In a push towards decentralization, governance tokens have emerged as a cornerstone of many crypto projects, allowing token holders to stake and vote on protocol modifications. MKR is the governance token for MakerDAO, which plays a pivotal role in ensuring the efficiency, transparency, and stability of DAI, a decentralized, collateral-backed stablecoin.
What is MakerDAO
MakerDAO is a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) that administers the DAI stablecoin through the Maker Protocol. This protocol enables the minting and management of DAI stablecoins while maintaining their peg to the US dollar using over-collateralization and other mechanisms. The primary responsibility of MKR holders is to vote on changes to the Maker Protocol, which directly impacts DAI. MKR's governance role ensures that the protocol adjusts and evolves in response to the market's demands and potential risks.
The Maker team
Maker was created in 2015 by Rune Christensen, a Denmark-based entrepreneur. He graduated from the Copenhagen University with a degree in biochemistry. He also studied international business at the local Copenhagen Business School. Before founding MakerDAO, he co-founded Try China, an international recruiting company.
How does MakerDAO work
MKR holders are at the heart of the MakerDAO system, actively participating in Executive Voting. Successful votes translate into changes within the protocol. For instance, these token holders set the DAI savings rate, directly impacting the incentives for those who stake DAI. Contributors are rewarded for their active involvement.
MKR tokenomics
MKR tokens, capped at 977,631 in supply, are central to the MakerDAO ecosystem. They empower holders with governance rights, allowing them to shape the system's direction. Beyond governance, MKR is crucial in maintaining DAI's stability, ensuring its value remains pegged and resilient to market fluctuations. Notably, in situations of undercollateralization, MKR is auctioned to cover the deficit.
Furthermore, MKR tokens are used to settle stability fees, which are essentially interest charges on DAI loans. These MKR tokens are subsequently burnt, gradually reducing their overall supply and adding an element of scarcity.
MKR distribution
The distribution breakdown for MKR is as follows:
- 69.5 percent: Founders and the project
- 15 percent: Team
- 4 percent: Seed round 1
- 6 percent: Seed round 2
- 5.5 percent: Seed round 3
