Moonwell is an open lending and borrowing protocol built on Base, Optimism, Moonbeam, and Moonriver. It provides a user-friendly interface for conducting on-chain financial transactions, enabling users to lend and borrow digital assets while retaining control over their funds.
Moonwell operates using a non-custodial architecture, meaning users maintain control over their assets. It leverages smart contracts to manage lending and borrowing activities. The protocol employs an algorithmic interest rate model and risk management features to adjust interest rates and ensure sufficient collateralization. It also facilitates community-driven governance through its WELL token, allowing holders to propose and vote on protocol changes.
Moonwell's use cases span across decentralized finance (DeFi), enabling secure and efficient lending and borrowing of cryptocurrencies. It supports financial transactions by offering fast and low-cost alternatives to traditional banking systems. The protocol's smart contracts aid in managing collateral and automating financial processes, while its governance features empower users to partake in protocol decision-making.
Moonwell was developed by a team with experience from companies like Coinbase and AWS, launching in early 2021. Despite initial challenges, it quickly gained traction, reaching 10,000 users within six months. The protocol established a Grants Program for ecosystem development and partnered with Token Terminal for data analytics. Over time, Moonwell has implemented Layer 2 solutions and optimized algorithms to enhance scalability and efficiency, focusing on community-driven development and education to advance its mission.