Vega creates derivatives market for crypto points, starting with EigenLayer

Derivatives network Vega has created a market for derivatives trading of points, beginning with EigenLayer. The aim is to allow users to hedge the value of their points.

Points are a web2 mechanism — think airline miles — that have made their way into the crypto space in relation to airdrops. Often projects are giving out points in exchange for activity on their platforms, with the underlying assumption that these points could help to determine the distribution of a potential airdrop, if one is to take place.

Since these points have a potential to turn into tokens at some point, traders have started speculating on them. This may be to buy more points or to hedge against the potential airdrop. Platforms like Whales Market and Pendle have added points features, with the former allowing users to buy and sell points and the latter letting users leverage their points by 100X.

Vega is entering this nascent market with its derivatives market for points. It has started with EigenLayer — a network focused on restaking — but the underlying network supports permissionless market creation. This means anyone can spin up a market for points trading for any other points project.

There are certainly plenty of projects offering points and many points available. At last check, we counted 115 billion points handed out across 14 projects. One project has even tokenized these points. As more projects adopt them, it’s unsurprising that markets are emerging to facilitate their trading.

However, since points may or may not lead to a future token airdrop it is complicated creating a system for trading the potential outcome when it is so uncertain. Vega is tackling this by using a cash-settled futures market with options for fixed and dynamic settlement dates.