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5 min read
DeFi Wasn’t Ready for Institutional Trading — Until Now

Institutions don’t want gimmicks. They want low-latency execution, verifiable fairness, and crash-proof infrastructure. CVEX is building exactly that.

At first glance, all DeFi exchanges are similar. They all have bright interfaces, stock exchange glasses, charts, and a couple of “Buy” and “Sell” buttons. And the illusion is created as if the main thing has already been solved. But in reality, the deeper you look, the more it becomes clear: the beautiful interface is a showcase. And the real complexity is hidden in the backend.

After all, what makes an exchange a real infrastructure you can trust? Not buttons. Not tokens. It's the ability to ensure that every transaction actually happens and no one runs away with the money. That's what's called clearing. This is an invisible but critical process that checks, blocks, recalculates, and finalizes every position.

What is Clearing?
Clearing is the process that guarantees the execution of trades. It calculates how much you owe or receive, checks whether you have enough collateral, and locks up the right amounts. All this happens before and after each transaction so that there are no “forgotten debts” or “missing” counterparties.

Most DeFi platforms try to impress by showing off new features or gamification. But institutional participants look deeper: Can they trust the platform with millions of dollars, knowing that everything works predictably and smoothly?

At CVEX, we started with the hardest part, and we've already solved the clearing problem. Now we are moving on to the next height: high-speed order matching. 


Why the Matching Engine Is the Key

A good stock exchange is like an orchestra. Someone has to conduct it so that all the notes sound in time. In the world of trading, this role is played by the order matching engine. It decides who trades with whom, at what price, and at what moment. Does that sound simple? In reality, one of the most complex engineering tasks in the industry.

For many years, there was a classic compromise: if you want speed, go to centralized systems; if you want transparency, sacrifice speed. Centralized engines (like on large CEXs) run in fractions of a second, but inside is a black box. How exactly do they make decisions? Why did order A execute before order B? There's no way to know. And frankly, they don't owe anyone an explanation.

On the other hand, decentralized exchanges give full transparency, but everything slows down. Every order goes through a blockchain where time is measured in slots and gas, not milliseconds. The result is slow, inconvenient, and almost unusable for algorithmic trading.

Our goal is to break this opposition. We're building an engine that gives you speed like CEX and confidence like DEX. Or as we call it, “CEX performance with DEX trust”. Fast, honest, verifiable. Not the illusion of decentralization is real.

CEX vs. DEX vs. CVEX — Comparative Table:

Feature Centralized Exchange Typical DEX CVEX
Matching Speed High (~0.1s) Low (~1–3s) High
Verifi Ability Low High High
Latency Transparency Opaque Clear Clear
On-chain Auditability None Partial Full

For institutional players, it's not just nice to have. They won't bet millions on a system where they have to either wait three blocks for confirmation or trust in the honesty of some Amazon server. They want to see how the mechanism works and be sure that it won't fail at the right moment.


How to Build a Fast and Honest Matching Engine

When people talk about speed in trading, they often picture lightning-fast charts and shouts of “faster, faster!” in a hedge fund office. But in reality, it's not the external entourage that decides everything, but what happens in the machine's memory—yes, right in the RAM.

Our matching engine works the same way as the traditional market leaders Eurex, NASDAQ, and CME. All orders are stored and processed directly in RAM. It's called RAM-based CLOB (Central Limit Order Book), and it's the industry standard for speed.

Why is this important? Because the disk is slow. Even the fastest SSD can't compare to reading from RAM. When the market is moving, every millisecond counts. One glitch and you're no longer first in line. The algorithm misses, the trade fails, the trader is not happy, and you lose your reputation (and money).

The basis of the CVEX architecture:

  • Memory instead of disk: All order data in RAM. No latency to write or read from disk.
  • Target: 200k-300k events per second, like Eurex. This is not a fantasy, but an industry benchmark.
  • Low-level implementation: C++ or Rust. No frameworks, maximum control over performance.
  • Parallelism: The architecture is sharpened for multithreaded processing. All processor cores work on the result.
  • Classic logic: Price and time priority, but with a performance that can withstand the load of pro-algorithm trading.

We don't just process orders quickly; we do it in such a way that no data stream becomes a bottleneck. There are no unnecessary layers. There is just speed, reliability, and predictability. Because serious market participants require engineering, not magic.


How to Be Fast but Trustworthy

Speed is a good thing. But in the world of crypto, “everything is fast” is not enough. The question any serious user will ask is, “How do I know you're not cheating?”

