# IDLE incentives distribution update III **URL:** \ **Category:** 🧩 Protocol & DAO\ **Created:** [April 19, 2023, 11:39pm UTC](https://gov.pareto.credit/t/idle-incentives-distribution-update-iii/1149 "2023-04-19T23:39:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 1
**Author:** ![Biaf](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/gov.pareto.credit/biaf/32/213_2.png) [@Biaf](https://gov.pareto.credit/u/Biaf)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 11:39pm UTC](https://gov.pareto.credit/t/idle-incentives-distribution-update-iii/1149/1 "2023-04-19T23:39:01Z")
### Author Treasury League ### Background - [$IDLE token](https://docs.idle.finance/governance/idle) - [Governance Mining program](https://gov.pareto.credit/t/idle-dao-governance-mining/990) - Jun 2022 - [$IDLE incentives distribution update 1](https://gov.pareto.credit/t/idle-incentives-distribution-update/1030) - Aug 2022 - [$IDLE incentives distribution update 2](https://gov.pareto.credit/t/idle-incentives-distribution-update-v2/1104) - Jan 2023 ### Summary A proposal to discuss the next steps of the $IDLE incentivization, aka the Liquidity Mining program, on Best Yield strategies ending in April 2023. ## Rationale > [@IDLE incentives distribution update](https://gov.pareto.credit/t/idle-incentives-distribution-update/1030/1): > > The Idle DAO governance token is live since November 26th, 2020 and during the same period, the DAO decided to start a [Liquidity Mining](https://docs.idle.finance/governance/idle/distribution) program lasting for 2 years (bootstrap program of 1 month and [liquidity mining program of 23 months](https://docs.idle.finance/governance/idle/distribution)). The LM program currently distributes 18% of the total $IDLE supply (2,340,000 tokens) on a per-block basis across all Idle Best Yield strategies\*. > > In February 2022, the Idle DAO [approved](https://gov.pareto.credit/t/iip-20-idle-gauges-activation/949) to route 30% (178,200 tokens) of the Liquidity Mining program supply to [PYTs Gauges](https://gov.pareto.credit/t/introducing-idle-gauges-model-for-tranches/913) for 6 months (i.e. from April to early October). > > ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/idle/original/2X/c/c8ff9cb48f8d97777551c03d60e5904720348a81.png) > [@IDLE incentives distribution update II](https://gov.pareto.credit/t/idle-incentives-distribution-update-ii/1104/1): > > With [IIP-25](https://gov.pareto.credit/t/iip-25-m3-2022-leagues-budget-and-idle-incentives-distribution-update/1051), the DAO voted for extending the current programs length up to February 2023 with these specs > > > [@IDLE incentives distribution update](https://gov.pareto.credit/t/idle-incentives-distribution-update/1030/4): > > > > […] these distribution rates: > > > > - Liquidity Mining program (Best Yield strategy): 2,215 → 1000 $IDLE/day > > - Gauges system (Perpetual Yield Tranches): 990 $IDLE/day And later with [IIP-31](https://gov.pareto.credit/t/iip-31-idle-incentives-distribution-update-euler-staking-pyts-as-new-yield-sources-for-by/1107) until April 2023 > [@\[IIP-31\] IDLE incentives distribution update, Euler staking PYTs as new yield sources for BY](https://gov.pareto.credit/t/iip-31-idle-incentives-distribution-update-euler-staking-pyts-as-new-yield-sources-for-by/1107/1): > > The DAO voted in favor of two proposals linked to the incentivization programs on IDLE > > > [@IDLE incentives distribution update II](https://gov.pareto.credit/t/idle-incentives-distribution-update-ii/1104/1): > > > > #### 1. Continue the Liquidity Mining program > > > > The Best Yield strategy has been incentivised through the Liquidity Mining program with different distribution rates (3205 → 2215 → 1000 IDLE/Day). We suggest continuing its incentivization but also decreasing its distribution rate. > > > > - From 1000 IDLE/day to 500 IDLE/day for the next 3 months > > > > The IDLE needed to fund this extension can be taken from the [Ecosystem fund](https://etherscan.io/address/0xb0aa1f98523ec15932dd5faac5d86e57115571c7). > > During the discussion we pointed out how a reduction of the daily distribution to the BY strategy together with a program extension could have multiple benefits: > > - retain the current Best Yield’s liquidity (mainly sitting in the DAI, USDC and USDT markets) > - reduce significantly the selling pressure on the DAO governance token > > The second proposal discussed, focused on the incentivization mechanism behind the Perpetual Yield Tranches, i.e. the Gauges system > > > [@IDLE incentives distribution update II](https://gov.pareto.credit/t/idle-incentives-distribution-update-ii/1104/1): > > > > #### 2. Pause the Gauges distribution > > > > The Perpetual Yield Tranches have been incentivised through the Gauges system for over ten months at a constant distribution rate of 990 IDLE/day. We suggest pausing this distribution. > > > > - From 990 IDLE/day to 0 IDLE/day. We will then analyze how the program performed at this new distribution rate and list some incentivization proposals for the future. To be complete, we need to remember that the [DAO treasury](https://docs.idle.finance/governance/idle-dao/treasury) manages these two funds for incentivization