Odos (ODOS) is a multichain DEX aggregator offering optimal swaps, gas-inclusive rates, multi-token trades, and a loyalty program.

 (DeFi) sector has long been a key driver of growth for another type of protocol in this area — DEX 

 platforms. These aggregators scout the DEX ecosystem accessible to them to find and execute token swaps at optimal rates for their users. As the DEX landscape has grown increasingly complex and varied, aggregator platforms have become more relevant to the needs of DeFi users.

In the niche of DEX aggregators, Odos provides a solution that stands out, thanks to its intent optimization algorithm, an extensive network of used blockchains and protocols, an efficient order routing mechanism and a sophisticated multi-token swap functionality. Although Odos isn't among the heavyweights of the DEX aggregator category just yet, it features the ability to access liquidity on 14 chains, boasting some of the broadest coverage of sources in this sphere.

 (ODOS) is a cross-chain DEX aggregator that offers users the best possible swap rates, thanks to its intent optimization order routing and its extensive network of accessible chains and protocols. 

As of late December 2024, Odos boasts the ability to access liquidity on over 900 protocols across 14 blockchain networks. The platform's coverage of liquidity sources is among the highest among DEX aggregators. Some of the leading chains accessible to Odos are 

 (AVAX), to name a few. The platform can also access DEX liquidity on smaller networks, such as 

 (SOR), its proprietary algorithm, to search for the optimal swap deals for user intents across a vast network of liquidity sources. The platform's intent optimization algorithm scans available 

 sources via complex, nonlinear paths in order to identify and deliver the best rates.

The Odos aggregator supports different kinds of orders, including simple swaps, multi-token swaps and 

. Its simple swaps offer users guaranteed rates, without sneaking in any hidden charges, such as gas fees or 

 rate losses. When a user requests a swap quote, the protocol finds the best possible deal, inclusive of gas fees and other charges. The effect of slippage is also taken into account so as to avoid surprises for the user. In short, the rate you see is what you pay, with no additional fees involved.

Odos also offers multi-token atomic swaps, sophisticated order types involving token swap combinations within one transaction. You can request swaps with multiple sell tokens at specified amounts and one or more buy tokens at preferred proportions. For instance, the image below is a screenshot from the Odos app showing a request to sell one Ether (ETH) token, one 

 (ZRO) token, via a single atomic transaction, to buy MakerDAO's 

 (USDT) stablecoin at a 50/50 proportion.

Odos also supports limit orders, so you can specify a target price for a token pair and have your order executed only if the desired rate is reached.

At the heart of the Odos platform is its intent optimization system, which scouts the network of 

 across the entire ecosystem accessible to the protocol to find the best ultimate path for your swaps. In total, Odos has access to over 55,000 DeFi assets. Nonlinear, complex search routes are employed to source the best swap deals.

The rates Odos finds usually include gas fees to avoid uncertainty for users, and the protocol optimizes gas costs through the integration of 

, a leading gas estimation solution. In some cases, Odos might suggest routes involving higher gas fees, but only if the gains from the lower rates that it finds outweigh the expenditure on gas. In short, the routes and rates Odos finds take into account all the fees involved.

Odos is a permissionless system, and doesn't hold user funds in its own custody. It simply finds optimal routes for swaps by leveraging its 

, which are regularly audited by third parties to ensure the security of the entire platform. As of December 2024, Odos has undergone three audits conducted by two reputable blockchain security companies — Zellic and Halborn.

Some order types on Odos (e.g., simple swaps) protect users from slippage rates by providing guaranteed quotes inclusive of all fees. For other swap operations, users can specify slippage rate limits, and their intended transactions will only be executed if the final rate stays within the acceptable slippage limit.

While not all components of the Odos platform are open-source, the critical order router system is, further ensuring the transparency of the protocol.

The project also offers an API for developers to easily integrate Odos's smart order routing into their own platforms. There’s a free API access mode, with a limit of 600 requests per five minutes. For any higher volume requirements or unlimited access, developers can get in touch with the Odos project for paid API plans.

