Welcome to the AD Derivatives podcast led by Director of Derivatives; Greg Magadini. Featuring: Nick Forster, Co-Founder at Lyra!
Nick Forster is the co-founder of DeFi options protocol Lyra. Before founding Lyra, Nick was an equity options trader at SIG. Today we discuss Lyra's latest protocol launch, Lyra V2. V2 is a central limit order book style protocol. Lyra has its own app-chain built on L2 stack Optimism. Part of our discussion involves exploring Lyra's portfolio margin, liquidation engine and mechanics around the Lyra app-chain.
The Amberdata Derivatives Podcast recently featured Nick Forster, co-founder of Lyra DeFi Options Protocol, discussing the newly launched V2 version of Lyra. In this episode, Amberdata Director of Derivatives, Greg Magadini, the podcast host, dives into the key improvements and significant changes made in the latest version. Nick, with a background in math and experience as an equity options trader at Susquehanna International Group, shares insights into the evolution of Lyra and the rationale behind their focus on bringing options to the crypto market at scale.
Lyra initially introduced an options automated market maker (AMM) in V1, providing a groundbreaking approach to on-chain options trading. Despite facing challenges, Lyra's AMM proved successful and resilient. However, V2 marked a departure from the AMM model to a central limit order book system. Nick explains that this shift was driven by the need for a more scalable and modular architecture. The AMM's all-encompassing smart contracts posed challenges for upgrades and iteration, hindering flexibility in adjusting specific aspects like pricing and margin handling.
The conversation then transitions to Lyra's innovative features in V2, particularly portfolio margin. Nick explains the risk engine's role in calculating margin requirements, both for portfolio margin and standard margin. The portfolio margin system involves evaluating various scenarios to determine the maximum potential loss, allowing for hyper-capital efficiency.
Liquidation, a critical aspect of options trading with leverage, is discussed in detail. Lyra's liquidation system employs a reverse Dutch auction model, offering a discounted sale of a user's portfolio to potential liquidators. The discount increases if no one takes the offer, creating a strong incentive for external entities to participate in the liquidation process. Nick highlights the transparency and flexibility of this mechanism, reducing the risk associated with traditional market-maker-dependent liquidation processes.
The conversation also touches on Lyra's unique approach to handling insolvency and its on-chain security module acting as an insurance fund. Nick acknowledges the potential for socialized losses in extreme scenarios but emphasizes the protocol's commitment to transparency and continuous improvement.
Lyra's portfolio margin is explored further, with Nick clarifying that it is accessible without a whitelisting process. While a user interface for portfolio margin is in development, technically proficient users can already leverage this feature within the protocol.
Greg inquires about the availability of APIs for potential liquidators interested in participating in Lyra's ecosystem. Nick mentions the existence of a script allowing users to monitor open liquidations on-chain. Although the flow for merging liquidated positions with the main trading account is still being perfected, Lyra is actively working on streamlining this process.
Nick discusses the importance of "quality quotes" in the context of trading. He emphasizes the need for tight bid-ask spreads and reasonable order sizes, discouraging excessively small orders. This ensures tradability and contributes to maintaining healthy market dynamics.
Lyra Protocol's move to launch its app chain, particularly dedicated to the Lyra protocol, is a notable innovation. Nick explains that this app chain, essentially an L2 (Layer 2) solution, addresses the gas limitations faced during the early days of launching on Optimism. The app chain allows Lyra to maintain composability and control without competing for block space, paving the way for a seamless user experience.
Account abstraction, as Nick describes, involves using smart contracts as the basis for wallets, deviating from the traditional Ethereum Account System (EAS). This approach allows Lyra to offer users on-chain benefits without the complexities associated with conventional blockchain interactions. Features like email-password sign-ups and gasless transactions enhance the user experience.
Lyra's DAO, controlled by token holders, plays a pivotal role in governance. Nick delves into the decentralized nature of the DAO, highlighting its ability to appoint service providers, control the treasury, and make decisions via on-chain smart contracts. The DAO's role is to empower different entities and contribute to the security and evolution of the Lyra protocol.
With the launch of V2, Lyra introduces a trading competition centered around the January 12th expiration, coinciding with the spot Bitcoin ETF decision. This strategic move aims to educate users on trading options during significant events. Traders can participate in the competition, trade options or perpetuals, and stand a chance to win based on trading volume and profitability.
Nick reflects on the evolving landscape of crypto volatility events. The discussion touches on how Lyra aims to address these events, especially with the anticipated spot Bitcoin ETF decision. Furthermore, Nick shares his view on the significance of Daniel Kahneman's "Thinking, Fast and Slow" in understanding cognitive biases and decision-making under uncertainty.
On a more personal note, Nick briefly discusses the intense work behind the V2 launch and expresses excitement about the future. As things wind down, he looks forward to some leisure time at the beach in Sydney before gearing up for what lies ahead in 2024.
As for recommended trading books, Nick suggests the classic "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman. He emphasizes the book's underrated relevance in understanding cognitive biases and making decisions under uncertainty. Nick sees it as a crucial framework for traders seeking to enhance their decision-making skills.
In conclusion, this conversation with Nick provides a deep dive into Lyra Protocol's technical advancements, governance structure, and strategic approach to market events. As the V2 launch unfolds, Lyra Protocol continues to be at the forefront of innovation in the DeFi space.
To learn more about Lyra you can visit: https://www.lyra.finance/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lyrafinance
Blog: https://mirror.xyz/lyra.eth