What is reUSD ?
reUSD ( Basis - Plus )
TL;DR reUSD is a principal‑protected, yield‑accruing token that tracks the greater of (i) the risk‑free rate plus 250 bps or (ii) the Ethena basis‑trade yield. It earns on‑chain, deploys off‑chain via Surplus Notes to supply regulatory capital, and maintains transparent, oracle‑verified collateral reporting.
1. Purpose & Positioning
reUSD is designed as the “stable core” of the Re Protocol. Holders receive a low‑volatility, USD‑denominated asset that:
preserves principal at all times;
automatically accrues yield daily; and
remains redeemable, subject to actuarially‑defined liquidity limits, for the underlying admitted assets (e.g., USDC, T‑Bills).
This makes reUSD analogous to a tokenized money‑market fund with the added flexibility of blockchain composability and real‑world reinsurance yield capture.
2. Yield Mechanism
2.1 Dual‑Source Yield Floor
At each daily valuation point, the protocol selects the higher of the following reference rates:
Source
Formula
Notes
Risk‑Free Rate Path
7‑day trailing average SOFR + 250 bps
Provides a predictable floor aligned with short‑term Treasuries.
Ethena Basis Trade Path
Current annualized yield reported by Ethena (USDe hedged basis)
Captures excess basis when the futures curve is steep.
2.2 Daily APY & Price Update
The chosen “Applicable APY” is converted to a daily rate.
reUSD’s token price (rather than token quantity) increases every UTC day at 00:00.
A JSON price feed is pushed on‑chain via Chainlink, enabling DeFi integrations and transparent compounding.
3. Capital Deployment via Surplus Notes
On‑Chain Staking : Users mint reUSD by depositing admitted assets into the Insurance Capital Layer (ICL).
Off‑Ramp to 114 Trust : The protocol converts a portion of the pool into cash/T‑Bills held in a §114 Reinsurance Trust Account, providing regulatory collateral to partner reinsurers.
Surplus Notes : The off‑chain entity issues surplus notes to the ICL, contractually locking in principal protection and an interest rate matching the Applicable APY.
Custody & Visibility : All trust assets are held with an independent bank/custodian. Balances are reported daily by a third‑party administrator and published through a Chainlink oracle.
4. Liquidity & Redemption Framework
Tier
Capacity
Settlement Speed
Source of Funds
Instant “Smooth‑Buffer”
Up to an actuarially determined buffer (e.g., 10 % of NAV)
instant
Idle on‑chain liquidity + cash sweep
Scheduled Window
Once buffer is exhausted
Monthly redemption window (e.g., 1st business day)
Matured trust assets + surplus‑note repayments
Re‑Liquidity
As actuarial releases occur
Continuous top‑up of buffer
Actuary authorizes transfer of released collateral back on‑chain
5. Transparency & Risk Controls
Chainlink Feeds : Real‑time NAV, buffer utilization, surplus‑note balances.
Fireblocks Custody : Multisig policies governing idle on‑chain assets.
Audit Trail : Smart‑contract audits and third party verified‑qualified trust reporting.
No Redemption Gating Tokens : Price increases accrue to all holders.
6. Key Advantages vs. TradFi Alternatives
Yield > Money‑Market Funds: By dynamically switching to the basis trade when advantageous, reUSD often outperforms pure T‑Bill strategies.
Regulatory Capital Utility: Surplus Note structure channels DeFi liquidity into highly secure (NAIC‑compliant) reinsurance collateral.
On‑Chain Composability: Compatible with Curve, Pendle, and Morpho for secondary yield opportunities.
Principal Protection: Surplus note rank and segregated trust accounts shield depositor principal from operating losses.
7. Disclaimer & Forward‑Looking Notes
reUSD is not available to U.S. persons and may be restricted in other jurisdictions. Yield sources and redemption schedules are subject to change based on market conditions, regulatory guidance, and Ethena program terms. This document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
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