Odos Zaps allow you to transform any crypto assets you own into 

 in one seamless transaction. Zaps offer 

 v2–style pools in which the ratio of provided tokens is fixed at 50:50. However, unlike standard Uniswap v2 pools, Zaps liquidity provision doesn't result in losses due to any imbalance in the ratio of contributed assets.

To correct any deviations from the 50:50 ratio at the liquidity provision stage, Odos Zaps recalculates and rebalances your asset contributions to deliver you the maximum number of LP tokens. Such rebalancing is used for standard Uniswap v2–style pools.

Additionally, Odos Zaps can be used for non-standard pools that don't conform to the Uniswap v2 format, and any imbalances in your asset contributions are returned to your wallet — instead of being rebalanced — so you pay only the minimum required amount for your LP tokens.

The Odos Loyalty Program rewards users based on the amount of transaction revenue generated from their on-platform trading activities. Rewards are calculated for each epoch (which currently lasts 30 days). The primary rewards within the program are transaction fee rebates, which are paid out to users (after each epoch) in ODOS tokens.

Rebate rates vary by tier, with each membership tier based on a specific number of ODOS tokens locked on the platform. The more ODOS you lock, the higher the rebate percentage. Loyalty badges are given to users who attain certain membership tiers. The table below shows the rebate rates and ODOS requirements for each tier of the program.

The Odos DAO is the platform's decentralized, community-driven governance structure. It's designed to support all matters related to Odos's governance and decentralized development, including facilitating on-chain voting by ODOS token holders. Both the DAO and the platform's 

, ODOS, were launched in December 2024, more than two and a half years after the platform's April 2022 public launch.

The platform's native cryptocurrency, ODOS, is an 

 Layer 2 chain. As noted above, ODOS is used for governance purposes. Token holders can vote on proposals concerning the protocol's future direction, development and rules. Each ODOS token entitles the holder to one vote.

Besides governance, ODOS is also used within the platform's Loyalty Program for transaction rebate payouts and to qualify for different membership tiers.

ODOS is a supply-capped token, with a total and maximum supply specified at 10 billion. The token's supply allocation shares are per the figure below.

The ODOS token is available on Bybit's Spot market as a 

. You can also take advantage of Bybit's 

 (running through Jan 2, 2025, 9AM UTC) for the chance to grab a share of the 9.5 million ODOS prize pool. The first 6,000 new users who complete basic identity verification can earn 1,000 ODOS if they accumulate a deposit volume of at least 3,000 ODOS, or deposit at least 100 USDT and trade 100 USDT worth of ODOS for their first trade with Bybit.Meanwhile, existing users can qualify for up to 

 by trading at least 500 USDT worth of ODOS on the Spot market.

Odos's optimal order routing solution offers DeFi users a unique way to conduct both simple and multi-token swaps and take advantage of the best rates available across no fewer than 14 blockchain platforms. As Odos increases its number of integrations and partners, it will be able to further optimize transaction costs and ensure that users can benefit from some of the most competitive swap rates available in the world of DeFi. Whether you’re after a complex multi-token swap functionality, or would like the certainty of guaranteed simple swaps with no hidden fees, the Odos DEX aggregator has something in store for you.

Intermediate

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Odos (ODOS): Simple and Secure Multichain Swaps

Syrup is a DeFi platform offering institutional-grade yields powered by Maple. Find out more about the fast-growing protocol with over $230 million in total valued locked (TVL).

 (DeFi) platform designed to bring institutional-grade lending yields to a broad audience. Built on Maple’s proven lending infrastructure, Syrup allows users to earn consistent yields by participating in overcollateralized lending pools. Syrup stands out for its integration with major DeFi protocols.

This article explores Syrup’s features, tokenomics and staking opportunities, showcasing its ability to bridge institutional-grade lending with DeFi accessibility.

This article also highlights the innovative SYRUP token, staking mechanisms and security measures on Syrup that ensure both scalability and reliability in the DeFi space.

 is a DeFi platform that offers institutional-grade lending yields to retail and DeFi users. Powered by Maple, Syrup facilitates overcollateralized, fixed-rate loans to institutional borrowers, ensuring consistent returns for users. 

