Decentralized exchange Uniswap has confirmed that its highly anticipated version 4 (v4) is slated for release in 2025. The initial launch, expected in Q3 2024, has been postponed. This update was hinted at in a January 2 post by Uniswap Labs on X, accompanied by a graphic displaying “2025” and the statement, “v4 is coming soon.” However, the announcement did not specify an exact release date.
Uniswap Labs’ Optimistic Outlook for 2025
On December 31, Uniswap Labs shared its excitement for the year ahead, stating, “Between v4, Unichain, and a few other surprises… it’s going to be a very pink year.”
Uniswap founder Hayden Adams had previously outlined his vision for v4 in June 2023 when the draft code was released. The platform intended to develop the project with open community feedback. Originally, the launch was aligned with Ethereum’s Dencun upgrade, targeting Q3 2024. Despite these plans, Uniswap v4 remained in testing throughout 2024.
Focus on Security and Testing
To enhance security, Uniswap introduced a $15.5 million bug bounty program in November 2024 for its v4 core smart contracts. This program offers rewards starting at $2,000 for identifying vulnerabilities that require code modifications.
Key Features of Uniswap v4
Uniswap v4 promises significant architectural advancements, including:
- Hooks for executing custom code before and after swaps.
- Limit orders, custom oracles, fee management, and automated liquidity strategies.
- Additional features like dynamic fees, gas savings, flash accounting, native ETH support, and various pool types.
Uniswap’s Continued Growth and Dominance
The last major update, Uniswap v3, launched in May 2021, introduced concentrated liquidity, allowing liquidity providers to focus on specific price ranges.
In December 2024, decentralized exchange (DEX) trading volumes hit a record $462 billion, with Uniswap contributing $106 billion, according to DefiLlama. Uniswap’s native token, UNI, has also gained 6% daily, trading at $14. However, it remains 69% below its May 2021 all-time high of $44.92, as per CoinGecko.
Unichain: A Layer 2 Solution Arriving in 2025
Uniswap is preparing to launch Unichain, a DeFi-focused Layer 2 network built on the OP Stack. The public mainnet is expected to debut in early 2025. Designed to enhance scalability and efficiency in decentralized finance, Unichain has been under testing on Ethereum’s Sepolia testnet since October 2024.
The Sepolia testnet has achieved significant milestones:
- Over 50 million test transactions.
- Deployment of more than 4 million smart contracts.
- Maintaining an uptime exceeding 99% across essential services.
Financial Transparency: Uniswap Foundation’s Q2 Summary
In August 2024, the Uniswap Foundation disclosed its financial report for Q2. The foundation holds $36.81 million in cash and stablecoins, alongside 680,000 UNI tokens. These funds are allocated for grants and operational activities, while the UNI tokens are reserved for employee incentives.
During the quarter, the foundation approved $3.2 million in new grants and distributed $2.5 million from previously committed grants
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