Ampleforth AMPL
About
What Is Ampleforth (AMPL)?
Ampleforth is an Ethereum-based cryptocurrency with an algorithmically adjusted circulating supply. It is designed to be the base money of the new decentralized economy, by providing an asset that cannot be diluted by supply inflation and remains decoupled to the price action of other cryptocurrencies—and Bitcoin (BTC) in particular.
With Ampleforth, token holders own a fixed fraction of the total AMPL circulating supply, rather than a fixed number of tokens. When the protocol detects that the price of AMPL is too high, it increases the circulating supply, whereas the supply is decreased if the price is too low.
This change is propagated to all Ampleforth wallets, which have their wallet balance adjusted proportionally. Irrespective of this change, AMPL holders will still retain the same percentage of the token supply.
This automatic supply adjustment process is known as a “rebase” and occurs once each day, with a positive rebase if the price goes above $1.06, and a negative rebase if it is below $0.96. The overall goal of the system is to create incentives that drive the market price of AMPL back to ~$1.
Who Are the Founders of Ampleforth?
Ampleforth was founded by Evan Kuo, an experienced product manager and serial entrepreneur that holds a bachelor of science (BS) in mechatronics, robotics and automation engineering from UC Berkeley.
Kuo is described as an art and math lover, and has experience developing predictive auction products. He previously held the role of CEO at Pythagoras Pizza — a San Francisco-based pizza delivery service, but now holds the role of CEO at the Ampleforth Foundation — the development and management firm behind the Ampleforth protocol.
Besides Kuo, the Ampleforth Foundation team is almost entirely composed of engineers and includes ex-Uber and ex-Google senior software engineer Brandon Iles, who is also listed as co-founder of the project. As per its LinkedIn page, Ampleforth currently lists just over a dozen team members, the vast majority of which operate in the San Francisco Bay Area.
What Makes Ampleforth Unique?
Ampleforth is unique in that it aims to provide a truly non-correlated asset that can be used for diversifying cryptocurrency portfolios, as a reserve collateral for decentralized finance (DeFi) applications and eventually as an alternative to central-bank money that is resistant to shocks.
Ampleforth achieves this by using an entirely new system, which sees the circulating supply expand and contract in response to consumer demand, without diluting any individual stakeholder. Ampleforth believes that this property makes it suited as a new type of base money for the digital economy — similar to how gold was previously used as the base money to many fiat currencies prior to the dissolution of the Bretton Woods agreement.
Because the Ampleforth supply is unaffected by inflation or any other dilutive factors, it is uniquely positioned as an asset that is able to maintain its purchasing power against other assets. This makes it attractive as a hedge and as an alternative to fiat currencies suffering from rampant devaluation.
How Many Ampleforth (AMPL) Coins Are There in Circulation?
Unlike the vast majority of cryptocurrencies, Ampleforth does not have a fixed minimum or maximum supply. Instead, the number of AMPL tokens in circulation will continue to grow if the price stays above $1, whereas it will continue to shrink if it is below $1.
In addition to several private investment rounds, Ampleforth raised $4.9 million in an initial exchange offering (IEO) launched on Tokinex. As part of this sale, AMPL tokens were sold at $0.98 each.
Ampleforth initially launched with a circulating supply of 50 million tokens. According to the original transparency report, these tokens were allocated as follows: 23.2% to the ecosystem; 18.5% to seed investors; 3.3% to series A investors; 10% to Tokinex IEO participants; 25% to the Ampleforth team and advisors; and 20% to the treasury.
As per a more recent report (August 2020), the most notable changes to the supply distribution include ~42.5% of AMPL is now held by the community, while 23.5% is allocated to liquidity mining programs.
How Is the Ampleforth Network Secured?
As an ERC-20 token, Ampleforth is built on top of the Ethereum blockchain, and benefits from the strength and security that comes with its extensive node and miner network.
Beyond this, the integrity of the Ampleforth network is maintained by a decentralized network of oracles, which are used to feed in the price data used to determine whether there needs to be a positive or negative rebase.
Until December 2019, Ampleforth was previously the only oracle provider used to source market data, but it has since integrated Chainlink oracles for the same purpose — helping to avoid the centralization of oracle data. Now, data from multiple aggregators is used in the logic behind the rebase function.
Where Can You Buy Ampleforth (AMPL)?
Ampleforth tokens, sometimes known simply as amples, can be purchased and traded on well over a dozen cryptocurrency platforms against both other cryptocurrencies and fiat assets. As it stands, KuCoin is the most popular centralized exchange for AMPL, whereas Uniswap is the most popular decentralized exchange for AMPL.
If you’re looking to purchase AMPL or other cryptocurrencies with a credit or debit card, check out our simple guide to get started.
AI Analysis
What is the Ampleforth (AMPL) cryptocurrency good for? What are its main use cases?