With a TVL of $232.8 million, an average APY of 22.4% and a collateral ratio of 173.1%, Syrup has quickly become a trusted name in the DeFi space. 

By allowing users to deposit USDC or USDT and earn yield through LP tokens like syrupUSDC, Syrup combines Maple’s lending infrastructure with DeFi’s permissionless access to create a seamless earning experience.

 is a leading institutional lending protocol in the DeFi space, designed to deliver fixed-rate, overcollateralized loans to institutional borrowers. Established in 2019, it plays a pivotal role in Syrup’s ecosystem by providing its robust lending infrastructure.

By merging the strengths of traditional finance (TradFi) with blockchain efficiency, Maple sets the foundation for Syrup to offer institutional-grade yields to DeFi participants.

Yield Opportunities and Institutional Lending From Maple

Syrup is powered by Maple’s lending infrastructure, leveraging its expertise in fixed-rate lending and compliance to deliver consistently high yields. By tapping into Maple’s ecosystem, Syrup enables permissionless access to institutional-grade lending for DeFi participants.

By combining Maple’s structured credit framework with Syrup’s permissionless accessibility, the two platforms create a seamless bridge between TradFi and DeFi for institutional-grade lending opportunities.

Syrup offers a suite of features designed to simplify earning yields and managing assets in the DeFi space.

By combining lending, staking and reward mechanisms, Syrup offers a streamlined approach for users to generate high yields while actively participating in the platform’s ecosystem.

Syrup operates as a layer on top of Maple, simplifying access to institutional-grade DeFi yields. It abstracts the complexities of Maple's permissioned system to allow seamless user interaction while leveraging Maple's robust lending infrastructure. 

By streamlining access to institutional lending, Syrup empowers users to benefit from Maple's high yields with reduced operational complexity. This user-centric design makes DeFi yields more accessible while maintaining robust security.

The Syrup token (SYRUP) operates as the core utility token of the Syrup platform, bridging its DeFi ecosystem with institutional-grade lending from Maple.

SYRUP provides staking incentives, governance rights and utility across both Syrup and Maple’s ecosystems, ensuring active engagement and long-term value for holders.

Staking SYRUP tokens allows holders to earn rewards while contributing to the ecosystem's growth. Here’s how the staking mechanism works:

Staking rewards, governance participation, and instant unstaking options make SYRUP staking attractive for its ecosystem’s participants.

Syrup effectively bridges institutional-grade lending with DeFi accessibility, offering consistent yields, seamless staking and robust integrations with the Maple ecosystem. With strong tokenomics, comprehensive security audits and a clear road map for growth, Syrup has positioned itself as a leader in sustainable DeFi solutions

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Syrup: Institutional DeFi Yields

MOODENG surged significantly following a donation from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, who adopted Moo Deng, a pygmy hippopotamus, and contributed a substantial amount to support wildlife conservation. 

The S&P 500 dropped 0.04%, halting a potential "Santa Claus rally." It has risen 26% in 2024, with attention now turning to the Fed's 2025 policy and geopolitical risks. Coindesk Indices, an index measuring broader cryptocurrency market performance was down by 3.15%, with Bitcoin and Ether dropping by 3.65% and 3.81%, respectively in the past 24 hours.

Today's top performer is ME, which surged 13.9% following the launching of 'Mooz' by Cool Cows on the Magic Eden Launchpad.

Magic Eden (ME), launched in September 2021, is the largest NFT marketplace on the Solana blockchain, allowing users to buy, sell, mint, and manage tokens. Cool Cows announced the launch of "

" on Magic Eden Launchpad on December 27th. They encourage joining their Discord for a chance at WL or OG spots before launch day.

