Boosting Optimism Protocol: Can Incentives Drive OP Prices Higher?

Christian Encila

1 year ago

3 mins read

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Optimism (OP) has been at the forefront of the blockchain industry with its incentive program, which recently led to the protocol’s cumulative trading volume exceeding an impressive $3.8 billion.

Analyst Ryan Holloway has shed light on the remarkable impact of Optimism’s incentive program. The availability of OP trading rewards and incentives on various platforms, including Polynomial, played a pivotal role in this surge in usage metrics.

The incentivization strategy employed by Optimism has proven wildly successful, resulting in an astounding 23-fold increase in trading volume for the protocol. This achievement, however, comes with a caveat, as it raises questions about the composition of this newfound trading activity.

Just dropped an analysis with @t__norm on the impact of @PolynomialFi‘s OP incentive program that ultimately led to the protocol’s cumulative trading volume surpassing $3.8B

🧵 👇 pic.twitter.com/UahucTcVJ0

— Ryan Holloway (@raholloway) September 9, 2023

Rise In Trading Volume Masks Optimism’s Growth In Daily Traders

While the surge in trading volume is undoubtedly impressive, a deep analysis reveals a more nuanced picture. The growth in daily traders has been relatively modest, suggesting the possibility of a significant rise in power users or, in a less favorable scenario, potential wash trading activities.

But what exactly is wash trading? Wash trading involves artificially inflating trading volumes by executing simultaneous buy and sell orders for the same asset, giving the illusion of increased demand and activity. This practice is illegal in traditional financial markets and is viewed negatively in the cryptocurrency space due to its potential to mislead investors.

Optimism market cap currently at $1 billion. Chart: TradingView.com

Optimism Faces DeFi Sector Headwinds

Optimism has faced its fair share of challenges in gaining a foothold in the competitive DeFi sector. Recent reports indicate a notable decrease in total value locked and decentralized exchange volumes on the network in recent weeks. This decline in activity is reflected in the network’s financials, with revenue plummeting by 37.5% in the last month, accompanied by an overall activity decrease of 19.7% over the same period.

Despite these setbacks, Optimism’s native token, OP, currently holds a price of $1.26 according to CoinGecko, with a 0.9% gain in the last 24 hours. However, it has seen a 6.2% decline over the past week.

Sustainability And Challenges In Optimism’s Post-Incentive Era

The sustainability of Polynomial’s retention rates after the conclusion of the incentive program will be a crucial factor in determining its long-term impact on Optimism. As the network navigates the challenges posed by wash trading concerns and its struggles to establish a firm presence in DeFi, the cryptocurrency community will be closely watching for signs of resilience and adaptability.

While Optimism’s incentive program has undeniably driven an astonishing surge in trading volume, the sustainability of this growth and the resolution of its challenges will determine the protocol’s long-term success in the highly competitive world of cryptocurrency.

(This site’s content should not be construed as investment advice. Investing involves risk. When you invest, your capital is subject to risk).

Featured image from Insperity

Christian Encila

They say journalists never truly clock out. But for Christian, that's not just a metaphor, it's a lifestyle. By day, he navigates the ever-shifting tides of the cryptocurrency market, wielding words like a seasoned editor and crafting articles that decipher the jargon for the masses. When the PC goes on hibernate mode, however, his pursuits take a more mechanical (and sometimes philosophical) turn.

Christian's journey with the written word began long before the age of Bitcoin. In the hallowed halls of academia, he honed his craft as a feature writer for his college paper. This early love for storytelling paved the way for a successful stint as an editor at a data engineering firm, where his first-month essay win funded a months-long supply of doggie and kitty treats – a testament to his dedication to his furry companions (more on that later).

Christian then roamed the world of journalism, working at newspapers in Canada and even South Korea. He finally settled down at a local news giant in his hometown in the Philippines for a decade, becoming a total news junkie. But then, something new caught his eye: cryptocurrency. It was like a treasure hunt mixed with storytelling - right up his alley!

So, he landed a killer gig at NewsBTC, where he's one of the go-to guys for all things crypto. He breaks down this confusing stuff into bite-sized pieces, making it easy for anyone to understand (he salutes his management team for teaching him this skill).

Think Christian's all work and no play? Not a chance! When he's not at his computer, you'll find him indulging his passion for motorbikes. A true gearhead, Christian loves tinkering with his bike and savoring the joy of the open road on his 320-cc Yamaha R3. Once a speed demon who hit 120mph (a feat he vowed never to repeat), he now prefers leisurely rides along the coast, enjoying the wind in his thinning hair.

Speaking of chill, Christian's got a crew of furry friends waiting for him at home. Two cats and a dog. He swears cats are way smarter than dogs (sorry, Grizzly), but he adores them all anyway. Apparently, watching his pets just chillin’ helps him analyze and write meticulously formatted articles even better.

Here's the thing about this guy: He works a lot, but he keeps himself fueled by enough coffee to make it through the day - and some seriously delicious (Filipino) food. He says a delectable meal is the secret ingredient to a killer article. And after a long day of crypto crusading, he unwinds with some rum (mixed with milk) while watching slapstick movies.

Looking ahead, Christian sees a bright future with NewsBTC. He says he sees himself privileged to be part of an awesome organization, sharing his expertise and passion with a community he values, and fellow editors - and bosses - he deeply respects.

So, the next time you tread into the world of cryptocurrency, remember the man behind the words – the crypto crusader, the grease monkey, and the feline philosopher, all rolled into one.

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