Compound is an EVM-compatible decentralized finance (DeFi) lending protocol where users can earn interest by depositing their cryptocurrency holdings into various pools on the platform. COMP is the governance token of the Compound protocol. It empowers token holders to delegate their holdings, submit proposals, and vote on other users’ proposals to implement upgrades to the platform.
The Compound dApp works on the Ethereum blockchain and allows users to lend their cryptocurrencies to liquidity pools and generate interest. Users who deposit a specific, supported cryptocurrency into a lending pool receive a cToken representing the deposit.
These cTokens can be used for trading or conducting transactions without the need to lock up liquidity. However, they can only be redeemed for the cryptocurrency they locked in Compound.
COMP is an ERC-20 token designed on the Ethereum network and functions as the native cryptocurrency and governance token of the Compound ecosystem. All users interacting with the Compound protocol through lending or borrowing receive COMP tokens as incentives.
Compound is a decentralized protocol that establishes money markets - pools of cryptocurrencies with algorithmically derived interest rates that fluctuate based on the supply and demand for each asset. Unlike conventional financial platforms, Compound users do not have to deal with any intermediaries. There is complete transparency in how the floating interest rate gets set for lenders and borrowers, depending on the activity level.
Each of the supported crypto assets that the Compound protocol has liquidity pools for offering a transparent and verifiable ledger to the public. Users can access this information to review historical data about all pool transactions and interest rates.
Compound works differently from a peer-to-peer platform as it aggregates the supply of each user, converting all supplied digital assets into fungible resources. In this manner, the platform provides more liquidity in the market than direct lending protocols offer.
This mechanism also allows users to pull liquidity out of the pools and withdraw their assets at any time instead of locking them up for specific periods. The cTokens provided to lenders within the Compound protocol represent the token supplied, which keeps growing as it accrues interest.
Compound launched on the Ethereum mainnet in September 2018. The protocol was founded by entrepreneurs Robert Leshner and Geoffrey Hayes.
Their project raised $8.2 million worth of funding in 2018. Early investors in the DeFi protocol include Andreessen Horowitz and Bain Capital Ventures.
In 2019, the platform raised an additional $25 million in funding from early investors and Paradigm Capital. In May 2019, Compound v2 was announced, offering several new features, such as support for additional assets, individual risk models for each supported asset, and a smart contract gateway.
In October 2019, the team of developers reduced their administrative privileges and started the process of decentralized ownership and management of the protocol. In April 2020, COMP token holders were given the right to handle the decentralized governance of the Compound protocol.
The initial set of COMP holders comprised shareholders of Compound Labs, Inc. In June 2020, the distribution of COMP tokens among Compound users began. The process would continue for a period of four years.
Period | Change | Change (%) |
---|---|---|
Today | $1.31 | 2.46% |
7 Days | $5.71 | 11.70% |
30 Days | $9.05 | 19.91% |
3 Months | $10.11 | 22.77% |
Investing in Compound (COMP) offers several potential advantages, especially for those interested in the DeFi sector.
COMP holders have the power to influence the direction and policies of the Compound protocol. This includes proposing changes, voting on proposals, and shaping the platform's future development.
> Asset Appreciation: The value of COMP tokens can increase as the Compound protocol grows in popularity and usage. As more users lend, borrow, and engage with the platform, demand for COMP may rise, potentially leading to price appreciation.
> Speculative Investment: Like other cryptocurrencies, COMP offers speculative investment opportunities. Investors anticipating growth in the DeFi sector might view COMP as a way to gain exposure to this emerging market.
> Access to a Growing Sector: The DeFi sector has been rapidly expanding, offering innovative financial services outside of traditional banking. Investing in COMP provides exposure to this growth, as Compound is a foundational protocol within the DeFi ecosystem.
> Innovation and Development: Compound has been at the forefront of DeFi innovation, introducing concepts like liquidity mining. The protocol may present new opportunities and functionalities for users and investors as it evolves.
> Liquidity Mining: Users can earn COMP tokens as rewards by participating in the protocol (e.g., lending or borrowing). This not only provides governance power but also an additional stream of income.
> Interest Earnings: Lenders on the Compound platform earn interest on their supplied assets. The dynamic interest rates adjust based on supply and demand, potentially offering competitive returns compared to traditional savings accounts.
Including COMP in a diversified cryptocurrency portfolio can spread risk across different assets and sectors within the blockchain ecosystem.
Although we cannot provide a reliable COMP price prediction over any timeframe, monitoring the following factors could help you understand the price trends in the Compound cryptocurrency:
> User Growth: An increase in the number of users lending, borrowing, and otherwise engaging with the Compound protocol can drive demand for COMP tokens, as they are integral to governance and earning rewards.
> Total Value Locked (TVL): The total value of assets deposited in the Compound protocol influences its market perception and influences the Compound coin price. Higher TVL indicates greater protocol usage and can positively affect the COMP price.
