Perp DEX Introduction: Core Concepts You Need to Know
If you are new to the field of crypto derivatives, here are a few core concepts:
- Perp (Perpetual Contract): A contract that has no expiration date, allowing you to hold it indefinitely (as long as you have sufficient margin).
- DEX (Decentralized Exchange): Transactions are executed on-chain or Layer 2, allowing users to retain private keys to control their assets.
- Unissued coin projects: projects that have not yet issued platform tokens, usually attract users through means such as liquidity rewards, airdrop expectations, and transaction fee subsidies.
- Liquidity Pool / Market Making Vault Mechanism: Projects usually set up a fund pool, providing liquidity from users or professional market makers, and earn returns proportionally.
- Zero fee / low fee model: In order to attract users and trading volume, some projects choose to temporarily not charge or charge very low fees, but long-term profitability requires the support of other mechanisms.
After understanding these concepts, you will be able to better understand the layout and competitive strategy of Lighter.
Why Lighter can stand out among numerous projects
Several key selling points of Lighter make it stand out:
- Zero fees: Whether Maker or Taker, almost everyone currently enjoys 0 fees, which is highly attractive to users.
- Technical Route + Architectural Advantages: The EVM-compatible dedicated chain / zk-rollup architecture ensures high throughput, high performance, and low cost.
- Invitation system / Beta phase: Early control of user quality and reduction of abuse risks.
- Community and market enthusiasm: In the Perp DEX industry, Lighter is frequently mentioned as the next potential dark horse.
- Rapid growth in trading volume: Trading volume, TVL, and the number of supported trading pairs are constantly expanding.
These factors combined make Lighter a project with high attention and potential explosive power in the unissued coin sector.
Latest market data and industry rankings
Recent key data:
- The 24-hour trading volume is approximately 6.254 billion USD.
- TVL (Total Value Locked) is approximately 537 million USD.
- Supports over 70 trading pairs.
- Ranked second among mainstream Perp DEXs, only behind Aster.
In addition, in industry discussions, Lighter is often referred to as a “dark horse with potential.” However, it should be noted that due to its zero-fee structure, its “revenue” is not easily traceable by outsiders.
Spot launch at the end of October: rumors, logic, and potential obstacles
Rumors and logical basis
- There are rumors in the community that Lighter is preparing to launch Spot, and some analysts believe that the possible time frame based on project development pace, user enthusiasm, and competitive pressure may be the end of October.
- If a project wants to issue coins, it will need to establish trading channels on exchanges or the Spot market first.
- Many early projects often synchronize to open Spot trading at a certain point after the mainnet or contract stabilizes.
Possible obstacles and uncertainties
- Technical audit not completed, security still needs to be confirmed.
- Exchange cooperation, compliance review, token issuance procedures, and other processes may cause delays.
- Market fluctuations or adjustments in competitive strategy may cause the team to delay their pace.
- If there is insufficient liquidity after the launch, users may be lost.
Overall, the expectation of “launching Spot at the end of October” is a reasonable one, but it has not yet been officially confirmed.
Investment Perspective: Opportunity Points vs Risk Points
Opportunity point
- Launch Spot and issue coin, early participants may receive airdrops or valuation premiums.
- Zero-fee strategies quickly accumulate users and trading volume. If user retention is achieved, there will be a network effect.
- In a highly competitive field, if Lighter can establish a differentiated advantage, its potential is worth looking forward to.
- Collaboration and ecological expansion can further enhance value.
risk point
- The profit model is unclear: how to make a profit in the long term remains a mystery.
- Technical and security risks: Vulnerabilities, hacking attacks, etc. may cause losses.
- Token unlocking pressure: may lead to price decline.
- Regulatory uncertainty: Both derivatives and token issuance are under strict regulation.
- Market competition: Competitors like Hyperliquid, Aster, and edgeX are watching closely.
How beginners can participate (practical suggestions)
- Small-scale trial: First experience trading and liquidity pools to understand how the platform operates.
- Follow official updates: The timing of token issuance and Spot listing should be based on official announcements.
- Rational judgment: Avoid being driven by FOMO mentality.
- Diversified investment: Do not put all your funds into a single project.
- Long-term mindset: Even if the project is successfully launched, short-term fluctuations can be significant, requiring patience.