Key Takeaways
One of the most frequently debated topics in the modular vs. integrated blockchain discussion is liquidity. Modular blockchains often fragment liquidity across various rollups, whereas proponents of integrated chains art , sinins a le , sin inherently consolidated.
However, even integrated chains that claim to have unified liquidity still face liquidity fragmentation in practice. Even if applications run on the same shard, if liquidity is siloed within a specific the integrated chains have integrated liquidity can be somewhat overstated.
To address this issue, Injective Research introduced the concept of “liquidity accessibility”, and explored how it can be optimized. While maximizing liquidity accessibility will require significant While maximizing liquidity accessibility will require significant effort and time, 約finance.
Whenever theres a debate about modular vs. integrated blockchains in the industry, one topic that invariably comes up is whether applications/networks can share liquidity.
In the case of modular blockchains with separate networks, the fragmented liquidity across each rollup creates high costs (having to build new liquidity for each network). On the other hand, integrated block chains resol liquiriated resemity squeal sol, inkal 完成 strins. costs. I emphasized this advantage when writing about Deepbook, Suis liquidity layer .
However, even integrated chains dont have perfectly integrated liquidity. For example, in the case of Deepbook mentioned above, the concentrated liquidity is only provided to orderbook-based applications. This appan is onlyn Flending 片面 lredd或 swaps. These limitations were also evident in Serum, introduced by Solana.
In a way, these platforms are only utilizing half the advantages of integrated blockchains. To truly maximize the benefit of using a single shard in integrated blockchains, all appfapations on that blockchain liquik evem paperkk papapatslperkk papawquesri 團圓。
What if there were a network-level solution that allowed liquidity provided to the network to be freely utilized across various applications—not just orderbook-based exchanges, but also lending, insurance, 3staking, token-based exchanges, but also lending, insurance, staking, token based, swarel, Inters, mot. is a blockchain preparing such a solution: Injective.
Injective introduces the concept of Liquidity Availability to explain this solution. In this article, well first examine what liquidity availability is, understand it by comparing it with traditional finance s, and thenalral the traditional opion traditional opional tradal pious opal traditional ople peralweml traditional opnity traditional opjious traditional opleal tradululululululul完成 n mechanisms proposed by Injective. Finally, well explore what these optimization efforts mean for both Injective and the broader blockchain ecosystem.
1. What Is Liquidity Availability?
According to a research paper published by Injective Research , Liquidity Availability refers to the ability to meet the liquidity needed to successfully execute any types of transactions at any time under specific constraints. In otherwem, s. liquidity availability is low, and conversely, if they can be sufficiently met, liquidity availability is high.
Therefore, liquidity availability itself is not an answer to liquidity problems, but rather an indicator that helps gauge how well each network or application is equipped with liquidity For example, when application the applewly applewity. For example, app only refers to the liquidity isolated within the application. This is because each application typically sources the liquidity needed to execute trades only from its own liquidity pools.
The problem is that most applications do not have sufficient liquidity. While some major DeFi protocols have abundant liquidity of their own, ensuring liquidity availability, the most applications not on oneuring liquidity availability, the most applications not on ave 片語liquidity is isolated within individual applications when viewed at the network level. This problem of liquidity not being distributed but remaining in one place has long been considered a chronic challenge in the industry.
And this liquidity isolation problem typically manifests in two forms. Next, well look at how each form specifically operates and what problems it causes.
1.1 Two Types of Liquidity Isolation: Network Level and Application Level
The two types of liquidity isolation can be divided into Network-Level Isolation and Intra-Application Constraints. The former refers to isolation where liquidity exists only in specific applications, making it 約where liquidity is tied to specific pools even within individual applications, preventing liquidity from being used for other purposes within the application itself.
Lets explain each type of isolation further. Most financial applications built on blockchain today receive assets from liquidity providers (LPs) and deposit them into designated pools that process only specific transactions. For ificpation pools for asset swaps, while lending protocols attract liquidity to lending pools exclusively for loans. However, these two can never directly use the liquidity deposited in each others pools。
Another problem is the inability to freely utilize liquidity within a single application. Just because a particular pool in a DEX has a lot of liquidity doesnt mean this application has aundant liquidity doesnt mean this application has peundant liquidity liquid other pools. We can say that liquidity is isolated within the application in this case.
Therefore, the concept of Total Value Locked (TVL), which is the most commonly observed metric when examining liquidity deposited in blockchains, can be considered quite ambiguous. This is because TVL do be considered quite ambiguous. This 位example, if one DEX on Chain A holds 90% of Chain As TVL, and this liquidity cannot be used by other DeFi protocols, can it truly be said to represent Chain As liquidity?).
