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The traditional financial system — riddled with burdensome challenges — makes it more or less prohibitive to some people. Services are available only during banking hours, the transaction process can be tediously slow, and fees are often expensive. Decentralized finance (DeFi) offers strategic advantages. However, many DeFi platforms have high gas fees, front-running issues and liquidity challenges. Linear Finance is a relative newcomer to the cryptocurrency space, and it addresses these challenges as a synthetic asset exchange platform.
Linear Finance is a decentralized, transparent platform used for synthetic asset management and exchanges. Using a delta-one asset protocol, it delivers a variety of assets to users without their needing to own the underlying asset.
The Linear Finance platform uses synthetic assets, or “Liquids,” to support transactions without the risk of slippage. Through its democratized functionality, it provides users with access to both traditional and digital assets, which include thematic indices, spot cryptocurrencies and commodities. Linear Finance stands apart from other DeFi platforms because it’s cross-chain compatible, noncustodial and uses a delta-one asset protocol. Its functionality is executed through the applications Linear Vault, Linear Swap, Linear Exchange and Linear Buildr.
Linear Finance uses the native LINA token to collateralize physical and digital assets, as well as debts. By holding LINA, users can access Linear USD, or ℓUSD, which enables direct interaction with Liquids. For example, a combination of LINA and ETH is needed to create synthetic assets through the Linear Buildr application. LINA holders can also participate in governance. Users who stake LINA qualify for inflationary rewards, pro-rata exchange fee rewards and yield farming rewards.
The Linear Finance protocol is powered by ℓUSD, its in-house stablecoin and synthetic USD token. Users can purchase ℓUSD through a decentralized exchange, or construct it through the Linear Buildr application. The coin provides users with access to market indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies.
In 2020, Kevin Tai and Drey Ng teamed up to establish Linear Finance. Tai, a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, brought financial expertise to the table with previous work experiences at Standard Chartered and Credit Suisse. His career has included completing more than $20 billion in divestment and acquisition deals. Tai is currently the CEO of Linear Finance.
Drey Ng is the technical mastermind behind Linear Finance. Ng studied computer science at the University of Hong Kong, and has financial experience through his work at Deutsche Bank. His experience also includes working on blockchain projects for Liquefy, a major security token company in Asia. According to his LinkedIn profile, Ng is no longer with Linear Finance.
As stated above, Linear Finance’s exceptional capabilities and functionality are established via four DApps: Linear Buildr, Linear Exchange, Linear Swap and Linear Vault. Linear Buildr supports the creation of LINA tokens and the pooling of collateral. Tokens are created when the value of the collateral pool is greater than that of Liquids. Specifically, the pledge ratio is 500%, however, the governing panel is expected to adjust it to 400% in the near future.
On the Linear Exchange, LINA tokens can be staked to create ℓUSD, which, in turn, can be used to buy Liquids on the Linear Exchange DApp. The Liquids can then be applied toward the purchase of indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies.
Linear Swap uses a combination of Ethereum blockchain, BNB Chain and Polkadot to support cross-chain functionality. Through this feature, Liquids, LINA and ℓUSD can be exchanged for other tokens to minimize expensive gas fees.
The Linear Vault supports passive income generation for those who stake their ℓUSD/BUSD LP tokens. Interest is paid in LINA and rewards are paid weekly from funds generated via the coin exchange transaction fee.
Linear Finance is a robust DeFi platform that supports improved investments in both digital and traditional assets. While the core of its design is centered around synthetic assets, the platform has several unique features that further differentiate it from other platforms. Let’s take a closer look.
Through this DApp, LINA tokens are used as collateral to support the pooling of assets and the creation of Liquids. It’s important to note that future plans for Linear Finance include the use of LINA and other types of digital assets as collateral. Once the pool of contributed LINA tokens exceeds the Liquids value by the determined percentage, more Liquids can be created. Linear Buildr also supports LINA staking, which in turn supports building ℓUSD tokens. Once created, ℓUSD tokens can be used for transactions on the Linear Exchange.
The purpose of the Linear Exchange is to facilitate speedy financial transactions. In fact, financial processes that may take days to complete traditionally may be executed through the Linear Exchange within seconds. The platform’s users either create ℓUSD through the Buildr DApp or acquire them on a third-party exchange. The ℓUSD tokens can then be used to buy commodities, cryptocurrencies and indices in Liquid format.
Linear Exchange supports zero-slippage transactions and unlimited liquidity. Trades are executed through smart contractsand supported by a debt pool. While the processes are supported by the Ethereum blockchain, other blockchains are also used to minimize gas fees. The transaction fee is 0.25%, but this may change in the future.
Likewise, the Linear Swap application is developed on the Ethereum blockchain, but it’s also integrated with Polkadot and BNB Chain. Linear Swap supports cross-chain swapping while also reinforcing composition and connectivity on other DeFi platforms. It specifically allows for the swapping of Liquids, ℓUSD and LINA. A key advantage of Linear Finance is its low transaction fees. Linear Swap allows token swaps to be completed via other blockchain formats, so gas fees are kept in check.
When ℓUSD/BUSD LP tokens are staked, they’re maintained in the Linear Vault. Users are rewarded for staking their tokens and contributing to the asset pool through yield gains. These include gains from the stablecoins’ value inflation and through rewards. The rewards are a portion of the Linear Exchange’s transaction fees, and are only applied when the pledge ratio has been met or exceeded.
