What Is Sablier?
Sablier is a powerful onchain token distribution protocol. Here are some key definitions:
- The Sablier Protocol: A collection of persistent, non-upgradeable smart contracts to facilitate streaming of ERC-20 tokens on Ethereum and other EVM blockchains. The Sablier Protocol consists of Lockup, Merkle Airdrops, and Flow.
- The Sablier Interface: A web interface that allows for easy interaction with the Sablier Protocol. The interface is only one of many ways to interact with the Sablier Protocol.
- Sablier Labs: The company that develops the Sablier Protocol, the Sablier Interface, and the documentation website you are reading right now.
Fun fact: "sablier" means "hourglass" in French.
Sablier Protocol
A software protocol built with Ethereum smart contracts, designed to facilitate distribution of ERC-20 tokens. The protocol employs a set of persistent and non-upgradable smart contracts that prioritize security, censorship resistance, self-custody, and functionality without the need for trusted intermediaries who may selectively restrict access.
Currently, Sablier consists of three separate systems:
- Lockup: facilitates vesting and vested airdrops
- Merkle Airdrops: enables on-chain airdrops
- Flow: for payroll, grants etc.
While most of these are licensed under BUSL-1.1, there are some components licensed under GPL v3. The source code can be accessed on Sablier's GitHub account, and a detailed technical reference can be found in the Technical References section of this website.
As long as Ethereum and the other EVM chains continue to exist, every version of the Sablier Protocol that gets deployed will operate continuously and without interruption, with a guarantee of 100% uptime.
Sablier is the first project to enable token streaming in the Ethereum ecosystem, tracing its roots back to 2019.
How does Sablier differ from traditional payment systems?
To understand the unique characteristics of Sablier, it is helpful to examine two aspects: the permissionless nature of the protocol compared to traditional payment systems, the concept of streaming as an alternative to conventional payment methods.
Permissionless systems
Sablier is rooted in the essential ideas of open access and immutability, deriving inspiration from Ethereum's foundational principles and the core values of the DeFi1 movement. These concepts are crucial in shaping a future where financial services are accessible to everyone, irrespective of their geographical location or economic standing, without prejudice or exposure to counterparty risks.
The permissionless design ensures that the protocol's services are open to the public, without any restrictions on who can use them. Users have the liberty to establish new streams with any ERC-20 token, or interact with existing streams as they wish. This feature stands in sharp contrast to conventional financial services that frequently impose restrictions based on factors such as location, financial status, or age.
As an immutable system, the Sablier Protocol is non-upgradeable, meaning that no party can pause the contracts, reverse transactions, or alter the users' streams in any way. This ensures the system remains transparent, secure, and resistant to manipulation or abuse.
Streaming vs conventional payments
Traditional payment systems generally involve lump-sum transfers, which rely on trust between parties, have slow processing times, and are prone to errors. In the context of bank transfers, payments are also subject to substantial fees and can face delays due to intermediaries.
By contrast, Sablier introduces the concept of token streaming, enabling users to make continuous, real-time payments on a per-second basis. This innovative approach enables seamless, frictionless transactions and promotes increased financial flexibility for users, businesses, and other entities. Sablier makes the passage of time itself the trust-binding mechanism, unlocking business opportunities that were previously unavailable.
A good mental model to contrast streaming with conventional payment models is to view the former as "real-time finance" or "continuous finance", and the latter as of "discrete finance".
Where can I find more information?
For more details on the Sablier Protocol, its features, and potential use cases, explore this documentation site and visit the official Sablier website as well.
If you have any questions along the way, please join the #dev channel in our Discord server. Our team and members of the community are looking forward to help you.
Release history
Lockup
For more details on the UI alias, see the guide on URL schemes.
| Version | Release Date | UI Aliases |
|---|---|---|
| v2.0 (latest) | February 2025 | LK (Lockup): all models have been merged into a single contract |
| v1.2 | July 2024 | LD3 (Lockup Dynamic), LL3 (Lockup Linear), LT3 (Lockup Tranched) |
| v1.1 | December 2023 | LD2 (Lockup Dynamic), LL2 (Lockup Linear) |
| v1.0 | July 2023 | LD (Lockup Dynamic), LL (Lockup Linear) |
Merkle Airdrops
| Version | Release Date |
|---|---|
| v1.3 | February 2025 |
Before v1.3, Merkle Airdrops contracts were part of the Sablier Lockup periphery repository.
Flow
For more details on the UI alias, see the guide on URL schemes.
| Version | Release Date | UI Aliases |
|---|---|---|
| v1.1 (latest) | February 2025 | FL2 |
| v1.0 | December 2024 | FL |
Legacy (Deprecated)
The Legacy contracts have been superseded by Lockup.
| Version | Release Date |
|---|---|
| v1.1 | July 2021 |
| v1.0 | November 2019 |
Footnotes
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Short for Decentralized Finance: an ecosystem of financial applications and services built on blockchain networks, primarily Ethereum, that leverage smart contracts to enable trustless, permissionless, and transparent financial transactions without relying on traditional intermediaries like banks or financial institutions. ↩