Origin Protocol

Origin Protocol, founded in 2017 by Josh Fraser and Matthew Liu, operates as a blockchain platform focused on bringing non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and decentralized finance (DeFi) to a wider audience. The company was established in San Francisco with the initial goal of creating a decentralized, peer-to-peer marketplace to reduce transaction fees and promote more open commerce. Fraser, a serial entrepreneur with previous ventures like Torbit, which was acquired by Walmart Labs, brought his experience in internet and blockchain companies. Liu contributed his product and engineering background from major tech companies, including YouTube and Google.

The firm generates revenue through performance fees on its yield-generating products. A portion of this income is used for OGN token buybacks, which in turn rewards OGN stakers. The business model centers around two main product lines: a versatile NFT platform and a suite of yield-generating DeFi products. The company has secured significant financial backing, raising a total of $31.5 million over four funding rounds from investors such as Pantera Capital, Foundation Capital, and notable angel investors like Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian and YouTube founder Steve Chen.

Origin's flagship products include Origin Story and Origin Dollar (OUSD). The Origin Story platform is designed for NFT launches, offering creators a high degree of control over branding, sales models, and content. It provides white-label marketplace solutions and has powered high-profile sales, such as a record-setting $11.7 million NFT auction for the musician 3LAU. A key feature of the NFT platform is its accessibility, allowing purchases with both cryptocurrency and traditional credit or debit cards.

In the DeFi space, Origin offers Origin Dollar (OUSD), a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar that automatically earns a yield for holders directly in their wallets. This is achieved by deploying the underlying collateral—comprising other stablecoins like DAI, USDC, and USDT—into a diversified set of lending protocols such as Aave, Compound, and Curve. The protocol's smart contracts automatically rebalance funds to optimize yield, which is then distributed back to OUSD holders through an increase in their token supply, a process known as rebasing. The company has expanded its DeFi offerings with products like Origin Ether (OETH), a liquid staking token designed to provide a competitive yield on staked Ether.

Keywords: decentralized finance, NFT platform, stablecoin, yield generation, blockchain, peer-to-peer commerce, liquid staking, OGN token, OUSD, OETH