> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.primestaking.xyz/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.primestaking.xyz/for-partners/liquidity-model.md).

# Liquidity Model

PrimeStaking V3 separates **protocol redemption** (burning shares for XDC against the vault) from **market price** (psXDC on a DEX). Both stay healthy for partner integrations, but they behave differently and the difference is important.

***

## psXDC V3 Token Properties

| Property                            | Detail                                                                                                                 |
| ----------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Name**                            | psXDC (Prime Staked XDC)                                                                                               |
| **Standard**                        | ERC-4626 vault share                                                                                                   |
| **Pricing**                         | Exchange rate `totalAssets / totalShares`, which grows over time as validator rewards accrue. **Not a fixed 1:1.**     |
| **Network**                         | XDC Network (chain ID `50`)                                                                                            |
| **Address**                         | [`0xDc74c0DaED82ae94486DeeF22991d2F54173c734`](https://xdcscan.com/address/0xDc74c0DaED82ae94486DeeF22991d2F54173c734) |
| **Transferable**                    | Yes (standard XRC-20 token)                                                                                            |
| **Yield mechanism**                 | Share-price appreciation; rewards are already inside the share, so there is no manual `claim`                          |
| **Redeemable against the protocol** | Yes: `withdraw` / `redeem` (instant when buffer suffices) or `redeemWithQueue` (instant or queued)                     |
| **Market-tradeable**                | Yes, on XSWAP and other DEXs                                                                                           |

***

## Two distinct exit paths

### 1. Protocol redemption (NAV-based)

When you burn psXDC against the vault, you receive XDC at the **current exchange rate**, not a fixed 1:1. The amount is `convertToAssets(shares)`.

* **Instant** when the vault's liquid buffer (default 5% of total assets, configurable via `setBufferBps`) covers your request, settled in the same transaction.
* **Queued** when the buffer is insufficient: escrows the shares, adds you to the FIFO queue. Processed as new deposits / reward inflows / masternode resignations replenish liquidity.
* **No partial fills.** Each request settles in full when its turn comes.
* **Free cancellation.** You can `cancelQueuedWithdrawal` any time before settlement and get your shares back unchanged.

For very large redemptions where the vault doesn't have a sufficient buffer + recent rewards, the upper bound on settlement is the XDC Network's `candidateWithdrawDelay`, about 35 days under typical real-world block times. This delay is a network-level property of XDC's masternode unstaking flow, not a PrimeStaking-specific gate.

→ [Withdrawals: Instant vs Queued](/products/xdc-liquid-staking/staking-guide/withdrawals-instant-vs-queued.md)

### 2. Market exit (DEX swap)

Holders can swap psXDC for XDC on a DEX (always verify the pool holds the live V3.2 token, `0xa7FD…73e4`). Market price is set by the AMM and is influenced by:

* The vault's current NAV (`totalAssets / totalShares`), the long-run anchor.
* Pool depth and recent volume.
* Demand for immediate liquidity vs willingness to wait for protocol redemption.

The market price can sit **at, above, or below NAV** depending on these factors. Arbitrageurs can close large gaps using the protocol's instant redemption path when liquidity is available, but small NAV/market deltas are normal.

| Concept        | NAV (protocol)                                      | Market price (DEX)        |
| -------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------- |
| **Reference**  | `totalAssets / totalShares`                         | AMM pool ratio            |
| **Updates**    | When rewards or losses are reflected on-chain       | Continuously via trades   |
| **Slippage**   | None for amounts within the buffer; queue otherwise | Subject to pool depth     |
| **Settlement** | Instant or queued by the vault                      | Atomic at trade execution |

***

## Implications for Partners

| Consideration                | Detail                                                                                                                                                                                |
| ---------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Two value references**     | A user's psXDC balance can be valued either at NAV (`convertToAssets`) or at DEX market price. Use NAV for accounting and partner reporting; DEX price for synchronous trading flows. |
| **Self-service withdrawals** | Partners do not need to operate any approval flow; users can redeem on their own through `redeemWithQueue`.                                                                           |
| **Buffer planning**          | If you expect bursty user withdrawal patterns, coordinate with PrimeStaking on buffer sizing (`setBufferBps`); this affects how often partner users hit the queue.                    |
| **Queue UX**                 | Partners surfacing psXDC redemption should distinguish "complete" from "queued, self-claim later" outcomes. The contract makes this explicit through events.                          |
| **DEX integration**          | psXDC pools provide an instant exit, but the protocol's NAV is the canonical value and is what should drive any institutional reporting.                                              |

***

## Liquidity Risk Assessment

| Risk                                           | Likelihood | Impact | Mitigation                                                                                                                                               |
| ---------------------------------------------- | ---------- | ------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| psXDC trades at a discount to NAV on a DEX     | Medium     | Low    | Arbitrageurs can buy on the DEX and redeem at NAV when the queue allows; the protocol cannot guarantee zero discount in all conditions.                  |
| Mass redemption event                          | Low        | Medium | FIFO queue ensures fair sequencing; the protocol cannot become insolvent because each redemption settles at the live share rate against on-chain assets. |
| Buffer is too small for normal partner traffic | Low        | Medium | `setBufferBps` is governed by `OPERATIONS_MANAGER_ROLE` and can be tuned through the standard ops process.                                               |
| Failed receiver payout                         | Very low   | Low    | Deferred into `pendingQueuedAssets` and claimable via `claimQueuedAssets`. No XDC is lost.                                                               |

***

## Key Metrics for Partners

All metrics below are verifiable on-chain via the [staking-v3-indexer](https://github.com/PrimeNumbersLabs/staking-v3-indexer) or direct calls to `PrimeStakedXDC_V3_2`.

| Metric                     | Description                                              | Source                                              |
| -------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
| **psXDC total supply**     | Outstanding V3 shares                                    | `PrimeStakedXDC_V3_2.totalSupply()`                 |
| **Total assets**           | XDC tracked by the vault (buffer + delegated)            | `PrimeStakedXDC_V3_2.totalAssets()`                 |
| **Exchange rate**          | `totalAssets / totalShares` (or `convertToAssets(1e18)`) | Vault view                                          |
| **Buffer ratio**           | Current liquid XDC vs target buffer                      | Computed from `getBalance` + `bufferBps`            |
| **Queue depth**            | Outstanding `WithdrawalQueued` requests                  | Subgraph                                            |
| **Per-operator principal** | XDC delegated per masternode operator                    | `outstandingValidatorPrincipalByOperator(operator)` |
| **DEX market price**       | psXDC/XDC pool quote                                     | XSWAP price feed                                    |

Partners evaluating large position sizes should review the **buffer** and **queue depth** in parallel with DEX pool depth, and reach out to discuss sizing.

→ [Reward Mechanics](/for-partners/reward-mechanics.md) → [Risk & Compliance](/for-partners/risk-and-compliance.md) → [Deployed Contracts & Addresses](/products/contract-addresses.md)
