> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ifalabs.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Key Differentiators

> How IFÁ Labs compares to Chainlink and Pyth on coverage, latency, and cost — and why specialization beats generalization for stablecoin oracle pricing.

General-purpose oracle networks are excellent infrastructure. But "general-purpose" is the key phrase. When your protocol's correctness depends on stablecoin pricing — especially for local emerging-market assets — general-purpose is not good enough.

Here's how IFÁ Labs compares directly.

## Side-by-Side Comparison

| Feature                       | IFÁ Labs                                                    | Chainlink                                      | Pyth                                                    |
| ----------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Primary Focus**             | Stablecoins — global and emerging market                    | Broad: crypto, commodities, forex, equities    | High-frequency trading pairs, volatile assets           |
| **Local Stablecoin Coverage** | Dedicated feeds (cNGN, ZARP, BRZ, and growing)              | Selective — low-volume assets often excluded   | Minimal to none                                         |
| **Aggregation Logic**         | Tuned for peg-stable behavior and tight deviation           | General-purpose thresholds                     | Sub-second for volatile assets                          |
| **Regional Data Sources**     | Integrated — local exchanges, forex providers, P2P markets  | Limited                                        | Limited                                                 |
| **Update Trigger Model**      | Hybrid deviation + time, calibrated per asset               | General deviation + heartbeat                  | Pull-based, publisher-signed                            |
| **On-Chain Model**            | Fully trustless — audited EVM contracts, no off-chain reads | Decentralized node network + economic security | Pull-based — requires on-chain price submission per use |
| **L2 Gas Efficiency**         | Optimized for Base and low-cost chains                      | Higher overhead on some networks               | Efficient but broader scope                             |
| **Emerging Market Focus**     | Core mission                                                | Not prioritized                                | Not prioritized                                         |
| **Audit Status**              | Audited by A\&D Forensics — all findings resolved           | Extensively audited                            | Extensively audited                                     |

## Where the Differences Matter Most

### Local Stablecoin Coverage

This is the sharpest distinction. cNGN, ZARP, and BRZ do not have reliable, dedicated feeds on Chainlink or Pyth. For any protocol building on these assets — lending markets, payment rails, savings vaults — IFÁ Labs is currently the only option for trustless on-chain pricing.

### Aggregation Logic Tuned for Peg Behavior

General-purpose oracles are calibrated for assets that move. A 2% deviation threshold makes sense for ETH. For USDT, it means the oracle won't trigger an update until the asset is already significantly off-peg — precisely when accurate pricing matters most.

IFÁ Labs uses tight, peg-aware deviation thresholds designed specifically for stablecoin behavior. Updates fire when they need to, not when a repurposed volatile-asset threshold is finally breached.

### Regional Data Source Integration

Accurately pricing a Nigerian naira stablecoin or a South African rand stablecoin requires data from the markets where those assets actually trade — local exchanges, regional forex providers, P2P platforms. IFÁ Labs integrates those sources directly. Networks built around global crypto markets do not.

### On-Chain Read Model

IFÁ Labs prices are stored on-chain and readable with a single view call — no transaction, no gas, no off-chain request. Pyth's pull-based model requires submitting a price update on-chain before reading it, which adds friction and cost for certain use cases. IFÁ Labs eliminates that step entirely.

## How to Think About It

IFÁ Labs is not a replacement for Chainlink or Pyth. It is purpose-built infrastructure for a specific problem they don't solve well.

For volatile assets with deep global liquidity — ETH, BTC, major altcoins — Chainlink and Pyth are the right tools. For stablecoins, especially local ones in emerging markets, IFÁ Labs provides coverage, accuracy, and update logic that general-purpose networks cannot match.

Many production protocols will use both: IFÁ Labs for stablecoin feeds, a general-purpose oracle for volatile asset pricing. That's the right architecture.

<Tip>
  Building a protocol that uses both stablecoin and volatile asset pricing? Use IFÁ Labs for your stablecoin feeds and implement a fallback strategy for redundancy. See [Building Fallback Strategies](/building-fallback-strategies) for a production-ready implementation guide.
</Tip>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Supported Assets" icon="coins" href="/supported-assets">
    View all currently supported stablecoin price feeds.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Quickstart" icon="bolt" href="/prerequisites">
    Start integrating IFÁ Labs in minutes.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>