And it's a perfectly reasonable one. If the matching engine works outside the blockchain, where evidence is not published instantly, why should users believe it? The answer is simple: they shouldn't. And they won't. So we are building a system where believing is not necessary to verify.

We use a hybrid verification architecture that combines two approaches:

  1. Zero-knowledge proofs (zk-proofs): our engine regularly publishes on the blockchain a cryptographic proof that all matches were correct, without having to show each individual order.
  2. Optimistic verification: To increase speed, instead of waiting for proof for each action, we publish the result immediately and assume it is correct. But! If someone notices a mistake or an attempt to cheat, they can submit fraud proof, and the protocol will cancel the unfair result.

And now here's the best part: CVEX can use both approaches simultaneously.

First, instant publication of the result for fast trading. And then quietly confirming it via zk proof to record it with full confidence.

The bottom line?

  1. You get the speed of CEX.
  2. You get the transparency of DEX.
  3. No trades are left in a “black box”.

We don't ask you to trust. We just leave a trail for you to check everything.


Institutional Level Without Compromise

At some point, talk of TPS, fault tolerance, and risk management starts to sound like background. Especially for those who have already run exchanges, traded on the CME, and know what real infrastructure means. Let's save time and go over what's really important and what CVEX has already implemented:

  • No “2 million TPS” on paper. We don't engage in a marketing carnival with fabulous numbers. Instead, honest benchmarks. StarkEx has 9,000 transactions per second in the lab, about 40 per market in production. We're aiming for 100,000 confirmed and verified transactions per second, taking into account all on-chain limitations. Because what matters is not how many you can send, but how many you can actually fulfill.
  • No points of failure. We have a cluster of consensus engines. One node goes down, another one picks it up. There are redundant sequences. There are on-chain checkpoints. Even in a worst-case scenario, everything can be restored to the last confirmed state. You don't have assets stuck “in the server's RAM” because the server is no longer responding. Everything is backed up on the chain.
  • KYB pools and credit slots. We get it: not everyone wants to trade against an anonymous “ape420.eth”. That's why the tiered order book: shared for everyone, nested only for verified participants. Want to know who you're trading with? Choose a KYB pool. What's more, you can guarantee other participants' trades by acting as a credit provider through a smart contract. Welcome to on-chain prime brokerage.
  • Stock exchange risk management level: Automatic circuit breakers if the market is flying into the abyss; human oversight in case of bugs or Oracle glitches; and attention to the auction reopening after a shutdown. Not just “turn it back on” and watch the chaos, but collect all bids and set a fair price to restart.
  • No fake reward mechanics. We do not reward wash trading. We do not incentivize the race for fake volumes. Only real liquidity: tight spreads, depth, live orders. All metrics are public, on blockchain or via API. Want a reward? Provide real market value. Want to screw volume with yourself? Walk by.

If you're institutional, you're not looking for a platform that looks pretty. You're looking for one where nothing falls apart at the moment. Where everything is verifiable. Where trades are closed by the rules, not by agreement. Where you don't have to take your word for it because you can look at the code.

CVEX is built to be just such an exchange, without compromise, with engineering you can trust, and with architecture neither you nor we will be ashamed of.


Wrapping Up

In a marketplace where a new exchange pops up every week with a new token, neon-gradient banding, and the promise of a “revolution,” it's easy to lose your bearings. Everyone talks about innovation, but few do the infrastructure, and even fewer do it right.

Institutional players don't fall for animated graphics. They don't want a token that supposedly “redefines liquidity.” They need a platform where orders are executed quickly, risks are controlled fairly, and all processes can be checked without human intervention.

CVEX is just such a platform.

  1. Speed that can be measured. Not “almost instantaneous” but with clear metrics for latency and throughput.
  2. Security that can be replicated. There are no promises, but a mechanism with reserves, auditing, and on-chain checkpoints.
  3. Motivation that works. Not rewards for trading into the void, but rewards for liquidity useful to the market.

This is not a toy exchange. It's a serious bid for what DeFi should be if it wants to move beyond speculation and become a real part of the global financial infrastructure.

We're not just trying to catch up with TradFi. We are rewriting the rules with open-source, transparent logic and engineering that can withstand any market conditions.

DeFi you can trust, that's where we're going. And now you know exactly how.

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5 min read
How CVEX Provide a Lasting Value for You?

In the fast-moving world of cryptocurrency, hype often grabs our attention. But what really matters for long-term success? Quick profits can be exciting, but the real value of any crypto project comes from its ability to create lasting benefits. This means addressing real market needs, having strong foundations, and building a supportive community.

