Section 1.0
Yield Tokenization and Bond Stripping
In traditional finance, bond stripping is the practice of separating the principle and coupon payments
of a debt obligation and selling the two components separately. The principle represents the bond itself,
while the coupon represents the interest rate of the bond.
Yield Tokenization emulates this process on-chain by stripping a yield-bearing asset into two
components:
YT
Yield Token
PT
Principle Token
100 ATOM staked
After (3) Months
Principal
100 ATOM
+
Yield
0.5 ATOM
100 stATOM
Principal Tokens
100 PT stATOM
After (3) Months
Principal
100 stATOM
Yield Tokens
100 YT stATOM
After (3) Months
Yield
100 stATOM
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Section 1.1
How does Yield Tokenization Work?
When a user stakes a token in any DeFi protocol, they will receive some amount of yield. With Yield
Tokenization, the staked position is separated into its two components, YT and PT.
let's say a user stakes their tokens for 3 months:
By holding PT
a user can redeem the principle amount (token value) after
maturity. In this case, after 3 months.
By holding YT
a user can receive the yield of the staked token(s) after
maturity. In this case, after 3 months.
Yield bearing Position
100 stATOM
PrincipalTokens
100 PT stATOM
Can redeem the Principal after maturity
100 stATOM
Yield Tokens
100 YT stATOM
Can redeem the Yield after maturity
0.5 stATOM
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Section 2.0
Yield Tokenization in Detail
For every yield-bearing position, there is the underlying asset. In this example, we will use ATOM.
Maturity in this context is defined as the length of time the underlying asset is staked. The Fixed
Yield vault will allow users to deposit stATOM (Stride liquid staked ATOM) which will then be separated
into its components. Since the underlying asset for stATOM is ATOM, it can be inferred that manipulating
an stATOM position is the same as manipulating an ATOM position.
i
Through yield tokenization:
1 stATOM
XX* PT stATOM
+
100 YT stATOM
PT st ATOM
The principle amount of the underlying asset (ATOM)
YT st ATOM
The yield generated by the underlying asset (ATOM)
$
Through yield tokenization:
let's say a user stakes their tokens for 3 months:
Before Maturity
a user can use 1 underlying asset to mint XX PT + 1 YT
- The amount of PT a user can mint decreases as we approach maturity, this value is represented as XX
- The value of PT stATOM increase as we approach maturity
After Maturity
the yield for the position has been earned, therefore:
- Yield earned from holding YT can be redeemed at maturity
- YT value will have appreciated due to auto-compounding
- After maturity, 1 PT can be redeemed for the underlying asset 1:1 without needing YT
Additionally, PT and YT can be bought and sold openly on the secondary market, Introducing the opportunity
for Yield Trading.
A
Before Maturity
You can mint XX* PT and 1YT from 100 units
of the underlying asset.
Yield bearing Position
100 stATOM
mint
Maturity:December 2023
100 PT stATOM
*The value of PT as ATOM decreases as we approach maturity, with a max value of xx=1
100 YT stATOM
Maturity:December 2023
B
Before Maturity
You can sell on the secondary market to receive the underlying asset
Maturity:December 2023
XX* PT stATOM
Maturity:December 2023
100 YT stATOM
Must sell on
Gluon AMM
XX* stATOM
*Value determined by current market rate
C
After Maturity
YT holderscan redeem any yield accrued after maturity.
1st January
Buys 100 YT stATOM
Maturity December 2023
Maturity
Maturity
After Maturity
Redeems Yield
from 100 stATOM
D
After Maturity
PT holderscan redeem underlying assets 1:1 without YT
1st January
Buys 100 PT stATOM
Maturity December 2023
Maturity
Maturity
After Maturity
Redeems
from 100 stATOM
C
Before Maturity
You can buy and sell PT and YT on the open market using Gluon AMM. (This is Yield Trading)
As such, PT and YT will always have a market price. NOTE: YOU CAN NOT CLAIM
YIELD AFTER MATURITY
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Section 2.1
How YT values change over time
In Yield Tokenization protocols without auto-compounding yield, a user can redeem yield at any time
prior to maturity. In auto-compounding yield tokenization protocols such as Gluon Trade, the yield
auto-compounds and is reflected as a steady increase in the value of YT, proportional to the yield earned.
