What is Usual (USUAL)?

Deep Dive

1. Purpose & Value Proposition

Usual addresses two core issues in stablecoins: centralization risks (e.g., Tether’s opaque reserves) and inequitable value capture. Its USD0 stablecoin is collateralized by short-term U.S. Treasuries and tokenized RWAs, with reserves verified on-chain (Usual Docs). Unlike centralized issuers, USUAL redistributes protocol revenue—up to 70% via token buybacks and 30% as weekly payouts to locked stakers (Usual Tweet).

2. Tokenomics & Governance

USUAL’s tokenomics incentivize long-term alignment:
- 90% community supply: Only 10% allocated to team/investors.
- Staking mechanics: 70% of USUAL is staked (55% locked long-term), granting governance rights over treasury management and collateral types.
- Revenue sharing: Protocol fees from USD0 adoption fund buybacks (enhancing token scarcity) and direct payouts, creating a feedback loop between usage and rewards.

3. Key Differentiators

Usual diverges from competitors through:
- Composability: USD0 integrates with DeFi primitives like Curve pools and liquid staking (USD0++), enabling yield strategies without unwinding positions.
- Security focus: Survived a May 2025 cross-chain exploit attempt via BlockSec’s real-time monitoring (CoinMarketCap News).
- Regulatory alignment: Partners with regulated entities like Mountain Protocol for compliant RWA sourcing.

Conclusion

Usual reimagines stablecoins as community-owned public infrastructure, combining institutional-grade collateral with decentralized governance. Its success hinges on balancing transparency demands with scaling USD0’s adoption—can it become the DeFi-native alternative to centralized stablecoins while maintaining its equitable ethos?