- Gauntlet recommends Aave to discontinue the Mai stablecoin from its lending protocol.
- Mai’s value took a dive to $0.72, heightening depeg concerns.
- Decentralized stablecoins face amplified risks amidst unstable crypto climates.
Aave’s Mai stablecoin faces deprecation as it loses peg, highlighting inherent challenges with decentralized stablecoins amidst fluctuating crypto market dynamics.
Significant Price Dive Sets Off Alarms
The decentralized stablecoin Mai (MIMATIC), associated with the Aave lending protocol, has witnessed a concerning depreciation in its value recently. Starting the month at $0.88, it sharply fell to a low of $0.72 and now hovers around $0.78.
Gauntlet’s Proposition to Aave: A Defensive Move
In light of Mai’s value turbulence, Gauntlet, a crypto risk assessment entity, has strongly suggested that Aave commence the process of deprecating the stablecoin from its lending services. The firm recommends setting Mai’s loan-to-value (LTV) ratio to zero and hiking borrowing rates to stimulate repayments. This initiative could lead to projected forced liquidations amounting to roughly $70,000.
Behind Mai’s Persistent Depreciation
Mai, a product of the DeFi protocol QiDAO, has been grappling with stabilization issues since July. Despite its intended peg at the dollar, it has remained below $0.98. Astonishingly, QiDAO has yet to offer an explanation for this ongoing underperformance. Mai’s fully diluted market cap stands at a substantial $238 million, predominantly issued via the Polygon blockchain.
The Volatility of Decentralized Stablecoins
Parallel to Mai’s situation, another decentralized stablecoin, Real USD (USDR) – claiming backing by tokenized real estate assets from TangibleDAO – has also witnessed a depeg, resulting in a staggering 50% price drop. Decentralized stablecoins, in contrast to their centralized counterparts like USDC and USDT, are inherently more volatile. Their algorithmic and cryptocurrency-based collaterals make them susceptible to erratic market behavior. Notable previous depeg scenarios encompass USDX on the Kava blockchain and USDN on Waves.
Conclusion
The unfolding situation with Mai underscores the challenges decentralized stablecoins face in ensuring stability, especially amidst unpredictable crypto market dynamics. While Gauntlet’s recommendations to Aave are reactionary, they highlight the broader concerns around decentralized finance’s stability and reliance on algorithmic and crypto-backed mechanisms.
