MakerDAO Adds $100 Million in Real-World Assets to Protocol
Stablecoin issuer and decentralized finance protocol MakerDAO has recently acquired $100 million worth of Real-World Assets (RWAs) through BlockTower Andromeda. The majority of these funds were invested in short-term US Treasury bonds with an annual yield of 4.5%. With this latest addition, MakerDAO’s total RWA assets now amount to around $2.7 billion.
MakerDAO’s ‘Endgame Plan’
The recent acquisition is part of MakerDAO’s long-term strategy known as the “Endgame Plan.” This plan, introduced by co-founder Rune Christensen, aims to maintain DAI’s peg to the dollar over three years while increasing the focus on RWAs. By acquiring more Ether and diversifying the assets backing DAI, MakerDAO intends to enhance the ratio of decentralized collateral.
The ultimate goal is for the ecosystem to reach a self-sustainable equilibrium called the Endgame State, where it becomes resilient and stable.
MakerDAO’s Revenue Growth
The addition of RWAs has proven beneficial for MakerDAO, even amidst a slowdown in the broader DeFi ecosystem. The protocol’s annualized revenue is approaching $150 million, with a significant portion coming from RWAs. Data from DeFiLlama shows that MakerDAO’s revenue has increased more than tenfold since it started purchasing treasury bonds in October 2022.
The Value of Real-World Assets
Real-World Assets offer traditional asset managers an opportunity to tokenize their portfolios and gain liquidity through protocols like MakerDAO. This additional avenue allows them to secure credit using their tokenized assets. Currently, around 70-80% of Maker’s protocol revenue comes from stability fees generated by RWAs.
Growth of Real-World Asset Tokenization
Tokenization of illiquid global assets is predicted to become a $16 trillion industry by 2030, according to a study by the Boston Consulting Group. This trend is expected to drive mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies. Apart from MakerDAO, other crypto protocols involved in real-world asset tokenization include GoldFinch, Centrifuge, TrueFi, and Maple Finance.
Hot Take: MakerDAO Expands RWA Holdings to Enhance Stability
MakerDAO’s recent acquisition of $100 million worth of Real-World Assets through BlockTower Andromeda is part of its strategy to enhance the stability and sustainability of its ecosystem. By diversifying its assets and increasing the role of traditional financial instruments like government bonds, MakerDAO aims to strengthen the backing of its dollar-pegged stablecoin, DAI. This move has significantly contributed to MakerDAO’s revenue growth, positioning it as a leader in the decentralized finance space. The tokenization of real-world assets is expected to continue growing as more protocols recognize its value and potential for liquidity provision.