In the world of cryptocurrency, volatility is the norm, and stories of surges and crashes unfold daily. For many investors, trading coins feels like an endless roller coaster, with altcoins plummeting and PVP (player versus player) battles leading to repeated defeats, draining both energy and wallets.
As a result, more and more people are starting to turn their attention to a more 'laid-back' way of making money - U-based investing.
U-based investing simply refers to investment strategies based on stablecoins (such as USDT, USDC, etc.). Compared to the high-risk trading of coins, U-based investing is more like a 'laid-back earning' model, suitable for 'lazy' investors who do not want to operate frequently but still hope for steady growth of their funds.
Today, we will delve into the current situation and opportunities of U-based investing to see how it has become a 'safe haven' for more and more investors.
1. Base interest rate investing: Low risk, stable returns
For investors with lower risk tolerance, base interest rate investing is the simplest entry option. This type of investment mainly focuses on centralized exchanges (CEX) and decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms. Although the returns are not high, they are stable.
1. CEX single-coin investing
Binance: The APY for USDT single-coin investing is 2.7%, and if your deposit amount is between 0-500 USDT, you can enjoy an additional 5% bonus. The APY for USDC is 1.89%, also with a small bonus.
OKX: The single-coin investing APY for both USDT and USDC is 2%, suitable for users seeking simple operations.
Bitget: The APY for USDT single-coin investing can reach up to 4.12%, and there is an additional 8% bonus for amounts between 0-500 USDT, making it a high-yield option among CEX.
2. On-chain DeFi deposits
If you prefer a decentralized investment approach, on-chain DeFi platforms also offer rich options:
Ethereum: The USDT, USDC, and DAI deposit APYs on Aave are 4.18%, 4.27%, and 5.13%, respectively.
The USDT and USDC deposit APYs on the Fluid platform are higher, reaching 9.43% and 8.07%, respectively.
Solana: Kamino and margin.fi are popular choices in the Solana ecosystem, with USDT and USDC deposit APYs ranging from 4.72% to 6.53%, while the USDS-USDC LP's APY can be as high as 11.24%.
Base: The USDC-USDT LP pool on Aerodrome has an APY of up to 13.88%, making it a good choice for users seeking high yields.
2. Pendle: The 'magical world' of structured returns
If you are not satisfied with the low yields of the base interest rate, Pendle may be your next 'battlefield'.
Pendle is a DeFi platform focused on structured returns, allowing users to flexibly choose to hold principal or yields by splitting assets into PT (Principal Token) and YT (Yield Token), or even leverage to amplify returns.
1. Popular pools
eUSDe pool: The eUSDe pool expiring on May 29 has a direct purchase PT APY of up to 17.9%, with an expected yield of about 4.56%. If you choose to provide LP (eUSDe - eUSDe PT), the APY is 7.546%, and you can also earn 1.6 times Ethreal points and 50 times Ethena Sats point bonuses.
USDe and sUSDe pools: The USDe PT pool expiring on March 27 has an APY of 17.57%, while the sUSDe PT pool expiring on May 29 has an APY of 13.49%.
Pendle's high yields have attracted a large number of users, but they also come with higher risks.
3. Ecological incentives: The 'uncertainty' behind high returns
Ecological incentives are another highlight of U-based investing, especially in some emerging ecosystems where early participants often enjoy very attractive returns. However, such returns are usually distributed in the form of ecological tokens or protocol tokens, and price fluctuations will directly affect the final returns.
1. Sonic ecosystem
Shadow DEX: The APR for the USDC.e - scUSD LP is as high as 38.2%, while the APR for the USDC.e - USDT LP has reached 57.3%. However, rewards are mainly distributed in the form of xSHADOW and GEMS, with xSHADOW requiring 6 months to unstake, and GEMS being future airdrop certificates with a longer redemption time.
2. Sui ecosystem
Scallop lending protocol: The Sui ecosystem recently opened incentive subsidies, leading to an inversion of borrowing costs and returns. For example, the lending incentives for SUI, sbETH, and sbUSDC are higher than the borrowing rates, allowing users to profit from both deposits and loans.
4. Blind mining opportunities: Seeking future 'airdrop dividends'
Blind mining opportunities refer to projects that have not yet conducted token issuance (TGE) but have opened deposit channels. The returns from such opportunities can fluctuate greatly, but the potential rewards are quite enticing.
1. Ethreal
Ethreal is known as Ethena's 'favorite child', users can deposit USDe to receive eUSDe certificates. Although this scheme does not generate interest, participating through Pendle LP can yield higher returns.
2. Other blind mining opportunities
Symbiotic: By depositing sUSDe, the APY is 9%, while accumulating points.
Soneium: Participate in ASTR incentives while aiming for potential airdrops.
Berachian: Deposit sUSDe through Concrete, but exit is restricted.
Perena: The LP pool APY is low and has been withdrawn.
Meteora: Scoring opportunities, but not limited to stablecoins.
5. Leverage ratio: Diversified investment to reduce risk
In the world of cryptocurrency, diversified investment is key to reducing risk. Here is a reference stablecoin allocation plan:
Base interest rate investing: 30% (partially from CEX and on-chain DeFi, allowing for trading at any time)
Pendle: 40% (distributed across different pools, with PT and LP each accounting for a portion)
Ecological incentives: 10% (invest a small amount to avoid heavily investing in high-risk ecosystems)
Blind mining opportunities: 20% (adjusted based on project conditions and personal preferences)
U-based investing provides investors with a relatively low-risk cryptocurrency investment method, suitable for those who are unwilling to operate frequently and seek stable returns.
Whether it's base interest rate investing, Pendle's structured products, or ecological incentives and blind mining opportunities, each strategy has its unique risks and returns. The key is to find a suitable method for oneself and allocate funds reasonably to move steadily in a volatile market.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice. Investors should rationally consider cryptocurrency investments based on their own risk tolerance and investment goals, and avoid blindly following trends.