1. What is Origin Protocol?
Origin Protocol is one of Ethereum’s longest-standing DeFi projects, featuring a multichain feature set that unlocks vast opportunities for yield generation across the space. Origin’s products are built to be permissionless and composable, allowing for deep integration with novel primitives. All of Origin’s products streamline rewards to OGN stakers, cultivating a sustainable, user-first offering.
At its core proposition, Origin features:
Capital efficiency: Origin’s liquid staking products, Origin Ether and Origin Dollar, empower users to earn yield while retaining full capital control. The protocol’s unique Automated Redemption Manager (ARM) serves as a key liquidity hub for LST redemptions.
Vast composability: OETH’s robust peg and interoperability makes it an ideal building block for innovative DeFi strategies.
Broad access: Origin’s diverse integrations with partners such as EigenLayer and Pendle Finance, cater to power users and new entrants alike. Origin is built on core principles of seamless usability, cultivating one of the smoothest user experiences in the space.
Some of Origin Protocol’s key elements include:
Origin Ether (OETH): OETH is a leading liquid staking token that harnesses battle-tested mechanics to maintain a strong peg and vast composability for users. Users can mint OETH by depositing reserves of ETH. This ETH is staked to the Beacon Chain, with staking rewards distributed to users. OETH boasts broad DeFi integrations on ETH and leading Layer-2 networks.
Origin Dollar (OUSD): OUSD is a yield bearing stablecoin fully collateralized by reserves of USDT, USDC, and DAI. Users can deposit these stablecoins to mint OUSD, which generates yield. OUSD’s rebasing model automatically distributes rewards to holders’ wallets, removing the need for lockups and claiming rewards.
Automated Redemption Manager (ARM): The ARM is a groundbreaking platform that bolsters liquidity for redeemable assets, such as LSTs and LRTs. Users can take advantage of rapid redemptions for seamless swaps between leading LSTs and ETH with zero slippage.
Some of its key highlights include:
Versatile Utility: Origin’s product suite is deeply integrated across DeFi, allowing users to harness innovative instruments and opportunities. Origin Ether, for instance, is deeply integrated with the likes of Pendle and EigenLayer. Users can also take advantage of wOETH on leading L2 networks to explore more platforms and yield generating positions.
Transparent, best-in-class security: Both OUSD and OETH boast battle-tested, open-source codebases. Origin’s products have been rigorously audited by leading firms, including OpenZeppelin. Origin’s yield-generating products deliver yields without compromising on security, and feature rich analytics dashboards for users to monitor treasury flows and allocations.
Protocol Governance: Users can stake OGN for up to a year in exchange for non-transferable xOGN. xOGN accrues yield from a share of protocol fees earned by Origin’s products. xOGN holders can submit proposals, vote on active submissions, and vote on treasury allocations. This symbiotic structure creates a sustainable, rewarding governance system that upholds the core principles of decentralization.
World class team and investors: The project is led by serial entrepreneurs Matthew Liu and Josh Fraser, and seasoned team members from leading tech firms including PayPal, YouTube, Google, DropBox, etc. Origin has received backing from top investors such as Pantera Capital and Foundation Capital, as well as from individuals like Steve Chen, the founder of YouTube, and Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit.
2. OGN Token Overview and use-cases
OGN is the governance and value-accrual token for Origin’s sprawling yield ecosystem. Users can stake OGN for xOGN, which carries voting and economic power across Origin’s product suite.
Staking model: OGN can be locked on a time horizon of 1 month – 1 year. Users who stake OGN receive xOGN relative to the amount staked and the duration of the lock-up period. xOGN grants holders economic and voting rights during the staking period.
Rewards: Origin takes a performance fee from its yield generating products. Half of this fee is distributed to OGN stakers in the form of extra rewards, while the remaining 50% funds the purchase of flywheel tokens to boost yield generated by the underlying protocols.
Governance: OGN stakers comprise the Origin DAO, which votes on proposals and treasury allocations. Origin promotes fully on-chain governance to cultivate a sustainable, inclusive structure.