Hegic is a decentralised, peer-to-pool options trading protocol built on Arbitrum, an Ethereum layer 2 solution. It allows users to trade options in a decentralised manner, offering a platform for buyers to customise options parameters and for writers to sell options and earn premiums. Hegic also utilises the HEGIC token for governance and participation in decision-making processes.
Hegic operates using smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain, specifically harnessing Arbitrum for scalability. The protocol facilitates decentralised options trading through its liquidity pools and specialised contracts. This includes call and put options contracts which manage trading activities, and liquidity pool contracts that handle pooling funds, locking and unlocking assets, and settling transactions on-chain. Hegic is non-custodial, ensuring users retain control over their assets, and uses on-chain settlements to provide transparency and trustlessness in transactions.
Potential use cases for Hegic include:
Decentralised Options Trading: Enables hedging against crypto investments and speculative trading on price movements of Ethereum-based assets like ETH and wBTC.
Liquidity Provision: Users can participate as liquidity providers, earning rewards such as premiums and fees, while retaining control of their funds.
Governance: Through the HEGIC token, users can engage in governance practices by voting on protocol changes and participating in the decision-making process.
Staking: By staking HEGIC tokens, users can benefit from fees and rewards, aligning them with the protocol’s growth and success.
Hegic was founded in January 2020 by an anonymous developer known as Molly Winterminute. Its primary goal was to introduce transparency and on-chain settlement to options trading in the crypto space. Key milestones include the release of its whitepaper in February 2020, significant token distribution through a bonding curve smart contract, and integration with the DeFi ecosystem. Hegic also marked a breakthrough in permissionless token sales and has been evolving with community governance plans and expanding asset support.