Think about it: What makes a crypto project truly valuable? It’s not just about riding the latest trend. It’s about solving problems, being reliable, and positively impacting over time.

CVEX is a great example. We’re here to shape a future where cryptocurrency is more accessible, reliable, and valuable. In this article, we’ll explore the key elements that help crypto projects build long-term value. Whether you’re an investor, a curious observer, or active in the crypto world, understanding these principles will help you see beyond the hype and recognise projects with real potential.

Let’s dive in and see what it takes to build a strong, lasting crypto project.

1. Solving Real Problems

A project must address real market needs to build long-term value in the crypto market. This means identifying common inefficiencies and offering solutions that provide clear benefits, such as faster transactions, lower costs, enhanced security, or new functionalities.

For example, many crypto markets face high transaction fees and slow processing times. A project that can reduce these fees or speed up transactions can significantly improve user experience and attract more participants. Another common problem is the lack of security in some platforms, leading to hacking and fraud. By developing more secure technologies, projects can protect users' assets and build trust in the ecosystem.

Solving these real problems helps individual users and contributes to the overall growth and stability of the crypto market. When projects focus on practical solutions, they create a more reliable and attractive environment for new and experienced users, encouraging wider adoption and participation.

2. Strong Fundamentals

Strong fundamentals in the context of crypto mean having a robust technological foundation. This includes security, scalability, and efficiency. Security ensures that users' assets and data are protected from theft and fraud. Scalability allows the platform to handle a growing number of users and transactions without slowing down. Efficiency ensures that the platform runs smoothly and uses resources effectively.

For example, a secure platform uses advanced encryption and regular security audits to protect against hacking. A scalable platform can handle thousands of transactions per second without delays. An efficient platform uses minimal resources to achieve maximum performance.

Continuous improvement and updates are crucial for maintaining these strong fundamentals. The crypto market is constantly evolving, and projects need to keep up with new developments and threats. Regular updates ensure that the platform remains secure, scalable, and efficient, adapting to the changing needs of the market and its users.

3. Transparent Governance

Transparent governance means that decision-making processes are open and involve all stakeholders. This often involves decentralised decision-making in the crypto world, where token holders have a say in the project's direction. This can include voting on important issues like protocol changes, new features, or budget allocations.

For example, a project might hold regular votes where token holders can decide on the next steps for development. This ensures that the project reflects the interests and needs of its community.

4. Community Engagement

Building a supportive and engaged community is vital for the success and sustainability of any crypto project. A strong community provides a foundation of loyal users who believe in the project's vision and contribute to its growth.

To engage community members effectively, projects can:

  • Actively use social media platforms to communicate updates and interact with users.
  • Organise events, both online and offline, to foster connections and share knowledge.
  • Provide support resources such as forums, FAQs, and customer service to help users navigate the platform.

An engaged community boosts the project's visibility and provides valuable feedback, helping to refine and improve the platform. Community members become advocates, spreading the word and attracting new users, thus driving long-term success.

5. Sustainable Economics

Sustainable economics, or tokenomics, involves designing a project's economic model, including token distribution, usage, and valuation. A well-crafted tokenomic model aligns incentives between the project and its users, promoting long-term holding and project longevity.

Effective tokenomics ensures continuous revenue, rewards long-term holders with mechanisms like staking, and balances supply and demand to maintain token value. By focusing on sustainable economics, projects create a stable environment for investors and users, reducing short-term trading and fostering a loyal user base.

6. Strategic Partnerships

Strategic partnerships are crucial for expanding a project's functionality and adoption. Collaborating with other platforms allows projects to integrate new features, enhance user experience, and reach a broader audience.

Partnerships with blockchain platforms enable cross-chain functionality, while collaborations with financial institutions can offer additional services like lending. Integrating with popular wallets or exchanges increases accessibility. These alliances enhance interoperability, allowing users to interact with multiple platforms and services, increasing the project's value and appeal. Projects can leverage their partners' strengths through strategic partnerships to drive innovation and growth.

7. Regulatory Compliance

Navigating the regulatory landscape in the crypto space is essential for any project's long-term viability. Regulations are designed to protect investors and ensure market stability. Compliance with these regulations builds trust and credibility, attracting institutional investors and a broader user base.

Why is compliance crucial? It minimises the risk of legal challenges and penalties that can derail a project. Additionally, engaging with regulators allows projects to contribute to the creation of favorable policies, ensuring that the regulatory environment evolves in a way that supports innovation while protecting users.

CVEX: A Case Study

CVEX exemplifies how to build long-term value in the crypto industry by adhering to the principles discussed.

