> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.inverse.finance/inverse-finance/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.inverse.finance/inverse-finance/inverse-finance/getting-started/guide-for-beginners.md). # Guide for Beginners Get started with Inverse Finance in minutes. This guide walks you through common first actions step-by-step, from setting up your wallet to earning your first yield or borrowing your first DOLA. {% hint style="info" %} **Choose your starting point below** based on what you want to accomplish. Each path includes everything you need to get started, including prerequisites and next steps. {% endhint %} *** ### Before You Begin: Essential Setup **You'll need three things to use Inverse Finance:** #### 1. A Web3 Wallet A wallet lets you interact with DeFi protocols and stores your crypto assets. **Recommended wallets:** * **MetaMask** - Most popular, easy to use, browser extension + mobile app * **Coinbase Wallet** - Good for Coinbase users, user-friendly * **Rainbow** - Beautiful interface, mobile-focused * **Rabby** - Advanced features, multi-chain support **Don't have a wallet yet?** 1. Visit [metamask.io](https://metamask.io) (or your preferred wallet) 2. Download the browser extension or mobile app 3. Create a new wallet and **securely store your seed phrase** 4. Never share your seed phrase with anyone {% hint style="danger" %} **Critical Security:** Your seed phrase is the master key to your funds. Write it down on paper, store it securely offline, and never type it into any website or share it with anyone claiming to be "support." {% endhint %} #### 2. ETH for Gas Fees All transactions on Ethereum cost gas fees paid in ETH. **How much ETH you need:** $10-20 worth is sufficient for multiple transactions **How to get ETH:** * Buy directly in your wallet (MetaMask has built-in purchase) * Buy on a centralized exchange (Coinbase, Kraken, Binance) and withdraw to your wallet * Use an on-ramp service (MoonPay, Ramp, Transak) {% hint style="info" %} **Important:** Always keep some ETH in your wallet. Even if you're depositing DOLA or other tokens, you need ETH to pay gas fees for the transactions. {% endhint %} #### 3. Choose Your Network Inverse Finance's suite of products are predominantly available only on Ethereum Mainnet. DOLA is made available on select L2s like Optimism, Base, and Arbitrums. For more, visit the [yield opportunities](/inverse-finance/inverse-finance/yield-opportunities.md) section. | Network | Best For | Gas Costs | | -------------------- | -------------------------------- | ----------------------- | | **Ethereum Mainnet** | Full features, highest liquidity | $2-10 per transaction | | **Optimism** | Lower fees, fast transactions | $0.50-2 per transaction | | **Base** | Lowest fees, growing ecosystem | $0.10-1 per transaction | | **Arbitrum** | Low fees, established DeFi | $0.50-2 per transaction | **For this guide, we'll use Ethereum Mainnet** (most features available). Once you're comfortable, you can bridge assets to L2s for lower costs. {% hint style="success" %} **Tip:** Start on Ethereum Mainnet to access all features. Once you understand the basics, explore L2s to save on gas fees for regular usage. {% endhint %} *** ### Choose Your Path Select the action you want to take first. Each path is complete and standalone—you can come back and try other paths anytime. {% tabs %} {% tab title="Earn Yield with sDOLA" %} #### Earn Yield with sDOLA * **Best for:** Conservative users who want passive yield on stablecoins * **Time required:** 1-5 minutes * **Difficulty:** 🟢 Beginner * **What you'll need:** DOLA or money to buy DOLA *** **Step 1: Get DOLA** You need DOLA to stake in sDOLA. Here's how to get it: **Option A: Buy DOLA on your DEX or DEX Aggregator of choice** 1. Go to [swap.defillama.com](https://swap.defillama.com/) 2. Click "Connect Wallet" in the top right 3. Select your wallet (MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, etc.) 4. Approve the connection in your wallet 5. Navigate to the "Swap" section 6. Select DOLA as the output token 7. Enter the amount of ETH or USDC you want to swap 8. Select a route to perform the swap 9. Review the exchange rate and slippage (keep under 0.5%) 10. Click "Swap" and confirm in your wallet
**Option B: Borrow DOLA on FiRM** If you have crypto collateral and want to borrow instead of buying, see the [Borrow DOLA on FiRM](#borrow-dola-on-firm) tab. {% hint style="info" %} **How much DOLA to get?** Start with a small amount for your first test ($100-500). Once you're comfortable, you can add more. {% endhint %} *** **Step 2: Navigate to sDOLA Staking** 1. Navigate to [inverse.finance](https://inverse.finance/) (connect wallet) 2. Click on "sDOLA" in the navigation menu under Product 3. You'll see the sDOLA staking interface
The interface shows: * **Current APY** - Your expected annual yield * **Your DOLA balance** - How much you can stake * **Your sDOLA balance** - How much you currently have staked * **Exchange rate** - Current DOLA per sDOLA ratio *** **Step 3: Stake Your DOLA** 1. In the "Stake" section, enter the amount of DOLA you want to deposit 2. Click "Approve DOLA" (first-time only) * This gives the sDOLA contract permission to use your DOLA * Confirm the approval transaction in your wallet * Wait for confirmation (usually 15-30 seconds) 3. Click "Stake" after approval completes 4. Review the transaction details: * Amount of DOLA you're staking * Amount of sDOLA you'll receive * Estimated gas fee 5. Confirm the transaction in your wallet 6. Wait for confirmation (15-30 seconds) {% hint style="success" %} **Success!** You're now earning yield. Your sDOLA balance will grow automatically as DBR rewards compound into more DOLA. No claiming needed! {% endhint %} *** **Step 4: Monitor Your Position** 1. Visit [inverse.finance/sDOLA](https://www.inverse.finance/sDOLA) 2. Connect your wallet 3. View your sDOLA position showing: * Current sDOLA balance * Underlying DOLA value (increasing over time) * Total earned yield * Current APY You can check back anytime to see your earnings grow.
