The financial world is witnessing a paradigm shift with the advent of decentralized finance (DeFi), a movement that is redefining the boundaries of traditional financial systems. DeFi is a transformative force, reshaping the economic landscape by eliminating intermediaries and granting users unprecedented control over their financial assets.

However, this new frontier has challenges, particularly in the leasing sector, where over-collateralization and liquidity issues prevail. Most leasing platforms require borrowers to lock up a significant amount of capital as collateral, which can be inefficient and restrictive.

The Nolus Protocol emerges as a pioneering solution, offering the world’s first DeFi lease model. It is designed to amplify the potential of crypto investments by allowing users to engage with assets at a fraction of the price, and utilize them in protocol-approved strategies without taking away their ownership rights. This innovative model overcomes the limitations of over-collateralization by significantly reducing the need for excess collateral, thereby freeing up capital and enhancing the efficiency of asset utilization.

Nolus Protocol is not just a platform; it’s a movement towards greater financial freedom and empowerment.

Understanding the Nolus Protocol

Source: Nolus Protocol Website

Nolus Protocol is a Web3 financial suite that provides an innovative lease solution to develop the DeFi space further. It defines a money market between lenders, who are looking to earn a yield on stablecoins, and borrowers, who seek to borrow more digital assets than their current equity allows. To borrow assets, the borrower locks up a down payment as collateral and can leverage their holdings in a preferred digital asset.

The protocol is built on the principles of conventional lease products, combined with the dynamism of the crypto landscape. It addresses the persistent challenge of over-collateralization in the crypto lending space, where traditional platforms often require borrowers to deposit a value greater than what they borrow, thereby locking up significant capital. Nolus tackles this issue by significantly reducing the need for such excess collateral.

The Vision and Mission of Nolus

Nolus’s vision is to contribute to the robust expansion of the global cryptocurrency market by providing transparent, open, and immutable infrastructure. Its mission is to increase the popularity of DeFi solutions, ensuring that current market participants increase their holdings and involvement while also attracting newcomers with limited or no financial background. The protocol aims to tackle the obstacles that prevent the sector from reaching mass adoption, such as over-collateralized loans, thereby reshaping the traditional paradigms of the money market.

Essentially, the Nolus Protocol is poised to revolutionize the DeFi space by offering a more equitable and efficient model for crypto borrowing and lending, aligning with the broader trend of digital finance’s growth and acceptance as a new asset class.

Key features of Nolus Protocol

The Nolus Protocol introduces a suite of features that cater to the diverse needs of its users, from novices to seasoned crypto enthusiasts. These features are designed to streamline the financial and asset management experience in the DeFi space.

Finance: DeFi Lease

The DeFi Lease is the cornerstone of the Nolus Protocol, allowing users to finance their digital asset acquisitions with up to 150% financing on their initial investment. This innovative approach will enable users to leverage their holdings with minimized risk and reduced margin call pressures. The lease model is a significant departure from traditional lending practices, as it provides a pathway to asset ownership that is both user-friendly and cost-effective.

Asset Management

The Nolus Protocol provides a comprehensive asset management system that includes:

• Manage, Swap, and Ramp: Users can easily manage their portfolios, swap assets to optimize their holdings, and ramp up their investments through strategic asset allocation. This feature ensures that users can respond quickly to market changes and manage their assets to align with their investment goals.
• Earn Yield: The protocol offers opportunities for users to earn a yield on their assets. By engaging in various yield-generating activities within the ecosystem, users can increase their returns and grow their investments over time.
• Stake: Staking is another crucial feature of the Nolus Protocol, allowing users to lock in their tokens to support the network and, in return, receive rewards. This not only contributes to the security and stability of the protocol but also provides users with a passive income stream.

The Nolus Protocol’s focus on providing a full spectrum of financial and asset management tools positions it as a versatile and user-centric platform in the DeFi space. By integrating these key features, Nolus empowers users to take control of their financial future and confidently navigate the DeFi landscape.

Architecture of Nolus Protocol

The Nolus Protocol is a sophisticated DeFi platform that offers a unique lease-based approach to the crypto market. Its architecture and components are designed to provide users with a seamless and efficient financial experience.

Architecture and Components

The Nolus Protocol operates on a semi-permission Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchain, constructed using the Cosmos SDK and a WASM smart contract engine. This setup is chosen for its focus on interoperability, security, and performance. The core of the protocol is built around a set of CosmWasm contracts that define the Nolus money market.

