Introduction
Acala Network has secured the first parachain slot on Polkadot, marking a pivotal moment in decentralized finance (DeFi) innovation. This article explores Acala's meticulous launch strategy, community-driven approach, and the technical milestones ahead.
The Polkadot Parachain Milestone
After two years of development, Acala won Polkadot's inaugural parachain auction, enabling integration with Polkadot's Relay Chain starting December 18, 2021. Key achievements include:
- Community Support: 800,000 global members and 100 ambassadors.
- Crowdloan Success: 190,000 contributors locked 32.5M DOT, with 24.1M DOT allocated to Liquid Crowdloan vaults for DeFi liquidity.
👉 Explore Acala's DeFi ecosystem
Launch Philosophy
Acala's team—comprising top blockchain developers and economists—prioritizes:
- Flexibility: Adapting to Polkadot's governance timelines.
- Patience: Acknowledging Polkadot's 28-day voting cycles (vs. Kusama's 7-day).
- Wisdom: Leveraging Karura Network's Kusama experience.
Phase-by-Phase Roadmap
1. Token Distribution (Weeks 1–4)
- ACA token allocations.
- Liquid Crowdloan DOT (LCDOT) releases for DeFi protocols.
2. Treasury Activation (Weeks 1–4)
- 2M+ DOT transferred to the Acala Treasury for protocol governance.
3. Core Features (Q1 2022)
- Token transfers enable ACA/LCDOT movements.
- NFT reward distributions.
👉 Dive deeper into Acala's roadmap
Leveraging Karura's Insights
Key learnings from Acala's Kusama sister network:
- Risk Management: Gauntlet partnership refines collateral ratios using Karura data.
- User Experience: Enhanced guides, videos, and Discord support channels.
- Governance: Optimized proposal workflows and community calls.
Expanding the DeFi Ecosystem
Fintech Integrations
- Partnership with Current.com to bring DeFi yields to 3M U.S. users via HyFi (Hybrid Finance).
EVM+ Innovation
- Acala EVM+: Combines Ethereum compatibility with Substrate's flexibility.
- Developer Readiness: 15+ teams preparing to launch EVM+ DApps in early 2022.
Community Commitment
Acala prioritizes transparency through:
- Regular Crowdcasts and Twitter Spaces.
- Pre-launch events (e.g., December 15, 2021 roadmap reveal).
FAQ Section
1. When will ACA tokens be distributed?
Within the first 4 weeks of genesis block creation.
2. What is LCDOT used for?
LCDOT unlocks DOT liquidity for DeFi protocols like aUSD stablecoin and Acala Swap.
3. How does Karura inform Acala's launch?
Karura's live data optimizes financial parameters and governance processes.
4. What makes Acala EVM+ unique?
It integrates Ethereum’s tools with Substrate’s scalability, avoiding Ethereum’s limitations.
5. How can developers build on Acala?
Testnet is live; EVM+ launches first on Karura for testing before Acala deployment.
6. What’s next for Acala?
Focus shifts to scaling HyFi partnerships and onboarding EVM+ DApps.
About Acala
Acala is a Polkadot-based DeFi hub offering:
- Decentralized stablecoins (aUSD).
- Liquid staking derivatives (LDOT).
- A cross-chain DEX.