Anchor Protocol is a decentralised savings platform based on the Terra blockchain that offers stable, high-yield returns on deposits of Terra stablecoins. It provides stablecoin holders the opportunity to earn interest by acting as a bridge between lenders and borrowers in the crypto ecosystem.
Anchor Protocol functions by using a combination of smart contracts on the Terra blockchain and a system of bonded assets (bAssets), which are liquid tokens convertible to staked assets. The protocol employs automated algorithms to manage interest rates based on the demand for borrowing and the supply of deposits. It aims to deliver stable, attractive yields by utilising a diversified stream of staking rewards from the PoS blockchains.
Anchor Protocol's use cases include decentralised lending and borrowing, stablecoin-based savings offering high interest rates, governance participation through its ANC token, and collateralised lending using bonded assets. It also facilitates interactions within the Terra ecosystem and partnerships with other DeFi platforms, broadening its application scope.
Anchor Protocol was launched on 17 March 2021 by Terraform Labs, founded by Do Kwon and Daniel Shin. It was designed to complement the Terra ecosystem by providing a mechanism for stable, high-yield savings on Terra stablecoins. Despite reaching a peak in total value locked (TVL), the protocol faced challenges following the collapse of the algorithmic stablecoin TerraUSD (UST) and LUNA in May 2022, leading to significant disruptions and a subsequent chain fork into Terra Classic and a new Terra chain without the former algorithmic stablecoin structure.