How to Use QiDao, a Zero-Interest Crypto Lending Platform

QiDao Protocol is making DeFi accessible for all. We have heard it before, however, QiDao adds a new twist. They add zero-interest crypto lending. Furthermore, the protocol is already active on six different layers 1 blockchains. The good news is that there are more to follow.

Therefore, users can connect to the QiDAO protocol through Mai Finance. QiDao creates the vaults and users borrow their Mai stablecoins there. The concept is easy to follow. Furthermore, in this article, you will discover how you can do it.

Three Steps to Use QiDAO

To use this DeFi protocol, you need to follow the following steps:

• Create a vault.
• Deposit crypto assets.
• Start to borrow stable coins against the collateral.

We will describe more about these steps in the article.

What is QiDAO?

QiDAO, also called Mai Finance, is a protocol for borrowing stablecoins. To be more specific, the Mai stablecoin. Users get to keep their crypto assets and meanwhile can keep extracting its value. The protocol makes this possible by allowing to borrow at 0% interest.

This makes borrowing on QiDao attractive. Some unique borrowing options include:

• Interest vaults with 0% interest.
• Lending markets with variable rates.
• Collaterals that bear interest.
• Multiple chain borrowing.

This article will focus on QiDao in the Fantom ecosystem. Moreover, in 2022 QiDao expects to see more growth in Fantom. It is also no wonder that QiDao Protocol has its most TVL locked in Fantom. At the time of writing, end of February 2022, the TVL is $179.71m according to DeFiLlama. That is more than 50% of their total TVL, which stands at $280m. See the table below. 

Source: DefiLlama

That is just one of the reasons they choose to build on Fantom. Other reasons also include:

• The general growth of Fantom.
• Money legos on Fantom. This creates a healthy DeFi ecosystem. Including strong DEXs, yield aggregators, and money markets.
• A clear and enticing incentive program.

Altcoin Buzz recently wrote about Tomb Finance. This is another stablecoin project on Fantom. A collaboration between QiDao Protocol and Tomb Finance is already active.

How Does QiDao Protocol Work?

The QiDao Protocol works with MAI (MIMATIC) stablecoins. Furthermore, the protocol backs this stablecoin with locked collateral tokens. Users can also make MAI with approved collateral in vaults. Another way is with Anchor on the MAI app. The collateral can be in many forms, LINK, CRV, or others. QiDao only works with the Chainlink oracles for pricing of assets.

On the other hand, Beefy and Yearn strategies are also an option. This gives access to interest-bearing collateral. Beefy, Yearn, and Aave receipt tokens come to mind. With these, users can also rack up yield from their collateral that they deposit in their MAI vaults. 

But, depositing collateral in vaults, allows for minting MAI. This is also interest free, allowing for long-term MAI holding with no amassed interest. However, there is a 0.5% repayment fee on each MAI debt.

On the Anchor page, minting is possible in USDT, DAI, or USDC. Anchor fees are 1% for minting. The treasury will mint new MAI and keeps the deposited stable coin as collateral. This allows for arbitrage and keeps the peg between $0.99 and %1.01. However, keep in mind that this doesn’t serve as an exchange.

The vault and the treasury (through Anchor) burn MAI when users repay their debts. The collateral to debt ratio is 150% or higher to avoid liquidation. Also, it keeps the protocol healthy. Furthermore, Fantom allows the following coins as collateral to borrow MAI. WETH, yvDAI, yvWFTM, WFTM, WBTC, LINK, SUSHI, AAVE, among other tokens are accepted.  

Passive Income Opportunities with QiDao Protocol

The QI token offers two options to earn yield, by farming and staking. We mentioned already Tomb Finance in the Fantom network. However, another option is to deposit QI and MAI in a QuickSwap pool. Now stake your LP tokens in the Mai Finance, that provides a yield up to 200% or more. 

Moreover, stake your QI for a predetermined period. The longer the QI users lock up their QI, the higher the APY is. Stakers receive their rewards weekly. Also, it is possible to lock the QI token for up to four years. However, once locked, it is not possible to unstake them or transfer it.

In addition, everybody who stakes QI receives eQI (escrow QI). Therefore, pending on how much QI users stake and the duration, the protocol calculates the amount of eQI. The more eQI a user has, the more it increases the user’s QI Powah. Also, the QI Powah calculates the amount of QI a user has. By locking QI tokens in the boost page, users can amplify their QI Powah.

Here is a sample: If users have 100 QI, but who don’t stake it, they will have a QI Powah of 300. However, if a user have 100 QI and lock it for four years, the user will have 400 eQI and 400 QI Powah.

Farming With MAI on Fantom

Here are 5 farming options with MAI tokens on Fantom’s blockchain:

• Beethoven X —  A Balancer fork. You can add MAI to the Quqin QI V2 pool and API is between 20% and 30%.
• SpookySwap —  A DEX on Fantom. Farm a MAI-USDC pair and gain BOO tokens. Average APR  25% – 30%.
• MAI Finance —  A lending and borrowing platform. Rewards are in QI tokens. APR, 45% or more.
• Beefy Finance —  An aggregator, also available on Fantom. Deposit LP tokens from Beethoven X or SpookySwap. APY 20%-35%.
• Beluga —  An aggregator available on Fantom. Deposit BEETS from Beethoven X in the BEETS-FTM pool. In November 2021, this pool had an APR of 350%.

QI And MIMATIC Tokens Price Overlook

At the time of writing this article, the price of QI token is $0.75. Also, QI holders can vote and govern the protocol. In return, they receive a reward, a percentage of QiDao’s revenue.

Also, QI has a market cap of $46.8 million and a 24-hour trading volume of $138k. The current ATH came in at $4.29 on 17th June 2021. The tokens current rank in market cap is #583, according to CoinGecko. 

QI dropped no less than 30.5% in price during February 2022. The QI token is available at a variety of DEXs, including:

• QuickSwap
• SushiSwap (Polygon)
• Balancer (Polygon)
• Trader Joe
• Beethoven X

On the other hand, the price of MIMATIC is $1. No surprise here for it being a stablecoin. Nowadays, MIMATIC has a market cap of $264 million and a 24-hour trading volume of $17 million.

What Are the Risks in The QiDao Protocol?

The risks in the QiDao protocol are manageable. However, first some security information. So far, QiDao had two audits, by Bramah Systems and Cloakwire. 

Also, the vaults have a flexible debt ceiling in place. This prevents large volumes of MAI entering a market. In turn, this can affect the price of MAI negatively.

When borrowing money, liquidation is always a risk in case a user cannot repay the borrowed money. This happens to under-collateralized vaults. Furthermore, sell-offs and hyper-borrowing are other risks.

Conclusion

QiDao seems to be an undervalued protocol. A low market cap on one side. On the other hand, great yield options are available in the popular Fantom ecosystem. Therefore, a protocol and token with great potential. 

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