purposes: - [Ecosystem fund](https://etherscan.io/address/0xb0aa1f98523ec15932dd5faac5d86e57115571c7) with 1.1m IDLE - [Long-term rewards fund](https://etherscan.io/address/0x107a369bc066c77ff061c7d2420618a6ce31b925) with 2.6m IDLE ![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/idle/original/2X/0/0483b8ada0e2d4820e772049c31f0dbf08656198.png) ## Performance analysis For an analysis focused on the **governance participation** among IDLE token holders, we refer to the one done in [August 2022](https://gov.pareto.credit/t/idle-incentives-distribution-update/1030#governance-analysis-5). We do not expect to see significant drifts from the trend seen given the extended bear market conditions affecting the crypto ecosystem. It can still be interesting to see how the financial performances of the LM program evolved since the last analysis. ### Financial analysis To understand the financial performance of the incentives program, it can be useful to understand the dollar cost, aka the acquisition cost, of the fees generated by the Idle strategies for every $IDLE incentive distributed. > How many fees were generated by the Idle strategies vs the $ amount of IDLE distributed? We have already analysed two different distribution periods: - Distribution 1 from 01/01/2021 until 08/06/2022 with 3,205 IDLE/day - Distribution 2 from 08/07/2022 until 12/31/2022 with 1,990 IDLE/day Today we will add a third part - Distribution 3 from 01/30/2023 until 13/03/2023 with 500 IDLE/day ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/idle/original/2X/d/d17e342549f822724dc38cd29210b92233c4b055.png) #### Distribution 3 The Best Yield strategy received around 21k $IDLE incentives, i.e. 47% of the funds, (for an average dollar value of $9k with IDLE price equal to $0.42) and generated around $22k in fees for the DAO. - For every $1 spent in $IDLE incentives, the BY strategies generated $2.49 in fees These results seem to suggest that the incentivization program for Best Yield is strategic and helped retain the TVL. We should anyway weigh this analysis taking into consideration its short length. Due to the Euler exploit happened on March 13th, multiple strategies were paused. Hence the the analyis lasts only ~40 days. ## Proposals We will list three ideas as next steps for the Liquidity Mining program: ### 1. Continue the Liquidity Mining program for 3 months The Best Yield strategy has been incentivised through the Liquidity Mining program with different distribution rates (3205 → 2215 → 1000 → 500 IDLE/Day). One option is to extend for another 3 months the program at the same distribution rate. - 500 IDLE/day for the next 3 months The IDLE needed to fund this extension can be taken from the [Ecosystem fund](https://etherscan.io/address/0xb0aa1f98523ec15932dd5faac5d86e57115571c7). Extending the incentivization length of the LM program can be strategically smart to retain the current liquidity (mainly sitting in the DAI, USDC and USDT BY markets). Even more, now that the Best Yield and the Yield Tranches strategies can work synergetically. This emission rate would not affect the rewards return for the BY strategy (+0.2% at current prices). ### 2. Continue the Liquidity Mining program for 3 months and update the distribution rate Another option is to extend for another 3 months program but adjust its distribution rate. - From 500 to 250 IDLE/day for the next 3 months The IDLE needed to fund this extension can be taken from the [Ecosystem fund](https://etherscan.io/address/0xb0aa1f98523ec15932dd5faac5d86e57115571c7). This emission rate would affect minimally the rewards return for the BY strategy (+0.1% at current prices). ### 3. Pause the Liquidity Mining distribution One last option is to pause the Liquidity Mining program. - From 500 to 0 IDLE/day From a DAO treasury perspective, this option would stop emission of IDLE and reduce significantly the selling pressure on the DAO governance token. The emission rate would affect the rewards return for the BY strategy and stakers. It is important to remember that the Liquidity Mining program started in November 2020 with different rate of distributions and strategies affected. The DAO may also think to update the [Integration Partners program](https://docs.idle.finance/products/integration-partners-program) and create ad-hoc solution for integrators that count on the additional return given by IDLE on the Idle strategies. ## Next steps We would like to gather the sentiment of Idle DAO toward these proposals: 1. Continue the Liquidity Mining program for 3 months at a 500 IDLE/day 2. Continue the Liquidity Mining program for 3 months at a 250 IDLE/day 3. Pause the Liquidity Mining program This post will be open for discussion and in less than 24 hours, if there are no objections, we will proceed with the Temperature Check. — \* For a matter of clarity, in this analysis, we are showing daily distribution rates. $IDLE incentives distribution happens instead on a per-block basis, hence some rounding has been applied. \*\* In this analysis we used average YTD prices such as IDLE = $0.42, WETH = $1,643. --- _[View the full topic](https://gov.pareto.credit/t/idle-incentives-distribution-update-iii/1149)._