What is Acala Token (ACA)?

By CMC AI
26 September 2025 02:23AM (UTC+0)

TLDR

Acala Token (ACA) is the native utility and governance token of Acala Network, a decentralized finance (DeFi) hub built on Polkadot to enable cross-chain liquidity and financial primitives.

  1. Core utility – Powers governance, staking, transaction fees, and network security.

  2. Technical foundation – Built on Polkadot’s Substrate framework for interoperability.

  3. Tokenomics – Fixed supply of 1.6B, with vesting mechanisms tied to Polkadot parachain auctions.

Deep Dive

1. Purpose & Value Proposition

Acala aims to streamline DeFi by offering a unified platform for multichain assets. Its Universal Asset Hub supports liquid staking (e.g., LDOT for Polkadot’s DOT), decentralized swaps via an automated market maker (AMM), and EVM-compatible smart contracts. ACA acts as the backbone for governance, fee payments, and staking to secure protocols like its native stablecoin system (Acala).

2. Technology & Architecture

As a Polkadot parachain, Acala leverages Substrate’s modular framework to enable cross-chain interoperability. This allows assets like Bitcoin or Ethereum-based tokens to interact with Polkadot’s ecosystem. Its hybrid design combines decentralized and centralized finance tools, such as oracle-fed price feeds for collateralized loans, while maintaining low gas fees denominated in ACA (CoinMarketCap).

3. Tokenomics & Governance

ACA’s fixed supply of 1.6B tokens includes vesting schedules for early parachain auction contributors. Holders vote on protocol upgrades, liquidity incentives, and treasury allocations. A portion of transaction fees (20%) is burned, creating deflationary pressure. Staking ACA also provides rewards and helps mitigate risks in collateralized debt positions (Acala).

Conclusion

Acala Token is the governance and utility engine of a Polkadot-native DeFi ecosystem designed for cross-chain asset management and liquidity. With its focus on interoperability and community-driven governance, can ACA sustain its role as Polkadot’s primary DeFi gateway amid rising competition?

CMC AI can make mistakes. Not financial advice.