How can eUSD Stability be Ensured?

Maintaining the eUSD Peg

eUSD stability is maintained through a combination of overcollateralization, liquidation mechanisms, and arbitrage opportunities. These factors work together to ensure that the value of eUSD remains as close as possible to its 1 USD peg.

1. Over-collateralization

Each 1 eUSD is backed by at least $1.5 worth of LSTs as collateral. Over-collateralization helps maintain stability by ensuring that the value of the underlying collateral is greater than the value of the eUSD issued. This buffer reduces the risk of insolvency and provides a level of security for eUSD holders.

2. Liquidation Mechanisms

The Lybra Finance Protocol incorporates liquidation mechanisms to protect the system from undercollateralized positions. If a user's collateral rate falls below the safe Collateral Rate, any user can volunteer to be a Liquidator and buy the liquidated portion of collateralized LST, paying in corresponding eUSD (100% - Liquidation Reward Rate). This mechanism ensures appreciation pressure on eUSD and helps maintain stability.

3. Arbitrage Opportunities

Arbitrage opportunities arise when the eUSD price deviates from its 1 USD peg. Users can take advantage of these price discrepancies to make a profit and help restore the eUSD price to its intended value.

• eUSD price above 1 USD: If the eUSD price exceeds 1 USD, users can mint new eUSD by depositing ETH as collateral and then sell the newly minted eUSD on a DEX. As more eUSD is sold, the market supply increases, pushing the price back down to 1 USD. Users can then buy back eUSD at a lower price or use it to repay their loans, realizing a profit from the price difference.

• eUSD price below 1 USD: If the eUSD price falls below 1 USD, users can purchase eUSD at a discounted rate on the market and then redeem it within the Lybra Protocol for 1 USD worth of ETH/Rebase LST. As users buy up the undervalued eUSD, demand increases, driving the price back up to 1 USD. Users can either hold the redeemed ETH/Rebasing LST or sell it, profiting from the price difference.

• Flash Loan: The additional step that has been added to boost fund safety on Lybra V2 during the eUSD liquidation process works as follows. Whenever eUSD is converted to peUSD, the eUSD is locked in the mainnet contract. This locked eUSD plays an important role in ensuring the safety of the funds. This is because the locked eUSD can be used to make flash loans that facilitate liquidation.

4. Premium Suppression Mechanism

   In V2, when the accumulated platform fees exceed 1,000 eUSD (eUSD annual service fee, i.e. Staked esLBR protocol revenue share), the protocol will evaluate the exchange rate of eUSD to USDC. If eUSD is trading above 0.5% (1.0005), the protocol will automatically swap the excess eUSD for USDC, It will then move the acquired USDC into the protocol reward pool (meaning, esLBR holders will receive the revenue share in USDC (instead of eUSD) under this scenario. This mechanism is designed to suppress the premium and stabilize the value of eUSD closer to 1 USD. In the case where the eUSD/USDC premium is not above 0.5%, the excess eUSD will instead be swapped to peUSD and be distributed to the protocol reward pool, adding to the yield for esLBR holders.

5. Stability Fund

   Lybra incorporates an innovative feature known as the Bounty Mechanism. This feature allows users to acquire dLP and Advanced Vested esLBR using either LBR or eUSD.

   In scenarios where eUSD is employed for these purchases, the used eUSD portion is strategically reserved as a part of the protocol's Stability Fund. This Stability Fund serves a critical function in ensuring the stability of the protocol by helping to maintain the peg of eUSD, especially in instances where eUSD is trading above its peg. Thus, this mechanism not only offers enhanced flexibility for users but also contributes to the overall stability and robustness of the Lybra protocol.