Ampleforth (AMPL) is a unique cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable purchasing power over time by adjusting its supply in response to market demand. Unlike traditional stablecoins that peg to fiat currencies (like USD), AMPL uses an elastic supply mechanism to achieve stability. Here are its main use cases and benefits:
1. Elastic Supply Mechanism (Rebases)
- Dynamic Supply Adjustments: AMPL’s supply automatically expands or contracts based on demand, ensuring its value remains stable in the long term.
- Rebase Events: Every day at midnight UTC, the supply of AMPL adjusts proportionally to the price deviation from its target (1 USD). If the price is above $1, the supply increases (holders get more AMPL), and if it’s below $1, the supply decreases (holders lose some AMPL).
- Decouples from Volatility: Unlike traditional assets, AMPL’s value is not tied to a fixed supply, making it resistant to extreme price swings.
2. Hedge Against Inflation & Deflation
- Inflation Resistance: Since AMPL’s supply adjusts based on demand, it can act as a hedge against inflation in traditional economies.
- Deflation Resistance: Unlike Bitcoin (which has a fixed supply), AMPL can expand supply to prevent deflationary crashes.
3. Decentralized Reserve Asset (DRA)
- AMPL is designed to be a non-collateralized stablecoin, meaning it doesn’t rely on fiat reserves or debt mechanisms (unlike USDT or USDC).
- It aims to be a store of value with a stable purchasing power over time.
4. Use in DeFi (Decentralized Finance)
- Lending & Borrowing: AMPL can be used in DeFi protocols like Aave, Compound, and Yearn Finance for lending and borrowing.
- Staking & Yield Farming: Some DeFi platforms offer staking rewards for AMPL holders.
- Collateral in Synthetic Assets: AMPL can be used as collateral for synthetic assets on platforms like Synthetix.
5. Cross-Border Payments & Remittances
- Due to its stable purchasing power, AMPL can be used for cross-border transactions without the volatility of traditional cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum.
6. Long-Term Savings & Investment
- Unlike fiat currencies that lose value due to inflation, AMPL’s elastic supply mechanism aims to preserve purchasing power over time.
- Investors who believe in its long-term stability may hold AMPL as a hedge against economic uncertainty.
Potential Risks & Challenges
- Rebase Mechanism: Some users may dislike the daily supply adjustments, which can lead to temporary price volatility.
- Adoption: AMPL is less widely accepted than major stablecoins like USDC or DAI, limiting its utility in some DeFi applications.
- Regulatory Uncertainty: As a non-collateralized stablecoin, AMPL may face regulatory scrutiny in some jurisdictions.
Conclusion
Ampleforth (AMPL) is best suited for:
✅ DeFi users looking for a non-collateralized stable asset.
✅ Investors seeking a hedge against inflation and deflation.
✅ Traders who want exposure to a unique economic model.
However, its adoption is still growing, and its success depends on how well its elastic supply mechanism performs in different market conditions.
What blockchain does Ampleforth use? Is it its own blockchain or built on top of another?
Ampleforth (AMPL) is a decentralized, algorithmic stablecoin that operates on the Ethereum blockchain. It is not its own blockchain but is built as an ERC-20 token on Ethereum.
Key Details:
- Blockchain: Ethereum (ERC-20 standard)
- Mechanism: Uses a rebasing algorithm to adjust supply based on demand, maintaining a target price peg (initially pegged to the U.S. dollar).
- Smart Contracts: All operations (minting, burning, rebasing) are executed via Ethereum smart contracts.
Why Ethereum?
Ampleforth chose Ethereum for its smart contract capabilities, decentralized infrastructure, and existing DeFi ecosystem (e.g., Uniswap, Aave). This allows AMPL to integrate seamlessly with other DeFi protocols.
Would you like details on how its rebasing mechanism works?
Is Ampleforth programmable? Does it support smart contracts or decentralized applications?
Yes, Ampleforth (AMPL) is programmable and supports smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps), but with some important distinctions compared to other smart contract platforms like Ethereum or Solana.
Key Features of Ampleforth's Programmability:
Smart Contracts on Ethereum (via ERC-20)
- Ampleforth's native token, AMPL, is an ERC-20 token on Ethereum, meaning it can interact with Ethereum's smart contracts.
- Developers can build dApps that integrate AMPL, such as DeFi protocols (e.g., lending, trading, yield farming).
Geyser Protocol (Staking & Rewards)
- Ampleforth has its own Geyser Protocol, which is a smart contract system that incentivizes staking AMPL to earn rewards.
- This is a programmable mechanism that rewards users for locking up AMPL.
Ampleforth Governance (AGI) & Ampleforth DAO
- Ampleforth has a governance token (AGI) that allows decentralized decision-making via smart contracts.
- The Ampleforth DAO enables community-driven proposals and voting.
Ampleforth Protocol (Rebasing Mechanism)
- While the rebasing mechanism (supply adjustments) is not directly programmable by third parties, it is a core smart contract feature of AMPL.
- Developers can build applications that account for these supply changes.