*** **What's Happening Behind the Scenes?** Your DOLA is deposited in the sDOLA vault, which: 1. Earns DBR rewards from FiRM borrowing revenue 2. Automatically swaps DBR for more DOLA via auction 3. Compounds the DOLA back into the pool 4. Increases the DOLA value of each sDOLA token **You don't need to do anything.** Just hold sDOLA and it automatically becomes worth more DOLA over time. *** **When You Want to Withdraw** 1. Return to [inverse.finance/sDOLA](https://inverse.finance/sDOLA) 2. Click the "Unstake" tab 3. Enter the amount of sDOLA you want to withdraw 4. Click "Unstake" and confirm the transaction 5. You'll receive your original DOLA plus all accrued yield **No withdrawal delays, no penalties.** You can withdraw anytime. {% endtab %} {% tab title="Stake INV for Governance + Yield" %} #### Stake INV for Governance + Yield * **Best for:** Users who want governance participation and protocol revenue share * **Time required:** 1-5 minutes * **Difficulty:** 🟡 Intermediate * **What you'll need:** ETH to buy INV, or existing INV tokens *** **Step 1: Buy INV Tokens** **Where to buy:** * **Curve Finance** (deepest liquidity): INV/WETH pool * **DEX Aggregators** (best price finder): Input INV address `0x41d5d79431a913c4ae7d69a668ecdfe5ff9dfb68` * Try: CowSwap, 1inch, LlamaSwap, Matcha **How to buy (using a DEX aggregator):** 1. Go to [swap.cow.fi](https://swap.cow.fi) or your preferred aggregator 2. Connect your wallet 3. Paste INV contract address: `0x41d5d79431a913c4ae7d69a668ecdfe5ff9dfb68` 4. Enter the amount of ETH you want to spend 5. Review the exchange rate and price impact 6. Set slippage to 1% (increase if transaction fails) 7. Click "Swap" and confirm in your wallet
{% hint style="warning" %} **Verify the contract address!** Always double-check you're buying the correct token. Scam tokens with similar names may exist. The official INV address is `0x41d5d79431a913c4ae7d69a668ecdfe5ff9dfb68.` {% endhint %} **How much INV to buy?** * Start with a modest amount ($500-1,000 worth) * Remember: 1 INV = 1 vote in governance * Consider your voting intentions and yield goals *** **Step 2: Navigate to INV Staking on FiRM** 1. Go to [app.inverse.finance/firm](https://app.inverse.finance/firm) 2. Connect your wallet (if not already connected) 3. Find the "INV" market in the list of available markets 4. Click on the INV row to open the market page *** **Step 3: Stake Your INV** 1. On the INV market page, you'll see the staking interface 2. Click the "Deposit" tab 3. Enter the amount of INV you want to stake 4. Review the information shown: * Current xINV APY (anti-dilution rewards) * DBR streaming APY (real yield rewards) * Combined total APY 5. Click "Approve INV" (first-time only) * Confirm the approval transaction in your wallet * Wait for confirmation 6. Click "Deposit" after approval completes 7. Confirm the staking transaction in your wallet
**What happens:** * Your INV is deposited and you receive xINV receipt tokens * You start earning xINV anti-dilution rewards (auto-compounds) * You start earning DBR streaming rewards (claim manually) * You retain full voting rights on your staked INV {% hint style="success" %} **Congratulations!** You're now earning protocol revenue and can participate in governance. Your staked INV also maintains its voting power for DAO decisions. {% endhint %} *** **Step 4: Claim Your DBR Rewards** Unlike xINV rewards (which auto-compound), DBR rewards need to be claimed manually. 1. Return to the INV market page on FiRM 2. You'll see "Claimable DBR" showing your earned rewards 3. Click "Claim DBR" 4. Confirm the transaction in your wallet 5. DBR tokens will appear in your wallet **What to do with claimed DBR:** * **Hold it** if you plan to borrow DOLA later (rate locking) * **Sell it** on Curve or via the DBR auction for immediate value * **Use it** to borrow DOLA on FiRM at zero interest {% hint style="info" %} **Claiming strategy:** Gas fees cost $10-20, so wait until you have meaningful DBR accumulated before claiming (e.g., $50+ worth). Claim monthly or quarterly rather than daily. {% endhint %} *** **Step 5: Vote in Governance** Your staked INV gives you voting power. Here's how to use it: 1. Join the Inverse