Check Out the Latest Prices, Charts, and Data of 

MOODENG surged significantly following a 

 from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, who adopted Moo Deng, a pygmy hippopotamus, and contributed a substantial amount to support wildlife conservation. Despite the explosive price increase, analysts warn that the gains may be temporary due to broader market volatility and overbought conditions. Trading volumes spiked, but technical indicators suggest potential corrections. Overall, market sentiment remains cautious, with predictions of possible price dips before stabilization.

Yesterday, the total flow for BTC Spot ETFs was 418.7 million, with 442.9 million in non-GBTC and a -24.2 million flow in GBTC.

 is scheduled for January, with draft criteria revealed during an AMA. Participants can earn JUP tokens based on their swapping volume, starting at $800 for 50 JUP. Higher volumes can earn up to 20,000 JUP. Additional allocations are available for users of Jupiter's Perps, DCA, Limit Orders, or VA features, as well as JUP stakers and governance participants. These criteria are draft and may change.

Beginner

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MOODENG Soars After Vitalik Buterin's Wildlife Donation

Ripple USD (RLUSD) is a stablecoin designed to provide efficient, low-cost solutions for cross-border payments and DeFi, backed by U.S. dollar reserves.

 are the key to solving major financial challenges such as cross-border payments, and may soon replace many traditional fiat uses. 

 (RLUSD) aims to play a central role in this shift, offering stability and efficiency for global transactions and 

 (DeFi). This article will dive into what Ripple USD is, how it works, its main features, use cases and its potential impact on the broader stablecoin market.

Ripple USD is a stablecoin from Ripple Network, designed to maintain a 1:1 peg with the U.S. dollar for stability. This stability is achieved through a collateralization mechanism supported by U.S. dollar deposits, short-term government treasuries, and other cash-equivalent assets, offering a secure and reliable digital currency.

Ripple USD is designed to provide a reliable digital currency for everyday use and to solve several challenges in the crypto and financial worlds:

Ripple introduced RLUSD in June 2024 primarily to streamline cross-border transactions for institutional players. The stablecoin has been in beta testing since August on XRP Ledger and the Ethereum blockchain, and achieved a significant milestone in December 2024 when it received approval from the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). This regulatory nod highlights RLUSD's commitment to meeting stringent standards, strengthening its credibility and earning trust from users and investors alike.

With the NYDFS approval in place, RLUSD is set to launch on both the XRP Ledger (XRPL) and Ethereum’s blockchain. Ripple will follow up with listings on exchanges including Uphold, Bitstamp, Bitso, MoonPay, Independent Reserve, CoinMENA and Bullish, with plans to expand its presence across other platforms and DeFi protocols in the future. Given Ripple's strong reputation for collaborating with financial institutions, RLUSD is poised to give established stablecoins like 

The Ripple USD (RLUSD) stablecoin is built for efficient and reliable cross-border transactions. Each RLUSD is fully backed by U.S. dollar deposits, short-term U.S. Treasuries and cash equivalents, ensuring it maintains a 1:1 peg to the U.S. dollar. This backing provides the stability users need for secure and predictable transactions.

RLUSD will run on the XRP Ledger and Ethereum blockchains as an 

 token to maximize compatibility with a wide range of wallets and DeFi applications. Transactions are processed via Ripple’s decentralized network, which uses a unique 

 to achieve near-instant settlement times — typically within three to six seconds. Unlike traditional blockchain systems, this process doesn’t rely on energy-intensive mining, making it faster and more eco-friendly.

 integration adds another layer of functionality, enabling RLUSD to power automated financial operations. This opens the door to innovative DeFi products and services, from lending and borrowing to yield farming. Currently in beta testing with enterprise partners, RLUSD is undergoing rigorous testing to meet high standards of security and efficiency before its official launch.

Ripple emphasizes transparency, with third-party audits of RLUSD’s reserve assets and regular progress updates. This commitment positions RLUSD as a trustworthy and versatile player in the growing stablecoin market.

Ripple USD (RLUSD) offers strong liquidity for key trading pairs on select 

 (CEXs). This feature ensures that users can buy and sell RLUSD with ease without causing major price fluctuations, resulting in a smooth and efficient trading experience.

RLUSD is issued on both the XRP Ledger and Ethereum blockchain, giving it broad compatibility across multiple ecosystems. This dual issuance ensures that RLUSD can easily be integrated into various platforms and applications, increasing its accessibility and usability across different networks.

With RLUSD, transactions can be settled almost instantly and at minimal cost, no matter where you are in the world. It reduces fees and speeds up cross-border payments and makes the process faster and more cost-effective by cutting out traditional banking intermediaries.

Integrating RLUSD into smart contracts enables automated financial operations, which are more efficient and accessible. This enhanced accessibility empowers users to easily buy, on-ramp, trade and engage in other activities within the DeFi ecosystem. RLUSD thus simplifies financial transaction management to create a more user-friendly DeFi experience.

, a trusted platform for securely managing digital assets, is already widely used by financial institutions and innovators. It combines institutional-grade security with 24/7 real-time execution, ensuring assets are safe while also easily accessible for fast transactions. Ripple Custody’s advanced governance framework streamlines operations, integrates seamlessly into existing technology systems and offers valuable additional services.

Designed for efficiency, Ripple Custody automates manual tasks and simplifies back-office operations, making asset management smoother and faster. The platform also supports flexible deployment options — Software as a service (SaaS), customer-hosted or hybrid models — so organizations can customize it to their needs. Whether for tokenization, stablecoin issuance or overall asset management, Ripple Custody is a key tool for building a strong digital asset strategy.

Ripple Custody plays an essential role in managing the security and integrity of Ripple USD (RLUSD). It ensures the underlying assets — such as U.S. dollar deposits, short-term Treasury bonds and other cash equivalents — are securely held and transparently managed, providing the stability needed for RLUSD to function effectively.

Ripple USD is designed to streamline various financial applications within the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Following are some of the key use cases for RLUSD.

Ripple USD has received final approval from NYDFS and is expected to launch soon. Initially planned for a Dec 4, 2024 release, the launch was delayed due to regulatory processes, but is now anticipated to occur before the end of 2024, as 

Ripple USD is a stablecoin designed to offer a reliable, low-cost solution for cross-border payments and DeFi. Backed by U.S. dollar reserves, it ensures stability while offering quick transactions and broad blockchain compatibility. With regulatory approval and strong institutional backing, RLUSD is positioned to challenge established stablecoins. However, its success will depend upon widespread adoption and effective integration into Ripple's ecosystem, making it a promising yet competitive investment.

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Ripple USD (RLUSD): A Stablecoin Built for Payments

Web3 Experts

Learn more about value accrual in the modular stack with insights from our guest author, Gabe.

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Gabe was formerly with the listings team at Coinbase, and is an author from Shoal Research, a firm specializing in DeFi and infrastructure research.

 have been all the rave, but one often overlooked aspect of them is that they fragment value. In a world where we have one monolithic blockchain, all value accrues to this blockchain’s ecosystem — but that’s not the case with modular blockchains.

This is due to their inherent design. Modularity, as it relates to core blockchain components, means that different layers specialize (i.e., do what they’re best at), and the best layers for data availability and consensus, settlement and execution are coupled into one blockchain, which when presented to the end user allows them to get a better product at a lower price. (The reasons why blockchain components such as data availability and consensus are grouped will be touched upon later in this post, as well as execution and settlement.)

Elaborating on this theme, the modular stack’s main benefit materializes with users being able to access cheaper and better blockspace (better in the sense that this specialization allows for total blockspace to expand exponentially; more on this below). As the number of blockchains proliferates, it will unlock applications that we haven’t even thought of yet — much the way broadband unlocked social media for us, as well as better security guarantees. Developers of applications also need to worry less about the “ideal” stack for them; they can just plug and play, subsequently deploying their app. So when the functions of all these core components are carried out by different blockchains, where exactly does value accrue?

But before getting to that, let’s get a little deeper into modular blockchains. One reason the modular blockchain narrative is going to be instrumental for the paradigm shift into blockchain technology and web3, in general, is that it allows us to scale bandwidth without compromising on the very reasons blockchains are so interesting — censorship resistance, vitality and credible neutrality.

