#### What is Balancer? Balancer (BAL) is an [automated market maker](https://help.coinbase.com/en/coinbase/getting-started/crypto-education/glossary/automated-market-maker--amm-) (AMM) [protocol](https://www.coinbase.com/learn/crypto-basics/what-is-a-protocol) that operates on the [Ethereum](https://www.coinbase.com/learn/crypto-basics/what-is-ethereum) [blockchain](https://www.coinbase.com/learn/crypto-basics/what-is-a-blockchain). Launched in March 2020, Balancer aims to function as a self-balancing weighted portfolio, price sensor, and [liquidity](https://help.coinbase.com/en/coinbase/getting-started/crypto-education/glossary/liquidity-) provider. It allows users to earn profits through its native token, BAL, by contributing to customizable liquidity pools. Balancer is not the first [DeFi](https://www.coinbase.com/learn/crypto-basics/what-is-defi) protocol to utilize AMMs, but it has introduced a unique approach to liquidity. It allows liquidity providers to have up to eight assets per market, which are weighted by percentage and rebalanced automatically. This feature enables users to decide how much of a supported asset they wish to deposit, providing flexibility and control over their investments. #### How does Balancer work? Balancer operates through a system of pools: private pools, shared pools, and smart pools. Private pools give the owner governance over the pool, making them the sole contributor of liquidity. Shared pools are designed for those who want to become liquidity providers (LPs). LPs are rewarded with Balancer Pool [Tokens](https://www.coinbase.com/learn/crypto-basics/what-is-a-token) (BPTs). Smart pools are similar to private pools but are controlled by a [smart contract](https://www.coinbase.com/learn/crypto-basics/what-is-a-smart-contract). They also reward users with BPTs and allow anyone to contribute liquidity to the pool. Balancer's unique feature is that it allows more than one token to be added and ETH isn’t required, providing a flexible and user-friendly platform for [cryptocurrency](https://www.coinbase.com/learn/crypto-basics/what-is-cryptocurrency) enthusiasts. #### What are the potential use cases for Balancer? Balancer's unique features open up a range of potential use cases. It allows users to earn profits by contributing to customizable liquidity pools, providing a potential source of income for those willing to participate in the DeFi space. Balancer also allows users to make a high return on assets that are in low demand through arbitrage opportunities and [slippage](https://help.coinbase.com/en/coinbase/trading-and-funding/advanced-trading/slippage)-reduction. This makes it a potentially attractive option for those looking to maximize their returns in the cryptocurrency market. Furthermore, Balancer's flexible deposit system, which allows users to decide how much of a supported asset they wish to deposit, provides a level of control that can be appealing to both new and experienced cryptocurrency users. #### What is the history of Balancer? Balancer was developed by Balancer Lab, which was founded by Fernando Martinelli and Mike McDonald. The project began as a research program at a software firm called BlockScience in 2018. Balancer was launched in March 2020 after raising a $3M seed round by Placeholder and Accomplice. Balancer wasn't launched with a native token, but in June 2020, they launched a governance token, BAL, following the success of Compound’s token COMP. The purpose of the token is to allow for more decentralization and as an incentive for LPs. Balancer's security is a top priority, and the protocol has been fully audited three times by Trail of Bits, ConsenSys, and OpenZeppelin.