IP allows AI agents to execute legally binding contracts, create a decentralized IP marketplace, and share revenue. The protocol aims to unlock the full potential of AI agents by enabling secure, transparent, and frictionless IP exchanges. A demo showcases how agents can license their IP in a decentralized marketplace.

Yesterday, BTC Spot ETF data showed a total outflow of $673.9 million, including $87.9 million from GBTC and $586.0 million from non-GBTC sources.

WorldShards, a Sandbox MMORPG on the Open Loot platform, is 

 a complete in-game economy in December 2024, ahead of its Token Generation Event (TGE) in early 2025. Key updates include Proxy Tokens for NFT crafting, 30-day free trial access, and airdrops for all active players based on activity. The game has attracted 300,000 community members and achieved $4M in sales since early access in February 2024.

Beginner

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Story Unveils Agent TCP/IP as a Breakthrough Protocol for Autonomous AI Agent IP Transactions

Lumia (LUMIA) revolutionizes RWA tokenization with DeFi liquidity, MEV protection, and zk-rollup technology.

Real-world assets (RWAs) are quickly becoming a leading topic within the blockchain ecosystem, with many protocols and chains starting to offer asset tokenization services. However, many of these solutions are based on simply moving a variety of physical and digital assets to a 

 environment without regard for how these tokenized on-chain products will be further utilized. As a result, after companies tokenize their assets on-chain, they realize that the lack of liquidity is hampering the assets' further circulation and adoption.

 project that has taken a much more comprehensive approach to asset tokenization. The platform allows businesses to tokenize various RWAs, including a diverse range of commodities, and provides ways to boost their liquidity and applications within the 

 (DeFi) realm. Based on Polygon's modular 

 (Polygon CDK), Lumia provides a robust, secure, compliant, cost-effective and scalable infrastructure to put RWAs to active use within the world of web3.

Having started its operations under the name of 

 (ORN) as an Ethereum (ETH)-–based app that aggregated liquidity from various 

 (DEX) exchanges, the project rebranded to Lumia in 2023 and expanded its functionality to focus on the RWA niche. As of late 2024, Lumia remains one of the pioneers of liquidity-enhanced RWA use on blockchain.

 (LUMIA) is a Layer 2 blockchain designed for tokenization and use of RWAs in DeFi applications. 

The platform allows businesses to bring a variety of physical and digital assets 

, securely tokenize them and further use the assets for collateral provision, lending and other crypto finance use cases.

The Lumia platform's origins date back to 2020, when Orion Protocol (ORN) was launched on Ethereum. Co-founded by Alexey Koloskov and Kal Ali, Orion offered liquidity aggregation from multiple CEX and DEX platforms. In late 2023, Orion announced its rebranding to Lumia, focusing more specifically on RWAs and their active use through enhanced liquidity provision.

The project also transitioned from Ethereum to its own Layer 2 chain in October 2024, with ORN tokens to be migrated to the new platform's native token, LUMIA, at a 1:1 ratio. As of December 2024, the major crypto exchange platforms have migrated ORN to LUMIA or are in the process of migrating it.

 (ZKP)–based rollup network built using thePolygon CDK, a versatile, open-source blockchain development framework provided by the 

 project. The Lumia platform is highly modular, with different components used for its execution, data availability (DA) and settlement layers.

Chain Abstraction and Account Abstraction

 to offer chain abstraction (CA), and with thirdweb to offer account abstraction (AA) services. Lumia's CA service is designed to provide DeFi users with a single-chain experience by accessing liquidity and opportunities across multiple blockchain networks. Meanwhile, AA allows users to transact across multiple platforms on a single, user-friendly interface. By leveraging 

–based addresses instead of the standard externally-owned account (EOA) addresses, users can seamlessly transact across platforms using a single wallet tied to these smart contracts.