> Overall DeFi Sector Growth: The growth and adoption of DeFi platforms can lead to increased interest in foundational protocols like Compound, supporting the COMP to USD price. As the DeFi space expands, COMP may benefit from broader market enthusiasm.
> Competitor Performance: The introduction of new features, services, or yield opportunities by competing DeFi protocols can impact Compound's market share and, consequently, the COMP crypto price.
> Governance Proposals: Decisions made by COMP token holders regarding changes to the protocol, such as adjustments to interest rates or the introduction of new collateral types, can affect user engagement and token demand, impacting the Compound crypto price.
> Protocol Upgrades: Innovations and enhancements that improve the security, usability, or features of the Compound protocol can attract more users and investment, potentially driving up the COMP coin price.
> Investor Sentiment: General sentiment towards cryptocurrencies and the DeFi sector can influence COMP's price. Positive news, technological advancements, and mainstream adoption can drive up the $COMP price, while negative events can lead to declines.
> Speculation: Like other cryptocurrencies, COMP is subject to speculative trading. Traders' expectations about future developments and price movements can cause volatility.
> Global Economic Conditions: Economic trends, such as inflation rates, interest rates, and the performance of traditional financial markets, can influence investor behavior and risk appetite, impacting the crypto market and the COMP token price.
> Cryptocurrency Market Dynamics: Broader crypto market trends, including the performance of major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, can affect the entire sector, including DeFi tokens like COMP.
Earning on Compound (COMP) involves engaging with the protocol through its lending and borrowing features and participating in its governance system. Here’s a guide to the main methods for earning on Compound:
> Supply Assets: You can earn interest on Compound by supplying cryptocurrencies to the protocol. When you supply assets to Compound, you receive cTokens in return. These cTokens represent your stake in the liquidity pool plus the interest that accrues over time.
> Interest Accrual: The interest rate depends on each asset's supply and demand dynamics within the protocol. As borrowers pay interest on loans, a portion of this interest is distributed to the lenders. The more your asset is in demand, the higher the interest rate you could earn.
> Participate in Protocol: Users who lend or borrow assets on Compound automatically earn COMP tokens in addition to any interest earned or paid. This process, known as liquidity mining, is designed to incentivize participation in the protocol.
> Active Participation: The amount of COMP you can earn depends on the amount of assets you have supplied or borrowed. The protocol distributes a certain amount of COMP tokens daily among all users, divided according to each user's contribution to the protocol's liquidity.
> Borrow to Leverage or Arbitrage: Some users borrow assets to pursue leverage strategies or arbitrage opportunities across different platforms. While this can be riskier and requires a sophisticated understanding of the market, it can also offer opportunities to earn if executed correctly.
> Strategic Borrowing: By carefully selecting which assets to borrow and lend, users can maximize their COMP earnings while managing their borrowing costs. This often involves staying updated on the current interest rates and COMP distribution rates.
> Vote or Propose Changes: Holding COMP tokens gives you the right to participate in the governance of the Compound protocol. While this might not directly earn you more COMP, influencing the protocol’s development can enhance its value and effectiveness, potentially increasing the value of your COMP holdings.
Staking COMP on Compound involves participating in the governance of the protocol. Unlike traditional staking mechanisms, where tokens are locked up to earn rewards directly, staking COMP is more about engaging in the governance process, which indirectly benefits the protocol and can potentially increase the value of COMP tokens. Here's how you can participate in governance by using your COMP tokens:
1. To participate in the governance of Compound, you first need to own COMP tokens. You can purchase COMP on KuCoin and transfer your tokens to your crypto wallet.
2. Ensure your COMP tokens are in a wallet that can interact with DeFi protocols, such as MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, or Ledger. This is necessary to interact with the Compound governance dashboard.
3. Go to the Compound Governance Dashboard. This can be found on the Compound website or directly through the governance portal URL.
4. Connect your wallet to the governance dashboard. You'll typically see a "Connect Wallet" button on the dashboard. Select your wallet provider and follow the prompts to connect.
5. Delegate Voting Rights:
> Delegate to Yourself: If you wish to participate in voting directly, you can delegate your voting rights to yourself. This means you can vote on proposals with the COMP tokens you own.
> Delegate to Another Address: Alternatively, if there's someone else or a third party you trust to make governance decisions, you can delegate your voting rights to them. This could be beneficial if they have more expertise or if you prefer to be passive in governance.
6. Once you've delegated your voting rights, you're ready to participate in governance. This involves:
> Voting on Proposals: You can vote on various proposals that affect the Compound protocol. This could include changes to the protocol's parameters, adding new assets, or adjusting the interest rate model.
> Creating Proposals: If you have a sufficient amount of COMP delegated to you (including the COMP you own), you can create proposals for changes to the protocol. This requires a deep understanding of the protocol and its community consensus.
7. Keep an eye on new proposals and the outcomes of votes. Engaging with the community through forums and discussion boards can also provide insights into the governance process and help you make informed decisions.
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