In essence, with modular blockchains, we can try to make the best trade-offs on the blockchain trilemma (see above) by scaling in layers. Take Ethereum as an example: with modular blockchains, Ethereum can be used as a settlement layer, since it has the most (and the most geographically distributed set of) validators (as well as a lot of solo stakers and overall less cloud concentration, see 

). In addition, Ethereum’s chain is arguably being secured by the best crypto money after Bitcoin — Ether. But effectively, Ethereum is well suited to be a settlement layer, making it a place to have the 

, as well as dispute resolution (such as for fraud/fault proofs).

Now, with regard to scalability, we do this on layers built on top of Ethereum, much like we do in TradFi (for example, Stripe or something like PayPal is built on top of many financial layers, and usually banks, say every week or so, settle up on the base layer using 

, i.e., the Federal Reserve settlement system). Nic Carter, in 

 with Lex Fridman, breaks it down well (it’s worth noting that TradFi is at an advantage since it utilizes centralized databases to record transfers, etc., while blockchains are distributed ledgers that require cooperation of thousands of nodes to append and verify). 

This mechanism takes the form of rollups and other scaling solutions, rollups being the predominant one, which solely specialize in execution ( basically, just running code in an execution environment, which takes the form of the 

 for Ethereum and Ethereum rollups), and can hence make some trade-offs when it comes to decentralization and security (this is another post in and of itself). Rollups also need 

 and, by extension, consensus in order to function, and while this can be done by Ethereum, it can be outsourced (trade-offs here, too) to blockchains like 

A nice example of a project that embraces modularity is 

, which uses Ethereum as a settlement layer and Celestia as a DA+consensus layer, achieving execution by itself using the 

 (Solana virtual machine) as its execution environment. The SVM is creating a lot of buzz right now as one of the only multithreaded virtual machines, allowing for 

 (basically transactions to be processed in parallel to each other), unlike the EVM, which is single-threaded. Hence, sequential transactions are the norm and parallelization isn’t possible.

Let me precede all this by saying that Ethereum in and of itself 

a modular blockchain, in the sense that it can do everything (data availability, consensus, execution and settlement) by itself, but can be used by other blockchains and layers of the modular stack (for example, execution layers like rollups) for functions such as settlement, which then makes Ethereum a component of 

The way this meme can be understood is that everything is a modular blockchain, and everything is a monolithic blockchain (performing all the functions on the base layer, like Solana), depending upon how you look at it. For example, if I built a rollup on Solana, is Solana itself a monolithic blockchain, or a modular one? Likewise for Ethereum. Even Celestia can achieve execution and settlement as well, but if it’s only utilized for data availability and consensus, then it's a modular blockchain (you get the point).

By embracing modular blockchains, different blockchains can specialize in what they do to fulfill the requirements to have an “optimized” blockchain, as I’ve elucidated above.

Which one of these layers (data availability/DA for short, consensus, settlement or execution) will capture the most amount of value (have the most value accrual)?

This post was inspired after discovering the following 

1) For a DA layer to work, you need some kind of ordering on that layer (hence, DA layers come with their own consensus, i.e., ordering protocols), so in this modular stack, consensus and DA aren’t two separate things. Just imagine using data available on one chain in order to create proofs, but this data (because it's on a blockchain) is ordered in some other way by another chain. It’s just a mess.

2) Execution layers like Arbitrum have pricing (discrimination) power, while DA layers like Celestia do not. This is because Celestia provides a homogeneous service (data availability), while Arbitrum (and other rollups like Optimism; I’m just taking Arbitrum as a main example) provides an execution environment for some of the best crypto apps not found elsewhere. This in itself is one reason why Arbitrum makes a significant amount of revenue (some hundreds of thousands of dollars per day), while Celestia makes negligible fees (less than $100 per day at the time of writing, as seen below, though this is also a function of Celestia’s nascency). 

