Please describe your proposed solution.
<u>Problem</u>
Many things can be said about the issues we have encountered as a community when it comes to scaling and smart contracts. as an ecosy can be said about When it comes to the DeFi ecosystem, stablecoins play a foundational role in every level. and lacks the crucial component of a native stablecoin. This can be stifling growth and thus becoming a barrier of entry.
<u>Solution</u>
Fluent is an interoperable stablecoin and settlement system connecting digital assets to core banking. It acts as a two-layer product suite for financial institutions, consisting primarily of an interbank and cross-chain settlement system and public stablecoin. Our goal is to provide an efficient bridge between the enterprise and the public layers.
In order to mint and burn our flagship stablecoin USD+ we have Federation Member Bank uses the Fluent Network (F-Net), a vertically integrated private interbank settlement system. F-Net acts as the bridge between core banking and the USD+ smart contracts on the public blockchain. Fluent’s private and public layers connect legacy banking to digital finance — enabling new revenue streams and product offerings for traditional institutions.
- No single custodian
- Through the Federation Member banks brooking the main fiat entry and exit point of USD+
- Enabled by banks
- As a condition of entry into the Fluent Federation, Federation Member Banks must guarantee a 1:1 exchange with US Dollars and USD+
- Provably sufficient reserves
- Instead of mere attestation or a delayed third party audit, Fluent uses real-time on-chain analysis and audits to prove that each Federation Member Bank can meet their fiat obligations to USD+ holders.
- Seamless vertical integration into core banking systems through the Fluent Protocol, thus succesfully removing friction for both banks and their customers while also new revenue opportunitites and investment products for everyone.
<u>Market</u>
We will me providing a new way for financial institutions to monetize their current custody and generate new AUM. In addition to new AUM and revenue streams, Fluent provides expanded access to consumers, including populations that commonly lack banking services.
Please describe how your proposed solution will address the Challenge that you have submitted it in.
<u>Fund9</u>
Challenge –> dApps, Products, and Integrations
The utility of stablecoins is found in their ability to represent fiat value while also adding the speed and security of blockchain. As we move forward with the Cardano community, we need to aim for growth, even more so inclusion across the industries.
Djed is the only stablecoin project with relevance in Cardano. Although showing promise signs, its still quite in its infancy, only recently starting to roll out in the mainnet, and thus wouldn't be fair to make any judgements. That being said, Djed is an algorithmic stablecoin, and in light of recent events it, I find it had to see a scenario where users would come running.
Fluent will help drive adoption and traction across the Cardano ecosystem by bringing investors and institutions in both the traditional and digital asset financial landscape with an opportunity to service an untapped market by providing a trusted, low-risk entry to crypto markets.
What are the main risks that could prevent you from delivering the project successfully and please explain how you will mitigate each risk?
Risk management has been a priority and a focus in every step of development in the project. This initiative has given us the ability to provide a low risk profile into an industry poised with volatility. Nonetheless, we have identified several risks, albeit extreme, but nonetheless important:
<u>Risk 1: Regulation & Compliance: "How are we ahead of regulation"</u>
Fluent utilizes banking institutions, regulated corridors, for all minting and burning of USD+. All reserves are held and maintained by a federation of member banks. To ensure that the Fluent Federation has a system that adapts to new legal rulings, membership is restricted to only financial institutions (and reserves) within banks that have legal approval to hold USD. Fluent’s Enterprise Layer is responsible for regulatory compliance within the network. In addition, Fluent is built on bank-led protocols featuring frictionless integration with the core banking systems to meet the required banking standards and regulatory compliance.
<u>Risk 2: Depegging of the USD+ Stablecoin & handling Collateral Risk</u>
Fluent and USD+ operate in close relationship with the existing financial system, focusing on frictionless integration with the systems that maintain custody of stablecoin reserves. The protocol includes smart contract interfaces and generalized engines that can execute policies that protect the peg and the integrity of the system.
Only Federation Members can mint and redeem tokens, effectively working as “gateways,” or public distribution points. Once USD+ is issued, USD+ tokens are treated as digital U.S. dollars that can be traded, transacted and transferred 24/7 without friction.
Fluent uses an F-score to help maintain the quality of reserves – with separation of short and long-term reserves, as stipulated by guidelines established by all Federation Members. Reports on reserve levels and portfolio composition are made available to the public in real time via oracles. Banks that maintain quality reserves and act within Federation guidelines will gain a high F-score over time, reducing their cash requirements.
<u>Risk 5: Bank Run</u>
Fluent’s F-Score acts as the first line of defense – providing real time data of behavior and overall health of the federation. In the case of a bad actor the F-score will fall that will trigger a set of risk mitigation actions.
- The primary risk measure is part of Fluent by design – it is the federated custody across many actors reducing the single point of risk or attack.
- Freezing on a bank’s node (ability to mint and burn USD+).
- The Federation will go through legal means to seize the accounts.
- The DAO Treasury can act as a market actor putting fiat up as collateral to restore the peg.
- sFLNT will be auctioned to restore the peg.