Sky Protocol Explained
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Sky Protocol Explained

September 11, 2025 · 4m ·

Sky Protocol is a decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem built around two core assets: a stablecoin and a governance token. The platform is designed to give you a simple and secure way to trade, save, and participate in governance directly from your own crypto wallet, without ever giving up control of your funds.

What Sky Protocol Is?

At its core, Sky provides a stablecoin designed to hold value close to one US dollar and a separate governance token used to coordinate the platform's decisions. Together they enable a suite of non‑custodial financial services without a central intermediary. For people exploring decentralized finance, Sky offers a more user‑focused route to earn yield, participate in governance, and move assets across efficient networks.

The Two-Token System: USDS and SKY Explained

The Sky ecosystem operates on a two-token model to ensure both stability and community control.

  • USDS: This is the protocol's stablecoin, pegged to the US dollar. It’s backed by a surplus of collateral and uses automated smart contracts to maintain its price stability, making it a reliable asset for trading and saving.
  • SKY: This is the governance token. Holding and using SKY gives you the power to vote on proposals, stake your tokens to help secure the network, and earn rewards. This system separates the stable, everyday utility of USDS from the decision-making and risk management functions of SKY.

Core Features: Permissionless and Decentralized

Sky runs on open liquidity pools and smart contracts, allowing anyone to supply funds, trade, or vote. Decisions that affect rates, rewards, or protocol changes are made through on‑chain governance, giving token holders a direct say. This design keeps intermediaries out of custody and decision making, while relying on transparent code to execute rules.

Sky.money: Your Gateway to Self-Custody DeFi

Sky.money is the primary web interface for interacting with the protocol while retaining self‑custody. The platform supports token swaps, upgrades from legacy tokens to the new Sky tokens, and access to savings and reward modules.

Here’s what you can do on Sky.money:

  • Upgrade: Seamlessly convert legacy tokens to the native SKY and USDS.
  • Swap: Trade major cryptocurrencies for SKY and USDS directly on the platform.
  • Earn: Deposit USDS into reward pools to earn SKY tokens.
  • Stake: Lock up your SKY tokens to participate in governance and earn staking rewards.
  • Borrow: Use your SKY tokens as collateral to borrow USDS stablecoins.

All actions through Sky.money are non‑custodial, meaning you keep control of your private keys and funds at all times.

How the Sky Savings Rate (SSR) Work

The Sky Savings Rate, often called SSR, is an automated yield mechanism that grows your deposited stablecoins over time. When you deposit USDS into this module, you receive a tokenized representation that accumulates value as interest compounds. The system updates balances continuously according to the active SSR, and you can redeem your position at any time for the underlying USDS plus earned yield. The SSR level is governed by community voting and can change based on on‑chain decisions.

Sky Token Rewards

Beyond the SSR, you can earn SKY tokens by depositing USDS into specific reward pools. These pools are designed to strengthen the ecosystem's liquidity. Rewards are distributed automatically by smart contracts based on your share of the pool. This is a great way to support the protocol’s growth and earn governance power while keeping your assets secure in your own wallet.

SkyLink

SkyLink is a bridging layer that connects the Sky ecosystem to multiple Layer‑2 networks and similar scaling solutions. By moving tokens through SkyLink, users can access lower transaction costs and faster confirmations while still using Sky features like savings and rewards. For everyday activity, this can mean quicker swaps, reduced fees, and a smoother experience across chains.

Sky Stars

The protocol encourages a plug‑and‑play model of independent projects, referred to as Sky Stars. Each Sky Star can operate its own treasury and governance while integrating with the broader Sky network. This arrangement supports experimentation and specialized services, such as automated asset allocation or liquidity deployment across different markets.

Key Takeaways 

Sky Protocol provides a powerful suite of DeFi tools in a single, user-controlled platform. It offers a straightforward way to trade, save, and govern without trusting a third party with your funds.

However, like all DeFi protocols, it comes with risks. These include potential smart contract vulnerabilities, market volatility that could affect collateral values, and outcomes of governance decisions. Always do your own research (DYOR) and understand the risks before investing capital. This content is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.