Arbitrum is also closer to the end user, due to their monopoly on sequencing (the foundation runs the only sequencer). While this will change in the future — for example, with the adoption of 

 — the Arbitrum protocol (sequencer, builder, searcher) will still be the only one to receive user fees, and most importantly, MEV and some part of the fees will trickle down to the DA layer as the rollup/execution environment will still write the data to Celestia, etc.! And remember, if DA layers captured most of the value, then rollups today would be charging lower fees to users than the cost to post/write data to the DA layer (i.e., operating at a loss, which is not the case today).

Anatoly Yakovenko (the founder of Solana) 

 this phenomenon in depth on the Lightspeed podcast.

3) Settlement layers are more valuable than DA+consensus layers (and I’d argue execution layers) simply because of the fact that the settlement layer will be secured by the most money/money-like crypto asset, as in the case of the most credibly neutral settlement layer today, Ethereum, which is secured by ETH. A DA+consensus layer will inevitably have more activity/volume flowing through it, relative to the settlement layer (which will only be used for bridging and dispute resolution, so occasionally, block headers will be posted to it from the DA+consensus layer). But the settlement layer’s asset will still be more valuable, albeit the settlement layer is “doing less.” Just look at TRX vs. ETH; the former’s blockchain handles more volume and burns more of its native token than Ethereum’s, and yet it’s valuated at magnitudes less than ETH. 

Simply put, the monetary premium is the multiple at which an asset trades relative to its fundamentals/fundamental utility (due to its “moneyness”). Gold is a good example: it's not used so much in the economy for production processes — and yes, it also looks good — but most of its value comes from its hard money trait. Case in point. 

 for this point, who puts it better than I do:

the most valuable part of the stack is settlement, then execution, and then DA+consensus

, for all the reasons mentioned above (this is why I’m not delineating between DA and consensus).

My argument can be summed up as follows: The settlement layer is the most valuable because of monetary premiums, and execution is much more valuable than DA+consensus because the latter provides a homogenous service where competition is fierce, and costs (and hence revenue for the DA+consensus layer) will trend to 0 (slightly unrelated, but 

 is great and talks about why these sorts of businesses don’t make sense to pursue). Meanwhile, the former (execution) layers can build network effects at a much greater rate and solidify them with mass liquidity! (They’re also much closer to the users, and they don’t compete on fees!)

Let me explain this point a little more. Right now, rollups such as Optimism and Arbitrum pay more than 90% of their costs (which are actually paid by users) for DA (this 

 expands on what I’m saying), something they want to minimize. Therefore, they might switch to Celestia for DA (and hence consensus), thus lowering their cost (and therefore their revenue) drastically (right now, data on Celestia costs pennies for rollups; if Arbitrum wrote as much data as it did today to Ethereum to Celestia, it would only pay a few thousand dollars — 

 has done good research on this). But users don’t care about small fee increments between rollups! I don’t care if I’m paying $0.01 for a swap on Rollup A when I could be paying $0.007 for a swap on Rollup B, simply because I don’t swap that much, and bridging my assets is a hurdle and entails security risks. But for a rollup —which is, after all, a business posting thousands of megabytes of data to the DA layer — these “increments” in cost matter a lot because they add up. Basically, rollups are price-elastic (

 price elastic). But rollup users aren’t, to a large degree.

From fat protocols to fat applications, modeling value accrual in the blockchain landscape isn’t a new endeavor. The advent of modularity introduces new components to the public blockchain landscape, as well as new economic and value dynamics. Modular blockchains represent a paradigm shift in the blockchain stack — from building a complete integrated network that can serve all four blockchain functions on the base layer, to building networks which use specialized layers for fulfilling these functions optimally.

 is the most valuable component of the stack, underpinned by the monetary premiums associated with the underlying asset. 

 layers follow closely behind. In contrast, 

 despite providing essential functions, face growing competition and diminishing revenue potential due to their semblance to commodities.

In short, the order of value accrual in the modular stack is as follows:

Value Accrual in the Modular Stack: Unpacking Where Value Might Accrue in a Modular Blockchain Future

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