What is Dai?

Dai (DAI) is a stablecoin, a type of cryptocurrency that strives to keep its value stable relative to a specific asset or a pool of assets. In the case of Dai, it is soft-pegged to the U.S. dollar. It operates on the Ethereum blockchain and is managed by the Maker Protocol and the MakerDAO decentralized autonomous organization. Unlike other cryptocurrencies, Dai is not created by a single entity or a small group of founders. Instead, its development and issuance are governed by the MakerDAO and Maker Protocol, which are managed democratically by the holders of its Maker (MKR) governance tokens.

How does Dai work?

Dai operates on the Ethereum blockchain and is governed by the Maker Protocol. It is generated by depositing crypto-assets into Maker Vaults on the Maker Protocol. Users can access Maker Protocol and create Vaults through various interfaces. Once the collateral is locked in, users can obtain Dai against their collateral, as long as it is within the collateral ratio, which ranges from 101% to 175%, depending on the risk level of the asset locked. The issuance and burning of tokens are managed and publicly recorded by Ethereum-powered self-enforcing smart-contracts, making the entire system more transparent and less prone to corruption.

What are the potential use cases for Dai?

Dai's primary use case is to provide stability in the notoriously volatile crypto market. Its soft peg to the U.S. dollar makes it a stable asset for users looking to offset significant market fluctuations. As a stablecoin, Dai seeks to maintain a stable value compared to other cryptocurrencies, which can experience significant price changes within a single day. Additionally, because it is managed by a decentralized autonomous organization via a software protocol, it offers a level of transparency and democratic governance that may appeal to users seeking alternatives to traditional financial systems.

What is the history of Dai?

Dai was not created by a single person or a small group of co-founders. Instead, its development and issuance are governed by the MakerDAO and Maker Protocol. MakerDAO was originally founded by Danish entrepreneur Rune Christensen in 2015. The Dai stablecoin was launched in November 2019. It is important to differentiate between Multi-Collateral Dai and Single-Collateral Dai (SAI), an earlier version of the token that could only be collateralized by a single cryptocurrency. As of November 2020, there were around 940 million Dai in circulation. Dai has generally maintained its peg to the USD, despite market fluctuations and the emergence of other stablecoins.