Deep Dive
1. Staking Upgrade via UIP-9 (7 July 2025)
Overview: This governance-approved upgrade overhauled the staking reward system. It directly impacts users by tying their yield to the length of time they commit their tokens.
The update replaced a simple distribution model with a tiered "Lock & Boost" mechanism. Stakers must now lock their USUALx (staking derivative) for set periods—1, 3, 6, or 12 months—to receive weekly USD0 revenue rewards. The longer the lock, the higher the multiplier on their share of protocol revenue, with a 12-month lock offering an 8x boost.
What this means: This is bullish for USUAL because it incentivizes long-term holding, which can reduce sell pressure and create a more stable token holder base. It directly rewards the most committed community members with a larger portion of the protocol's profits, making staking more attractive.
(Usual)
2. Record $16M Bug Bounty Launch (2 April 2025)
Overview: This initiative creates a powerful financial incentive for security researchers to scrutinize the protocol's code, aiming to preemptively discover vulnerabilities before malicious actors can exploit them.
Partnering with security firm Sherlock, Usual set a record for the largest bug bounty in crypto at the time, surpassing Uniswap's previous record. The bounty specifically targets critical vulnerabilities that could lead to permanent loss or freezing of user funds, following stringent criteria to ensure only high-impact, realistic flaws are rewarded.
What this means: This is extremely bullish for USUAL because it demonstrates a top-tier commitment to protecting user funds. A robust security posture is critical for a stablecoin and DeFi protocol, building essential trust with both retail users and institutional partners, which is vital for long-term growth.
(CoinJournal)
3. USD0 Integration with Fluid Protocol (20 May 2025)
Overview: This was a key technical integration that improved the utility and efficiency of Usual's stablecoin, USD0, within the DeFi ecosystem, directly benefiting liquidity providers.
The launch created a USD0/USDC liquidity pool on Fluid. Fluid's architecture uses a "relending" mechanism, allowing deposited funds to simultaneously earn yields from both trading fees (via the pool) and underlying lending protocols. This integration resulted in deeper liquidity, tighter spreads, and additional USUAL token rewards for participants.
What this means: This is bullish for USUAL because it makes providing liquidity for its stablecoin more profitable and efficient. Higher yields attract more capital, which strengthens the USD0 ecosystem, drives protocol revenue, and ultimately benefits USUAL token holders through the revenue-sharing model.
(CoinMarketCap)
Conclusion
Usual's development trajectory shows a clear focus on strengthening core protocol pillars: using governance to align long-term incentives, investing heavily in security to build trust, and forming strategic technical integrations to boost ecosystem utility. How will the protocol's evolving staking mechanics influence its circulating supply dynamics in the coming months?