CIP-XXXX: SV Readiness — Demonstrate Third-Party Price Feed Integration for CC Listing
Number: TBA
Layer: Standards / Operations
Title: SV Readiness — Demonstrate Third-Party Price Feed Integration for CC Listing
Author(s): W Eric Saraniecki
Discussions-To: TBA
Type: Governance
Status: Draft
Created: TBA
Requires: —
Replaces: —
License: TBA
Abstract
This CIP requires all Super Validator (SV) operators to demonstrate operational readiness to ingest, validate, monitor, and expose a reference price feed (e.g., CC/USD) no later than October 15, 2025, in support of the Canton Coin (CC) listing. The Kaiko reference price (see attached Kaiko proposal) is cited as an example of a feed SVs may use to meet this requirement.
Motivation
The Canton Coin (CC) / Dollar (USD) conversion rate is fundamental to the Canton Network's tokenomics, essential for understanding expected featured app reward behaviors and traffic fees. Currently, Super Validators manually upload this rate based on their individual assessments.
With a future Canton Coin listing and the emerging OTC market, it is imperative for Super Validators to base the CC/USD conversion rate on market prices to avoid price dislocation which could disincentivize use of the chain.
Specification
# | Requirement | Scope (what must be true) | Deadline / Window |
R1 | Ingest a reference price feed | Subscribe to one feed delivering CC/USD to the SV | Must be live on MainNet by Oct 15, 2025 |
R2 | Publish on-chain | Update your on-chain conversion rate as the reference rate changes | Must be live on MainNet by Oct 15, 2025 |
Provider guidance: The Kaiko reference price feed (see Attached: Kaiko CIP — Reference Price for CC) is an acceptable example for R1. Comparable providers (e.g., other institutional price feeds offering authenticated delivery and documented methodology) are acceptable.
Rationale
This is a readiness standard, not an oracle design. It ensures every SV can ingest an external feed and validate and monitor it with basic controls. Calling out Kaiko keeps the path concrete while allowing provider choice.
References
Ambre Soubiran, CEO, Kaiko
This proposal outlines a strategic shift in how the CC/USD conversion rate is integrated into the network, anticipating the Canton Coin's listing.
This CIP addresses:
The existing CC/USD conversion rate mechanism (both infrastructure and price formation)
Establishing a Canton Price Index, an IOSCO, BMR-regulated standard approach and associated governance model. The index would evolve in phases, matching the successive listings of the Canton Coin (CC). The initial phase would leave the price formation process unchanged.
Infrastructure: how to improve the setup and void hard coded prices without functionally changing price formation, applicable immediately
A-The Current CC/USD Conversion Rate Mechanism
Price formation
At present, the CC/USD conversion rate is uploaded by Super Validators based on their internal assessments, primarily because the Canton Coin is not yet listed, and public price data or OTC transaction details are not transparently available. However, as the Canton Network evolves, we anticipate the Canton Coin's listing on exchanges in the short to medium term, alongside an increase in OTC transactions and the emergence of OTC platforms. Consequently, it is critical to re-evaluate how the conversion rate is determined and integrated into the network.
Technical dissemination:
The current process for populating the Canton Network with a CC/USD conversion rate involves SuperValidators manually uploading a rate via their UI on an as-needed basis. The most recently uploaded rate is then utilized in each 10-minute round. The SPLICE application, the core component of the Canton Synchronizer, computes the median of these rates and registers it within the AMULET contract, the Canton Coin's smart contract. AMULET subsequently makes the CC/USD rate posted publicly.
B- Establishing a Canton Benchmark Reference Rate (“BRR”)
Kaiko proposes to set-up an Index price to ultimately feed SVs and the network for subsequent operations. The use of a Reference Price, established by relying on a Reference Price unlocks several compliance and fairness elements for the Network:
Participants of the network will be free to use a different reference for the use of their applications, leading to a de facto transparency of their mark-ups or mark-downs applied on the reference price, putting the emphasis on transparency, and maximising value for the Network users, who will benefit from a business model transparency
Governance
Under IOSCO and BMR framework, Kaiko will establish an oversight committee, and act under Kaiko Indices, a regulated entity (LEI:969500BKJ2X29T7NJH85), registered and licensed ESMA benchmark administrator, as the Canton (CC) - US Dollar (USD) Benchmark Reference Rate (Kaiko CC-USD BRR) administrator.
