Purchase Dai (DAI) with Colombian peso (COP) easily at Switchere and benefit from fast, secure transactions.
DAI (DAI) stands as a pioneering decentralized stablecoin soft-pegged to the US Dollar, operating on the Ethereum blockchain as an ERC-20 token. Its primary purpose is to provide a censorship-resistant and transparent digital asset that maintains a stable value, offering a crucial building block for the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. Governed by the MakerDAO community through the MKR governance token, DAI's stability is achieved through a sophisticated system of over-collateralization. Users generate DAI by locking up approved crypto assets, such as ETH or WBTC, into smart contracts known as Maker Vaults (formerly Collateralized Debt Positions or CDPs). This process ensures that every DAI in circulation is backed by a greater value of collateral, mitigating volatility risks.
The core technology relies on Ethereum's smart contract capabilities to manage these Vaults, automate liquidations if collateral value drops below a certain threshold, and maintain the peg through various stability mechanisms, including Stability Fees and the Dai Savings Rate (DSR). The DSR allows DAI holders to earn yield on their holdings directly on-chain. DAI's utility token function is primarily as a stable medium of exchange, a unit of account, and a store of value within countless DeFi applications, including lending protocols, decentralized exchanges, and yield farming strategies. As one of the most widely integrated crypto-backed stablecoins, DAI is a foundational element of Web3 infrastructure, enabling peer-to-peer transactions and complex financial instruments without reliance on traditional intermediaries.
The COP/DAI pair represents the exchange rate between the Colombian Peso and Dai, a decentralized stablecoin soft-pegged to the US Dollar. Its significance lies in providing Colombians a direct fiat on-ramp to a stable digital asset. This allows them to hedge against local currency inflation and access the global DeFi ecosystem, as Dai is governed by the MakerDAO protocol and is not controlled by a central entity, relying on over-collateralization with crypto assets for its stability.
Unlike centralized stablecoins (like USDT or USDC) which are backed by fiat reserves held in a bank, DAI maintains its peg to the USD through a decentralized system managed by MakerDAO. It is an over-collateralized stablecoin, meaning users lock up other cryptocurrencies (like ETH) in a smart contract vault to mint new DAI. This algorithmic and transparent on-chain process ensures its value without relying on a traditional financial institution, a key differentiator for those seeking decentralization.
When trading COP for DAI, you'll encounter several potential fees. First, the cryptocurrency exchange or P2P platform will have a trading fee, either a fixed percentage or a maker-taker fee. Second, your payment provider for the COP transfer (e.g., PSE or a bank) may charge a transaction fee. Finally, if you withdraw your DAI to an external wallet on the Ethereum network, you must pay a network 'gas fee' for the blockchain transaction, which fluctuates based on network congestion.
To buy DAI with COP, users typically utilize peer-to-peer (P2P) marketplaces on major cryptocurrency exchanges, which are very popular in Colombia. These platforms connect buyers and sellers directly, allowing transactions via local payment methods like PSE (Pagos Seguros en Línea) or bank transfers from institutions such as Bancolombia or Davivienda. Some centralized exchanges also offer direct COP deposit options, though P2P often provides more flexibility.
Yes, to securely store your DAI, you need a digital wallet that supports ERC-20 tokens, as DAI primarily exists on the Ethereum blockchain. Popular choices include software wallets like MetaMask or Trust Wallet, and for enhanced security, hardware wallets such as Ledger or Trezor. It is highly recommended to move your digital assets from the exchange to a personal, non-custodial wallet where you control the private keys.
Once you have converted COP to DAI, its primary use cases are within the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. You can use DAI as a stable store of value, protecting your capital from the volatility of both COP and other cryptocurrencies. Furthermore, it can be used for lending on platforms like Aave or Compound to earn interest, provide liquidity to decentralized exchanges (DEXs), or as collateral to mint other assets within the MakerDAO protocol itself. It effectively acts as a bridge from the Colombian financial system to global, permissionless financial services.