It has been said by some within the crypto ecosystem that crypto’s “killer app” is actually stablecoins. Stablecoins are essentially fiat-denominated tokens that live on public blockchain network rails. The two largest stablecoins in the crypto market are Circle’s USD Coin (USDC-USD) and Tether (USDT-USD). There are many ways that stablecoins can be utilized within the crypto ecosystem. When interests rates were zero, market participants could utilize stablecoins for lending and yield generation. Elsewhere, stablecoins are used for payments.
As we saw in March when the banking sector was stressed, stablecoins were not immune from counterparty risk in the world of traditional finance. Several stables, including USDC, lost their dollar pegs as collateral backing those stablecoins was held with some of the regional banks that were impacted by depositor outflow problems. However, there are stablecoins in the market that aim to be decentralized and crypto-collateralized rather than fiat-backed. One such coin is DAI (DAI-USD). With a $4.7 billion market cap, DAI is the largest crypto-collateralized stablecoin by far. DAI is managed by the MakerDAO (MKR-USD) protocol.
In this article, we’ll dive into the token-economics of MKR, the key metrics concerning DAI, Maker’s proposed “Endgame,” and highlight some concerns.
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MKR Tokenomics
Maker was launched in 2015 by Rune Christensen. The protocol is the engine that drives DAI. The MKR token plays an important role in the DAI ecosystem. MKR is both the governance token of the protocol and token holders take the fees that are paid by borrowers of DAI. MKR’s token supply is just over 1 million coins and those coins are all in circulation according to CoinMarketCap:
Total Token Supply: 1,005,577
Circulating Supply: 977,631 (97%)
Token Price: $730
Market capitalization: $714 million
Circulating Market Cap Rank: 60
Unlike many other coins in the cryptocurrency market, MKR never had an ICO or public token offering. That said, the MakerDAO protocol has received roughly $55 million in venture capital funding through the years from entitles like a16z and Polychain Capital among others.
MKR Allocation (CryptoRank)
There is a very high level of token concentration with MKR and we’ll explore that more in the concerns section. Purely from a supply standpoint, Maker does have a token burn mechanism when a user creates a loan. This means MKR is theoretically a deflationary token that should ultimately move higher in price provided the protocol is generating fees. And therein lies the problem:
MKR Fees vs Price (Token Terminal)
Over the last year, fees in the Maker protocol have declined by 74%. Though I will admit that fees in June will end at the highest level in the last 12 months. This fee spike is due in part to a recent change to the savings rate of DAI.
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DAI Collateral & Key Metrics
As a concept, I really like DAI. However, in reality, DAI has struggled with truly being censorship resistant. Fiat-backed stablecoins are freezable by the contract owner. This theoretically isn’t a problem for stablecoins that are sufficiently decentralized, but DAI has historically been highly reliant on fiat-backed stablecoins like USDC:
Maker Collateral (Dune Analytics/steakhouse)
As recently as mid-March, over 68% of MakerDAO collateral was held in stablecoins. That figure is now closer to 30%. Over the last several months, there has been a clear shift in prioritizing RWA, or real world assets, as collateral backing.
RWA Collateral (Dune Analytics/steakhouse)
About $167 million of those assets are held through BlockTower and Huntingdon Valley Bank. However, the largest RWA bucket by far is over $1 billion held in US Treasuries (reflected by MIP65). As I alluded above, June has been a strong month for fees for the Maker protocol.
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DSR Trend (Makerburn)
A big driver of that fee spike has been a recent proposal to raise the “DAI Savings Rate,” or DSR, from 1% to 3.49%. As a result of that proposal, funds in DSR have increased from $100.7 million at the start of June to over $173 million as of article submission on June 23rd. The payout funds from the DSR would come from the RWA revenue held as collateral.
Centralization Concerns
Maker has a whale problem. Despite being one of the largest and most important protocols in all of DeFi, there is very little interest in holding MKR from retail. Just 18 whale addresses hold 57.6% of the MKR in circulation and 88 investor addresses control 27.4%.
Holder Concentration (IntoTheBlock)
This is problematic because it means an entity that is supposed to be a “decentralized autonomous organization” is closer to a centralized entity that it would probably like. Maker is currently experiencing one of the problems that many DAOs experience: participation. Most DAOs in the crypto ecosystem don’t have active communities voting on every proposal. I touched on this briefly in a Uniswap (UNI-USD) article in mid-June. Only 17% of the MKR is staked in the governance contract. And this is actually down from roughly 22% in April. Basically, MKR holders aren’t voting and decisions are being determined by just a few people.
