Case Studies

Berachain

Concentrated Ponzi Chain - A milestone in crypto design

+-----------------------------------------------------------+
|                     BERACHAIN                              |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                           |
|   The Ponzi Chain - Milestone in crypto design            |
|   Three-token model with dividend + mutual-aid hybrid     |
|                                                           |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+

Three-Token Model

TokenTypeCharacteristics
BGTGovernanceNon-transferable, only obtained through LP provision
BERAGas Token1:1 one-way burn from BGT
HONEYStablecoinNative over-collateralized USD stablecoin

Deposit-Withdrawal-Payout Model

Deposits

Provide liquidity to official DeFi suite:

  • Add LP to DEX
  • Borrow Honey stablecoin from lending
  • Provide Honey LP to PERP

Each pool's reward ratio is determined by validator node voting (bribery mechanism)

Withdrawals

$BGT (non-transferable, can 1:1 convert to $BERA)
        +
$BERA (main token)
        +
$HONEY (algorithmic stable)

Sources:
├── $BGT inflation
├── L1 gas revenue
└── DeFi revenue

Payout Ratio Calculation

Monthly payout ratio = Monthly $BERA converted
                     / Monthly retained LP's total $BERA pool TVL

Collapse condition:
$BERA conversion amount > Monthly new retained BERA pool TVL + buy pressure

Analysis as Mutual-Aid Scheme

Berachain closely resembles DeFi summer's "Pool 2 mining":

token + ETH form LP deposit

Earn inflation tokens based on LP share

Sell tokens for profit

Key Game Theory

Accumulated $BGT staking returns
        vs
Direct BGT to $BERA conversion and selling

Answer yes → hold $BGT
Answer no → mine and dump

Analysis as Dividend Scheme

Maximizing sunk cost perspective:

ConceptBerachain Equivalent
Mining machineLP deposit
Machine priceLP opportunity cost (impermanent loss, etc.)
Reinvestment/electricityStop LP or convert BGT = dilute share

Growth Flywheel

TVL ↑

Token price ↑

Activity ↑

Protocol revenue ↑

TVL ↑ (cycle)

But this flywheel has prerequisites:

Staking protocol revenue > Direct $BERA selling profit

If ecosystem protocol revenue can't keep up with $BERA appreciation → users mine and dump


Solutions

ApproachDescription
Demand sideGet high-kill-rate protocols (on-chain derivatives) to scale quickly
Supply sideValidator node extra rewards (new scheme bribes)

Validator Node Interests

1. Maximize TVL to maximize validator reward probability
2. Manipulate $BGT output favorably through bribery

To gain TVL advantage, nodes need to launch more schemes

Higher node APY attracts LP

Win BGT bribery votes

Easier to pump new schemes

Schemes feeding schemes positive cycle

Berachain's Milestone Significance

Using validator nodes to bind project teams to do split schemes

Ethereum: Only one Eigenlayer

Berachain: Number of nodes = Number of Eigens = Number of schemes

Compared to Luna:

  • Luna only did a single algorithmic stable mutual-aid + deposit interest dividend
  • Then looked for ecosystem to absorb bubbles
  • Berachain's mechanism bundles project teams to launch schemes from the start

Like a carrot on a stick for donkeys - must keep launching, no TVL = no rewards


Core Formulas

Berachain essence:
├── Mutual-aid scheme with dividend characteristics
├── Three tokens separating rights and utility
└── Validator nodes binding project teams for splits

Collapse model:
├── Protocol revenue < BERA appreciation rate
├── Users tend to mine and dump
└── TVL flywheel reverses

Solutions:
├── High-kill-rate protocols scale up
└── Validators continuously launch new schemes

For public chains, this is the core problem. The great way is simple.