# What is Shell Finance Shell Finance is a decentralized stablecoin protocol built on the Bitcoin #Layer1 network. It allows users to leverage on-chain Bitcoin assets (including BTC, Ordinals, Runes, BRC-20, Atomicals, etc.) as collateral to obtain synthetic asset $sUSD(sUSD•sUSD•sUSD) issued by Shell Finance. At Shell Finance, we build directly on Bitcoin #Layer1, it allows users to borrow $sUSD directly on #BitcoinL1, making Shell Finance a liquidity booster for Bitcoin L1 assets. Shell Finance's business model is similar to that of MakerDAO, where users pledge their assets within Shell Finance to borrow synthetic assets $sUSD, with Shell Finance acting as the intermediary in the lending process. This model enables Shell Finance to meet the $sUSD borrowing needs of a wide range of users, achieving efficient liquidity from individuals to pools in the UTXO model. --- # Agent Instructions: 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: ``` GET https://shellfinance.gitbook.io/shell/overview/what-is-shell-finance.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. 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.