Quicksilver

Quicksilver is a sovereign blockchain built with the Cosmos SDK that introduces custom modules specifically engineered for liquid staking. Unlike conventional staking models that require users to lock up their assets, Quicksilver mints tokenized representations of a user’s stake, known as qAssets. These qAssets are fully transferable across the IBC-connected Cosmos ecosystem, allowing users to simultaneously earn staking rewards and interact with decentralized applications (DeFi), increasing capital efficiency without sacrificing security.

The architecture of Quicksilver relies on Interchain Accounts (ICA) and Interchain Queries (ICQ) for scalable, secure management of delegated assets across different chains. Each participating blockchain has a deposit and delegation account controlled through IBC, allowing Quicksilver to delegate, restake rewards, rebalance, and process unbonding operations seamlessly. Users benefit from automatic compounding of rewards every three days (an epoch), with staking operations happening transparently in the background.

An essential innovation of Quicksilver is its commitment to unrestricted validator choice. Users can liquid stake their tokens to any validator they prefer, preventing the centralization of voting power and maintaining the decentralized spirit of Cosmos. Additionally, features like Governance by Proxy ensure that users retain their native chain governance rights even after liquid staking, a first within the Cosmos liquid staking space.

Competitors in the liquid staking sector include Stride and pSTAKE, both of which also offer Cosmos-based liquid staking. However, Quicksilver differentiates itself by offering validator agnostic staking, governance participation for qAsset holders, frictionless onboarding for new chains with zero development work, and a more robust and decentralized infrastructure supported by partners like Chorus One, Figment, and Forbole.

Strategically, Quicksilver continues expanding its footprint across IBC-enabled chains and refining its protocol with innovations like the Liquidity Staking Module. With features like easy chain onboarding via governance proposals and deep integrations with native Cosmos security modules, Quicksilver is set to lead the future of liquid staking in the interchain economy.

Quicksilver offers powerful features and advantages that enhance the Cosmos staking and DeFi experience:

• Unrestricted Validator Choice: Stake with any validator on supported chains, preserving decentralization and personal staking strategies.
• Liquidity Through qAssets: Retain staking rewards while using qAssets for DeFi activities like swapping, lending, and liquidity pooling.
• Governance by Proxy: Maintain your native chain voting rights even after staking, a pioneering feature in Cosmos liquid staking.
• Plug & Play Chain Onboarding: Chains can join Quicksilver effortlessly via governance proposals, with zero custom development needed.
• Interchain Compatibility: Native support for 50+ IBC-enabled chains, enabling vast liquidity and cross-chain asset mobility.
• Automatic Compounding: Restake rewards automatically every epoch, maximizing yield without manual interventions.
• Low Fees and Community Incentives: 3.5% fee on staking rewards redistributed to QCK stakers, aligning community growth and protocol development.

Getting started with Quicksilver is simple and seamless:

• Access the App: Visit the official Quicksilver App and connect your wallet.
• Select a Chain: Choose the Cosmos-based chain you want to liquid stake assets from.
• Pick Your Validator: Select your preferred validator without any whitelist restrictions.
• Liquid Stake: Stake your tokens and receive corresponding qAssets in your wallet.
• Deploy Your qAssets: Use qAssets across DeFi protocols for lending, pooling, or swapping, while continuously earning staking rewards.
• Participate in Governance: Utilize qAssets to vote on proposals and contribute to network decision-making processes.
• Track Your Rewards: Monitor staking rewards and liquidity positions easily from the Quicksilver dashboard.