UNI coin is the native cryptocurrency of the Uniswap protocol, a leading decentralized exchange (DEX) platform built on the Ethereum blockchain. Launched in September 2020, UNI serves as a governance token, allowing holders to participate in the decision-making process regarding the protocol's future developments and upgrades.
### Key Features of UNI Coin
1. **Governance**: UNI token holders can propose and vote on various changes to the Uniswap protocol, such as fee structures, token listings, and development initiatives. This decentralized governance model ensures that the community has a direct say in the protocol's evolution.
2. **Liquidity Mining**: Uniswap introduced liquidity mining programs where users can earn UNI tokens by providing liquidity to certain trading pairs on the platform. This initiative incentivizes users to contribute liquidity, enhancing the platform's trading capabilities.
3. **Decentralization**: As a fully decentralized protocol, Uniswap does not rely on intermediaries to facilitate trades. Instead, it uses automated market-making (AMM) mechanisms, which are powered by smart contracts. This approach reduces transaction costs and increases transparency.
4. **Interoperability**: Built on Ethereum, UNI benefits from the vast ecosystem of decentralized applications (dApps) and services within the Ethereum network. It can be easily integrated with various wallets, exchanges, and DeFi platforms, enhancing its utility and accessibility.
### Uniswap Protocol Overview
Uniswap operates on a unique AMM model, where liquidity providers supply equal values of two tokens to create a liquidity pool. Traders can then swap tokens directly from these pools, with prices determined algorithmically based on the ratio of tokens in the pool. This model contrasts with traditional order book exchanges, offering increased liquidity and reduced slippage for users.
### Distribution and Supply
The initial launch of UNI saw a total supply of 1 billion tokens, to be distributed over four years. The allocation included: