Compound Dai is an algorithmic, autonomous interest protocol created for developers to unlock a range of open finance applications. The Compound is described as a protocol on the Ethereum blockchain that builds asset bundles based on the supply and demand of assets, which are pools of assets with algorithmically derived yield rates. Suppliers (and borrowers) of assets interact directly with the protocol to earn (and pay) variable rates without negotiating maturities, rates, or collateral with peers or counterparties.

Unlike exchanges or peer-to-peer platforms, where a user's assets are matched and lent to another user, the Compound protocol aggregates each user's supply; it becomes a fungible resource when a user provides an asset. Compound allows users to borrow from the protocol frictionlessly using tokens as collateral for use anywhere in the Ethereum ecosystem. Unlike peer-to-peer protocols, borrowing Compound requires the user to only specify the desired asset; there are no negotiated terms, maturity dates, or funding periods; borrowing is instant and predictable.

Compound starts with centralized control of the protocol, and it aims to transition over time to full community and stakeholder control. The administrator controls the following permissions in the protocol:

Robert Leshner founded the Compound Finance platform. The first version of the whitepaper of CDAI was released in February 2019.