By providing a unified, user-friendly interface, Lumia's AA lets Web 2.0 users enter the world of web3-based DeFi with a minimal learning curve involved. AA’s additional benefits include enhanced security at the smart contract level and gasless, Lumia-sponsored transactions.

Lumia users can also take advantage of intent-based trading, meaning they specify their transaction intents, and orders only execute if a matching deal is found across the entire ecosystem accessible to Lumia. Special liquidity nodes process intent-based orders and offer the best rates they can source for the user’s intent. This helps ensure that Lumia users get the best possible deals.

This advanced trading mechanism is powered by 

, which introduces various unique advantages to enhance the user experience. For instance, it provides robust security against 

 (MEV) attacks, one of the most common exploits in the world of DeFi. It also optimizes price efficiency and minimizes the negative price impact of trades by leveraging its Resolvers to source liquidity across the entire DeFi market.

Built using the Polygon CDK, Lumia is a ZK–based rollup running on a 

 processing engine. Based on a highly modular design, the Polygon CDK allows rollups to easily incorporate different execution, DA and settlement layers and other associated technologies. Lumia, for instance, integrates various execution engines, such as the privacy-focused Privado ID and Miden. Privado ID allows Lumia to securely and privately identify users. Based on zk technology, Privado ID enables individuals and businesses to control their personal data by sharing only the required identity information to DApps without revealing any private or financially sensitive details.

In turn, Miden is also a ZK–based platform that offers private accounts and transaction execution. Operating as a rollup network, Miden is a highly scalable environment for DeFi operators and users who value data confidentiality, an essential consideration for any finance-focused platform.

 with other blockchain environments, achieved by leveraging two modular interoperability layers: AggLayer and Hyperlane.

AggLayer is Lumia's primary interoperability layer. Built into the Polygon CDK, AggLayer offers cross-chain transaction capacity across various Polygon-based Layer 2 rollup networks. It unifies liquidity across the entire ecosystem of AggLayer-connected chains, allowing Lumia to provide deep liquidity for tokenized assets.

Hyperlane, the other interoperability protocol used by Lumia, is a solution designed to help developers easily and efficiently send arbitrary data across chains. It expands Lumia's reach beyond Polygon's ecosystem. Theoretically, it may allow Lumia to access resources and liquidity across the entire ecosystem of chains that have adopted Hyperlane. As of late 2024, there are dozens of such Hyperlane-powered blockchains outside of the Polygon environment.

Lumia provides a streamlined process for RWA tokenization. As the first step, the asset owner needs to provide proof of ownership documentation and undergo any other required due diligence procedures. Following that, a Bailment Agreement is signed between the asset owner and the Lumia Foundation, the legal entity behind the project.

Within the contexts of blockchain technology and RWAs, Bailment Agreements are utilized to entrust physical assets to an authorized custodian, while the actual tokenized representations of these assets are held and used within the blockchain space.

After the parties sign a Bailment Agreement, the asset is appraised by third-party valuators and then tokenized on-chain. The tokenized version of the asset can now be used in DeFi applications accessible via Lumia for typical crypto finance operations, e.g., collateral provision, lending, borrowing, staking, yield management and more.

 protocol, sources liquidity from multiple exchange platforms. (This is the core service from which Lumia started its operations when it was known as Orion Protocol.) It accesses liquidity across the crypto market to provide Lumia-based RWAs with much more than tokenized on-chain representation. Besides access to liquidity, Lumia Stream features MEV protection for all trades conducted on the platform, and 

, which allow tokenized assets to be bridged across blockchain platforms.

Using Lumia Stream, developers can also implement virtual 

, which show optimal trading paths between multiple exchanges. These virtual order books can also transform pricing information from the structure used in 

 (AMM) pools to a format compatible with the standard order book model.

Lumia has several specialized node types, including DNLP (Delta Neutral Liquidity Provisioning) nodes and DAC (Data Availability Committee) nodes. The former are designed for decentralized liquidity provision on the network, while the latter play a key role in data validation.

