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dYdX publishes its open-source code in anticipation of phased mainnet launch

The dYdX crypto exchange published the open-source code for its upcoming Cosmos-based network.

Crypto exchange dYdX has published the open source code for its new Cosmos-based network of the same name, according to an October 23 blog post. The new code includes the “protocol, order book, front-end, and more,” the post stated. The publication of the code is intended to pave the way for a mainnet launch, which is being organized by the dYdX Decentralized Autonomous Organization (dYdXDAO) SubDAO on Operations.

DYdX is one of the largest non-custodial cryptocurrency exchanges, with over $2.6 billion in daily trading volume, according to Coingecko. However, it relies on a centralized order book to match traders with market makers. Because of this order book, it's sometimes regarded as not being truly decentralized. 

The dYdX team has been trying to create a new Cosmos-based dYdX chain they say will allow them to decentralize the exchange’s order book, taking the protocol out of the hands of the development team and making it truly decentralized. They launched a testnet of the new network on July 5. DYdX currently runs on StarkEx, a layer-2 of Ethereum.

Related: Evmos, Swing, Tashi, Wormhole team up to solve Cosmos’ liquidity issues

According to the October 23 post, the new code will allow the dYdX infrastructure to “run globally by DeFi [decentralized finance] enthusiasts.” Once the mainnet launch is complete, the dYdX development team “will not run any part of the infrastructure behind any deployment of the new dYdX Chain.” The team did not state an official launch date for mainnet. Instead, it stated that readers should “check out the blog post from the dYdX Operations subDAO” to learn more.

In an October 4 post, the dYdX Operations subDAO proposed a phased mainnet launch. The proposed alpha phase will allow token holders to stake their tokens and earn staking rewards, but trading will not be possible. The beta phase will enable trading and allow further testing to occur. The post does not state a launch date for either phase.

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dYdX exchange launches testnet for ‘fully decentralized’ version 4

The crypto exchange launched a testnet featuring an on-chain order book and matching engine, doing away with the centralized components found on the mainnet version.

Crypto exchange dYdX has launched a public testnet of its V4 iteration, according to a July 5 announcement from the exchange’s development team. This marks the completion of “milestone 4” out of five, paving the way for a future V4 mainnet launch.

Once implemented on mainnet, V4 is expected to allow for “full decentralization” of the exchange.

dYdX is a crypto exchange built on Ethereum and StarkEx networks. Because it does not take custody of users’ funds, it is generally considered to be a decentralized exchange (DEX). However, it does feature a centralized order book and matching engine that allows market makers to place limit orders. This contrasts with automated market-maker DEXs like Uniswap that employ on-chain pricing algorithms to match buyers and sellers.

Version 4 of dYdX will eliminate this centralized order book and matching engine, making the exchange fully decentralized, but without relying on an automated market-maker. According to the protocol’s documentation, it will do this by running parts of the app on a separate dYdX network with its own validators, allowing the order book to be stored on-chain.

Related: GMX and dYdX go head-to-head for the top decentralized derivatives position

According to the announcement, users can request testnet funds to try out the app as of 17:00 UTC on July 5, allowing them to place virtual trades, view profit and loss, and perform other basic functions of the exchange. The ability to test bridging from one network to another has not yet been implemented, but will come “over the course of the public testnet.”

Once the testnet phase is completed, the protocol’s team plans to implement the fifth milestone of the roadmap, which will integrate stablecoins into dYdX and will add support for Cosmos Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) so that Cosmos users will have access to the app. V4 is expected to launch after this final milestone is completed.

dYdX announced in April that it would wind down its services in Canada due to regulatory issues. In September 2022, it offered a $25 bonus to new users if they proved they weren’t bots, causing some pushback from privacy advocates. The promotion was later abandoned.

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