--- Frankencoin - Swiss Franc Stablecoin (ZCHF)

INTRODUCTION

What is Frankencoin?

Frankencoin is a stablecoin that tracks the value of the Swiss franc.

Swiss Franc Stablecoin

Frankencoin (ZCHF) is a digital currency that maintains a stable 1:1 value with the Swiss franc. It combines the stability of Switzerland's trusted currency with the transparency and openness of the blockchain.

Fully Decentralized

Unlike centralized stablecoins, the value of the Frankencoin does not depend on an issuer that guarantees its value. Instead, the Frankencoin is backed by on-chain collateral that can be liquidated if necessary to maintain its value.

Live and Established

Frankencoin has been deployed on 8 different blockchains. It is the largest and most popular Swiss franc stablecoin, enabling on-chain transactions in Swiss francs since 2023 with no significant deviations from its peg.

HOW FRANKENCOIN WORKS

The Frankencoin System at a Glance

Frankencoin is a fully transparent, rule-based, decentralized, modular, and neutral financial infrastructure.

Mint

Sell

Sell

Spend

Spend

Save

Save

Invest

Invest

Mint
MintSellSpendSaveInvest

1 Mint

Frankencoins can be created by anyone that deposits a suitable collateral.

2 Burn

The collateral remains locked until its owner returns the created Frankencoins (plus fees) again.

3 Sell

Newly minted Frankencoins are typically sold in the market.

4 Buy

Users can buy Frankencoins on various trading venues.

5 Pay

They might want to use Frankencoins to make Swiss franc payments in DeFi or elsewhere.

6 Sell

Recipients may want to sell the collected Frankencoins again.

7 Buy

When swapping Swiss francs into Frankencoins on the market,

8 Save

and then storing them in the savings module,

9 Interest

users can earn an attractive interest.

10 Buy

Other users buy Frankencoins on the market,

11 Contribute

to contribute to the capital reserve of the system, getting Frankencoin Pool Shares (FPS) in return.

12 Redeem

When can be redeemed again later, with their price depending on the profitability of the system.

Collateralized debt position

Frankencoin operates as a decentralized collateralized debt position system. Users deposit crypto assets as collateral to mint digital Swiss francs (ZCHF). The collateral remains under the user's control while securing the outstanding franc issuance, similar to a secured lending facility with transparent, automated terms.

How to open a position

Why 1 ZCHF equals 1 CHF

Frankencoins are over-collateralized, such that each Frankencoin is always backed by at least one Swiss franc worth of assets. The assets backing the Frankencoins are publicly visible on-chain.

Inspect the reserves

Market-driven price stability

The system is designed to keep the long-term value of the Frankencoin in line with the Swiss franc. This means that every short-term deviation is an arbitrage opportunity for the market to exploit, thereby keeping the exchange rate close to parity.

How auctions work

Theoretical Foundation

The Frankencoin was conceived a part of a PhD thesis completed at the Department of Finance at the University of Zurich. Among other things, it covers the game theory behind the system's novel liquidation mechanism, quantifies the risk of Bitcoin as a collateral, and it formally analyses the veto-based governance system. The Frankencoin system can be seen as a Continuous Capital Corporation, a concept introduced in chapter three denoting a company that issues and redeems shares autonomously according to fixed rules that are optimal under a wide range of theoretical assumptions.

Frankencoin Foundation

COMPLIANT & SECURE

Legal Classification and Technical Audits

Legal Classification

The system is fully compliant with Swiss and EU regulations and can be used without restrictions. Frankencoin (ZCHF) classifies as a payment token in Switzerland and qualifies as a crypto-asset under MiCAR, with the duties set out in Titles II, III, and IV not being applicable due to its decentralized nature.

Swiss Legal Classification (PDF) EU MiCA Classification: Report available on request.

Technical Audits

The Frankencoin and each added component has been audited by leading blockchain security firms. The audits cover smart contract security, economic design, and overall system integrity to ensure a robust and secure platform for users.

MEDIA COVERAGE

In the Media

See what the media are saying about Frankencoin

Would you like to report about Frankencoin? Get in touch using media@frankencoin.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Basics

Frankencoin (ZCHF) is a decentralized stablecoin that digitally replicates the value of the Swiss franc. It operates on blockchain infrastructure and tracks CHF 1:1. Unlike a bank deposit, Frankencoin is not issued by a single institution but created through a transparent, over-collateralized system. Learn more in our documentation.

A stablecoin is a digital currency designed to maintain a stable value relative to a reference asset—in this case, the Swiss franc. Frankencoin uses crypto assets as collateral to ensure each ZCHF is backed by more than 1 CHF worth of value.

A bank account represents a claim against a specific bank. Frankencoin is decentralized—no single institution controls it. All reserves and system parameters are publicly verifiable on the blockchain. You have full control over your ZCHF without relying on a bank's solvency.

USDT and USDC are centrally issued by companies and backed by fiat reserves held in bank accounts. Frankencoin is decentralized, backed by crypto collateral, and governed by a community of FPS holders. No single entity can freeze your ZCHF.

How it Works

No. Frankencoin is over-collateralized by crypto assets (e.g., ETH, WBTC). For every 1 ZCHF in circulation, there is collateral worth more than 1 CHF. This provides a safety buffer against market volatility.

Over-collateralization means the system holds crypto assets worth more than the ZCHF issued. For example, to mint 100 ZCHF, you might need to deposit 120 CHF worth of ETH. This buffer protects the system if collateral values drop.

The system has multiple safety layers: individual position reserves, the FPS reserve pool, and automated liquidation mechanisms. If collateral drops below safe levels, positions are liquidated to maintain over-collateralization.

FPS is the governance token that represents a share in the reserve pool. FPS holders provide backup capital and have voting rights in the system. FPS can be bought on exchanges or minted by contributing to the reserve pool. Learn more about FPS or invest via the app.

While designed to track CHF 1:1, ZCHF can temporarily trade slightly above or below peg due to market dynamics. Arbitrage mechanisms and economic incentives work to restore the peg. Long-term stability depends on adequate collateralization.

Using Frankencoin

ZCHF is accepted at Spar stores in Switzerland, integrated with GnosisPay for card payments, available through Mt Pelerin's IBAN services, and used in payroll systems like Quitt. See more use cases.

You can buy ZCHF through exchanges like Uniswap, on-ramp services like Mt Pelerin or DFX, or by minting it directly using crypto collateral on the Frankencoin app.

You can earn yield by providing liquidity to DeFi protocols like morpho or using the Frankencoin savings module. Returns vary based on market conditions and are not guaranteed. Rates reflect supply and demand for CHF liquidity in decentralized markets.

Compliance & Risk

Frankencoin (ZCHF) is classified as a payment token under Swiss law and complies with Swiss and EU regulations. It qualifies as a crypto-asset under MiCA in the EU, though certain provisions do not apply due to its decentralized nature.

Among others, the Frankencoin is subject to technical risks like smart contract vulnerabilities, to market risks like a sudden and sharp drop in the value of the collateral that backs the system, and liquidity risks like the inability to find a buyer in the market even though the system is still sound. While audited by leading security firms, no system is risk-free. Handle with care.

The Frankencoin Association is a Swiss non-profit organization based in Zug. It serves as a point of contact, furthers the development and supports the ecosystem—but does not control the protocol itself.

Yes, the smart contracts have been audited by multiple leading blockchain security firms including Code4rena, BlockBite, and ChainSecurity. Audit reports are publicly available.