Finance Discord 2. Follow discussions in the #governance-general channel 3. Read proposals on the Forum 4. When votes go live vote directly on-chain for binding proposals 5. Connect your wallet and cast your vote 6. Your voting power = your INV + xINV balance {% hint style="success" %} **Your voice matters:** Even small INV holdings contribute to governance. Participating in votes helps shape protocol direction and risk management decisions. {% endhint %} *** **When You Want to Unstake** 1. Return to [inverse.finance/firm](https://inverse.finance/firm) 2. Navigate to the INV market 3. Click "Withdraw" tab 4. Enter the amount of xINV to withdraw (or click "Max") 5. Click "Withdraw" and confirm the transaction 6. Your INV will be returned to your wallet **No lock periods or penalties.** You can unstake anytime. {% hint style="info" %} **Before unstaking:** Make sure you've claimed all pending DBR rewards. Once you unstake, you stop earning DBR, so claim first to maximize your yields. {% endhint %} {% endtab %} {% tab title="Borrow DOLA on FiRM" %} #### Borrow DOLA on FiRM * **Best for:** Users who want leverage or liquidity without selling crypto * **Time required:** 2-5 minutes * **Difficulty:** 🟡 Intermediate to 🔴 Advanced * **What you'll need:** Crypto collateral (ETH, wstETH, etc.), DBR tokens, understanding of liquidation risk {% hint style="warning" %} **Higher complexity:** Borrowing involves more steps and risk than staking. Make sure you understand collateral factors, liquidation risk, and DBR mechanics before proceeding. Read our Core Concepts if anything is unclear. {% endhint %} *** **Step 1: Choose Your Collateral** FiRM accepts [multiple collateral types](/inverse-finance/inverse-finance/products/firm/firm-collateral-guide.md). Each has different characteristics: | Collateral | Collateral Factor | Liquidation Factor | Daily Limit | Best For | | ------------------ | ----------------- | ------------------ | ----------- | ------------------------------ | | **WETH** | 85% | 75% | 2M | General borrowing | | **wstETH** | 85% | 75% | 2M | ETH staking yields + borrowing | | **CVX** | 65% | 100% | 500k | Convex governance participants | | **INV** | 30% | 50% | 25k | INV holders wanting leverage | | **sUSDe** | 90% | 70% | 1M | Pure DOLA short | | **wstUSR-DOLA LP** | 90% | 100% | 5M | Resolv Points Farming | *** **Step 2: Get Collateral (If You Don't Have It)** 1. Use CowSwap, 1inch, LlamaSwap or any other DEX aggregator 2. Under "You Buy", search for your desired collateral from the dropdown menu 3. Under "You Sell", select ETH or any other asset that you wish to sell for your chosen collateral 4. Set slippage to 0.3%-1% (increase if transaction fails) 5. Click "Swap" and confirm in your wallet {% hint style="info" %} **How much collateral?** Plan to deposit at least $1,000 worth for your first borrow. Smaller amounts work, but gas fees become a larger percentage of your position. {% endhint %} *** **Step 3: Get DBR (Borrowing Rights)** You need DBR to borrow DOLA. Remember: 1 DBR = right to borrow 1 DOLA for 1 year. **Calculate how much DBR you need:** * Planning to borrow 1,000 DOLA for 6 months? Need 500 DBR * Planning to borrow 5,000 DOLA for 1 year? Need 5,000 DBR * Planning to borrow 2,000 DOLA for 90 days? Need \~493 DBR **Where to buy DBR:** **Option A: Use Helper Function built into FiRM Market page** 1. Go to your desired market and toggle the Auto-buy DBR button 2. Select duration to cover and select one between Days, Months, and Years 3. Check slippage before confirming
**Option B: DBR XY=K Auction (often better prices)** 1. Visit [inverse.finance/xykauction](https://inverse.finance/xykauction) 2. Enter the amount of DBR you want 3. Review the DOLA cost 4. Confirm the purchase 5. DBR is minted directly to you **Option C: DEX Aggregator** 1. Use CowSwap, 1inch, LlamaSwap or similar 2. Input DBR address: 0xad038eb671c44b853887a7e32528fab35dc5d710 3. Swap DOLA, ETH, or stables for DBR {% hint style="info" %} **Pro tip:** Buy 20-30% more DBR than you minimally need. This buffer protects you from forced replenishment if you hold the loan longer than expected. DBR that reaches zero triggers expensive forced purchases. {% endhint %} *** **Step 