As a result of this continuous increase in the value of YT, the protocol must offset this value by
decreasing the amount of PT minted by a deposit, also based until time to maturity.
Without Auto-compounding Yield:
- PT increases in value as we approach maturity, PT minted remains 1:1
- decreases in value as we approach maturity, YT minted remains 1:1
With Auto-compounding Yield:
- PT increases in value as we approach maturity, PT minted decreases as we approach maturity
- YT increases in value as we approach maturity, YT minted remains 1:1
(Since YT accumulates value over time, this can be considered as a principal accumulated by YT)
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Section 2.2
How PT values change over time
Remember our formula:
1 stATOM
XX PT stATOM
+
1 YT stATOM
At maturity
1 PT stATOM
1 stATOM
This means the maximum PT that can be minted is 1:1 with the underlying ( XX = 1 ). Please note in
real
world use XX value will fluctuate, and it may be impossible to mint the max value of XX.
In circumstances when YT has already accumulated some principal value, the protocol will mint PT
less
than 1:1 with its underlying component. ( XX < 1 )
Example:
- 100 stATOM = 99 PT stATOM + 100 YT stATOM (YT has already accumulated 1 ATOM worth of additional principal)
- At Maturity: 99 PT stATOM = 99 ATOM
- At Maturity: 100 YT stATOM = Yield Earned + Additional yield earned from auto-compounding
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Section 3.0
Interest Rate Swaps and
Fixed Yield Tranche
First let’s discuss Interest Rate Derivatives: a financial instrument with a value based on some
underlying interest rate or interest bearing asset. These instruments can include futures, options,
swaps, and more.
Swaps, or Interest Rate Swaps (abbreviated IRS) is a type of derivative where one stream of future
interest payments is exchanged for another based on a specified principle amount.
Separately, a Tranche is a segment created from a pool of assets, with these segments being divided
up
based on risk, time to maturity, and other characteristics.
Therefore, a Fixed Yield Tranche is a type of Interest Rate Swap in which the interest generated
from a
specified principle amount is swapped for a guaranteed fixed yield. Users wishing to earn FY without
exposure to variable yield can simply acquire FY directly (without first acquiring the underlying
asset). Additionally, with Fixed Yield, there is zero default risk (no impermanent loss).
Fixed Yield = FY
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Section 3.1
Where does Fixed Yield come from?
How is it Calculated?
Remember that with Yield Tokenization, a yield-bearing asset is split into its underlying
components, PT & YT. As a staked position approaches Maturity, a YT continues to increase in value, with
all yield earned also being redeemable at Maturity. Meanwhile, PT grows in value until it is equal 1:1
with the underlying asset (at Maturity).
FY represents this change in value for PT. Since PT and YT can be traded on the open secondary
market, users can simply purchase PT without YT.
Buying PT directly (long PT) earns the user fixed yield if they hold the position until its Maturity
date. Buying PT directly (pre-maturity) will always be cheaper than buying the underlying asset, and
the realized discount becomes the fixed yield.
You can buy or sell Principal Token (PT) in the Gluon AMM. PT Price is determined by market demand
and supply
Buys or Sells PT
Gluon AMM
1 PT stATOM =
0.9 stATOM
Example: a user is buying PT for ATOM liquid staked in Stride
(stATOM), also known as PT stATOM. Since PT stATOM does not include the yield component, PT stATOM will
always be cheaper than 1 stATOM. This is true for all PT.
After buying 1 PT stATOM at a discounted price (0.9 stATOM), User can redeem 1 stATOM for his PT
upon maturity. This is a fixed return (fixed yield) since the amount of stATOM redeemable at maturity is
fixed.
