What is CIAN?

CIAN serves as the Yield Layer of DeFi, aiming to redistribute yield sources, create a sustainable DeFi ecosystem, and optimize asset annualized returns. At its core, CIAN’s Yield Layer is a virtual layer aggregating secure, scalable, and sustainable yield sources across the crypto space. These yields are then reorganized into structured returns and redistributed across multiple tokens and networks. The goal is to dynamically allocate assets to cutting-edge yield sources and strategies, maximizing returns for users while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the platform.

Project Background

Founded in 2022 by Luffy He, who also serves as CEO, CIAN has a team of 30 experts, each with over four years of experience in crypto technology and strategy. Many team members have collaborated for years, making CIAN a highly skilled and cohesive international team.

Currently, CIAN boasts a total value locked (TVL) of $1.48 billion, with strategic partnerships spanning top-tier protocols such as AAVE, Lido, 1inch, Coinbase, and Solv.

CIAN Yield Layer

The CIAN Yield Layer is an innovative platform designed to optimize crypto asset returns by integrating, analyzing, and enhancing various yield sources. Through advanced algorithmic strategies and automation tools, CIAN provides diverse yield strategies for DeFi participants, simplifying complex processes such as staking and restaking. This enables users to maximize their returns with ease.

CIAN’s Yield Layer is built with two primary goals: Unified Access to DeFi Yields – It allows the entire DeFi industry to access a wide range of yield sources across the crypto ecosystem in a standardized manner. Sustainable Growth for DeFi Protocols – By leveraging external yield sources, CIAN helps restore and sustain the growth momentum of leading decentralized protocols. With a focus on transparency, flexibility, and security, CIAN’s Yield Layer aims to provide optimal annual percentage yields (APY) for retail stETH and LRT holders, ensuring a seamless and profitable experience.

Technical Architecture of the CIAN Yield Layer

The CIAN Yield Layer consists of four key modules, covering both the DeFi stack and traditional CeFi markets:

1. Yield Source Integration – Aggregates yield opportunities from various DeFi protocols, centralized exchanges (CEXs), and traditional financial instruments.
2. Yield Restructuring – Analyzes, optimizes, and restructures aggregated yields to maximize efficiency.
3. Yield-to-Token Distribution – Transparently and fairly distributes generated yields to LRT (Liquid Restaking Token) holders.
4. Cross-Chain Abstraction – Enables seamless interoperability between different blockchain networks and financial systems.

Technical Architecture of the CIAN Yield Layer (Source: https://cian.app/)

stETH Yield Layer

CIAN is transforming the stETH landscape with an innovative yield layer designed to maximize returns and enhance the utility of stETH. Beyond providing infrastructure, CIAN addresses multiple challenges in the DeFi ecosystem, including insufficient returns, unsustainable growth, and limited liquidity. To tackle these issues within the stETH ecosystem, CIAN offers ETH/stETH holders a comprehensive yield layer.

1. Simplified ETH/stETH Staking & Restaking Management
   By leveraging an stETH-based LRT aggregator, CIAN streamlines the management of ETH/stETH staking and restaking activities, offering the most valuable LRT yields and incentives in the ecosystem.

1. Optimized ETH/stETH Holder Returns
   CIAN employs advanced yield strategies to optimize returns for ETH/stETH holders, focusing on stETH and stETH LRTs.

ETH/stETH Staking Flowchart (Source: https://cian.app/)

FBTC Yield Layer

The FBTC yield layer lets users deposit FBTC/BBTC assets, with the primary allocation directed toward the sUSDe strategy. The step-by-step process within the FBTC yield layer is as follows:

1. Users deposit BBTC/FBTC into the FBTC yield layer.
2. The FBTC yield layer converts BBTC to FBTC at a 1:1 ratio.
3. The deposited FBTC is supplied to the Avalon lending market and used as collateral to borrow USDa, maintaining a target Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratio of 60% as set by the smart contract.
4. The borrowed USDa is converted to USDT, which is then used on Ethena to mint USDe. The USDe is subsequently staked into sUSDe.

FBTC Yield Layer Flowchart (Source: https://cian.app/)

How to Earn CIAN Voyage Points

CIAN has launched the Voyage Points System, where Voyage Points represent a user’s contributions to CIAN’s growth. These points are not only a symbol of achievement but can also be redeemed for future CIAN rewards and exclusive benefits.

Users’ Voyage Points consist of five components:

CIAN Points: Users can earn CIAN Points by depositing assets into their preferred strategies. Points are calculated based on the unleveraged value of the deposit.

OAT Points: Complete tasks on Galxe to claim OAT (On-Chain Achievement Tokens). Voyage Points are calculated as:

Voyage Points = Level Points × Reward Multiplier

Ambassador Points: Join the CIAN Ambassador Program, engage with the CIAN community, and actively participate in discussions. Contributions to the community will earn Ambassador Points, which can be converted into Voyage Points at a specified rate.

Whitelist Points: Being on the whitelist gives users eligibility to receive a certain amount of CIAN tokens upon launch. Whitelist spots are distributed as rewards during special events, such as Twitter Spaces, community calls, or other collaborations.

Proposal & Feedback Points: Share feedback and vote on proposals in the proposal-voting channel on CIAN’s Discord. If your suggestion is adopted, you will receive Voyage Points and may qualify for additional airdrop rewards.

Voyage Points Portal (Source: https://point.cian.app/point)

Risks and Conclusion

Risk Analysis

Although the CIAN yield layer offers various strategies to optimize returns—supporting automated mining, liquidity provision, lending, and other DeFi activities—it significantly reduces complex on-chain operations and provides its own DeFi strategies. However, users still need to exercise risk management when participating.

First, the high volatility of the crypto market cannot be ignored. Sharp price fluctuations can lead to liquidations. Second, liquidity risk is another factor users must consider, especially when participating in liquidity staking products. If market liquidity is insufficient, withdrawing assets may become difficult or result in losses during conversions.

Furthermore, CIAN’s yield strategies rely on multiple external protocols and revenue sources, which may carry risks. For example, vulnerabilities in smart contracts or platform issues could impact the final returns. Strategies involving lending and restaking introduce both additional yield opportunities and inherent risks.

Therefore, when engaging with the CIAN yield layer, users should conduct thorough risk assessments, diversify their exposure, closely monitor platform updates and market trends, and make well-informed decisions.

Future Development & Conclusion

CIAN plans to expand its partnerships with top-tier blockchain networks and enhance its algorithmic infrastructure, enabling users to access innovative and secure DeFi yield strategies seamlessly. The protocol focuses on supporting the BTC and Solana ecosystems, aiming for broad cross-chain adoption. Additionally, CIAN is strengthening its collaboration with PayPal to explore new Real-World Asset (RWA) opportunities, further bridging traditional finance with DeFi.

Through its Yield Layer, CIAN provides a secure, transparent, and flexible platform for optimizing returns on liquid staking derivatives (LSDs). Beyond serving as a decentralized automated infrastructure, CIAN empowers LSD holders to earn both staking and additional DeFi yields. Users can leverage advanced automation tools and algorithmic strategies to efficiently execute DeFi tasks, maximizing their earnings in an ever-evolving crypto ecosystem.