Linear DAO is the Linear Finance community whose participants hold LINA tokens that are either available for use, locked or staked. The purpose of the community is to promote the protocol’s long-term health and growth, and to initiate and drive protocol changes. Any community member can submit proposals for improvements. The governance process involves a preliminary review, a formal review and voting. The Linear Council oversees the DAO and can veto proposals. It’s composed of four members who have a strong investment in the platform’s success. However, Council posts aren’t stationary, and its members are nominated and voted for or against by the Linear Finance DAO community two weeks before the end of each epoch.
Linear Finance has been designed from the ground up to be a low-cost, transparent platform for completing a variety of financial transactions. Through its unique design and its usage of Ethereum and other blockchain networks, it stands apart from others. Here are its benefits.
A traditional financial transaction may take several days to complete. A transaction via Linear Finance can be cut down to a few seconds. Because the platform operates on Ethereum, it offers cross-chain compatibility, which promotes optimized speed. The pooling of funds and the platform’s protocol also support fast processing times.
Compared to other processes and platforms, Linear Exchange has notably low fees. In fact, it charges only a 0.25% transaction fee, and users who stake their tokens in reward yields earn a portion of that fee. One reason for Linear Finance’s competitive fees is that it uses smart contracts on several blockchain networks instead of only on Ethereum.
While some platforms are compatible only with token exchanges, Linear Finance offers a robust range of options. In addition to tokens, the platform allows for investments in commodities and market indices. Regardless of the assets being traded, the transaction may be finalized in seconds.
Linear Finance has been expertly designed to focus on affordability and transparency, and it delivers convenient access to a variety of digital and physical assets, with a fast transaction speed. However, the platform does have a few downsides to be aware of before you establish an account and use its applications. Take note of the following drawbacks.
At this point in time, Linear Finance has a pledge ratio requirement of 500%. In order to create Liquids on the Linear Builder DApp and gain access to the platform’s other features as a result, this ratio must be met. In addition, the ratio must be maintained to receive staking rewards through Linear Vault. Users have the ability to contribute more tokens to the pool to achieve their goals. However, this drawback will soon be alleviated as the ratio is expected to be reduced through governance action to 400%.
Linear Finance launched in 2020 when it received $1.8 million in seed funding. Despite being a newcomer to the DeFi space, it has already generated a solid buzz and is being used by people around the world. Nonetheless, many aspects of the platform are still evolving.
For example, as mentioned previously, the pledge ratio is expected to be reduced at some point going forward, and this may positively impact activity on the platform. Another example is its functionality with other blockchain networks. As these and other developments are finalized, Linear Finance may offer an improved user experience.
Linear Finance fills an important space in decentralized finance. Today, most DeFi systems are based on the Ethereum blockchain, when other blockchains also offer exceptional benefits. However, their benefits haven’t been taken advantage of until recently. Linear Finance has a Layer 2 design that bridges Ethereum and other blockchains seamlessly.
In addition to reducing related risks of cross-chain functionality, Linear Finance supports fast processing speeds, very minimal gas fees and rapid price discovery. More specifically, by not relying solely on the Ethereum blockchain, Linear Finance can reduce gas fees by as much as 90%. In addition, price discovery occurs in real time to support transparency and equality.
As we know, Linear Finance obtained $1.8 million in seed investment funds in 2020, which enabled the venture to get off the ground. Since then, it has developed strategic partnerships, attracted many users, and continues to make improvements to its platform. Recently, it developed a new DApp — called the Linear Debt Terminator — that allows users to earn a 10% bonus by liquidating market accounts. Linear Finance also has established new partnerships with Bridge Mutual, Neblio and Work X.
In addition to these recent accomplishments, Linear Finance has several pending projects either in the works, or that will begin soon. One of these is to create a “Progress” feature for pending transactions. The dashboard layout will also have a new design that permits users to place advance orders.
The first offering of LINA tokens in September 2020 comprised 25 million tokens that sold for $0.004. The following round consisted of slightly more than 22 million tokens that sold for $0.0045. On March 18, 2021, LINA peaked at $0.3126. By May 2021, the token’s price had decreased and was trading for $0.10.
The total supply of LINA tokens is 10 billion. The circulating supply is slightly more than 4.1 billion tokens. As of October 2021, the price of a LINA token is approximately $0.0075.
If you’d like to purchase LINA tokens, you can do so in the form of perpetual contracts on Bybit. Get started by registering for an account on Bybit.
As a cross-chain compatible, delta-one asset protocol that uses synthetic assets, Linear Finance offers strategic benefits. Users can take advantage of low gas fees when buying physical and digital assets through the platform. They can also benefit from instantaneous transaction results, staking rewards and more. So far, holding LINA tokens also has proven to be advantageous for traders. While the token’s value has fluctuated with changing market conditions, its original price of $0.004 per unit has increased to roughly $0.0075 per unit today.
The platform is governed by its community, Linear DAO. Oversight of Linear DAO is by four elected council members. Through this group, proposals for growth and development are submitted and considered. The Linear Finance team has already made significant improvements to its platform since its launch, and it continues to develop. For example, it has recently added three new partnerships, and it continues to develop others. The dashboard is being revamped to include a “Progress” feature that will enable advance orders. As more proposals are considered, this platform will continue to develop.
Linear Finance is a cross-chain compatible platform that pushes the DeFi space forward. Between the availability of physical and digital assets, low gas fees and other features, the platform has already garnered rightful attention. As it develops, Linear Finance will likely attract more users and boost its token value.