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The Endgame Plan
In May, Rune Christensen proposed the “5 phases of Endgame” plan in the MakerDAO forum. It is a long, but interesting read that I will try to briefly summarize before providing my thoughts.
Phase 1: Rebrand and new token launch.
Phase 2: Launch of 6 “SubDAO” entities.
Phase 3: AI governance tools
Phase 4: Governance participation incentive.
Phase 5: New chain launch.
Christensen from the post:
The new brand, the new websites and the names of the new tokens are being developed by the Accessibility governance process, and will be revealed before Phase 1: Beta Launch. The goal will be to simplify the brand towards the basic stablecoin product and highlight its unique value proposition: The ability to farm tokens of DAOs powered by AI Governance.
There is a lot to digest from all of this. I’m not even going to touch on the “AI” component but I’m not surprised we’re seeing it show up in crypto roadmaps and I’ll just leave it at that. It’s important to note that even after Phase 5 is theoretically finalized, DAI and MKR will continue to function as currently designed and can be used to redeem the new tokens from Phase 1. In listening to interviews with Christensen through various media outlets, he appears to be concerned with branding and centralization in my view. For me, the launch of “SubDAO” groups is a bit of a head-scratcher since the participation in the current DAO structure is already so low.
I think incentives for participation, or paying people to vote, is a dangerous avenue to go down and doesn’t necessarily prioritize good outcomes over simply creating outcomes. But I think the biggest problem from all of this is that Maker is so dependent on a small amount of people. I suspect shifting the attention of those people so dramatically to another coin, chain, and DAO structure will not be good for Maker long term.
Summary
Currently, the investment case for MKR is that holders can govern the platform and generate revenue from protocol fees. As I see it, those fees are becoming increasingly linked to yield from US Treasuries. One then would have to wonder why the user can’t simply buy the debt direct and keep all of the yield. From where I sit, MakerDAO is at a crossroads and I suspect Rune Christensen knows it.
The optics here aren’t great, in my opinion. We’ve seen cryptocurrency projects rebrand in the past. Polygon (MATIC-USD) and Elrond/MultiversX (EGLD-USD) are two examples. Despite their rebrands, they kept using the same tokens. In a lot of ways, the MakerDAO Endgame plan feels like a bit of a Hail Mary pass. DeFi worked wonderfully when the US 2-year was at the floor. Times are different now and I think that’s why we’re seeing MakerDAO proposing and implementing drastic changes. I don’t think it’s going to end well.
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Editor’s Note: This article covers one or more microcap stocks. Please be aware of the risks associated with these stocks.
Welcome to another edition of Crypto NFT Today! The past two weeks have been full of must-know events that will define the future of blockchain, cryptocurrency, and NFTs.
With cryptocurrencies jumping ahead of Trump’s inauguration, an inflation report for Bitcoin bringing encouragement, and more, there’s lots of essential news you should know about. So, let’s dive in and see what’s happening!
Cryptocurrencies Jump Ahead of Trump’s Inauguration
Cryptocurrencies surged on Thursday as investors shifted their focus to smaller, higher-risk coins ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
XRP and litecoin were among the top performers, rising 13% and 22%, respectively, according to Coin Metrics. The CoinDesk 20 index, a broad crypto market indicator, gained nearly 5%. Meanwhile, bitcoin increased by less than 1%, hovering near $100,000 after a two-day rally of around 7% earlier this week. Ether dropped nearly 3% on Thursday.
Bitcoin’s Encouraging Inflation Report Releases
Bitcoin continued its rebound on Wednesday, hovering around $100,000 after another positive inflation report boosted investor risk appetite. The price of the leading cryptocurrency was up more than 3%, reaching $99,493.26, marking a 7% gain over the past two days, according to Coin Metrics. It peaked at $100,715.13 during late afternoon trading.
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The CoinDesk 20 index, which tracks the broader cryptocurrency market, rose by 7%.Shares of Coinbase climbed 7%, while Bitcoin-related stocks MicroStrategy and Mara Holdings saw gains of 5% and 4%, respectively.
Litecoin May Receive ETF Soon
With U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration a few days away and new leadership set to take over at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), other cryptocurrencies beyond bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH) may soon be approved for their own spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Litecoin (LTC) is expected to be the first to receive approval, according to Eric Balchunas and James Seyffart, ETF analysts at Bloomberg Intelligence. “Canary Funds just filed an amended S-1 for their litecoin ETF application. While there are no guarantees, this could signal SEC engagement on the filing,” Seyffart shared on X.
