Deep Dive
1. Asset Transfer to DAO (Early 2026)
Overview: A core principle for 2026 is strengthening decentralization by clarifying ownership. The development entity, Usual Labs, will transfer infrastructure and intellectual property it built to the DAO (Usual Blog). This formalizes the DAO's control over the protocol's core assets, moving away from a team-centric model.
What this means: This is bullish for USUAL because it reduces centralization risk and reinforces the token's claim as the sole vehicle for governance and value accrual. It makes the protocol's ownership structure more legible and secure for long-term holders.
2. Sunset of USUAL STAR (2026)
Overview: USUAL STAR was a distinct token issued to early investors, linked to but separate from USUAL. As the protocol matures, its associated rights are scheduled to sunset at maturity in 2026 (Usual Blog). This action simplifies the governance model by eliminating a separate claims vector.
What this means: This is neutral to bullish for USUAL. It removes a potential overhang on governance and streamlines value accrual directly into the main token. The risk is minimal if the sunset is managed smoothly as planned.
3. Expansion of Native Utilities (2026)
Overview: Following groundwork laid in late 2025, 2026 is slated for a broader expansion of utilities for the USUAL token. The DAO will focus on implementing mechanisms like fee reductions, enhanced yield options, and loyalty features for stakers and lockers (Usual Blog).
What this means: This is bullish for USUAL because increased utility drives higher demand for holding and staking the token. Direct benefits like fee discounts can attract more users and capital, potentially increasing protocol revenue and, consequently, buybacks and distributions to holders.
Conclusion
Usual's near-term path focuses on institutionalizing decentralization by transferring power to the DAO and enriching the USUAL token's utility, aiming to tighten the link between protocol usage and holder value. How will the DAO prioritize between deepening existing product utilities and exploring new synthetic assets?