Introduction
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Get oriented with Unicorn architecture, market model, and how to navigate the stack.
What is Unicorn?
System Layers
Why this exists
What is Unicorn?
Unicorn is a milestone markets protocol where startup outcomes are represented as tradable YES/NO token claims. Users trade conviction, while the vault underwrites NO exposure under defined risk constraints.
System layers
The system is split into onchain contracts, offchain indexing and automation services, and a web client. Execution and settlement are onchain; analytics and UX are offchain.
- Contracts: BinaryMarket, MarketFactory, NoVault, BatchRouter
- API: Hono + Bun routes for markets, charts, trades, vault, simulation
- Indexer: viem log ingestion into Postgres (Drizzle schema)
- Web: Next.js app for trading, portfolio, vault, and docs
Why this exists
Private market signal is fragmented and delayed. Unicorn makes that signal public by turning milestones into open, continuously priced markets.