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First-Time User Journey

Complete walkthrough from getting assets onto STRATO to your first DeFi transaction.

Your Goal

Get your crypto onto STRATO and borrow USDST to start using DeFi.

What you have:

  • 1 ETH on Ethereum mainnet
  • MetaMask wallet

What you'll achieve:

  • Bridge ETH to STRATO
  • Use it as collateral
  • Borrow 500 USDST
  • Start using STRATO DeFi

Time needed: 30 minutes (mostly waiting for bridge)
Total cost: ~$21 (Ethereum gas + STRATO fees)

Complete Walkthrough

Part 1: Bridge Your Assets (15-20 minutes)

Step 1: Go to Deposits Page

  1. Visit https://app.strato.nexus/bridge
  2. Connect your MetaMask wallet
  3. Ensure you're on Ethereum Mainnet network

Step 2: Initiate Bridge

  1. From: Ethereum → To: STRATO
  2. Asset: ETH
  3. Amount: 1.0

  4. Review costs:

  5. Ethereum gas: ~$20 (varies with congestion)

  6. Bridge fee: ~$1
  7. Total: ~$21

Step 3: Confirm & Wait

  1. Click "Bridge"
  2. Confirm transaction in MetaMask

  3. Wait for:

  4. Ethereum confirmation: 1-2 minutes

  5. Bridge processing: 10-15 minutes
  6. Track status in Bridge page

Result: 

✅ Bridged: 1 ETH from Ethereum to STRATO
✅ Time: ~15 minutes
✅ Cost: ~$21
✅ Now have: 1 ETHST on STRATO

While waiting:

  • Add STRATO network to MetaMask (bridge page will prompt)
  • Switch to STRATO network in wallet
  • Read Core Concepts to understand health factor

Part 2: Add STRATO Network to MetaMask

The bridge page should auto-prompt, but if not:

  1. Open MetaMask → Networks → Add Network

  2. Enter details:

  3. Network Name: STRATO

  4. RPC URL: https://app.strato.nexus/strato-api/eth/v1.2
  5. Chain ID: (auto-detected)
  6. Currency: ETH
  7. Click Save
  8. Switch to STRATO network

Verify:

  • You should see 1 ETHST in your wallet
  • Network shows "STRATO" at top of MetaMask

Part 3: Get USDST for Fees (5 minutes)

Problem: You need USDST to pay gas fees on STRATO

Solution: Quick borrow to get gas fees

  1. Go to Borrow page (in sidebar)

  2. Try to supply ETHST as collateral:

  3. In the Collateral Management table, find ETHST

  4. Click the "Supply" button
  5. Enter 0.1 (keep 0.9 for now)
  6. Click "Supply" → Confirm
  7. Wait... ERROR: Need USDST for gas!

Catch-22 Solution:

  • Request USDST from faucet (if testnet)
  • OR get from a friend
  • OR use the app's "Get Gas" feature if available
  • OR bridge in USDC first, swap USDST for USDST

For this guide, assume you got 10 USDST for fees.

Part 4: Supply Collateral (2 minutes)

Now you have gas, let's continue:

Step 1: Supply ETHST

  1. Go to Borrow (sidebar)
  2. In the Collateral Management table, find ETHST
  3. Click the "Supply" button
  4. In the modal:
  5. Enter 1.0 (use all of it)
  6. Review the preview
  7. Click "Supply"
  8. Confirm (~$0.10 gas in USDST)
  9. Approval + supply happen automatically in one transaction
  10. Wait 1-2 seconds

Result: 

✅ Supplied: 1 ETHST ($3,000)
✅ Can borrow: Up to $2,250 USDST
✅ Health Factor: N/A (no debt yet)

Your balances:

  • ETHST: 0 (moved to collateral)
  • USDST: 9.90 (spent $0.10 on gas for one transaction)
  • Collateral: 1 ETHST

Part 5: Borrow USDST (2 minutes)

