RIADeFi
Research files · stable lending

Ketju research: Usual (USD0 / USD0++)

Adverse research assessmentPublished by Ketju Research

This file describes the economic claim, control, loss, and exit evidence. Firm-shelf policy is a separate conclusion; client action and amount belong to the advisor. Not investment, legal, tax, or compliance advice.

Research summary

ADVERSE RESEARCH ASSESSMENT. The original thesis correctly identified mutable redemption terms but overstated several incident facts that the available primary record does not prove, including a January 10 effective date, more than $200M of Morpho borrows and losses to unlevered holders from liquidations. Usual announced on January 9, 2025 that the unconditional early 1:1 USD0++ exit would be replaced by a 0.87 USD0 floor plus a 1:1 route requiring USUAL-token contribution. Its January 14 update acknowledged that exit liquidity had been heavily impaired and residual USD0/USD0++ pool liquidity had remained below $20M after sell-offs and withdrawals. The product later became bUSD0 under UIP-12, but the decision variable did not disappear: current governance documentation says the DAO can set the early-exit floor, presently 0.92 USD0, and redemption fees. A locked, governance-administered RWA-backed claim is not equivalent to USD0 at par. Direct USD0, USDC or a separately approved savings token provides a clearer exit. Audits cannot make mutable economic terms immutable.

Observable review triggers

  • The live bUSD0 contract enforces one USD0 of net primary redemption value without requiring purchase or burn of another token for 12 consecutive months
  • Every floor, fee, pause, upgrade, maturity and rt-bUSD0 authority is published and reconciles to executed contracts and governance proposals
  • Daily reserve composition and liabilities reconcile to independent attestations for 12 consecutive months
  • Existing holders receive an enforceable notice and par-exit window before any redemption term changes
  • Proposed-size primary redemption and secondary sale each pass the written time and slippage limits during a stressed-liquidity test

Facts on file

Research assessment
Adverse
Client selection
Not considered
Exposure
stable lending
Chains examined
Ethereum
Reviewed
Next review

← All published research assessments