The protocol’s architecture is composed of several key components:

• DeFi Lease: A money market model where lenders can earn a yield on stablecoins, and borrowers can leverage their holdings up to 150%.
• Smart Contracts: These contracts lock in the down payment and the loan provided by the Nolus protocol, acting as collateral and allowing the borrower to boost their exposure with a lower margin call risk.
• Layer-1 Blockchain: Utilizes a lightning-fast blockchain built with Cosmos SDK, ensuring decentralized, censorship-resistant transactions with minimal cost.

Differentiation from Traditional DeFi Models

Nolus Protocol differentiates itself from traditional DeFi models in several ways:

• Reduced Over-Collateralization: It addresses the common DeFi challenge of over-collateralization by offering up to 150% financing on the initial investment, reducing the level of collateralization by a factor of three.
• Lower Liquidation Risks: The protocol employs partial liquidations, which only liquidate a portion of the collateral when the asset price drops, giving borrowers more time to recover their position. This results in liquidation rates that are 40% lower than the market average.
• Fixed Interest Rates: Unlike traditional DeFi lending solutions with variable interest rates, Nolus locks in interest rates when the DeFi lease smart contract is created, providing predictability for future cash flows.
• Cross-Chain Enabled: Nolus preserves liquidity in stablecoins and utilizes them to access vast liquidity pools across diverse blockchain networks, avoiding liquidity fragmentation when protocols re-deploy their entire codebase into other ecosystems.

By integrating these innovative features, Nolus Protocol offers a more borrower-friendly platform, ensuring that borrowing isn’t just an obligation but an opportunity for users to maximize their financial potential in the DeFi space.

The Mechanism of Nolus DeFi Lease

Source: Nolus Whitepaper

The Nolus DeFi Lease allows users to leverage their digital assets up to 150% of their initial investment. This is achieved through a process where the user deposits a down payment as collateral and receives financing to acquire more of the desired digital asset. The leased assets are then managed through a smart contract that serves as both collateral and a means to secure the borrowed amount, providing the borrower an opportunity to increase their market exposure without the high risk of margin calls. Here’s an in-depth look at how it functions:

• Initiation of the Lease: A user starts by depositing a certain amount of cryptocurrency into the Nolus Protocol. This initial deposit acts as a down payment and is used as collateral for the lease.
• Leveraging the Investment: Upon depositing the collateral, the user can then leverage their investment up to 150%. This means that for every unit of currency deposited, the user can receive financing for an additional 1.5 units of the same or different cryptocurrency.
• Conversion and Management: The total amount—comprising the initial deposit and the borrowed funds—is then converted into the asset the user wishes to lease. The Nolus Protocol facilitates this conversion and manages the assets through its smart contract system.
• Collateral Mechanism: The leased assets are held in a smart contract that serves two purposes: it secures the borrowed amount and backs the user’s DeFi Lease. This mechanism ensures that the user’s investment is protected and the lease terms are upheld.
• Benefits from Appreciation: If the value of the leased asset increases over the lease term, the user benefits from appreciating a larger asset base than they could have afforded without the lease. This is because the user’s exposure to the asset’s price movement is magnified by the leverage provided by the Nolus Protocol.
• Settling the Lease: When the user decides to settle their position, they have the flexibility to choose how to do so. They can inject more funds into the protocol to repay the loan or partially liquidate the leased assets. If the asset’s value has appreciated, the user may realize a profit even after repaying the borrowed amount.

This model allows users to maximize their investment potential while minimizing the risks of borrowing and leveraging in the crypto market. The Nolus DeFi Lease stands out for its ability to offer greater capital efficiency and more accommodating lending options than traditional over-collateralized lending models.

Economic and Strategic Advantages for Users

The Nolus DeFi Lease offers several economic benefits:

• Increased Leverage: Users can amplify their initial investment, gaining more significant exposure to their chosen assets.
• Lower Liquidation Risks: The platform boasts lower liquidation rates than the market average, reducing the risk of losing one’s investment.
• Cost Efficiency: By offering up to 150% financing, Nolus provides greater financial flexibility, allowing for larger investments with potentially higher returns.

Strategically, the DeFi Lease empowers users to:

• Engage in Whitelisted Strategies: Users can access their leveraged assets through approved yield-bearing strategies.
• Diversify Investments: The ability to manage multiple assets and strategies opens up avenues for portfolio diversification.

