Abstract
Stablecoin is a medium of exchange with stable value in the world of
decentralized finance (DeFi). In which, algorithmic stablecoins are one
special type of stablecoins that are not backed by any asset. They stand
to revolutionize the way a sovereign fiat operates. As implemented,
algorithmic stablecoins are poorly stabilized in most cases; their
prices easily deviate from the target or even fall into a catastrophic
collapse, and are as a result often dismissed as a Ponzi scheme.
However, what is the essence of Ponzi? In this paper, we try to clarify
such a deceptive concept and reveal how algorithmic stablecoins work
from a higher level. We find that Ponzi is basically a financial
protocol that pays existing investors with funds collected from new
ones. Running a Ponzi, however, does not necessarily imply that any
participant is in any sense losing out, as long as the game can be
perpetually rolled over. Economists call such realization as a
rational Ponzi game. We thereby propose a rational model in the
context of algorithmic stablecoins and draw its holding conditions. We
apply the model to examine: whether or not the algorithmic
stablecoin is a rational Ponzi game. Accordingly, we discuss two types
of algorithmic stablecoins (Rebase & Seigniorage Shares) and dig into
the historical market performance of a number of impactful projects to
demonstrate the effectiveness of our model.