Expert Predicts Dogecoin Surge
The crypto market often follows a cyclical pattern, with past price movements helping analysts predict future trends. Analyst Martinez applied this strategy in his commentary on Thursday, suggesting that Dogecoin could see another significant rise starting next week.
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Martinez pointed out that Dogecoin experienced a major uptrend in the week of January 25, 2021, following a 56% drop from its December high. To provide context, the meme token fell from $0.0143 in December 2021 to a low of $0.0067, before rebounding sharply and closing January with a 700% increase.
As the cryptocurrency market continues its turbulent path, several well-known crypto projects, like Cardano (ADA), are having trouble keeping up. Although ADA’s decentralized capabilities and advanced blockchain technology are admirable, its recent performance has left investors looking for better crypto investment opportunities with strong growth prospects that don’t break the bank. Smart investors searching for the next big breakout are taking notice of the under-$5 cryptocurrencies that are making waves in this market.
LuckHunter (LHUNT) has stood out among these appealing contenders. LuckHunter is a pioneer in the combination of blockchain technology with metaverse gaming, providing a unique experience that combines entertainment and decentralized technology. At its heart is an immersive gaming platform that transforms user interaction with virtual worlds while utilizing blockchain’s advantages for security and transparency.
Both beginners and experienced investors find these sub-$5 cryptocurrencies, like LuckHunter, to be interesting because of their attractive blend of affordability and innovation. Cryptocurrencies like LuckHunter demonstrate that innovation need not be expensive as the market develops. In an ever-growing digital economy, exploring these innovative projects might reveal unrealized prospects, regardless of your experience with cryptocurrencies. So, let us explore the best cryptocurrencies to buy now under $5.
Best Cryptocurrency To Buy Now Under $5
After a steep drop that pushed the price below the $0.9550 support level, Cardano (ADA) is beginning to show signs of recovery. Selling pressure caused the digital asset, which had been trading above $1.00, to drop temporarily to $0.8769.
Similar decreasing tendencies observed in the Bitcoin and Ethereum markets preceded the latest price shift, which started when ADA was unable to sustain stability above the $1.00 level. When the price fell below a number of important support levels, such as $0.9550 and $0.9500, the slide quickened.
In the middle of this, investors are actively looking for the finest cryptocurrencies to purchase for less than $5. With LuckHunter as our top pick, we’ll talk about a few additional cryptocurrency contenders that are worth checking out right now for huge profits!
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LuckHunter (LHUNT)
Rexas Finance (RWA)
Shiba Inu (SHIB)
Dogecoin (DOGE)
Pudgy Penguins (PENGU)
Toshi (TOSHI)
Filecoin (FIL)
Are you ready to know about these seven best cryptocurrency to buy now that may hold a better promise than ADA? Then, explore their potential with us!
LuckHunter (LHUNT)
By fusing casino experiences with a metaverse environment, LuckHunter (LHUNT) seeks to provide blockchain fans with a gaming environment. LHUNT distinguishes itself in a market where cryptocurrency-based games are becoming more popular by providing a setting where users can place bets on virtual experiences. From in-game purchases to staking activities, the network revolves around its cryptocurrency for a variety of transactions.
Visit the LuckHunter metaverse casino >>
Platform and Metaverse Focus
Fundamentally, LuckHunter offers a metaverse setting similar to a casino. Through virtual reality (VR) or conventional online interfaces, users can “enter” a virtual world where they can investigate interactive slot machines, card games, and other betting ideas. LHUNT prioritizes both entertainment and blockchain value in its ecosystem, whereas many other metaverse initiatives find it difficult to integrate the two. LuckHunter seeks to appeal to a wide range of players by combining interactive tables, digital collections, and the opportunity to win prizes.
Benefits for Token Holders
Staking programs, extra multipliers, or early access to new platform features could prove advantageous to LHUNT holders. The ability to interact with a casino setting from anywhere and the newness of the metaverse have drawn an increasing number of users. Investors predict that the token could rise in value if the user base grows and if real-time gaming becomes popular.
Plans for the Future
As a pioneer in the cryptocurrency and gaming industries, LuckHunter is creating waves. Since there aren’t many tokens left, early investors are seizing the opportunity to participate. The initiative has swiftly raised an incredible $1 million thanks to this feeling of exclusivity, demonstrating people’s faith and enthusiasm for its possibilities.
With its innovative and engaging approach to virtual world gambling, LuckHunter is the first metaverse casino gaming project available online. LuckHunter is at the forefront of the rapidly expanding global interest in metaverse gaming. Combining blockchain technology with entertaining, engaging gaming produces an unusual experience that appeals to investors and players alike.
