Acumen is an autonomous, non-custodial interest rate protocol built on Solana. It relies on algorithmically determined interest rates to support open financial applications. Through decentralized money markets-asset pools with interest rates set by the supply and demand for available lending funds-Acumen makes it possible for assets to earn interest in a smooth, on-chain way. The protocol is designed to help users generate interest on their SPL tokens by linking asset suppliers with borrowers. Acumen takes inspiration from Compound and Aave, with its interest rate modeling and overall architecture based on those systems.

Acumen leverages Solana’s network performance, including sub-second finality and an average transaction fee of $0.0001, aiming for a faster, more efficient experience while reducing costs. Beyond basic lending, the protocol offers additional paths to participation. If someone holds a positive outlook on a particular asset, they can supply that asset to the protocol to pursue extra returns. It also provides an easy liquidation platform. On many protocols, becoming a liquidator typically requires smart contract knowledge to build and deploy a bot.

Acumen’s governance is handled by a DAO, which manages the protocol and can submit proposals. The DAO oversees the protocol’s decision-making in areas such as: