As I've been working on the Ark prototype, I tried to feel out the economic viability of the system, which can be a make or break. One part of is that every ASP is its own separate microcosm. That seems manageable for bitcoin payments, but adds exponential complexity for the advanced stuff in Arkade (lending, swaps, etc). And it seems like a centralizing force that will put intense pressure on ASPs and also invite regulatory scrutiny.
- Stablecoins are locked into individual ASPs - how many of those will Tether/etc support?
- Will ASPs need to provide liquidity for non-bitcoin assets also?
- What if a liquidation cascade depletes ASP liquidity? What if rounds are too slow?
- Is there unilateral exit for non-bitcoin assets?
- If your app only implements the payments part, are you still exposed to the other dynamics?
Do I have an answer, or understand the complexities of all this? Certainly not. If you do, congrats, please share. Intuitively, I prefer simpler systems. How do you think about these things?
