Lesson 2

Main Features of Flare

This module covers the primary features that differentiate the Flare Network and support its core functionality. You will learn how Flare enables trustless interaction with external data, brings non-smart contract tokens into DeFi, and provides mechanisms for decentralized staking and data feeds. The features explored in this module—FAssets, FDC, FTSO, Flare Fair, and Flare Stake—form the foundation of the Flare ecosystem and its approach to decentralized infrastructure.

FAssets

FAssets are a trustless, over-collateralized bridging mechanism that enables assets from non-smart contract blockchains, such as Bitcoin (BTC), Dogecoin (DOGE), and XRP, to be represented and utilized on the Flare network. This system allows these assets to participate in decentralized finance (DeFi) applications and other smart contract functionalities within Flare’s ecosystem.

The process of creating FAssets involves users locking the original non-smart contract tokens and minting equivalent representations on Flare. This minting process is facilitated by the Flare network’s protocols, ensuring a secure and decentralized conversion.

To maintain the stability and trustworthiness of FAssets, the system employs an over-collateralization model. Collateral is provided in the form of FLR tokens or other approved ERC-20 tokens on the Flare network, ensuring that each FAsset is backed by more value than the original asset’s worth. This mechanism guarantees that FAssets can be redeemed for their underlying assets or compensated appropriately through the locked collateral.

Flare Data Connector (FDC)

The Flare Data Connector (FDC) is an enshrined oracle protocol designed to securely import external data into the Flare network’s Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) state. It allows decentralized applications (dApps) on Flare to access and utilize data from other blockchains and the internet, thereby expanding their functionality and potential use cases.

Functioning as an evolution of the previous State Connector, the FDC enhances the range and reliability of data accessible to dApps. It enables users to submit attested data that smart contracts can trust, eliminating the need for direct reliance on users for data integrity.

The implementation of the FDC involves deploying specific protocol contracts on the Flare network. To incentivize participation and ensure the provision of accurate data, a portion of the network’s yearly inflation is allocated as rewards for FDC providers.

Flare Time Series Oracle (FTSO)

The Flare Time Series Oracle (FTSO) is an enshrined oracle that provides decentralized, high-integrity, and low-latency data feeds to the Flare network. It supplies dApps with reliable information, such as asset prices, without relying on centralized data providers.

FTSO supports up to 1,000 data feeds across various categories, including equities, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Each feed is backed by approximately 100 independent data providers, who are selected by Flare users through delegated stake. This structure ensures scalability and resistance to manipulation.

Data providers submit price pair data to the FTSO, and their performance determines the rewards they receive. Users who delegate their stake to these providers also share in the rewards, creating an incentive system that promotes accurate data submission and network participation.

Flare Fair

Flare Fair is a gamified virtual fair designed to showcase Flare’s decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem and incentivize user participation in various DeFi activities. It offers an engaging platform where users can explore different dApps, complete tasks, and earn rewards.

Participants can bridge assets like USDT, USDC, and ETH to Flare via Stargate. First-time users without FLR tokens receive a small amount to facilitate initial transactions. Once connected, users can engage with featured dApps in the Flare Fair zones, participating in activities such as swaps, trades, and liquidity provision to earn rewards.

The fair operates for a specified period, during which users can maximize their earnings by completing tasks and exploring the ecosystem. Collaborations with platforms like Layer3 further enhance the reward opportunities, providing additional incentives for active participation.

Flare Stake (Flare Portal)

Flare Stake, accessible through the Flare Portal, is a feature that enables FLR token holders to stake their assets with network validators to support the security and operation of the Flare blockchain. In return for staking, participants earn rewards, contributing to the network’s overall stability.

To participate in staking, users need a compatible wallet and a minimum of 50,000 FLR tokens. The Flare Portal provides a user-friendly interface for managing tokens, wrapping native tokens (FLR/SGB), delegating to the FTSO system, participating in governance voting, and staking to validators.

The staking process involves locking FLR tokens with a chosen validator through the Flare Portal. Once staked, these tokens contribute to the validator’s performance in securing the network. Rewards are distributed based on the validator’s uptime and correct behavior. Staked tokens are subject to a bonding and unbonding period, meaning users must wait a defined time before they can withdraw their assets after initiating unstaking.

Staking through the Flare Portal gives token holders a way to actively participate in network consensus and earn yield in a non-custodial manner. The interface is designed to make delegation and staking accessible even for users who are not technically experienced. It also allows users to track performance, earnings, and manage their validator relationships in one place.

Highlights

  • Assets allow non-smart contract tokens like BTC, DOGE, and XRP to be used on Flare through a trustless, over-collateralized system, enabling broader access to DeFi applications.
  • The Flare Data Connector (FDC) brings external and cross-chain data into smart contracts, allowing dApps to interact with blockchain states and web data without centralized intermediaries.
  • The Flare Time Series Oracle (FTSO) provides decentralized price and data feeds, powered by independent providers selected through delegated staking, ensuring reliable data for applications.
  • Flare Fair is a gamified interface that introduces users to DeFi on Flare, combining tasks, dApp interactions, and rewards to onboard and retain participants.
  • Flare Stake via the Flare Portal allows FLR holders to support the network, stake with validators, delegate to data providers, and vote on governance—all from a single interface.
Disclaimer
* Crypto investment involves significant risks. Please proceed with caution. The course is not intended as investment advice.
* The course is created by the author who has joined Gate Learn. Any opinion shared by the author does not represent Gate Learn.
Catalog
Lesson 2

Main Features of Flare

This module covers the primary features that differentiate the Flare Network and support its core functionality. You will learn how Flare enables trustless interaction with external data, brings non-smart contract tokens into DeFi, and provides mechanisms for decentralized staking and data feeds. The features explored in this module—FAssets, FDC, FTSO, Flare Fair, and Flare Stake—form the foundation of the Flare ecosystem and its approach to decentralized infrastructure.