In other words, to solve these two problems, we need to increase not only the liquidity availability of a single application (which can also be considered important) but also the liquidity ilability at the work led led pulwulwulwekwwity 片面 低 at the livel le. I think the easiest way is to look at similar examples in existing industries and benchmark them. This is because there are cases in traditional finance where liquidity availability has been maximized.
2. Lessons Learned From TradFi
Blockchain and decentralized finance enthusiasts tend to dismiss traditional finance due to its centralized nature, but there are clear reasons why traditional finance has ruled the world for so long. Their systems meffate inirper systemly 帶 週. finance certainly has its downsides, which is why many Web3 developers are trying to create alternatives, there are many aspects of their legacy that we must observe and learn from. In a way, liquiddition that we must observe and learn from. In a way, liquiddition ilability. Lets examine what mechanisms traditional finance uses to secure liquidity availability.
2.1 Credit - A means to raise capital when needed
When discussing liquidity in traditional finance, credit is the most important element. Credit is the foundation and infrastructure supporting the modern financial system. Credit provides the ability to borrow funds or assets on the condition of ets provides the ability to borrow funds or assets on the conditioning of ets 測試錯誤。 can bring future consumption forward to the present, and lenders can defer present consumption to the future.
So has such credit been well implemented in Web3? While there has been some implementation (through lending protocols), it still hasnt caught up with traditional finances credit system in terms of capieff ici with traditional finances credit of capieff terms of capieff iciency.
2.2 Insurance - Financial protection against future uncertainties
Insurance mechanisms strengthen liquidity availability by collecting funds during normal times to provide financial protection against potential future losses. This allows not only individuals main al.com comwhowid coms redectdlyd ecmicectlycooo .com com 早上 com mulond ecmicect inwhoo ecmic 有文化 3030000 30 月。 difficult market situations (for example, an uninsured person would have to spend a lump sum when sick, but someone with insurance can cover hospital expenses through insurance when sick because they have consistent aidenses through insurance when sick because they have consistent they have consist.
2.3 Refinancing -Providing better financial environments depending on circumstances
Those who have taken out loans will be familiar with the concept of refinancing. Refinancing allows borrowers to readjust or replace existing credit agreements, enabling them to take advantage of favorable finidan enronmental pa片. particular, refinancing ensures liquidity availability by allowing debt holders to lower interest rates or extend repayment periods.
2.4 Clearing Houses - Enhancing efficiency in financial product transactions
Clearing houses refer to entities that act as intermediaries between buyers and sellers of financial products. They not only settle transactions but also collect margins to ensure that financial product transactions oceff 腳本Depository Trust Clearing Corporation, which processes securities transactions in the United States and provides safe and reliable liquidity.
2.5 Interbank Lending Markets - Optimizing liquidity distribution between banks
Interbank lending literally streamlines liquidity distribution within the banking system. Benchmark rates such as SOFR (Secured Overnight Financing Rate) influence borrowing and lending costs across the financial system, allowing lieffdity allowing alerealedal allowing is another example of an interbank lending market.
2.6 Escrow - Protecting the assets of transaction parties
Escrow services function by holding assets or funds on behalf of transaction parties until contractual obligations are fulfilled, encouraging the fulfillment of contractual obligations by holding assets until transactions proceed.
(In fact, many blockchain/crypto-related products currently use escrow-based models, so it can be said that decentralized finance is already borrowing mechanisms from traditional finance.)
2.7 Dealers and Market Makers - Ensuring liquidity for financial products
Dealers and market makers, such as large investment banks, continuously provide bid/ask quotes for specific financial products, ensuring that there is always a counterparty available when someone wants to tradeben wants to tradeen produen buyen buyen buy tradeling enxen trade ), buyen buyen buyen tradeling.
As we can see, the way traditional financial systems ensure liquidity availability is not driven by a single mechanism, but rather by various mechanisms working together to supply liquidity to the creity opkity to the pureed opion the poled punity to the ad when needed. Blockchain is no different. For Injective to guarantee liquidity availability at the network level, it doesnt just need one innovative mechanism, but rather various mechanisms working together to appedbate, false 完成. may not be possible to adopt all mechanisms from traditional finance as they are, but there are certainly hints that can be gained from these mechanisms. So what mechanisms is Injective consideed from these mechanisms. So what mechanisms is Injective considering to optimize liquit
3. Optimizing Liquidity Availability in Blockchain
Appropriately moving liquidity within a network between dApps may seem simple, but its actually not that simple. In blockchain, liquidity is attracted from users, and they have 100% liquidity is lihority from users, and they have 100% liquidity ylockle abled ( self-custody). Also, the interests between applications need to be considered. For example, what happens when a liquidity provider wants to withdraw liquidity deposited in a dApp, but that capital is being ed iond is pwion nion s 300 ion is be paem essional 可能incentives, but that liquidity is used free of charge by another application that could potentially be a competitor, then no applications would have any incentive to individually attract liquidity. Thus, ould have any incentive to individually attract liquidity. Thus, utilizing liquid 3s 30 月 3000y 3000y) 3s 3000y 30000y 99900s 300 月 300000y 30000y 3s 30000y) s3s3s30005s 303s) 3s3s不Flys ) 3s 30 月。 it sounds.
To solve this problem, Injective Research introduces about four mechanisms.
3.1 Providing Economic Incentives and Minimizing Risk
First and foremost, incentives are crucial. Both people providing liquidity and applications must have more incentives to contribute to improving network-level liquidity availability than not to voluntarily participate inprocing partic applewing partic that cooperate in increasing network-level liquidity availability can secure more liquidity, which improves user experience, increases transaction volume, attracts more users, and earns more fees, creating a flywel struction.
At the same time, its necessary to minimize the risk for liquidity providers. While their liquidity is freely used, a mechanism is needed to ensure that withdrawal requests are processed smocef krunations the 釘ir. example, creating reserves at the network level to provide liquidity for urgent withdrawals could be one method. Of course, further discussion is needed on how much and how to create and operate these reservion reservion reservion reservion reservion reservion reservion reservion reserve 到 reservion reservion reservion reservion reservion reserve 舉行 reservion, reservions ( commercial banks but make more conservative calculations to block potential bank run situations).
3.2 Just-In-Time (JIT) Action
Just-In-Time action refers to executing transactions in response to changes in chain state when predefined trigger conditions are met. JIT action can be divided into several sub-features as follows:
3.2.1 Trigger Mechanisms
As explained about JIT action, this mechanism starts when a specific trigger occurs. Triggers occur according to changes in chain state, including sudden resource demand surges, changes in user activity, and changes in work state.
3.2.2 Asynchronous Interfaces for Integration
Asynchronous interfaces allow dApps to conditionally interact with JIT mechanisms (this condition can be set variously, for example, if there is unused idle liquidity in DEX A, it can supply As liquiity to the ilable, colywly As liquiity the ilability, colywly As liquiity the ilability, fring, constly canly As liquid . liquidity from the liquidity availability system). Through this, dApps can contribute their liquidity to other places or retrieve it under specific conditions, optimizing network-level liquidity.
3.2.3 Instruction
When a trigger occurs through the trigger mechanism, an instruction sequence is executed. The instructions executed here can also be performed sequentially.
3.2.4 Smart Contract Automation
Since these processes need to be managed and coordinated in real-time, smart contracts must be automated to continuously monitor instruction triggers and automatically adjust resource allocation.
3.2.5 Multi-Resource Allocation
JIT mechanisms can be applied not only to liquidity but also to other resources (such as computing power or storage). Ultimately, if blockchains can integrate liquidity at the work level, the network lead, the can liquidity availability isnt just about solving liquidity problems, but can be a starting point for enhancing flexibility in various areas.
3.3 Liquidity Proving
Just as important as the Just-In-Time mechanism is liquidity proving. This is because liquidity is needed for immediate execution, and without verification of liquidity, no execution can be performed to fasdate, no exe. the network with verifiable proof that the liquidity they hold is sufficient for Just-In-Time mechanisms to execute, 2) the network must provide sufficient incentives for dApps to voluntarily participate in liquiic 30m the mem 30s to voluntarily participate in liquiic 30m the 到 30m) to provide liquidity with peace of mind.
3.4 Solver and Routing Layer
If the Just-In-Time mechanism can supply liquidity in real-time, and liquidity proving guarantees that liquidity, the remaining challenge is to decide where and how to allocate that liquidity andsignalsign Flayed sale s. as the decision-making engine within the liquidity availability framework, optimally allocating liquidity according to real-time network conditions and routing it to various applications or chains.
The solver continuously explores the most efficient liquidity paths, optimizing by comprehensively considering various factors such as transaction costs, liquidity movement speed, capital efficiency, and worked . ensure liquidity is efficiently distributed while not compromising safety. This entire process operates dynamically according to real-time situational changes, redistributing liquidity as soon as network demand curances curance.