Limitations:
- No Native Smart Contract Platform: Unlike Ethereum or Solana, Ampleforth itself does not have its own blockchain or native smart contract execution environment.
- Depends on Ethereum: Since AMPL is an ERC-20 token, its programmability relies on Ethereum's infrastructure.
Use Cases for dApps with AMPL:
- DeFi Integration: AMPL is used in lending/borrowing platforms (e.g., Aave, Compound).
- Staking & Rewards: Geyser Protocol allows users to stake AMPL for rewards.
- Governance: AGI holders can vote on protocol upgrades.
- Price-Stable Use Cases: Some dApps leverage AMPL's unique elastic supply mechanism for financial products.
Conclusion:
Ampleforth is programmable in the sense that its token (AMPL) can interact with Ethereum smart contracts, and it has its own governance and staking mechanisms. However, it does not have its own blockchain or native smart contract platform like Ethereum or Solana.
If you're looking to build a dApp that interacts with AMPL, you can do so using Ethereum's smart contract infrastructure.
How fast are Ampleforth transactions? What is the typical confirmation time and throughput (transactions per second)?
Ampleforth (AMPL) transactions operate on the Ethereum blockchain, so their speed and confirmation times depend on Ethereum's network conditions. Here’s a breakdown of key metrics:
1. Transaction Speed & Confirmation Time
Typical Confirmation Time:
- Fastest (Low Gas Fees): ~1–5 minutes (if gas prices are low and miners prioritize the transaction).
- Average: ~5–15 minutes (depending on network congestion).
- Slow (High Gas Fees): Up to 30+ minutes during peak congestion.
Finality: Ethereum transactions are considered "final" after ~12 confirmations (or ~20–30 minutes), though most exchanges and services accept 1–2 confirmations for small transactions.
2. Throughput (Transactions Per Second - TPS)
- Ethereum’s base layer supports ~15–30 TPS (varies with congestion).
- Ampleforth transactions (like any ERC-20 token) share this throughput.
- Layer 2 solutions (e.g., Optimism, Arbitrum) can significantly improve speed and reduce costs but require additional steps.
3. Factors Affecting Speed
- Gas Fees: Higher fees = faster confirmations.
- Network Congestion: During high demand (e.g., NFT mints, DeFi activity), delays increase.
- Transaction Type: Simple transfers are faster than smart contract interactions.
Comparison to Other Chains
- Faster Alternatives: Solana (~50,000 TPS), Algorand (~1,000 TPS), or Layer 2s like Arbitrum (~45,000 TPS) offer much higher throughput.
- Slower: Bitcoin (~7 TPS) is even slower than Ethereum.
Conclusion
Ampleforth transactions are as fast as Ethereum’s base layer (5–15 min for confirmation) with **15–30 TPS**. For faster and cheaper transactions, users can leverage Layer 2 solutions or wait for Ethereum’s future upgrades (e.g., sharding).
Would you like details on optimizing transaction speed or gas fees?
How much data can I store on the Ampleforth blockchain? Does it support on-chain data storage?
The Ampleforth blockchain (now known as Geyser) is primarily designed as a Layer 1 blockchain focused on decentralized finance (DeFi) and stablecoin mechanisms (like AMPL). However, it does not natively support on-chain data storage in the same way as blockchains like IPFS, Filecoin, or Arweave, which are optimized for large-scale data storage.
Data Storage on Ampleforth (Geyser)
Smart Contract Storage
- Like most EVM-compatible blockchains, Ampleforth allows limited on-chain storage via smart contracts.
- Storage is expensive (in terms of gas fees) and not scalable for large datasets.
- Best for small, critical data (e.g., contract state, balances, or configuration).
Off-Chain Storage with On-Chain References
- For large datasets, you would typically:
- Store data off-chain (e.g., IPFS, AWS, or a decentralized storage solution).
- Store a hash or reference (like an IPFS CID) on-chain in a smart contract.
- For large datasets, you would typically:
No Native File Storage
- Unlike Filecoin or Arweave, Ampleforth does not have built-in mechanisms for persistent, decentralized file storage.
- If you need large-scale data storage, you’d need to integrate with an external storage solution.
Comparison with Other Blockchains
| Feature | Ampleforth (Geyser) | Ethereum | Filecoin | IPFS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On-Chain Storage | Limited (smart contracts) | Limited (smart contracts) | Yes (decentralized) | No (off-chain) |
| Scalability | Low (expensive gas) | Low (expensive gas) | High (sharding) | High (off-chain) |
| Best For | DeFi, stablecoins | Smart contracts | Large files | Off-chain data |
Conclusion
- If you need small, critical data, you can store it in smart contracts on Ampleforth.
- For large datasets, use off-chain storage (IPFS, Filecoin, etc.) and reference it on-chain.
- Ampleforth is not optimized for on-chain data storage like Filecoin or Arweave.
Would you like recommendations for integrating off-chain storage with Ampleforth?
Contact Us About Ampleforth
Are you a representative of the Ampleforth project? Send us a message.