Usual USD (USD0) Cryptocurrency
Core Definition and Technology
Usual USD is a protocol that transforms real-world assets into a secure and versatile stablecoin, USD0, and shares its value with users through the $USUAL token. USD0 is a stablecoin fully backed 1:1 by Real-World Assets (RWA) like US Treasury Bills. Unlike USDT or USDC, USD0 is 1:1 backed by ultra-short-term real-world assets (RWA).
Blockchain Architecture
Usual USD [USD0] is a token based on Ethereum, Arbitrum blockchain. USD0 is set to achieve cross-chain compatibility by early October 2024, allowing seamless use of USD0, USD0++, and soon $USUAL across major EVM-compatible chains. Usual's feeds for USD0 and USD0++ are now live on 75 blockchains, thanks to a strategic partnership with Pyth Network.
Primary Use Cases and Applications
USD0 provides users with a stable, secure asset that is independent of traditional banking systems, fully transferable, and accessible within the DeFi ecosystem. Usual enables users to deposit US Treasury Bills and receive USD0, Usual's USD stablecoin. With USD0, users can purchase the enhanced T-Bill (USD0++), allowing them to earn rewards in USUAL tokens.
bUSD0 is a liquid staking version of USD0, acting like a savings account for Real-World Assets with a 4-year lock-up. It offers rewards while remaining transferable, with $USUAL rewards incentivizing the growth and adoption of USD0.
Founding Team and Project History
The founders of Usual include Philippe Honigman, Jan Baeriswyl, Jacek Czarnecki, Paul & Estefa, and Eli. However, more recent information identifies the core leadership team as Pierre Person, CEO and Co-Founder; Hugo Sallé de Chou, COO and Co-Founder, Adli Takkal Bataille, DEO and Co-Founder.
Usual Labs has raised $7 million from investors, including IOSG Ventures and Kraken Ventures. The French company plans to launch its USD0 stablecoin in the second quarter. Usual Labs, the firm behind the decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol Usual, has raised $7 million and received $75 million commitment in total value locked (TVL) for the launch of its stablecoin USD0. The French company raised money from more than a hundred firms, including two leading co-investors, IOSG Ventures and Kraken Ventures.
Tokenomics
USD0 Supply and Distribution
The current circulating supply of Usual USD is 577 million. When users deposit assets, they receive a synthetic asset called a Liquid Deposit Token (LDT), which represents their initial deposit value within the Usual Protocol. LDTs can be freely traded in a permissionless manner and are fully backed 1:1 by the underlying deposited assets.
$USUAL Governance Token
$USUAL is the governance token powering the Usual protocol, uniquely designed with an intrinsic value tied directly to the protocol's revenue model. $USUAL drives the adoption and use of USD0, aligning incentives for contributors and fueling protocol growth.
Total Supply: 4000000000 USUAL. Usual is a No-VC coin, with 90% of USUAL tokens distributed to those who contribute value and revenue to the protocol, primarily through USD0 TVL. Insiders, such as investors, the team, and advisors, collectively hold no more than 10% of the total circulating supply.
The issuance of USUAL is directly correlated to future cash flows generated primarily by the stablecoin's collateral. The token supply increases in line with protocol revenue growth, which is driven by collateral staked by USD0 holders.
Inflation/Deflation Mechanics
The issuance of $USUAL is directly tied to the protocol's TVL and income. As the protocol grows, fewer tokens are issued, creating scarcity, which helps to increase the value of $USUAL and reward long-term holders.
Consensus Mechanism and Network Security
At the core of Usual's technology lies blockchain, a revolutionary system that supports various cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum. This decentralized ledger guarantees transparency and security by recording transactions across multiple computers, making it nearly impossible for any single entity to alter data without network consensus.
USD0 is fully collateralized by diversified short-term T-Bills, eliminating the fractional reserve risks of traditional fiat-backed stablecoins. Although backed by solid, liquid assets, USD0 is also protected by an insurance fund, funded by protocol revenue, to shield holders in a systemic crisis.
Key Partnerships and Ecosystem Integrations
Usual partners with the best platforms and ecosystems in DeFi. Binance is the largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving 185M+ users across 180+ countries. Coinbase is a secure online platform for buying, selling, transferring, and storing cryptocurrency. Euler is a modular lending platform that enables users to lend, borrow and build without limits. Pendle is a DeFi protocol focused on yield trading, allowing users to both fix or leverage their yield. Chainlink is a decentralized oracle network connecting smart contracts to real-world data, APIs, and payments. LayerZero is a trustless omnichain protocol enabling seamless communication and transactions across blockchains.
Usual has already integrated Hashnote and is awaiting confirmation from Ondo, Backed, M^0, Blackrock, Adapt3r, and Spiko. Once fully integrated, these partnerships are expected to significantly boost liquidity.
Competitive Advantages and Unique Value Proposition
As the core stability asset of Usual, USD0 supports transparency and security by maintaining real-time reserves, offering a non-fractional, reliable alternative to stablecoins like USDT and USDC.
Usual stands out with a radically innovative approach to value redistribution—its governance token is no empty symbol but a core asset, with 90% distributed to the community. By giving users ownership of the protocol, Usual ensures value circulates within the community, not just among a few. Every dollar in the system builds real, shared rewards, with 90% of value going back to users.
USD0 selects government bonds as its primary backing due to their high liquidity and safety. To ensure stability, only assets with extremely short maturities are used as collateral, offering holders a high level of security. This strategy prevents forced fire sales at discounted prices during large-scale redemptions and shields against volatility events that could erode collateral value.
Current Development Activity and Roadmap
In just a few months, Usual built and launched a full protocol from scratch, introduced a new kind of stablecoin backed by tokenized US Treasuries (USD0), its yield-bearing counterpart (USD0++), and a revenue-sharing governance token ($USUAL). The protocol quickly reached $1.8B in TVL before stabilizing around $800M during a period of major product and governance upgrades.
The $USUAL TGE is expected around mid-November 2024. USD0++ holders will be able to claim their daily yield in the form of $USUAL. Liquidity will be available on exchanges shortly after the TGE.
USD0 is set to achieve cross-chain compatibility by early October 2024, allowing seamless use of USD0, USD0++, and soon $USUAL across major EVM-compatible chains. Official listings for USD0 on major platforms will be announced in November 2024.
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