Risk Management and Mitigation Strategies

Nolus Protocol employs several risk management strategies to protect users’ investments:

• Partial Liquidations: Instead of total liquidation, only a portion of the collateral is liquidated when necessary, giving borrowers more time to manage their positions.
• Smart Contract Security: The protocol leverages advanced smart contract platforms like CosmWasm to minimize vulnerabilities and ensure transactional integrity.

By integrating these mechanisms, Nolus Protocol provides a secure and advantageous environment for DeFi leasing, making it an attractive option for users looking to maximize their digital asset potential.

Technology behind Nolus Protocol

The Nolus Protocol is built on a robust technological framework that supports its innovative DeFi leasing model. Here’s a deep dive into the technical aspects of the protocol:

Token Issuance, Delegation, AND Rewards

The Nolus Protocol issues its native token, NLS, which plays a pivotal role in the ecosystem. Token issuance is designed to incentivize participation and maintain the network’s security and stability.

Source: Nolus Whitepaper

• Delegation: NLS token holders can delegate their tokens to validators, who are responsible for maintaining the network’s integrity. By delegating, users contribute to the network’s security and, in return, earn staking rewards. This process also grants them the right to participate in the protocol’s governance.
• Rewards: Validators and those who delegate to them receive rewards in the form of NLS tokens. These rewards are distributed as an incentive for contributing to the network’s operations and are a key component of the protocol’s staking mechanism.

DeFi Lease

The DeFi Lease is a novel concept introduced by Nolus, allowing users to borrow assets by locking up a down payment as collateral. This system provides up to 150% financing on the initial investment, enabling users to leverage their holdings in a preferred digital asset.

Source: Nolus Knowledge Hub

• Lease Contracts: The protocol uses smart contracts to manage lease positions, ensuring transparency and security. These contracts act as a factory, generating all lease positions and managing the lease terms.
• Lease (Borrow): The borrowing mechanism within the Nolus Protocol is facilitated by the Leaser Contract, which generates lease positions and connects to a Liquidity Providers’ Pool (LPP) for each stablecoin currency. This system calculates fixed interest rates and total liabilities, providing a predictable and stable borrowing environment.
• Lend (Stablecoins): Lenders on the Nolus Protocol can lend stablecoins, earning yield on their deposits. The protocol defines a money market between lenders and borrowers, with the former looking to gain a yield on stablecoins and the latter seeking to borrow more digital assets than their current equity.
• Cross-Chain Functionality: Nolus is cross-chain enabled, which means it preserves liquidity in stablecoins and utilizes them to access vast liquidity pools across diverse blockchain networks. This approach avoids the fragmentation of liquidity that can occur when protocols redeploy their entire codebase into other ecosystems.

The technology behind Nolus Protocol is designed to offer a seamless and efficient DeFi experience, focusing on reducing over-collateralization and providing flexible borrowing options. Its innovative use of token issuance, delegation, and rewards, combined with the unique DeFi Lease mechanism, positions Nolus as a forward-thinking player in the DeFi space.

Nolus Tokenomics and Governance

The Nolus Protocol’s native token, $NLS, is integral to its operation, serving multiple functions within the ecosystem. The tokenomics and governance structure of $NLS are designed to ensure the protocol’s long-term viability and success.

Source: Nolus Knowledge Hub

The Nolus Protocol has a total supply of 1 billion $NLS tokens. This finite supply ensures scarcity and potential value appreciation over time. Below is the token allocation breakdown

• Community (DAO Treasury) - 24%: A total of 240 million $NLS tokens are allocated to the community through the DAO Treasury. This fund is used for various community initiatives, governance proposals, grants, and other activities that empower the community and contribute to the protocol’s decentralized governance.
• Token Sale - 20%: 200 million $NLS tokens are distributed through public and private token sales. The funds raised from these sales are utilized for protocol development, marketing, and operational expenses.
• Team and Contributors - 19%: 190 million $NLS tokens are reserved for the team and contributors as an incentive for their continued commitment to developing and maintaining the Nolus Protocol. This allocation is typically vested over a period to align the team’s interests with the long-term success of the protocol.
• Inflation Staking Reward - 15%: 150 million $NLS tokens are set aside as staking rewards. These tokens are released over time as inflationary rewards to validators and delegators who secure and govern the network.
• Lenders Incentives - 12%: 120 million $NLS tokens are dedicated to lenders as incentives. These tokens encourage lending activity on the platform, which is crucial for the protocol’s liquidity and overall health.
• Strategic Partners - 5%: 50 million $NLS tokens are allocated to strategic partners. These partners could include other blockchain projects, investment funds, or service providers contributing to the growth and adoption of the Nolus Protocol.
• Liquidity and Bug Bounty - 5%: The remaining 50 million $NLS tokens are used to ensure the protocol’s liquidity and to reward individuals who identify and report bugs, enhancing the protocol’s security and resilience.