The oversight committee can include any Canton Super Validators on a voluntary basis, represented equally regardless of their weight on the Network. All resolutions of the oversight committees should be documented by writing, with the resolutions made public on Kaiko's public facing interfaces.
Phases and practical considerations
Phase 1: No change to price formation rules
As long as the oversight committee and the governance is not in place, the Kaiko CC-USD BRR shall replicate existing price formation mechanisms. Only the technical delivery (next section of the CIP) could be amended.
Phase 2: Transitional price formation mechanism
The Canton Coin will be iteratively listed on venues, and liquidity will increase over time. Ultimately, the CC-USD BRR will have to match Kaiko's BRR framework (vetted venues to source price form, liquidity thresholds, and all components as described in the overall Kaiko Reference Rates rulebook). However, during the intermediary phase, the price formation of CC-USD will have to iteratively mature to include price sources and market setting of the CC-USD price without risking market and price dislocation for the network.
The CC-USD BRR committee will as such convene monthly after the first listing, decide on monthly rebalancing of the price sources and methodology adjustments to the CC-USD BRR provisional methodology until CC becomes eligible to a standard Kaiko BRR. The oversight committee could set an extraordinary meeting as required. Kaiko as Administrator will be responsible to propose and implement voted changes until Canton Coin is eligible for a standard BRR. The overall process will require full transparency.
Phase 3: Official CC-USD BRR, underlying ISIN and regulatory supervision
Oversight committee will have to vote the transition to phase 3
Kaiko will be required to have an ISIN issued for the CC-USD BRR
The CC-USD BRR will have to fall under regulatory supervision of Kaiko's regulated indices
C- Upgrading the Onchain Price Technical Dissemination
Super Validators will no longer have to hardcode the CC/USD conversion rate but will instead have the ability to access it on-chain using Kaiko's on-chain feeds within the Canton Network. Super Validator can access across all phases to the CC-USD BRR through Kaiko's On-ramp facility and on-chain price feeds, ensuring that there will be no technical implication of the approach.
The implementation of the underlying infrastructure does not imply dependencies with the above approach, except for phase 1 price input. During the initial phase, Kaiko will have to expose a price collection facility allowing SVs to submit publicly their prices in order to replicate the current price formation mechanism at the time of writing of this CIP.
The revised process will be as follows:
Specific to phase 1: Replicating current process
CC/USD Price contributions from SVs
Kaiko will collect the CC/USD prices from Canton through an interface accessible to all Super Validators. SVs will have the ability to change their prices for the next publication. If no changes are submitted by an SV, their previously submitted value will be used.
CC/USD Price calculation from SVs
Once Super Validators have uploaded their prices to Kaiko, the median price will be calculated off-chain by Kaiko, replicating SPLICE methodology, and Kaiko will publish the median price back on the Network.
In subsequent phases, the price calculation will no longer rely on SV price input but the CC-USD rate will be a Mark-to-Market rate. As such, SVs will only be required to choose the source, and the downstream process and integration with SPLICE and AMULET will be fully automated.
Generic: publishing the CC-USD price
The price feed will be published on-chain via Kaiko's Canton Price feeds on the network, initially every 1 min, then eventually in the future up to second/real-time level updates if required or beneficial. The technical price format, Data contract standard shall match the standard of the overall facility, and be maintained by Kaiko with that regard. The technical interfaces must not be price discovery phases dependent. SVs can then use the Kaiko CC-USD price to programmatically (vs manually at the time of writing) submit their price to SPLICE, or choose another on-chain source. The DSO will publish the consensus price from SPLICE to AMULET, regardless of their sources. SVs will thus be able to choose to rely on the Kaiko CC-USD BRR directly into SPLICE (vs manual update). They could also choose to use another source.
Conclusion
This CIP intends at equipping the network with a highly resilient, operational and regulatorily compliant price standard for Canton Coin to operationally enable the network and its economy, protect it from price bias and market dislocation, reducing arbitrage exposition for users and application builders, with a dedicated governance and process that matches both the need for a price consensus framework as well as regulatory compliance. The CIP aims at providing the network and its users with transparency, utility and fairness.
Note: this CIP is independent from CIP0063. Kaiko does not seek, nor will it be eligible to unlock additional SV points per the CIP0063 through the approval of this CIP.
