TerraUSD (UST) is a decentralized and algorithmically pegged stablecoin native to the Terra blockchain. The UST stablecoin maintains a peg to the US dollar which is held steady through smart contract powered algorithms that mint or burn LUNA based on changes in demand.
Although one of the newest entrants into the market, the DeFi boom has helped TerraUSD become one of the largest stablecoins by market cap among digital assets. Multiple integrations with other blockchain ecosystems has also increased the use, circulating supply and market cap of the UST stablecoin, driving up its popularity and making LUNA more valuable.
In February 2022, the Terra blockchain’s founder, Do Kwon, shot into the limelight when he bought $1.5 billion worth of Bitcoin. Following this move, the Luna Foundation Guard has committed to buying $10 billion worth of Bitcoin as reserves to back the value of the TerraUSD.
As of April 2022, Terra has the second largest TVL for DeFi applications in the market, next only to Ethereum, although it supports only 28 protocols in this space. One of the reasons for this is the Anchor Protocol, which accounts for over 50% of the market share.
The Anchor Protocol offers an APY of almost 19.5% on UST deposits, making the Terra stablecoin a popular digital asset to hold among DeFi investors.