LuckHunter is a noteworthy project to keep an eye on because of its scarce token supply and quick growth. It is an exciting prospect for everyone interested in the future of online entertainment because of its distinct approach to gaming and the growing popularity of metaverse experiences.
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Rexas Finance (RWA)
Rexas Finance transforms real-world asset tokenization (RWA) by streamlining ownership and transactions. Its platform includes user-friendly tools that let businesses and individuals create, manage, and trade asset-backed tokens with ease. This innovative approach democratises asset ownership, making it accessible to everyone, wherever.
Since its founding on September 8, 2024, Rexas Finance has demonstrated remarkable growth. The initial presale stage, which cost $0.03, sold out in less than three days, demonstrating strong investor confidence. The price of the RXS token, which is currently in its eleventh round of presale, is $0.175, representing a 483% growth in just four months. The effort has raised $35,927,359 without venture capital assistance by selling 395,385,647 tokens, demonstrating the enthusiasm of investors in general.
The anticipated early 2025 launch of RXS coins on major exchanges holds the real promise. According to analysts, the listing would raise liquidity and publicity, causing the price to rise to $10 in five months. A $50 investment would become $5,000 for investors who enter at the current price of $0.175, representing an incredible 10,000% gain. Rexas Finance’s commitment to innovation and ability to close significant gaps in the market make it a compelling substitute for exponential earnings.
3. Shiba Inu (SHIB)
Shiba Inu, one of the most recognizable meme currencies, has solidified its place and attracted attention due to its potential for quick gains. With a market capitalization of $14.2 billion and a trading volume of over $550 million, SHIB has grown 6.83% during the last day to trade at $0.000024. The popularity of cryptocurrencies like SHIB usually increases when Bitcoin gets closer to $100,000.
Meme currencies have historically increased in response to hopeful developments in Bitcoin and SHIB’s vibrant community and affordable price appeal to both individual and institutional investors. One of the main factors driving SHIB’s growth has been whale accumulation, in which large investors have increased their holdings. This trend demonstrates confidence in SHIB’s capacity to raise prices.
Shiba Inu is bound for a huge rise when combined with the optimism in the market as a whole brought on by Bitcoin’s rise. SHIB may see a 100x jump in the current market cycle, according to experts, who attribute this to rising retail interest and whale activity. A $50 investment at today’s price might yield a whopping $5,000 if SHIB hits $0.0024 during the next five months, providing speculative investors with a high-reward option.
4. Dogecoin (DOGE)
Dogecoin, which started off as a meme coin, continues to be significant in the cryptocurrency space. DOGE, which has a market valuation of $55.4 billion and a trading volume of $3.9 billion, has increased in value by 11.83% in the past day, trading at $0.3777. In the past, DOGE has prospered amid Bitcoin booms. Both new and seasoned investors are drawn to it because of its strong community support and cultural significance.
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It serves as a gateway asset for those new to the cryptocurrency industry due to its cheap cost and visibility. Elon Musk, a long-time supporter of Dogecoin, continues to have a significant influence on the fluctuations in the cryptocurrency’s value. The DOGE community is now again feeling hopeful as a result of recent developments involving Musk, such as his endorsement of government efficiency concepts. Although not directly related to Dogecoin, Musk’s affinity for the token occasionally encourages speculative buying.
Given DOGE’s historical association with news pertaining to Musk and broader market conditions, analysts predict that the token may rise to $4.00 during the next five months. This offers investors who purchase at $0.3777 the possibility of a tenfold profit. Users might have $5,000 if they invest $50.
5. Pudgy Penguins (PENGU)
Initially, Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) was an NFT collection with adorable figures inspired by penguins. After that, the brand expanded by adding a token for community involvement. The colorful design appeals to dealers and collectors who value cartoon-style projects. Pudgy Penguins’ meme-based content has generated a lot of excitement on Twitter, which has helped PENGU attract a constant flow of attention.
Pudgy Penguins thrives on social media presence, just like a lot of other tokens that are driven by memes. In order to draw in new members, active community members organize events and produce fanart and memes. The initiative has grown from a specialized NFT series to a well-known brand in the cryptocurrency community because of this natural involvement. The PENGU token facilitates a number of activities, including online meetings and goods purchases.
Although PENGU’s primary identity is based on meme culture, certain experts believe it may grow. Adding games, events, or loyalty benefits to its environment might help PENGU maintain and perhaps increase its value. Early adopters are hopeful that a larger market may result from the adorable penguin NFTs’ popular appeal.