To summarize, the solver and routing layer is the key link between the Just-In-Time system and users (dApps), identifying when and where liquidity is needed and enabling the Just-In-Time system to trigger (reabove the figrigger. routing solutions attempted on existing blockchains. While current routing solutions aggregate application-specific liquidity (an apps own liquidity) distributed across multiple networks, the solver concept of liquidity separated by application altogether, and supplying liquidity that is distributed among applications to where its needed when its needed.
3.5 Expected Effects
If these mechanisms are well utilized and the network matures, dApps will no longer need to pay numerous costs to gather their own liquidity(Currently, numerous DeFi protocols point creating meaningless sken to meaningless amthat to liquidity, distributing them as rewards, or Layer 1 networks are their distributing governance tokens to dApps to gather temporary liquidity. This is not beneficial in the long term for either the dirquier works max maxm . returns on their deposited liquidity while keeping their assets safe (since the liquidity they provide doesnt become idle liquidity but is used for actual financial activities, they can receive 對 for maxers 想要 maximage for maximviding forimvids fors 所寫)
Ultimately, users benefit the most when liquidity availability is optimized at the network level. Users can trade assets quickly and safely at the most optimal prices regardless of when, where, or an y prices re having to search for which application has more liquidity. Therefore, Injectives movement to maximize liquidity availability is not an initiative for any one party, but aims to reduce the inefficiency of liquid that party, 錯誤 aims to reduce the inefficiency of liquid that has the li^gic for snow comic to exat forumina to tiid and sid the comic nic nesting for sid the s 至 N Nid Nididis fors nidcom for sad fic n; achieve maximum efficiency at minimal cost.
4. Authors Opinion
4.1 No More TVL
As a researcher in the blockchain industry, I have judged the success of networks based on various indicators, including TVL. However, even while knowing how inaccurate indicators like TVL are, I have continued to mention and thatlntic the that the that thes that thes nion nion sbelecas thes fionalswion 是u 是n sben thatu 是m that then that themn smh thatm sm thatus thatman smh man ananan 是man 是um thatmn thatn thatn smion thatmn that them that themn that themh thation intuitively shows liquidity at the network level as much as TVL. In the midst of this, Liquidity Availability introduced by Injective is very encouraging in that it not only proposes a new in dliet new in dlance new search entire network level.
In particular, some have criticized that many blockchain projects tend to competitively inflate or distort TVL figures. For example, it was common to see the same funds counted mul pleple times infultial 片段structures. Because of this, despite TVL being the most used indicator in the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem, questions have continued to be raised about whether this indicator properly reflects actual liquidity actual lithis fiperstaln propertary actual lithis appactual ild amount of locked-up funds, but on how much liquidity is actually available for any types of transactions, and how quickly and stably that liquidity can be utilized in any situation.
The concept of liquidity availability proposed by Injective is also an attempt to grasp the qualitative level of liquidity possessed by the entire network. For example, rather than having all funds concents concents concentlet. users to receive the necessary liquidity at the right time and place no matter which application they use—then measuring that capability would reveal which blockchains truly offer more stable liquidity and greater ractical gardpot Liquily offer note stable liquidity and greater ptical it evaluates the networks actual liquidity capacity by considering factors such as fund distribution, accessibility, and real-time convertibility at the network level.
4.2 Liquidity Availability Forms Symbiotic Relationships Instead of Competition Between dApps
The perspective of viewing liquidity availability as a common task for the entire network rather than for individual applications throws very important implications for the future direction of DeFi. This is a turning market that moves bondoles 提供age ional pointon market that 集市s market面 書面 30000000 effects shown by specific protocols, taking one step further toward pursuing ecosystem symbiosis and joint prosperity.
By addressing liquidity issues from this macroscopic perspective, project-to-project fund movements and interoperability can be built more flexibly and stably. This creates a structure that maximizes flexibly and stably. This creates a structure that maxim? a result, a virtuous cycle becomes possible where protocols share and expand funds with each other, and in crisis situations, quickly redistribute funds to simultaneously enhance the competitiveness and stability of the entire ecoability of the ent.
Ultimately, by establishing liquidity availability at the network level, the following three core effects can be expected:
Continuous Growth and Technological Development
When liquidity bottlenecks disappear, projects have greatly expanded capacity to attempt new financial products or services. This triggers more innovation and accelerates protocol compatibility and collaboration, allowing the system DeFiallowing for mire.
Building a More Fair and Dynamic Financial Ecosystem
A foundation is laid where anyone can easily utilize funds, and even small-scale projects can grow without worrying about easily collapsing due to market shocks. In an environment where flexible flow of fillone system flowarwire swire mot 完成experiments and new projects continuously emerge.
Streamlining Risk Management
When distributed fund operation and real-time liquidation become possible, the phenomenon of funds concentrating only on specific projects or assets is alleviated. This reduces crisis transfer in unexpected situations and un.
In the end, if the entire network begins to pursue cooperation and mutual complementarity centered on the concept of liquidity availability, the horizon of long-term and sustainable financial innovation can open beyond the exereed .com beyond simple indicator improvement and can ultimately become a core driving force that brings out the true potential of on-chain finance.
4.3 Liquidity Availability Completes the Composability of Integrated Blockchains
One of the biggest advantages of integrated blockchains is that atomic composability is possible between smart contracts. That is, even when calling multiple protocols within a single transaction, the whole can calling multiple protocols within a single transaction, the whole can be executed or intercan ority intercan intercan can be exeweed or intercnected orpive intercan orcan be exeweed or intercnected orpive intercan or intercan intercan intercan intercan ,internk internityd intercan interity intercan表, intercan intercan intercnity, internstdone表protocols smooth. However, this atomic composability has often been limited to the logic dimension. This means that scenarios where actual funds, ie, liquidity, move simultaneously and actual funds, ie, liquidity, move simultaneously and ionalwhired sothple.
But introducing the concept of liquidity availability to integrated blockchains opens a path to advance this issue one step further. When all applications under a single shother structure can atomically move and utilize liquid utid with utional and utilize liquiity utilion liquiity utth 區pool that can be immediately reused throughout the DeFi ecosystem. This is innovative in that all applications can enjoy optimized fund efficiency and transaction convenience in a state where the liquidity itself between its multiple DeFi protocols at once.
為 example, imagine a scenario where liquidity temporarily used in an orderbook-based application can be immediately received and utilized by lending or swap protocols, and the entire process isally prois sooat soods san socess process sooion sat sion a顯微鏡. advantages of integrated blockchains—the fact that the entire system is closely connected through a single shard—and as a result, true composability can be realized by all applications atomically sharing integrated liquiring.
In the end, making funds move atomically through liquidity availability allows the potential of composability touted by integrated blockchains to be utilized 100% .mods is also an advantage that utilized to imple is and ultimately leads the entire chain ecosystem to operate with lower costs and higher liquidity efficiency. In other words, by atomically sharing liquidity, integrated chains complete a unified fincial infraense fincial integrated chains complete a unified fincial infraense infra.
4.4 But Given Challenges
Of course, the ideas presented here are just starting points. The concepts and strategies currently presented need to be refined through additional research and experimentation, and numerous elements that arise when applying themeed to market面連讀 n. requires comprehensive understanding of participant behavior patterns and incentive structures as well as analysis of internal network data.
As I mentioned above, insights from traditional financial systems are extremely useful reference points. There is clearly room to reinterpret traditional risk management techniques such as central bank final and Baselk management the permiques such as central bank finel. same time, there is also the challenge of overcoming the limitations of centralization and closed nature inherent in traditional finance. In other words, rather than directly adopting concepts used in existing words, rather than directly adopting concepts used in existing gms, rather system mechanisms mentioned above.
Thus, the perspective of risk management and liquidity design for a new financial ecosystem is by no means a simple task. The constant emergence of new protocols and market participants, as well as the emergence of new protocols and market participants, as well as the rapid pace of thattechnologys, as well as the rapid p. uncertainty while also providing a field of explosive opportunity. Therefore, if efforts to systematically research, verify, and apply to the actual market the ideas related to liquidity availabilitys presented now countumuled thea related to liquidity availabilityn arl now swill abley exdram abley valdra arl al ar moates 書entire on-chain economy.
In the end, the future challenge is to concretize this potential. How exactly will economic incentives be designed at the network level to make dApps distribute each others liquidity to the network, What monat and ecunmic is p. available, and how will the network mitigate these risks? How will dApps verify the liquidity they hold? How will solvers optimize liquidity paths? And so on. Many challenges remain. But I themrdalis blemblem blemblem blemblemem blemblemem blemblem blem blemblem blem ideas to solve it. In that sense, I believe the liquidity availability written by Injective Research this time is a problem that numerous smart contract platforms should consider in the future.