Os empréstimos ativos em rede retornaram a níveis nunca vistos desde o pico de euforia de 2021. A métrica proxy para a atividade DeFi mostra que os mutuários tinham confiança no mercado altista até este ponto, buscando ganhos por meio de empréstimos baseados em garantias.
Os empréstimos DeFi se tornaram um dos principais aplicativos em 2024. Embora o valor geral DeFi bloqueado ainda seja menor do que em 2021, os empréstimos em rede estão tão ativos quanto durante o ciclo de alta anterior.
A métrica de alavancagem on-chain revela um mercado mais maduro, onde os principais protocolos se espalharam por múltiplas cadeias. Além disso, a atual alavancagem on-chain é apenas semelhante a 2021 em termos nominais.
A métrica foi alcançada em um momento em que Bitcoin (BTC) está em uma encruzilhada que mais uma vez levantou questões sobre o pico do seu ciclo. Em 2021, o pico de empréstimos coincidiu com a euforia dos preços, mas acabou espalhando o contágio a vários protocolos. Desde então, o crescimento dos empréstimos DeFi tem sido mais conservador, tendo em conta o valor das garantias.
Além disso, alguns protocolos mudaram para letras do Tesouro como garantia, removendo uma camada de risco vinculada aos preços das criptomoedas.
Como percentagem da oferta monetária disponível no mercado criptográfico, este ciclo ainda utiliza uma percentagem menor das stablecoins disponíveis. Isto levou a expectativas de empréstimos ainda mais amplos, o que poderia, por sua vez, impulsionar os swaps DEX e outras atividades.
Com uma oferta maior de stablecoins, os empréstimos DeFi também estão limitando seu contágio em caso de queda do mercado.
A alavancagem está aumentando, mas como % da oferta monetária, os empréstimos ativos #DeFi ultrapassaram apenas 50% do nível alcançado no último ciclo. pic.twitter.com/2kysPxjyQg
— Jamie Coutts CMT (@Jamie1Coutts) 17 de dezembro de 2024
During the 2024 cycle, DeFi and centralized trading have exposure to nearly 200B in various stablecoins. The DeFi space also has new algorithmic or asset-backed coins and tokens that can create niche sources of liquidity, as in the case of USDe, USDS, the remaining supply of DAI and other minor stablecoins.
On-chain loans have exceeded $22.85B, as lending protocols from 2021 were replaced by new hubs. The market for DeFi lending has recovered from the crash following the Terra (LUNA) unraveling, as well as the subsequent crash of FTX.
On-chain leverage works as far as the underlying collateral is stable and in excess of the loan. The loans are then often used in other DeFi protocols. Loans are usually in the form of stablecoins, which can then be used to purchase assets or to park in high-yield vaults.
Reporting on DeFi lending hinges on the method used to track value. The current level of active loans, as measured by Token Terminal, is lower compared to other leverage metrics.
Based on DeFi Llama data, lending protocols lock in more than $50B in value, the highest level since before the crash of LUNA and UST.
While other protocols grew with some level of caution, Aave (AAVE) was the leading app in terms of active loans and value locked.
Aave was available during bear market years, building up its infrastructure and user base. The lending protocol is now growing aggressively, offering its lending pool model to other DeFi hubs.
The value in Aave is now above $22B, including the reported loans and collaterals. The project also issues its own stablecoin, GHO, although the growth is limited and relatively conservative.
Aave still relies mostly on WETH and WBTC, while also including smaller tokens in its lending vaults. Even other lending protocols have moved their activity to Aave, in a bid to consolidate liquidity and offer users a simpler approach.
The native AAVE token recently failed its climb to $400, instead sinking to $343.61. AAVE observers expect it to rise to four-digit valuations as it is seen as being early in the lending cycle.
Recently, AAVE also got a boost from whale buying. On-chain lending is sometimes rolled back into DeFi tokens, as in the case of a recently reported whale activity. The whale took GHO as an on-chain loan and used the proceeds to buy more AAVE. Those practices can boost a token’s price. However, that can also expose the loans to liquidation.
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