Buys 1 PT stATOM
at 0.9 stATOM
1 Year Later
User gets 11% APY
Maturity
Maturity
Redeems 1 stATOM
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Section 4.0
Yield Trading
Active Yield Trading can be enabled by taking advantage of the following trading types withing the
IRS
module:
Earning Fixed Yield (with PT)
Long Yield (with YT)
Provide Liquidity (LP) to earn extra
yield with zero impermanent loss
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Section 4.1
Earning Fixed Yield (with PT)
Since the value of FY is determined directly based on the price difference between PT and the
underlying
asset, FY is a long PT position. When buying PT directly, the user will always be able to buy PT at
a
discount, since they will not be acquiring the PT component.
1 PT stATOM
When Buying Directly
0.9 stATOM
FY Earned:
0.1 stATOM
Buying and holding PT for Fixed Yield is more than just earning guaranteed yield. By removing YT
from the equation, the user can remove their exposure to variable yield risk. A long PT position is a
short YT position. Therefore, if the market expects yield to decrease, the price of PT increases.
An important note is that time works against the price of YT. Provided no circumstances change, and
yield in the underlying asset remains unchanged, YT price gradually falls over time to become zero
at maturity.
Example:
- if a user holds a long PT position, and the yield for the underlying asset decreases below the value of the APY guaranteed by the PT position, the user will net an additional profit on their position.
- The user can then sell their PT prior to Maturity to secure their profit, which is known as Active Yield Trading.
When should a user buy PT?
Naturally, buying PT when it is cheaper will guarantee a higher FY. If FY is higher than their
prediction for the future yield of the underlying asset, it is probably a good time to acquire PT.
(If a user expects YT to drop, or the yield of the underlying asset to decrease, acquire PT since
long PT = short YT).
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Section 4.2
Long yield (YT)
Acquiring YT tokens gives the user the right to the yield of 1 underlying asset until maturity. If
the underlying asset generates more yield than the original purchase price of the YT token, the holder
will have secured a profit on their position.
Profit:
=
Future Yield
-
YT Cost
If the price of YT rises, the user can also secure a profit on their position.
The user can sell their YT prior to maturity to secure their profit, which is known as Active Yield
Trading.
An important note is that time works against the price of YT. Provided no circumstances change, and
yield in the underlying asset remains unchanged, YT price gradually falls over time to become zero at
maturity.
Leverage Yield with YT?
Leverage Yield positions occur when a user decides to acquire YT alone instead of simply holding
the underlying asset. If the user believes that APY will increase over time, they can use the capital
gained by not acquiring the underlying asset to instead increase (leverage) their yield exposure.
- In example, let's say YT is trading at 1/10 the value of the underlying asset. Therefore 10 YT = 1 underlying asset. A user has enough capital to purchase either 1 underlying asset or 10 YT.
- If the user acquires the underlying asset, they will earn the yield generated from 1 unit of that asset, therefore they will earn a yield equal to 1 YT.
- If the user acquires 10 YT instead, they will earn the yield generated from 10 units of that underlying asset.
- If yield generated by the underlying asset decreases between the time of purchase and maturity, the value of YT decreases, and the position will result in a loss.
- Therefore, leveraging yield with YT is higher risk and subject to higher volatility, but can result in higher profits.
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Section 4.3
Provide Liquidity (LP) to earn extra yield with zero impermanent loss
A user can earn extra yield on top of their otherwise idle yield-bearing assets by providing
liquidity with PT. No IL at Maturity date because PT in the pool can become 1:1 redeemable with the
underlying asset.
Of course, APY is not guaranteed but capital is guaranteed when held to Maturity. Users can exit at
any time without penalties. Since there is PT in the pool, this strategy can be seen as slightly bearish
(remember long PT = short YT), therefore providing liquidity can provide some protection against
falling yields in the underlying asset.
Additionally, since all three token types (underlying asset, PT tokens, and YT tokens) are traded
within the same pool, Liquidity Providers can earn from swap fees for all 3 tokens.
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