Step 1: Borrow

  1. Go to Borrow (sidebar) → Borrow section
  2. Enter 500 USDST

  3. Review:

  4. Borrowing: 500 USDST

  5. New Health Factor: 3.6 (very safe)
  6. Interest: ~5% annually
  7. Click "Borrow"
  8. Confirm (~$0.10 gas)
  9. Wait 1-2 seconds

Result: 

✅ Borrowed: 500 USDST
✅ Health Factor: 3.6 (Very safe)
✅ Your wallet: +500 USDST

Your balances:

  • ETHST: 0
  • USDST: 509.70 (9.70 remaining + 500 borrowed)
  • Collateral: 1 ETHST ($3,000)
  • Debt: 500 USDST

Summary: What You Achieved

Starting point:

  • 1 ETH on Ethereum

Ending point:

  • 1 ETHST as collateral on STRATO
  • 509.70 USDST in wallet
  • Health Factor: 3.6 (very safe)
  • Ready to use STRATO DeFi

Total costs:

  • Ethereum gas: ~$20
  • Bridge fee: ~$1
  • STRATO gas: ~$0.30
  • Total: ~$21.30

What you can do now:

  • ✅ Use USDST for transaction fees
  • ✅ Swap USDST for other tokens
  • ✅ Provide liquidity and earn fees
  • ✅ Keep borrowing against collateral
  • ✅ Earn Reward Points

Next Steps

Option A: Start Trading

Swap USDST for other tokens → - Trade for any token on STRATO - Build your portfolio - Take advantage of opportunities

Option B: Earn Passive Income

Provide Liquidity → - Use your USDST to provide liquidity - Earn 8-15% APR in trading fees - Plus Reward Points

Option C: Expand Your Position

Borrow More → - You can borrow up to $2,250 total - Currently using only $500 - Health factor is very safe at 3.6

Option D: Try CDP for Lower Fees

Mint via CDP → - Lower fees than borrowing - Better for long-term positions - More capital efficient

Important Reminders

Monitor Your Health Factor

Check daily:

  1. Go to Borrow (sidebar)
  2. See your health factor
  3. Keep it above 2.0

If ETHST price drops:

  • Health factor decreases
  • Add more collateral or repay debt
  • Don't let it drop below 1.0!

Keep USDST for Gas

Always maintain:

  • At least 10-20 USDST in wallet
  • For transaction fees
  • Gas is cheap (~$0.10) but you need it

Accrue Interest

Remember:

  • Your 500 USDST debt grows daily
  • ~5% annually = $0.07/day
  • After 30 days: Owe ~$502
  • Track and repay when ready

Common Questions

"How do I get more ETHST on STRATO?"

Bridge more from Ethereum:

  1. Follow Part 1 again
  2. Bridge additional ETH
  3. Supply as collateral

"Can I withdraw my ETHST?"

Only if you maintain health factor above 1.0:

  1. Repay your debt first (or partially)
  2. Then withdraw collateral
  3. Health factor must stay safe

"What if I need to exit completely?"

See Withdrawals Guide →

Troubleshooting

Bridge taking too long

Normal: 15-20 minutes total

If > 30 minutes:

  • Check Ethereum transaction confirmed on Etherscan
  • Contact support with transaction hash
  • Monitor bridge status page

"Insufficient USDST for transaction fee"

Problem: Ran out of gas USDST

Solution:

  • Get more USDST (borrow small amount, or swap)
  • Ask in community for small amount
  • Use faucet if on testnet

Health factor warnings

If health factor drops below 2.0:

  1. Check ETHST price movement
  2. Add more collateral or repay debt
  3. Don't ignore yellow/red warnings

Congratulations! 🎉

You've successfully:

  • ✅ Bridged assets to STRATO
  • ✅ Supplied collateral
  • ✅ Borrowed USDST
  • ✅ Ready for DeFi

You're now a STRATO user!

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