alUSD is a synthetic asset created on the Alchemix platform. It is minted against the value of DAI deposits which acts as collateral backing the value of alUSD. alUSD is currently backed by a 200% collateralization ratio, meaning for every 100 DAI deposited, the user can borrow 50 alUSD.
alUSD can be a great way for users to leverage up on their USD exposure as well as hedge against market volatility without actually selling their underlying DAI. By depositing into Alchemix, the user can borrow up to 50% of their DAI value in alUSD. This can then be sold for stablecoins as a way to leverage their USD position without actually losing exposure to their DAI. If alUSD were to depeg, then users would be incentivized to buy alUSD on the open market at a discount to repay their debt or exchange 1:1 with the transmuter for an instant arbitrage profit.
alUSD can be redeemed back for its underlying USD at any time. The Alchemix vault is constantly paying off its own debt as it uses the DAI deposits to earn yield across DeFi. It then uses these earnings to pay off its alUSD debt over time. In essence, Alchemix is providing users with a line of credit on their future expected yield. There will never be any liquidations of a user's collateral unless it is done to repay the debt and withdraw the collateral. Otherwise, the user just needs to burn alUSD on Alchemix to redeem their DAI deposits.
![Alchemix USD (Optimism) [alUSD] | Exponential DeFi (2024)](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mP8/h8AAvMB+NzmkbcAAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