There are also HyperNodes that can be used either to provide the licenses for the operation rights of virtual Lumia machines or supply the licenses used to delegate to DNLP and DAC node operators. HyperNodes can choose to run a DNLP or DAC node or delegate to these node types and earn ecosystem rewards. 

Lumia first made HyperNode licenses available for purchase in July 2024. The license releases and the associated rollout of HyperNodes will be gradual.

The platform uses a network of zkProvers that are responsible for the generation of validity proofs — cryptographic stamps that certify the validity of transaction blocks. Currently, Lumia utilizes the default zkProver infrastructure provided by the Polygon CDK. However, the project has plans to introduce a custom prover layer in partnership with 

, a provider of low-cost and highly scalable ZK validation services. Per the project's documentation, there will be further announcements on integrating a Gevolut-based zkProver system in Q1 2025.

Lumia's early 2025 plans also include creating a decentralized sequencer network (DCN). Sequencers are critical parts of any rollup system. These nodes organize transactions into blocks for further validation. A typical rollup network uses only one sequencer, an issue often cited as one of the key vulnerabilities of rollups.

Lumia aims to introduce a decentralized network of multiple sequencer nodes tailored to the Lumia platform to optimize its security and performance. The project plans to provide incentives in the form of LUMIA tokens to sequencer service providers in order to build its DCN.

We’ve already mentioned some of the specialized node types on Lumia — DNLP, DAC and HyperNodes. Another crucial node variety on the platform is DA (lightclient) nodes. They play a pivotal role in decentralized data availability by ensuring transaction data is securely stored and easily accessible across the Lumia network. Transaction data on Lumia is distributed and stored across the network of DA nodes to provide validators with easy retrieval when data is required.

Data on the DA node network is stored in a secure, cryptographically protected format. Both the encryption and the distributed storage mode ensure confidentiality and high security for Lumia's transaction data.

DA nodes are incentivized with LUMIA tokens, based on their contributions to the network. Node operators are encouraged to actively participate, as the rewards are determined by both the amount of data processing they handle and their network uptime.

The platform's native cryptocurrency, LUMIA, is used for a wide variety of functions:

The LUMIA token was launched in mid-October 2024, replacing the earlier ORN token, the platform's native crypto. ORN was introduced in July 2020, along with the launch of Orion Protocol. As mentioned above, the platform has announced the migration of ORN to LUMIA at a rate of 1:1. As of December 2024, ORN tokens are still in circulation, but are expected to eventually be migrated to LUMIA completely.

LUMIA is a supply-capped token, with a total and maximum supply of 238,888,888.

 as a Perpetual contract based on USDT. Under the terms of the contract, you can trade LUMIA with up to 12.5x leverage.

Bybit's Innovation Zone offers perpetual trading users access to promising new higher-risk/higher-potential cryptocurrencies selected by the platform's professional team.

As of Dec 19, 2024, the LUMIA token is trading at $1.61, or 36.2% lower than its ATH of $2.49 on Dec 4, 2024, and 72.8% higher than its ATL of $0.9205 on Nov 4, 2024.

Long-term price forecasts for LUMIA are bullish. DigitalCoinPrice 

 at $4.19 in 2025 and $12.06 in 2030, while CoinCodex 

 that the token will trade at $7.50 in 2025 and fall slightly to $6.53 in 2030.

Lumia isn't your ordinary RWA-based blockchain project. While countless new platforms help users tokenize physical world assets, very few offer viable ways of further using the tokenized crypto assets within the DeFi ecosystem. Recognizing the gap, the Lumia project team has decisively taken on the task of making RWAs a highly liquid and actively used form of cryptocurrency.

The project also features a solid infrastructural backbone, supported by the Polygon CDK and its high architectural modularity. Using technologies like Miden, Privado ID, AggLayer and Hyperlane adds to the security and interoperability of the Lumia platform. At the same time, Lumia isn't done yet with sculpting its architecture into a piece of blockchain art — in 2025, the project plans to implement a decentralized sequencer network and partner with Gevolut to provide an efficient zkProver layer.

