Revenue Model
AsiliChain generates revenue through protocol fees embedded in lending operations, DDS generation, and aggregator licensing. There is no native speculative token.
Revenue Streams
Section titled “Revenue Streams”| Stream | Rate | Volume driver | Phase active |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol lending fee | 4% fixed margin per loan cycle | Number of loans auto-repaid | Phase 2+ |
| DDS generation fee | $15–40 per shipment | Number of export containers | Phase 2+ |
| Aggregator licensing fee | 0.5% on every batch transfer through mid-tier exporters | Export volume through licensed aggregators | Phase 3+ |
| Buyer portal SaaS | $200–500/month per commodity trader organisation | Number of trader organisations | Phase 3+ |
| Data API access | Volume-tiered (negotiated with DFIs, research institutions) | Data licensing agreements | Phase 4+ |
Unit Economics at Scale
Section titled “Unit Economics at Scale”Baseline scenario: 2,000 farmers, 500 active loans, $450 avg loan, 6-month cycle
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Loans in flight | 500 |
| Total loan book | $225,000 USDC |
| Protocol fee per cycle (4%) | $9,000 USDC per 6-month cycle |
| DDS shipments per season | ~40 containers |
| DDS fee revenue | $600–1,600 per season |
| Total protocol revenue (Phase 2 steady state) | ~$18,000–20,000 USDC/year |
Phase 3 scenario: 10,000 farmers, 3,000 loans, 5 cooperatives, 3 commodity trader portals
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total loan book | $1.35M USDC |
| Protocol fee per year | $108,000 USDC |
| DDS revenue | $4,000–10,000/year |
| Aggregator licensing (0.5% on $3M exports) | $15,000/year |
| Buyer portal SaaS (3 traders × $300/mo) | $10,800/year |
| Total Phase 3 annual revenue | ~$138,000–144,000 USDC/year |
MFI Economics
Section titled “MFI Economics”MFIs are not revenue sources — they are capital sources. The MFI earns 8–10% APY on their USDC pool position. AsiliChain earns the 4% spread above MFI yield. Both parties benefit when loans auto-repay.
| Component | Rate | Recipient |
|---|---|---|
| Borrower APR (gross) | 14–18% | — |
| MFI yield | 8–10% | MFI pool |
| AsiliChain protocol fee | 4% | AsiliChain treasury |
| Credit loss reserve | 1–2% | Smart contract buffer |
No Governance Token
Section titled “No Governance Token”AsiliChain does not issue a governance token. This is a permanent design decision, not a deferral.
The reasons are structural, not temporary:
Regulatory clarity. A token sold to Ugandan farmers, EU-regulated MFIs, or any participant in the protocol creates securities obligations, VASP registration requirements, and compliance costs that consume resources better spent on cooperative onboarding and MFI partnerships. Avoiding a token is not a limitation — it is a deliberate choice to keep the legal structure clean.
Mission alignment. A speculative token creates incentives that are independent of, and potentially harmful to, the farming communities the protocol serves. A token whose price fluctuates with crypto market sentiment has no relationship to whether a farmer in Mbale received a fair loan or whether a cooperative exported successfully. AsiliChain does not want that disconnection baked into its incentive structure.
Sufficient without one. The protocol generates revenue through lending margin, DDS fees, aggregator licensing, and buyer portal SaaS. These revenue streams fund operations and growth without requiring a speculative instrument. There is no economic gap that a governance token would fill.
The protocol is not governed by token holders. Protocol upgrades, fee parameters, and forbearance decisions are governed by a 3-of-5 multisig held by the founding team, an independent technical advisor, and an MFI representative. This is accountable governance without speculative tokenomics.
There is no future token event. If this position changes, it will be announced explicitly with full regulatory and community context — not discovered in a footnote.