Ethena, USDH, and USDtb: The Stablecoin Showdown on Hyperliquid

Ethena Labs vies for control of Hyperliquid's USDH stablecoin, backed by BlackRock's USDtb, amid intense competition. Discover the key players, proposals, and the future of DeFi.

The race to control Hyperliquid's USDH stablecoin is heating up, with Ethena Labs emerging as a strong contender. Backed by BlackRock's USDtb, Ethena's proposal promises revenue sharing, migration support, and robust security measures. Let's dive into the key developments and what they mean for the future of DeFi.

Ethena's Bold Bid for USDH

Ethena Labs, known for its fast-growing stablecoin USDe, is throwing its hat into the ring to issue Hyperliquid’s upcoming USDH stablecoin. This move is supported by a partnership with BlackRock’s BUIDL fund through USDtb, a token issued with Anchorage Digital Bank.

Hyperliquid, a leading decentralized exchange, is preparing to launch USDH as its native stablecoin. With significant stakes involved—Hyperliquid processed around $400 billion in perpetuals trading volume in August and has a stablecoin market cap of over $5.7 billion—the competition for the mandate is fierce.

Key Proposals and Incentives

Ethena is offering a package designed to appeal to both Hyperliquid validators and its community. A central part of its proposal is a pledge to redirect 95% of net USDH reserve revenues back to the ecosystem through the purchase and distribution of HYPE tokens, validator rewards, and ecosystem development funding.

To jumpstart adoption, Ethena has earmarked $75 million in incentives, potentially expanding to $150 million, to support market development under the HIP-3 proposal. This incentive program would fund new markets, front-end integrations, and liquidity initiatives that tie together USDH, USDe, and hUSDe.

Security and Governance

Security is another pillar of Ethena's plan. They propose introducing a guardian network of Hyperliquid validators, including infrastructure partners like LayerZero, to oversee USDH operations. This approach aims to avoid a single point of failure and ensure transparent governance of the new stablecoin.

Ethena also plans to integrate with Securitize to enable tokenization of real-world assets and bring USDtb onto HyperEVM. This integration would allow for seamless minting and redemption flows, giving institutional users a clearer path to tap into Hyperliquid’s ecosystem.

The Competitive Landscape

Ethena’s bid brings it into a crowded field of suitors. Paxos, Frax, Agora, Native Markets, and Sky are also vying for control, each with unique proposals.

The outcome will be decided by Hyperliquid’s validators. Winning the mandate could solidify Ethena’s position as a major player in the stablecoin market.

Strategic Investments and Partnerships

Ethena Labs has also made a strategic investment of millions of dollars in Based, a key participant in the Hyperliquid ecosystem. This partnership aims to promote the adoption of USDe, USDtb, and other unreleased Ethena products on Hyperliquid. Based plans to support USDe and USDtb as payment options on its debit card and embed savings functionality.

Final Thoughts

The battle for USDH is more than just a competition for a ticker; it's a fight for the future of stablecoins and DeFi. With Ethena's robust proposal and strategic partnerships, the stakes are high, and the outcome will undoubtedly shape the landscape of decentralized finance for years to come. So, grab your popcorn and enjoy the show—it's gonna be wild!