As Lumia builds up its architecture, tokenizing and 

 will undoubtedly become even more efficient, convenient and secure — and decisively more DeFi-esque.

Advanced

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Lumia (LUMIA): Bridging RWA & DeFi for a New Financial Era

SynFutures is a decentralized platform that lets users list on-chain perpetual futures for any crypto and trade them. Learn about SynFutures and how to trade F on Bybit.

SynFutures is a decentralized marketplace that lets users list on-chain perpetual futures for any cryptocurrency and trade them on the platform. In addition to the wide range of supported assets (such as 

, or RWAs, and NFTs), the project's Oyster 

 (AMM) solution enhances liquidity through the combination of an AMM model and an 

. Powered by the native F token, SynFutures is backed by prominent investors and features a cumulative trading volume of over $230 billion.

In this article, we’ll explore SynFutures, its key features and the mechanics behind the Oyster AMM, as well as the F token and its tokenomics.

 is a decentralized derivatives platform that enables users to trade on-chain 

. Powered by a single-token liquidity model, SynFutures allows free listing of any digital asset on its protocol without any 

 (DAO) proposals or centralized intervention. Doing so fosters on-chain trading of a diverse range of cryptocurrency perpetuals via the platform.

To maximize liquidity, SynFutures employs the Oyster automated market maker

 that provides a customizable set of tools, such as concentrated liquidity and 

. In addition to crypto, the project also enables users to trade perpetual contracts based on 

 platform. As the native coin of the SynFutures ecosystem, the F token is utilized primarily for community governance and 

 boosts, as well as for fee discounts and rewards.

At the time of this writing (Dec 19, 2024), SynFutures boasts a cumulative trading volume of

 and 308,900 total users, of which 22,410 were active within the past seven days. In addition to featuring a 

 (TVL) of over $50 million, the decentralized derivatives platform has processed 15.24 million transactions to date.

SynFutures was founded in 2020 by Rachel Lin and Matthew Liu.Before serving as the CEO and co-founder of the decentralized futures platform, Lin worked at Deutsche Bank, specializing in derivatives. She also co-founded Matrixport, one of Asia's largest digital asset neobanks.

Starting his career as a trader managing Deutsche Bank's Asia rates desk, Matthew Liu's MBA at Northwestern eventually led to him joining the blockchain space. While at Ant Group, he was instrumental in setting up the company's global treasury and later took charge of its financial blockchain business, with a focus on secondary market trading and credit tokenization.

To date, SynFutures has raised $37.4 million in funding from investors in one seed and two early-stage financing rounds. Some of the most notable contributors include Bybit, Pantera Capital, Polychain Capital, Dragonfly Capital, HashKey Capital and Standard Crypto, among others.

SynFutures' ecosystem consists of three flagship solutions:

SynFutures' Oyster AMM: How Does it Work?

One of the most unique components of SynFutures' ecosystem is the 

. It combines the functionality of order books and AMMs to offer users the following key features:

SynFutures' F token serves as the native coin within the project's ecosystem. The main utilities of the digital asset include the following:

F's max supply is capped at 10 billion tokens. Currently, 1.2 billion F are circulating in the market. As of Dec 16, 2024, the native coin 

 a nearly $86.5 million market cap, a fully diluted valuation (FDV) of $720 million and a trading volume of $28.52 million over the past 24 hours. F’s allocation is per the graphic below:

SynFutures’ decentralized derivatives platform enables users to list and trade any digital asset and combine it with other cryptocurrencies to create combinations of perpetual futures pairs. Powered by the F native token and the Oyster AMM, SynFutures fosters enhanced liquidity and user experience and a permissionless listing process for perpetuals.

's user-friendly and intuitive Spot trading platform. 

