BENQI is a decentralised, non-custodial liquidity market and liquid staking protocol built on the Avalanche blockchain. It facilitates users in lending, borrowing, and earning interest using their digital assets.
BENQI works by operating on the Avalanche blockchain, employing a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism known as Snowman++. It utilises smart contracts to offer its DeFi services, including lending, borrowing, and staking. Notably, BENQI's liquid staking protocol allows users to tokenize staked AVAX into sAVAX, maintaining liquidity while earning staking rewards.
Potential use cases for BENQI include:
BENQI was founded by JD Gagnon, Hannu Kuusi, and Alexander Szul and launched in March 2021. Initially focused on high-yield savings accounts, it expanded to include decentralized exchange and lending platforms. Over time, BENQI integrated further into the Avalanche ecosystem and introduced liquid staking, evolving its technology and expanding its market presence.