MakerDAO Tokens Explained: DAI, WETH, PETH, SIN, MKR. Part 1
Maker DAO uses multiple ERC-20 tokens for specific purposes to ensure DAI stable coin stability. This article describe their roles and usage patterns based on Bloxy.info token flow tool.
Maker DAO Tokens
Maker DAO system consists of several smart contracts ( Sai Tap, Sai Tub, Vox, Medianiser, etc.), and ERC-20 tokens. Together they work to ensure the stability of DAI token.
In this article we mostly focus on how tokens are rotated, and used. The diagram below shows the main token flows and smart contract methods, used to convert one token to another:
Tokens are shown as circles, while smart contracts and their entities are rounded rectangular. The arrows on the diagram means that using these smart contract methods you can change the balance from one token to another.
For example, calling join() will remove WETH tokens from you and give you appropriate amount of PETH tokens instead.
Unstable ( “Ether”-like) Tokens
The left side of the diagram shows tokens, related to Ether:
Ether itself is not directly used in Maker DAO system. If you have Ether originally ( as most of us ), you have to first convert it to WETH ( Wrapped ETH ) token.
WETH is one-to-one reflection of ETH, but as ERC-20 token. In any moment you can change Ether to WETH and back. The downside is that every such transformation requires gas.
PETH is short for “Pooled Ether”. When you deposit WETH to Maker DAO, you get back this token. Note, that It is not exactly one-to-one to Ether, it rate is calculated.
Smart Contracts
Sai Tub smart contract stores CDP’s. CDP is your debt in DAI leveraged by PETH. Most operations with Maker DAO done using it.
Sai Tap smart contract allows to liquidate the debt and generate the profit from it.
Smart Contract Methods
Maker DAO smart contracts have a lot of methods, major of them are categorized in the table below:
Most of the method operate with the tokens we listed above and with CDP as internal Sai Tub entity.
More detailed description of these methods you can find in Maker DAO transactions Illustrated article.
Token Usage Patterns
The material below is created based on the Bloxy.info Token Flow tool and Maker DAO analytical dashboard.
Bloxy.info web site provides a set of tools for analytics, traders, companies and crypto enthusiasts.
The tools include APIs, dashboards and search engine, all available on-site, providing accurate data, indexed directly from the blockchain live node.
Bloxy mission is to make blockchain more transparent and accessible to people and businesses.
Please, make a reference to the source of data when referencing this article.Our goal was to match the smart contract code and the diagram above with actual token flows and user actions regarding these tokens. We will investigate tokens one by one, from different perspectives, using our tools and analytical approach.
And our first token is….
WETH ( Wrapped Ether)
WETH explanation is on the weth.io web site. It is wrapped Ether, and can be used instead of Ether where ERC-20 tokens are expected. The first coming to mind are decentralized exchanges (DEX). Typically DEX protocols expect ERC20 tokens as buy/sell side assets, and they can not work with Ether directly. So you first change your Ether to WETH, exchange it , amd later WETH can be changed back to Ether.
This token started at December, 2017, the same time as Maker DAO protocol. Note, that the largest holder is Maker DAO smart contract:
The intersection by owners with other tokens also shows Maker DAO tokens:
This high WETH balance on SaiTub MaerDAO smart contract appear, as users deposit WETH to Maker DAO’s SaiTub smart contract to create CDPs later. We analyzed the dynamics of this process on the MakerDAO dashboard:
As seen from this graph, on 10 May, 2019 the locked WETH amount is approx. 2 million ETH ( orange line), while totally minted amount is above 4 million ETH.
How many people involved in this activity? The number of traders can be estimated by unique addresses, initiating exit/join transactions on SaiTub smart contract:
Traders behavior is described by how many WETH the lock and free each month:
Interesting trend that the lock and free amount looks rather symmetrical, before the April 2019, when more people started to withdraw ( free ) WETH from Maker DAO, comparing to deposit ( lock ) it. These are 2 right columns of this diagram. This in turn caused that reduction in WETH balance on Maker DAO.
WETH outside Maker DAO?
The question is — is it used anywhere except Maker DAO?
Answer is yes. First, it is very actively traded on ZeroX and Oasis ( Matching Market ) exchanges, as shown on Bloxy.info WETH trading page.
Token Flow Tool shows major flows of WETH:
As you see, there are several “centers of gravity” for WETH token:
- SaiTub from MakerDAI
- Oasis, DDEX exchanges
- ZeroX (not involved in transfers, so not explicitly shown on this graph)
Example of WETH trading by one of the most active traders on DEX is this transaction:
WETH is traded not just agains DAI, here is the list of top 10 pairs on DEX exchanges:
PETH ( Pooled Ether)
PETH represents ETH, that you put into Maker DAO smart contract to create DAI debt in the future. It has the rate against WETH, equals to
PETH = (WETH balance ) / (Total PETH supply) WETH
It is now equal to 1.04, as part of PETH has been burnt due to debt liquidations. This number increased with time as shown on the diagram:
The change of PETH/WETH rate generate the APR and profit for the users, who joined the pool and received PETH in exchange to WETH, long time ago. Their summary profit is estimated around 80,000 ETH.
PETH is not traded on DEX and seems to be used solely inside MakerDAO infrastructure.
Token flow below shows, that the major PETH flow goes from traders to Sai Tub smart contract. Part of the flow then goes to SaiTap ( in case of debt liquidation), or to system address ( for burning ):
To be continued! In part 2 we will talk about the tokens DAI, MKR and SIN !