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SynFutures (F): Exploring the Decentralized Derivatives Platform

Investing

Staking

Want close to 20% yield for staking stablecoins? Read on as we cover everything you need to know about Anchor Protocol and ANC tokens.

As with any type of investment portfolio, diversification is essential if you want your crypto portfolio to be balanced. By making sure that your portfolio is properly balanced and diversified, you’ll be able to protect against any unforeseen losses. If your current crypto portfolio is focused almost entirely on risky investments, one sharp decline in a single investment could lead to widespread losses if your other investments have yet to pan out.

On the other hand, having safe and steady investments in your crypto portfolio allows you to accrue consistent income that can mitigate any losses on riskier investments. With a diverse portfolio, it will also be easier for you to make gains in both bull and bear markets.

Even when the market is in a downturn and performing poorly, a diverse portfolio will provide you with at least small gains while you wait for the market to improve. This article takes a look at Anchor Protocol, Anchor crypto and why it’s the ideal staking protocol if you want to obtain safe yields.

Anchor Protocol is a popular savings protocol that’s based around the Terra blockchain. The Anchor Protocol coin (ANC) provides users with low-volatility yields of just under 20% when taking the Anchor Rate into account.

 and initially launched in March 2021. It was created in part to boost the overall demand for UST. Keep in mind that UST is the USD-pegged stablecoin from Terra. When the Anchor Protocol coin was first introduced, deposits could only be made in UST. However,

 was soon launched with the assistance of 

Users are now able to deposit various stablecoins based on Ethereum, which include BUSD, USDC, Dai and USDT. Yields for UST typically range from 19.5–20.5%, and revolve around the Anchor Rate, which is maintained by the platform. If you deposit other stablecoins, your yields would be around 16.5%. Even though these yields are high, they’re consistent, which makes this a great investment if you need to diversify your crypto portfolio. Once you place your money into Anchor Protocol, you’ll be able to borrow and lend your assets while earning interest on any of the currency you’ve deposited. This ultimately opens up possibilities for even higher yield as you explore various liquidity pool options. Curious about exploring this staking opportunity? Read on as we cover the fundamentals of how Anchor Protocol works.

Anchor Protocol runs on three primary mechanisms, which include loan liquidation, bonded asset (bAsset), and money market. A bAsset is a tokenized stake that’s situated on a 

 (PoS) blockchain. If you have a bAsset token, it effectively displays ownership of a PoS asset. Just like the underlying asset that you’ve staked, holding a bAsset will give you access to block rewards.

The main difference between a bAsset and a staked asset is that the bonded asset is fungible and transportable. What this means is that transactions can be completed with the bAsset in the same way that you would use the underlying asset to perform transactions.

Keep in mind that it’s possible for bAssets to be made on any PoS blockchain that’s equipped to handle smart contracts. In the time that Anchor Protocol has existed, bAssets have proven to be a key component of the platform because of how they are able to deliver consistent interest rates to any Terra deposits.

The money market that exists within Terra is a 

 smart contract that’s present on the Terra blockchain. This market facilitates borrowing and depositing of Terra stablecoins. As mentioned previously, the Terra stablecoin is UST. It’s important to understand that the money market acts as the foundation for the Anchor Protocol. Terra deposits are brought together to form a pool, which generates interest from any loans.

If you want to borrow from this pool, you’ll be tasked with using some of your digital assets as a form of collateral. The interest rate that’s generated from the pool of Terra deposits is calculated based on the current demand and supply from borrowers. You can determine what this rate is by looking at the current utilization ratio for the pool.

It’s possible for someone to take out a loan via the Terra money market by securing the right amount of collateral that can be provided in return for the loan. The interest rates for the depositor and borrower are based on an algorithm that’s maintained by Anchor Protocol. With this algorithm, interest rates for a loan are generated based on the current availability and borrowing demand.

Anchor Protocol has an interest rate objective that’s known as the Anchor Rate. In order for the desired Anchor Rate objective to be reached, the smart contract will intuitively divide the block rewards from the bAssets that are serving as collateral. These rewards are divided between the depositor and the borrower.