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The general state of the community will determine PENGU’s destiny. The price of meme tokens might rise quickly, but it can also fall sharply. Continuous interaction, brand extensions, or outside collaborations are essential to Pudgy Penguins’ success. In a bull market, these tokens can grow swiftly, but traders need to be aware that they can also rapidly retrace.
6. Toshi (TOSHI)
Toshi is another token that seeks to combine useful functions with playful branding. Its name honors Satoshi Nakamoto, the enigmatic creator of Bitcoin. This reference is meant to add some flair to Bitcoin, even if TOSHI is not directly associated with it.
The TOSHI project intends to develop a suite of user-experience-focused apps. Offering a wallet or tool where TOSHI holders receive benefits or lower costs is one concept. Another idea would be to create limited-edition NFTs under the TOSHI brand, which would allow supporters to show off their devotion. The development team of TOSHI must release new applications and maintain community updates in order for the platform to grow.
TOSHI’s branding and the potential for an expanding ecosystem have attracted early traders. According to some, TOSHI has a hybrid identity since it is a combination of a meme and a utility coin. A larger population could be drawn in by this dual feature. That being said, TOSHI must continue to be genuine and provide useful releases rather than simply promotional tricks.
7. Filecoin (FIL)
In the digital era, decentralized storage solutions are essential, and Filecoin fills that demand. The software establishes a market where users can either purchase storage space using FIL tokens or rent out their extra storage capacity. The new approach of cloud storage uses blockchain technology to guarantee data security and availability while challenging conventional centralized systems.
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The FIL token is used as an incentive for storage providers and a way to pay for storage services. By contributing storage space or staking FIL tokens, investors can contribute to the network’s development. Because of the platform’s distinctive business strategy, consumers enjoy low pricing and enhanced data protection, while storage providers are encouraged to continue offering dependable services.
Filecoin’s decentralized storage solution has grown in value due to the exponential expansion of digital data. FIL is a desirable investment for those who believe in the future of decentralized infrastructure because of its integration with Web3 apps and partnerships with significant digital businesses, which position the project for future growth.
Conclusion: Best Cryptocurrency To Buy Now
The inventiveness and promise of under-$5 cryptocurrencies are drawing attention in a sector where well-known brands like ADA are having difficulties. Projects like LuckHunter, which combine blockchain technology and metaverse gaming, are prime examples of the fascinating prospects in this field.
These coins provide an accessible starting point for investors looking for growth since they are both innovative and reasonably priced. Investigating such cutting-edge initiatives might open up incredible opportunities for individuals who are ready to take the risk as the cryptocurrency environment changes.
Memecoins roared back into momentum on Wednesday amid a broader rally supported by encouraging inflation data and Donald Trump’s pro-cryptocurrency moves.
What happened: The unconventional Fartcoin surged over 27% in the last 24 hours to emerge as the biggest meme coin gainer.
The Solana SOL/USD-based token amassed a market capitalization of $1.24 billion at the time of writing, with trading volumes jumping 26% in the last 24 hours.
Fartcoin was followed by dogwifhat, another popular community-driven Solana meme coin, based on a meme featuring a dog wearing a hat.
The billion-dollar-valued cryptocurrency pumped 11%, while its trading volume jumped 75%.
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PENGU, the official coin of the popular non-fungible token collection Pudgy Penguins, gained 9.76% to a market capitalization of $2.16 billion.
Cryptocurrency
Gains +/-
Price (Recorded at 10:45 p.m. ET)
Fartcoin (FARTCOIN)
+27.22%
$1.25
dogwifhat WIF/USD
+11.55%
$1.71
Pudgy Penguins (PENGU)
+9.76%
$0.03448
See Also: Italy’s Largest Bank Leaps Into Bitcoin Trading With $1 Million ‘Test’ Investment But CEO Says He Doesn’t Invest In BTC Personally
Meme coin heavyweights like Dogecoin DOGE/USD and Shiba Inu SHIB/USD also gained momentum, rising 3.63% and 2.58%, respectively.
Ethereum ETH/USD-based frog-themed coin Pepe PEPE/USD jumped 6%, while cat-themed Popcat, one of 2024’s biggest gainers, rallied 7.88% in the last 24 hours.
The total meme coin market capitalization rose 4.83% to $106.94 billion, while the overall volume surged 27.81% to $10.74 billion.
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The upsurge followed slower-than-expected growth in core inflation, seen as a net positive for risk-on assets. Additionally, a report raised hopes for clear cryptocurrency regulations under new SEC leadership in the Trump administration.
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