NLS Token Utility

The NLS token is multifaceted, with its primary utilities including transaction fees, network fees, governance participation, and incentivizing network decentralization. It is also used to reward contributors to the Nolus ecosystem, aligning stakeholders’ interests with the protocol’s growth.

Token holders have governance rights, allowing them to vote on key proposals that shape the protocol’s future. This includes decisions on protocol upgrades, parameter changes, and other significant developments.

Nolus Protocol Stakeholders

The stakeholders within the Nolus ecosystem include:

• Stakers: Individuals who stake NLS tokens to secure the network and participate in governance decisions.
• Investors: Those who purchase NLS tokens, contributing to the liquidity and market presence of the token.
• Lenders: Participants who supply liquidity to the protocol, earning yield on their stablecoin deposits.

Role of $NLS Tokens in the Nolus Ecosystem and Impact on Protocol Stability

The $NLS token is crucial for the stability and security of the Nolus Protocol. It facilitates transaction and network fees, which are paid by users to validators, ensuring the smooth operation of the network. By incentivizing the network’s decentralization through staking, $NLS tokens enhance the protocol’s security and robustness.

Value Accrual Mechanisms within the Nolus Ecosystem

Nolus has implemented several mechanisms to accrue value within its ecosystem:

• Adjusted DeFi Lease Interest: Staking $NLS tokens can result in lower interest rates for borrowers leveraging DeFi Lease positions. This dynamic interest reduction is linked to the staking duration, encouraging long-term holding of $NLS tokens.
• Lenders Tiered APR Incentive: Lenders are incentivized to buy and stake $NLS tokens to increase their rewards on supplied stablecoins or tokens. This system ensures that the token’s value grows proportionally to the Total Value Locked (TVL) within the platform.
• Lease Revenue: The protocol generates revenue from interest-bearing DeFi Lease contracts, which power the ecosystem and contribute to repurchasing $NLS tokens from the open market.

The thoughtful design of Nolus’s tokenomics and governance ensures all participants are aligned toward the protocol’s success, fostering a stable and prosperous ecosystem.

The Team behind the Nolus Protocol

The Nolus Protocol is brought to life by a team of dedicated and experienced professionals. Let’s get to know them:

Co-Founders

• Ivan Kostov: Ivan is not just a co-founder; he’s also in charge of product development. He’s the one who turns the team’s innovative ideas into reality.
• Kamen Trendafilov: Kamen, another co-founder, takes the lead on finance. He ensures that the financial aspects of the Nolus Protocol are running smoothly.

Key Team Members

• Metodi Manov: Metodi is responsible for the infrastructure, technical documentation, and governance within the organization.
• Gancho Manev: As the Technology Team Lead, Gancho ensures that the technical aspects of the Nolus Protocol are top-notch.
• Bilyana Christova: As the lead for Marketing and Business Development, she is crucial in promoting the protocol and exploring new growth opportunities.

Advisors

• Zaki Manian: Co-founder of Sommelier Protocol and co-founder of Iqlusion.
• Sebastien Couture: Co-Founder at Interop Ventures.
• Jack Zampolin and Tyler Schmidt: Strangelove Ventures.

This dynamic team, with its diverse skills and experiences, makes the Nolus Protocol a game-changer in the DeFi space. Their collective expertise is instrumental in driving the protocol forward and ensuring its success in the competitive world of decentralized finance.

Conclusion

The Nolus Protocol is set to revolutionize DeFi leasing by offering innovative solutions that give users more leverage and flexibility. Its approach to reducing collateral requirements and fixed interest rates addresses many of the current DeFi challenges, making it an attractive platform for many users. Join the Nolus journey and be part of this exciting financial evolution.