Rewards are liquidated into UST, which provides depositors with the ability to obtain deposit yields that reach as high as 20%. Keep in mind that the two bAssets that are currently recognized by Anchor Protocol include bETH and bLUNA. These assets are liquid, and can be used to borrow UST.

Is Anchor Protocol Sustainable at Such High Yields?

With a yield that’s as high as 20%, many potential users wonder about the sustainability of Anchor Protocol. While these yields are high and practically unheard of even with stablecoins, the yields are possible because of how Anchor Terra is structured. The Anchor Protocol coin is feasible because of its ability to accept bAssets as a form of collateral.

Since users who hold bAssets will obtain a constant yield via staking, the protocol itself receives a nearly constant stream of income, which incentivizes the use of this protocol. Along with the staking return that’s generated from any deposited bAssets, Anchor also obtains income from all of the interest that a user will be tasked with paying when they take out a loan. Since Anchor is able to bring in two income streams at the same time, the protocol can maintain its 20% yields, which are paid to UST depositors.

In the long run, however, there is a potential downfall to Anchor Protocol. Whenever the money market is deficient and is unable to make enough payouts during the year, Terra must take money from its own yield reserve. At current Anchor rates, Anchor Protocol is expected to have a deficiency of just under $9 million per year.

While the yield reserve grew temporarily in November 2021 because of an increase in staking earnings, it isn’t expected to grow for long. Since November, the deposits have continued to exceed earnings, which means that the yield reserve is being pulled from on a near-continual basis. The Terra yield reserve is currently at around $35 million, which has been cut in half since early December.

Keep this issue in mind before you invest in Anchor crypto. Even though there are steps that Terra could take to resolve this problem, it’s possible that your yield would decrease. Even though a small decrease in yield can be navigated in most situations, this drop could be the difference between making gains for the year or reporting losses.

While Anchor Protocol provides consistent yields of 20% that you can depend on because of the Anchor Rate, it begs the question – is Anchor Protocol safe? Overall, there are still some risks for you to be aware of even if you’ve been involved with the Terra ecosystem for a long time. These risks include everything from UST de-pegging to a potential crash in yields. While some of the following risks are unlikely to occur, it’s important to take into account their possibility so you’re aware of the risk you’re undertaking as an Anchor Protocol investor.

Because the value of UST is determined based on an algorithm — and is backed solely by the value of LUNA — it’s possible for the conversion ratio to differ from 1:1 in particularly volatile markets, which may make your Anchor crypto investment less stable than it should be. In order for UST to return to $1, LUNA will need to be burned for UST, which means that fewer LUNA will be available for selling.

Even though UST has remained relatively stable, it’s only been around since late 2020, which means that it hasn’t been tested extensively during volatile market conditions. During its brief existence within the Terra ecosystem, UST has encountered two notable drops in value, the worst of which occurred in December 2020 when it lost around 15% of its value before it recovered.

Even though the Terra ecosystem currently seems strong, there’s always a possibility that UST could drop in value and never recover. Another USD-pegged coin known as IRON saw its value drop to zero in 2021, even though it was officially backed by USDC. Although UST could potentially crash, the value of IRON dropped because the only use for this coin was yield farming. In comparison, UST is spread throughout the entire Terra ecosystem and is part of 

The main risk with decentralized finance involves human error, which could lead to successful attempts at hacking the platform. If Anchor Terra were hacked, the protocol and users could be at risk. Anchor Terra strives to mitigate this risk by performing regular security audits and by putting out an effective Bug Bounty Program.

The Bug Bounty program provides hackers who act in good faith with the ability to test Anchor Protocol for the purpose of detecting bugs. The broader Terra ecosystem offers anywhere from $500–$150,000 whenever a bug is discovered and reported, which incentivizes hackers to continue acting in good faith.

As for the security audits that occur with Anchor crypto, Terra has hired two audit companies to make sure that the protocol remains safe for all users. These companies perform audits on a regular basis to detect any security issues that might exist.

While Anchor crypto and the Terra ecosystem as a whole are strong platforms that make for sound investments, you can’t completely eliminate the possibility of a crash in yields. When an imbalance in borrowers and lenders occurs, the yields can fluctuate and put the entire system at risk.

In the event that the crypto market drops substantially in a short period of time, the individuals who have borrowed money from Anchor Terra are possibly at risk of losing all of their collateral. When the loans are liquidated, borrowers won’t be paying interest to the depositors, which places a considerable amount of pressure on the interest rate.

As mentioned previously, there’s always the possibility that the yield reserve could be depleted, which means that the 20% Anchor Rate couldn’t be paid to those who’ve deposited their assets. If this reserve ever runs out and isn’t subsidized by the Terra ecosystem, problems would likely occur immediately. Because yield reserves could be depleted, it’s important that you always keep an eye on the Anchor Protocol coin and its value.

Before you start worrying too much about your Anchor crypto investment, it’s important to understand that there are several things Terra can do to fix this issue. For one, Terra could inject money into the yield reserve, which they already did once in 2021. While this injection would eventually run out, it would allow depositors to continue receiving the 20% interest rate that they’re owed from investing in Anchor Terra. However, UST is currently worth well over $10 billion, which means that it’s unlikely that another injection by Terra will occur anytime soon.

Another solution that’s much more likely to occur is for Anchor Terra to reduce the yields that depositors receive from staking their assets on the platform. Even though the yield reserve has dropped quickly over the past few months, reducing the yield rate to 15–16% would likely allow expenses and income to break even. Since the average yield for a stablecoin is between 10–12%, a 15–16% yield with Anchor crypto would still be higher than most alternatives.

Now that you know about the risks that exist with Anchor crypto, it’s important to understand that you can mitigate these risks by purchasing Anchor Terra insurance plans. Crypto insurance has become increasingly sought after in these volatile times. Thus, Anchor Terra has partnered with third-party insurance providers who offer plans for the purpose of reducing the risks of de-pegging and smart contracts. Insurance can be purchased by effectively lowering your annual yields.

Even though the premium price for an insurance plan differs with each insurer, the average price is around 7.3% per year. Keep in mind that the insurer determines how much they pay out in the event that you file a claim, which means that there’s a risk the payout could be lower than you’d like. However, these insurance plans are a great way to lessen the amount of risk you take on when you invest in Anchor crypto, diminishing risks of fears of depegging and DeFi hacking.

If you’ve decided that you would like to invest in Anchor Protocol, there are some basic guidelines to be aware of. First, you’ll need to purchase LUNA currency, which can be done on Bybit by seeking out the 

. Once you’ve purchased the amount of LUNA that you would like to invest in the Anchor Protocol coin, you’ll then need to withdraw LUNA and send it to your Terra Station wallet, which is fairly straightforward.

From here, you’ll want to connect your wallet to the Anchor Protocol app, after which you’ll have the opportunity to deposit your LUNA assets to start earning yield. Because Anchor Protocol provides you with a safe yield, you won’t need to manage your investment once it’s been made. If you have yet to diversify your investment portfolio, the Anchor Protocol coin should help you provide your portfolio with a solid foundation that allows you to make crypto gains even when other investments aren’t performing as well.

Investing in Anchor Protocol coin is currently a great way to diversify your portfolio if you’re part of the Terra ecosystem. Because the Anchor Rate for this protocol is high, you can be confident that you’ll be provided with consistent returns. However, there are also some risks that you’ll need to take into account before investing in Anchor crypto. With the potential crash in yields, as well as the ever-present DeFi hacking risk, any investment you make in the Anchor protocol coin must be well-researched and monitored accordingly.

Is Anchor Protocol the Best Defi Staking Protocol for Safe Yields?

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