SparkLend
SparkLend is Spark Protocol's lending engine - an Aave v3 fork supercharged by the Sky/MakerDAO ecosystem. Deposit ETH, wstETH, rETH, sDAI, USDC, or USDT as collateral. Borrow DAI directly from MakerDAO's Vat via the D3M (no DAI depositor needed), or borrow USDS from the pool. Opt into DSR integration to automatically earn the DAI Savings Rate on your supplied DAI. All on battle-tested Aave v3 code, with Sky governance risk parameters.
Protocol Architecture
SparkLend sits at the intersection of Aave's lending infrastructure and MakerDAO's D3M. The D3M is what makes SparkLend fundamentally different: it can mint DAI on-demand from the MakerDAO Vat, meaning DAI borrowers are never blocked by lack of DAI deposits. Governance runs through Sky DAO, which sets interest rate models and risk parameters.
Supply & DSR Simulator
Set your supply amount and watch the DSR earnings accumulate in real-time. The DSR rate updates dynamically based on the current MakerDAO DSR setting.
Borrow Interest Rate Curve
Like Aave v3, SparkLend uses a piecewise interest rate model. Utilization drives rates up sharply past the optimal point. For DAI via D3M, rates are governance-set.
DSR Flow: How Your Deposit Earns
When you supply DAI to SparkLend and opt into DSR integration, your DAI flows to MakerDAO's DSR contract. Every block, DSR accrues to your balance automatically. Withdraw anytime - there is no lockup.
Borrow Position Calculator
Set your collateral and borrow amount to see your health factor, liquidation price, and real-time borrow costs. Keep your health factor above 1.5 for safety.
Collateral Types & Risk Parameters
Each asset has its own risk profile set by Sky governance. ETH and liquid staking tokens (wstETH, rETH) have the highest LTV. Stablecoins have lower LTV but also lower volatility risk.
Revenue Model: How Spark Earns
SparkLend generates revenue from multiple streams. The borrow/lend spread is the primary source. Flash loan fees, liquidation penalties, and D3M interest also contribute to protocol revenue, which flows back to Sky DAO governance.
E-Mode: Efficiency Mode
E-Mode lets you borrow correlated assets at dramatically higher LTV. When ETH and wstETH move in lockstep, the protocol can safely allow up to 98% LTV - enabling leveraged staking strategies where you borrow wstETH against ETH, stake it, and earn yield on both the original and borrowed positions.
D3M: The Direct Deposit Module
The D3M is SparkLend's defining feature. Instead of relying on DAI depositors to fund DAI borrows, SparkLend connects directly to MakerDAO's Vat and mints DAI on demand. This structural advantage means DAI borrowing is never liquidity-constrained - up to the governance-set debt ceiling.
SparkLend vs Aave vs Compound
| Feature | SparkLend | Aave v3 | Compound v3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codebase | Aave v3 fork | Native | Native |
| DAI liquidity source | D3M (unlimited) | DAI depositors | cDAI depositors |
| Governance | Sky DAO | AAVE holders | COMP holders |
| DSR integration | OK Native | X | X |
| E-Mode | OK | OK | X |
| Flash loans | OK | OK | X |
| Native USDS support | OK | X (via bridge) | X |
| sDAI as collateral | OK | X | X |
| Risk parameters | Sky governance | Aave governance | Protocol dials |
Liquidation Mechanics
SparkLend uses Aave v3's liquidation mechanism. When your health factor drops below 1.0, the protocol allows anyone to repay up to 50% of your borrowed debt and claim equivalent collateral at the liquidation bonus. MEV bots typically win these opportunities by front-running with high gas.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does SparkLend differ from Aave v3?
- SparkLend is an Aave v3 fork purpose-built for the Sky (formerly MakerDAO) ecosystem. The key differences are: (1) D3M integration - SparkLend can mint DAI directly from MakerDAO's Vat instead of relying on depositor liquidity for DAI borrowing, (2) Governance - Sky DAO sets risk parameters and borrow rates rather than pure algorithmic curves, (3) Asset list - supports Sky-native assets like sDAI and USDS that Aave v3 doesn't natively include, and (4) E-Mode categories specific to correlated Sky assets.
- What is the D3M and why is it a structural advantage?
- The D3M (Direct Deposit Module) lets SparkLend mint DAI directly from MakerDAO's core Vat contract, bypassing the need for DAI depositors. This means DAI borrowers are never constrained by how much DAI has been deposited - there is always liquidity up to the debt ceiling. For a protocol like Aave, if no one deposits DAI, no one can borrow DAI. SparkLend has no such constraint for DAI.
- How does Spark's DSR integration work?
- Spark deposits are automatically supplied to the DSR (DAI Savings Rate) contract when the user opts in. Every block, the DSR contract accrues savings to depositors at the current DSR rate (which has historically been 5%+). Users keep full liquidity - they can withdraw their Spark deposits at any time, and the DSR earnings accrue on top. The DSR is funded by MakerDAO's protocol revenue from stablecoin interest and collateral fees.
- What determines my borrow interest rate on SparkLend?
- Borrow rates on SparkLend have two components: (1) For DAI borrowed via the D3M, the rate is set by Sky governance as a policy decision - it is not purely market-driven supply/demand. (2) For USDS or other assets, rates follow Aave v3's standard interest rate model with utilization-based curves. The rate jumps when utilization is high, incentivizing more supply and fewer borrows to restore balance.
- What happens during a SparkLend liquidation?
- When a position's health factor drops below 1.0, anyone can call the liquidation function. The liquidator repays up to 50% of the borrower's debt and receives equivalent collateral plus a liquidation bonus (4.5-5% depending on asset). MEV bots typically win these auctions because they can sandwich the liquidation transaction to capture the bonus while refunding gas. The borrower's remaining collateral continues to secure their leftover debt.
- What is E-Mode and when should I use it?
- Efficiency Mode (E-Mode) allows borrowing at higher LTV when the collateral and borrowed asset are in the same correlation category. In the 'ETH correlated' E-Mode, you can borrow wstETH against ETH at up to 98% LTV, or rETH against wstETH at 95% LTV. Since these assets trade within a tight band, the protocol can safely allow more leverage. The main use case is leveraged staking: deposit ETH, borrow wstETH, stake the wstETH somewhere else, and capture the staking yield differential.
- How does SparkLend generate revenue?
- SparkLend earns revenue from: (1) Borrow interest - the spread between what borrowers pay and what lenders earn, typically 0.1-0.5% for stablecoins, (2) Flash loan fees - 0.09% of flash loan amounts, (3) Liquidation bonuses - a portion of the liquidation penalty sometimes accrues to the protocol's treasury rather than the liquidator, (4) D3M interest - interest paid on DAI minted via D3M flows to MakerDAO's surplus, and (5) New asset listing fees paid by projects wanting their token added as collateral.
- Is SparkLend safe to use? What are the main risks?
- SparkLend carries smart contract risk (inherited from Aave v3, which has been extensively audited but not immune to bugs), oracle risk (price feeds can be manipulated), and governance risk (parameter changes could make positions suddenly riskier). The Aave v3 codebase has processed billions with relatively few incidents. The main user risk is getting liquidated - never borrow close to your liquidation threshold, especially with volatile collateral like ETH. DAI borrowers also have exposure to DAI depeg risk.