FAssets

FAssets are a trustless, over-collateralized bridging mechanism that enables assets from non-smart contract blockchains, such as Bitcoin (BTC), Dogecoin (DOGE), and XRP, to be represented and utilized on the Flare network. This system allows these assets to participate in decentralized finance (DeFi) applications and other smart contract functionalities within Flare’s ecosystem.

The process of creating FAssets involves users locking the original non-smart contract tokens and minting equivalent representations on Flare. This minting process is facilitated by the Flare network’s protocols, ensuring a secure and decentralized conversion.

To maintain the stability and trustworthiness of FAssets, the system employs an over-collateralization model. Collateral is provided in the form of FLR tokens or other approved ERC-20 tokens on the Flare network, ensuring that each FAsset is backed by more value than the original asset’s worth. This mechanism guarantees that FAssets can be redeemed for their underlying assets or compensated appropriately through the locked collateral.

Flare Data Connector (FDC)

The Flare Data Connector (FDC) is an enshrined oracle protocol designed to securely import external data into the Flare network’s Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) state. It allows decentralized applications (dApps) on Flare to access and utilize data from other blockchains and the internet, thereby expanding their functionality and potential use cases.

Functioning as an evolution of the previous State Connector, the FDC enhances the range and reliability of data accessible to dApps. It enables users to submit attested data that smart contracts can trust, eliminating the need for direct reliance on users for data integrity.

The implementation of the FDC involves deploying specific protocol contracts on the Flare network. To incentivize participation and ensure the provision of accurate data, a portion of the network’s yearly inflation is allocated as rewards for FDC providers.

Flare Time Series Oracle (FTSO)

The Flare Time Series Oracle (FTSO) is an enshrined oracle that provides decentralized, high-integrity, and low-latency data feeds to the Flare network. It supplies dApps with reliable information, such as asset prices, without relying on centralized data providers.

FTSO supports up to 1,000 data feeds across various categories, including equities, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Each feed is backed by approximately 100 independent data providers, who are selected by Flare users through delegated stake. This structure ensures scalability and resistance to manipulation.

Data providers submit price pair data to the FTSO, and their performance determines the rewards they receive. Users who delegate their stake to these providers also share in the rewards, creating an incentive system that promotes accurate data submission and network participation.

Flare Fair

Flare Fair is a gamified virtual fair designed to showcase Flare’s decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem and incentivize user participation in various DeFi activities. It offers an engaging platform where users can explore different dApps, complete tasks, and earn rewards.

Participants can bridge assets like USDT, USDC, and ETH to Flare via Stargate. First-time users without FLR tokens receive a small amount to facilitate initial transactions. Once connected, users can engage with featured dApps in the Flare Fair zones, participating in activities such as swaps, trades, and liquidity provision to earn rewards.

The fair operates for a specified period, during which users can maximize their earnings by completing tasks and exploring the ecosystem. Collaborations with platforms like Layer3 further enhance the reward opportunities, providing additional incentives for active participation.

Flare Stake (Flare Portal)

Flare Stake, accessible through the Flare Portal, is a feature that enables FLR token holders to stake their assets with network validators to support the security and operation of the Flare blockchain. In return for staking, participants earn rewards, contributing to the network’s overall stability.

To participate in staking, users need a compatible wallet and a minimum of 50,000 FLR tokens. The Flare Portal provides a user-friendly interface for managing tokens, wrapping native tokens (FLR/SGB), delegating to the FTSO system, participating in governance voting, and staking to validators.

The staking process involves locking FLR tokens with a chosen validator through the Flare Portal. Once staked, these tokens contribute to the validator’s performance in securing the network. Rewards are distributed based on the validator’s uptime and correct behavior. Staked tokens are subject to a bonding and unbonding period, meaning users must wait a defined time before they can withdraw their assets after initiating unstaking.

Staking through the Flare Portal gives token holders a way to actively participate in network consensus and earn yield in a non-custodial manner. The interface is designed to make delegation and staking accessible even for users who are not technically experienced. It also allows users to track performance, earnings, and manage their validator relationships in one place.

Highlights

  • Assets allow non-smart contract tokens like BTC, DOGE, and XRP to be used on Flare through a trustless, over-collateralized system, enabling broader access to DeFi applications.
  • The Flare Data Connector (FDC) brings external and cross-chain data into smart contracts, allowing dApps to interact with blockchain states and web data without centralized intermediaries.
  • The Flare Time Series Oracle (FTSO) provides decentralized price and data feeds, powered by independent providers selected through delegated staking, ensuring reliable data for applications.
  • Flare Fair is a gamified interface that introduces users to DeFi on Flare, combining tasks, dApp interactions, and rewards to onboard and retain participants.
  • Flare Stake via the Flare Portal allows FLR holders to support the network, stake with validators, delegate to data providers, and vote on governance—all from a single interface.
Disclaimer
* Crypto investment involves significant risks. Please proceed with caution. The course is not intended as investment advice.
* The course is created by the author who has joined Gate Learn. Any opinion shared by the author does not represent Gate Learn.