cDAI, or Compound DAI, is a cryptocurrency issued by the Compound Protocol. It is a representation of DAI that has been lent through the Compound Protocol, a set of smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. Holding cDAI allows users to earn interest on their DAI deposits while influencing the liquidity of the lending platform.
cDAI functions as an interest-generating token within the Compound lending protocol. When users lend DAI to the Compound Protocol, they receive cDAI in return. This token represents their claim on the original DAI deposit plus any accrued interest. The Compound Protocol sets interest rates algorithmically based on supply and demand dynamics for the assets. As interest accumulates, the exchange rate between cDAI and DAI increases, reflecting the earned interest.
The potential use cases for cDAI mainly revolve around decentralised finance (DeFi). These include:
cDAI was created as part of Compound Protocol’s initiative to facilitate decentralised lending and borrowing of digital assets. The protocol was founded in 2017 by Robert Leshner and Geoffrey Hayes. Initially detailed in a whitepaper in 2018, Compound launched its V2 version in 2019, which included support for multiple crypto assets like DAI. In 2020, the Compound protocol introduced the COMP token to enable community governance, marking a pivotal evolution in its operational structure. Over time, the protocol has expanded its asset pool and refined its governance and interest rate models, solidifying cDAI's role in DeFi.