Bootstrapping USDCet-ACA Liquidity Pool on the Acala Network: A Comprehensive Guide

4 min readOct 16, 2023

In this article, we will unpack the complexities of liquidity pools, specifically focusing on the USDCet-ACA pair on the Acala Network. USDCet, also known as USDC (Wormhole Ethereum), represents USDC originating from the Ethereum blockchain and subsequently transferred to other networks through Wormhole. Join us on this journey to understand what liquidity pools are, the opportunities they present, why projects opt for bootstrapping, how users can participate, and much more.

What is a Liquidity Pool?

Before we dive into the specifics of bootstrapping liquidity pools on the Acala Network, let’s start with the basics. A liquidity pool is the lifeblood of decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms. It’s a smart contract that holds a certain amount of cryptocurrency, allowing users to trade, provide liquidity, and earn rewards in return.

The USDCet-ACA liquidity pool is no different, serving as a trading center for the USDCet stablecoin and ACA token. Liquidity pools are a crucial component of the Acala ecosystem, facilitating seamless transactions and DeFi activities within the network.

USDCet-ACA Opportunity

So, why should you be interested in the USDCet-ACA liquidity pool specifically? Well, there is an abundance of opportunities, spanning the present moment and beyond.

Liquidity Provision: You can contribute your assets to the pool, becoming a liquidity provider (LP). In return, you’ll earn a share of trading fees and other incentives including active ACA incentives voted by the community.
Asset Exchange: The pool allows you to trade between USDCet and ACA tokens, enabling you to diversify your crypto portfolio or take advantage of market movements. Additionally, stablecoins like USDCet play a crucial role in providing stability and mitigating volatility in the crypto market, making them a cornerstone for secure and reliable trading.
Supporting the Acala Ecosystem: By participating, you’re actively supporting the Acala Network’s mission to bring stablecoins, decentralized finance, and cross-chain functionality to the Polkadot ecosystem, thereby contributing to the growth and sustainability of innovative blockchain solutions on a global scale

The Significance of Bootstrapping

One intriguing aspect of liquidity pools on the Acala Network is the concept of bootstrapping. There is a full video explaining bootstrapping on Acala but here’s a quick breakdown of why Acala decides to go this route:

Price Stability: A Bootstrap Program opens for deposits before trading, allowing the price to stabilize. This discourages sudden, large purchases that could disrupt the market.
Whale and Bot Deterrence: It also discourages whales (large market participants) and bots from buying all the tokens at once, preventing them from front-running other users.
Fair Opening Price: The project token’s price at the end of the Bootstrap Program becomes the opening trading price, ensuring a fair start for all participants.

Acala Wormhole Bridge: Getting USDCet on Acala

This liquidity pool stands out due to its inclusion of USDCet, which requires transferring from the Ethereum Mainnet to the Acala Network. Fortunately, the Acala Network has seamlessly integrated the Wormhole network, facilitating the smooth transfer of assets across different blockchain ecosystems. Here’s how you can use the Wormhole Bridge:

Visit the Acala Wormhole Bridge. For this process, you will need a Unified Account to perform this action. Here is a video guide on how to swiftly create one.
Choose Ethereum as your “Origin Chain” and ensure Acala is set as your “Destination Chain”
In the “Amount” section, ensure USDC is selected and enter the amount of tokens you would like to transfer.
“Approve” and then “Send” the tokens by signing the corresponding Metamask transactions
Finally, click “Redeem Tokens” to redeem our bridged tokens

A full video and visual step-by-step guide is available here.

With your USDCet available on Acala, you are ready to partake in the bootstrapping of the newest liquidity pool.

Basic Steps to Bootstrapping

Now, let’s get practical. How can you participate in the USDCet-ACA liquidity pool bootstrapping process? A more in-depth guide is available but here’s a quick step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Connect to the Acala DApp and navigate to the “Swap” section.

Step 2: Select “Bootstrap” and choose the USDCet-ACA liquidity pool.

Step 3: Decide whether to provide one or both tokens in the pair. Your choice depends on your intention, and the final exchange rate will adjust your liquidity position.

Step 4: Enter the desired amount and click “Bootstrap”. You’ll receive confirmation that your tokens are now part of the Bootstrap Program.

Step 5: Monitor the pool’s status and your estimated LP share on the Bootstrap page.

Step 6: When the bootstrapping period ends, return to the Bootstrap page and click “Claim” to claim your USDCet-ACA LP tokens.

Step 7: Head to the “Stake” tab, select the USDCet-ACA pool, and click “Stake/Unstake” to stake your tokens and begin earning incentive rewards.

By following these steps, you become an active participant in bootstrapping the Acala Network’s USDCet-ACA liquidity pool.

Closing Thoughts

Thank you for joining us on this journey through bootstrapping a liquidity pool on the Acala Network. We hope this comprehensive guide has shed light on the exciting opportunities that await you in the world of DeFi and cross-chain asset transfers.

Keep an eye out for forthcoming updates as the Acala Network advances through these thrilling developments. Collectively, we are constructing a stronger, more enduring, and decentralized financial ecosystem.