Last month, @samkazemian dropped news on the upcoming @fraxfinance frxETH v2 release which will revolutionize the fast-growing $20B $ETH LSD market.
I've painstakingly distilled all of the key alpha on the update to 10 tweets:
🧵👇
#crypto
2/ What is frxETH v1?
frxETH v1 innovated on the LSD system by having two tokens:
1️⃣ $frxETH - ETH pegged stablecoin
2️⃣ $sfrxETH - interest bearing LSD token
By having other uses for frxETH (like LPing), those who stake sfrxETH have a higher APR than any LSD. See flowchart:
3/ How is frxETH v2 different?
The challenge with v1 was that Frax ran all the validators. The innovation in frxETH v2 allows decentralization of the validator set while maintaining best-in-class APR. See updated flowchart below:
4/ Like @Rocket_Pool, frxETH v2 allows the permissionless borrowing of validators. Unlike Rocket Pool, Frax allows it for just 4ETH, vs Rocket Pool LEB8: 8ETH + 2.4ETH of $RPL "insurance":
5/ A lower collateral requirement allows node operators to get more leverage on the proof-of-stake yield. However, there is no systemic risk because the validator is what's being borrowed and will be automatically ejected if it gets slashed by too much. 🔪
6/ Let's take a look at what happens if a node gets slashed by 2ETH. LTV goes from 87.5% to 93.75%. The validator would get ejected before reaching these levels.
7/ What's in it for Frax?
Frax applies a variable interest rate to the ETH loaned to node operators, determined by the availability of frxETH. The highest performance NOs stand to make the most. This allows Frax to decentralize validators while maintaining the best-in-class APR.
8/ To summarize, frxETH v2:
✅ Best-in-class APR
✅ Fully Decentralized Validators
✅ Highest Node Operator Capital Efficiency
✅ Deep Liquidity
frxETH v1 was the fastest LSD to go from 0 to 200k ETH staked🚀
frxETH v2 decentralizes the system to expand without limit🌌
9/ If you want to dive deep into LTV ratios and the math behind the capital-efficiency of frxETH v2, I recommend checking out this article I wrote for @FlywheelDeFi. I also highly recommend subscribing to their podcast and newsletter for tons of quality Frax and DeFi alpha.
10/ That's the thread! If you learned something, like/retweet the first tweet below, comment if you have a question, and follow me @StableScarab for more Frax, LSD, and crypto analysis.
Frax has already launched several innovative stablecoins and an ecosystem of supporting products. Fraxchain can take the protocol's value to new heights.
Fraxchain will be a hybrid rollup with gas denominated in $ETH or for Frax, their ETH stablecoin $frxETH. This means that as people use Fraxchain the amount of frxETH used up for gas will increase. That frxETH can be burned OR distributed to veFXS holders.
3/ You can expect Frax to also include the latest innovations.
One thing Frax is considering is starting the rollup from day one with every wallet having account abstraction. This allows for more security and a better UX for all. ethereum.org/en/roadmap/acc…
1/ There are a lot of exciting things in store for @fraxfinance $FRAX once its collateral ratio (CR) hits 100%, but CR increase has stalled over the past month. Why?
I took a deeper dive into the mechanics of Frax CR to learn how it works.
🧵👇 #crypto
2/ First, an apology. Several weeks ago, I wrote a thread about FRAX CR with the below chart projecting 100% CR to be reached by mid-June. I was very wrong in assuming that the path would be linear. Here's why...👇
3/ Collateral ratio is a dynamic value that depends on changing variables such as Total Protocol Controlled FRAX, ETH Holdings, FRAX Supply, and Outstanding $FPI. I did the math below to show how the current numbers work out to the ~94.75% CR listed on app.frax.finance
1/ $frxETH by @fraxfinance has seen incredible growth, reaching 230k+ $ETH in ~6 months driven by the top APR of their LSD $sfrxETH.
However, sfrxETH APR is now at the lowest it has ever been?! Here's why there's no need to worry and how frxETH design keeps them on top.
🧵👇
2/ First, if you haven't heard about $frxETH and how it allows sfrxETH stakers to get the highest APRs available, check out my $frxETH thread and see the flowchart below to learn more about how it works.
3/ Top 5 LSDs: According to @DefiLlama, Frax has been temporarily dethroned from the top APR by @stakewise_io with 5% vs Frax's 4.7%. What explains the decline?👇
1/ Why are #crypto tokens so prone to pumping and dumping? Tokenomics.
Well-designed tokenomics can help protocols achieve rapid adoption. Without care, they can also lead to massive dumps.
The parallels between tokenomics and PID control and why it matters for your bags. 🧵👇
2/ What's PID Control? Proportional-Integral-Derivative control is a widely used mechanism that uses feedback to reach a set point.
The best example of PID is cruise control. PID ensures that when you set a speed you arrive at it quickly w/o overshooting. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PID_contr…
3/ We won't go into P vs I vs D here. Just know they are factors that can be adjusted to control how you arrive and maintain a value, just like how tokenomics are factors that control how a token arrives at its fundamental value. For crypto let's say Pump It, Dump (PID) factors.
1/ Riding the Multistage Rocket: Analyzing Rocket Pool Tokenomics: @Rocket_Pool has established itself as THE decentralized #ETH liquid staking protocol, approaching 600k ETH fueled by their recent Atlas upgrade. Can this trajectory lead to sustainable $RPL gains? Let's see.
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2/ Rocket Pool's mission is to improve the decentralization of ETH staking by lowering the barrier to entry for node runners. 32ETH required for staking is currently $58k! RP lowers this to 8ETH. ~60% of the RP network is running 1-2 nodes showing the success of this mission.
3/ How does Rocket Pool's innovative protocol do this? RP pairs node operators with $rETH holders who want staking returns but don't want to run nodes. Node operators get a commission of the supplied ETH rewards. See @tokenmotion_io thread here:
1/ The @fraxfinance $FRAX collateral ratio jumped to 94.75% today.
Why you have ~6 weeks to accumulate $FXS before the collateral ratio is 100% full charged and profits overflow to holders.
🧵👇 #crypto
2/ What is collateral ratio? Collateral Ratio (CR) is the percentage of FRAX backed by collateral, the rest by FXS. After starting at 100%CR, Frax initially allowed the market to determine the collateral ratio over time, see full history below.
3/ In February, FRAX passed FIP-188 to set the target CR back to 100%. While lower levels are more capital efficient, in a post-Luna collapse world, consumers want the safest design possible which is 100% collateral-backed. gov.frax.finance/t/fip-188-incr…