4: Deposit Collateral and Borrow DOLA on FiRM** 1. Go to [inverse.finance/firm](https://inverse.finance/firm) 2. Find your collateral type in the markets list 3. Click on that market to open it 4. Click the "Deposit & Borrow" tab 5. Enter the amount of collateral to deposit and how much DOLA to borrow 6. The interface shows: * Borrow Limit * Liquidation Price * DBR depletion date 7. Click "Approve \[Token]" (first-time only) 8. Confirm approval in your wallet 9. Click "Deposit & Borrow" after approval completes 10. Confirm the deposit & borrow transaction
**What's happening:** * Your collateral goes into a Personal Collateral Escrow (PCE) * This is YOUR isolated smart contract—problems in other markets can't affect it {% hint style="warning" %} **Safety Check:** Even if FiRM allows you to borrow up to 82% of collateral value, **stay below 75%**. This buffer protects you from liquidation during normal market volatility. A 10-15% price drop in your collateral can trigger liquidation if you're too leveraged. {% endhint %} *** **Step 6: Monitor Your Position** **Immediately after borrowing:** 1. Visit [inverse.finance/dashboard](https://inverse.finance/dashboard) 2. View your FiRM position showing: * Current debt amount * Collateral value * Collateral ratio * Remaining DBR balance * Days until DBR depletes * Liquidation price {% hint style="warning" %} **Position management is critical:** Unlike staking (set and forget), borrowing requires active monitoring. You must: * Watch your collateral ratio * Ensure DBR doesn't run out * Be ready to add collateral or repay debt if market drops * Check positions more frequently during high volatility {% endhint %} *** 3. Watch two critical metrics: * Collateral Ratio (liquidation risk) - your collateral ratio = (Debt / Collateral Value) × 100 * DBR Balance (replenishment risk) If your collateral value drops or DOLA debt increases, your ratio rises. Stay in the safe zone. **How to improve your ratio:** * **Add more collateral** (deposit more of the same token) * **Repay some debt** (reduces numerator) * **Both** for maximum safety margin Your DBR balance decreases every second while you have debt. **Check your "Days until depletion" metric regularly** **If DBR is running low:** * Buy more DBR immediately (prices may rise if you wait) * Plan to repay your loan before DBR hits zero * Never let DBR reach zero—forced replenishment is expensive (5-10x normal prices) *** **When You Want to Repay** **Partial repayment:** 1. Go to your FiRM market 2. Click "Repay" tab 3. Enter amount to repay 4. Confirm transaction 5. Your debt decreases, collateral ratio improves **Full repayment:** 1. Click "Repay" tab 2. Click "Max" to repay all debt 3. Confirm transaction 4. Your debt is cleared 5. You can now withdraw all collateral **After repaying:** * Unused DBR stays in your wallet (keep for future borrows or sell) * Withdraw your collateral if you want * Or leave it deposited for future borrowing *** **What to Do With Borrowed DOLA** Now that you have DOLA, here are common strategies: **Earn yield:** Deposit borrowed DOLA into sDOLA or jrDOLA to earn while borrowing (yield farming / "carry trade") **Liquidity provision:** Provide DOLA to DEX pools for trading fees + incentives **Use in other DeFi:** DOLA is available on many protocols for lending or farming **Real-world use:** Spend DOLA for real needs without selling your crypto collateral **Leverage:** Borrow DOLA, buy more of your collateral, re-deposit, borrow more (advanced, risky) {% hint style="warning" %} **Risk management:** Whatever you do with borrowed DOLA, remember you still need to monitor and maintain your collateral ratio. Don't forget about your open borrow position while chasing yields elsewhere. {% endhint %} {% endtab %} {% tab title="Provide Liquidity" %} #### Provide Liquidity * **Best for:** Experienced DeFi users comfortable with impermanent loss * **Time required:** 5-10 minutes * **Difficulty:** 🔴 Advanced * **What you'll need:** DOLA + pairing token (USDC, ETH, etc.), understanding of IL risk {% hint style="warning" %} **Advanced users only:** Liquidity provision involves impermanent loss risk, smart contract risk, and requires active management. Only proceed if you understand these risks. See Core Concepts for background. {% endhint %} *** **Understanding Liquidity Provision** When you provide liquidity, you: 1. Deposit two tokens into a liquidity pool (e.g., DOLA + USDC) 2. Receive LP tokens representing your share of the pool 3. Earn trading fees when people swap using the pool 4. Potentially earn additional rewards (incentive programs) 5. Face impermanent loss if token prices diverge *** **Step 1: Choose Your Pool** **For beginners to liquidity provision:** Start with **DOLA/stablecoin Pool on Curve such as DOLA/sUSDe, DOLA/wstUSR, or DOLA-sUSDS** * Both are stablecoins, minimal impermanent loss * High liquidity, established pool * Straightforward to understand *** **Step 2: Get Both Tokens** To minimize slippage, you need values of both tokens in the pair according to the pool's current balance. **Example for DOLA/sUSDe:** * If providing $1,000 of liquidity * You may need $700 DOLA + $300 sUSDe * The pool will accept a small imbalance but works best with equal values **How to get the tokens:** * Buy DOLA (see Tab 1 above) * Buy sUSDe on any DEX or transfer from an exchange * Check you have enough of both before proceeding *** **Step 3: Navigate to the Pool** 1. Go to [curve.fi](https://curve.fi) 2. Search for "DOLA" in the pools list 3. Select the DOLA/sUSDe pool 4. Click "Deposit"
*** **Step 4: Add Liquidity** 1. Enter the amount of DOLA you want to deposit 2. Enter the amount of sUSDe (or use "Balanced" option) 3. Review: * Current pool balance * Your expected LP tokens * Pool fees and slippage 4. Click "Approve DOLA" (first time) 5. Click "Approve sUSDe" (first time) 6. After approvals, click "Deposit" 7. Confirm the transaction **You now have LP tokens** representing your share of the pool. *** **Step 5: Stake LP Tokens (Optional, for Rewards)** Many pools offer additional rewards if you stake your LP tokens. 1. Look for "Stake" or "Gauge" option on the pool page 2. Click "Stake LP tokens" 3. Approve the LP token 4. Confirm the staking transaction **You now earn:** * Trading fees (automatically compound into LP value) * Incentive rewards (CRV, INV, or other tokens) {% endtab %} {% endtabs %} *** ### After Completing Your First Action **Congratulations!** You've successfully: * ✅ Set up your wallet and got connected * ✅ Completed your first transaction on Inverse Finance * ✅ Earned your first yield or borrowed your first DOLA *** ### What's Next? #### Keep Learning **Deepen your knowledge:** * Read [Core Concepts](/inverse-finance/inverse-finance/getting-started/core-concepts.md) to understand DeFi fundamentals * Study the specific products you're using: * [sDOLA](/inverse-finance/inverse-finance/products/tokens/dola/sdola.md) documentation * [INV staking](/inverse-finance/inverse-finance/products/tokens/inv/inv-staking-guide.md) guide * [FiRM borrowing](/inverse-finance/inverse-finance/products/firm.md) * Explore [Yield Opportunities](/inverse-finance/inverse-finance/yield-opportunities.md) for more strategies #### Expand Your Portfolio **Try other products:** * If you started with sDOLA, try staking INV for governance participation * If you staked INV, explore borrowing on FiRM with your collateral * If you borrowed, consider providing liquidity for additional yields * Check out jrDOLA if you're comfortable with higher risk/reward *** ### Important Reminders {% hint style="warning" %} **Security First:** Inverse Finance team will never DM you first. Never share your seed phrase. Always verify URLs before connecting your wallet. {% endhint %} {% hint style="warning" %} **Understand the Risks:** All DeFi carries smart contract risk, market risk, and various other risks. Only deposit funds you can afford to lose. Read our Risk Disclosure before using any products. {% endhint %} {% hint style="warning" %} **Start Small:** Your first transaction is about learning, not maximizing returns. Use small amounts, understand the mechanics, then scale up gradually as you gain confidence. {% endhint %} *** --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.inverse.finance/inverse-finance/inverse-finance/getting-started/guide-for-beginners.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.