  • Solving Real Problems

CVEX addresses inefficiencies in the derivatives market by offering a protocol that enables the launching of on-chain derivatives platforms. This approach opens up markets that were previously inaccessible or inefficient, providing real value and solutions.

  • Strong Fundamentals

CVEX prioritises secure, scalable, and efficient technology. Continuous improvements and regular updates ensure that the platform remains at the forefront of technological advancement.

  • Transparent Governance

CVEX implements decentralised decision-making, involving token holders in governance processes. This transparency builds investor confidence and ensures that the platform evolves in alignment with the community's needs.

  • Community Engagement

CVEX actively engages its community through social media, events, and support resources. This engagement fosters a strong, supportive user base that is integral to the platform's success.

  • Sustainable Economics

The tokenomics of CVEX promote long-term holding and usage. The platform's economic model ensures continuous revenue while offering value to token holders, creating a stable and appealing environment.

  • Strategic Partnerships

CVEX forms partnerships to enhance functionality and adoption. These alliances improve interoperability and user experience, driving innovation and growth.

  • Regulatory Compliance

CVEX stays compliant with regulations and engages proactively with regulators to shape favorable policies. This strategy ensures the platform's long-term viability and attractiveness to a broader audience.

  • Future Plans

CVEX aims to continue providing value by inviting builders to create more front ends and brokerage capabilities, extending the protocol to handle physical asset delivery. These initiatives will allow CVEX to remain a leader in the crypto space, addressing real-world problems and driving the industry's evolution.

Wrapping Up

Building long-term value in the crypto industry requires a commitment to solving real problems, maintaining strong fundamentals, and fostering a supportive community. By adhering to principles like transparent governance, sustainable economics, strategic partnerships, and regulatory compliance, projects can transcend the hype and achieve lasting success. CVEX serves as a prime example of how these strategies can be implemented effectively, providing a robust, innovative platform that continues to deliver value and drive the industry's evolution. As the crypto market matures, focusing on these core principles will be crucial for projects aiming to create sustainable, impactful solutions.

5 min read
The Settlement Process at CVEX (Clearance Bots and more)

In derivatives trading, the settlement process is crucial for ensuring the stability and integrity of trading platforms. At CVEX, we've implemented a sophisticated settlement system that not only aligns with traditional financial market practices but also introduces innovative features unique to the decentralised environment of blockchain technology.

What is Settlement in Trading?

Settlement refers to finalising a trade, where the actual exchange of assets and the closing of positions occur at the end of a contract. In traditional futures trading, this process might involve the physical or cash-based settlement of the underlying asset. However, in the context of CVEX, settlement is tailored to meet the specifics of cryptocurrency transactions.

Settlement on CVEX

On CVEX, settlement occurs when a trader's open position reaches the contract’s expiration date. For example, a BTC-27AUG24 contract would be settled on August 27, 2024. At this point, the Clearance Bots spring into action. Traders involved in these contracts are required to pay a settlement fee, which is 0.5% of the position’s net value, into the Platform Fund. 

This fee serves as an incentive for traders to close their positions before the contract expires, thereby maintaining liquidity and reducing the risk of price manipulation at the contract's end.

Beyond Settlement

At CVEX, Clearance Bots are much more than facilitators of the settlement process; they are essential cogs in the platform's operational machinery. These automated agents perform several critical tasks that enhance the trading environment:

  • Order Clearing: Clearance Bots efficiently clear limit orders, conserving gas for taker orders and ensuring successful trade executions. This functionality is vital for maintaining an orderly trading process and minimising execution costs.

  • Settlement Responsibilities: As part of their role in settling trades, these bots manage the timely closure of all positions and the cancellation of open orders as contracts reach expiration. This systematic activity winding down is crucial to avoid disruptions and maintain market stability.

  • Initiating Portfolio Liquidation: To protect the platform from financial instability, Clearance Bots are programmed to monitor collateral levels. Should a trader's collateral fall below necessary thresholds, these bots proactively initiate liquidation to mitigate potential risks to the platform.

  • Default Prevention: In scenarios where users are at high risk of defaulting, Clearance Bots have the authority to preemptively cancel limit orders. This preventive action is key to maintaining the financial health of the trading ecosystem.

  • Managing Auto Deleverage Queue: Following counterparty liquidations, Clearance Bots efficiently manage the auto-deleverage queue. This involves adjusting the positions of traders in the queue to ensure fair and orderly market conditions.

  • Conditional Order Management: These bots also handle orders based on predefined conditions, such as Stop Limits and Take-Profit. This capability allows sophisticated trading strategies to be executed automatically and efficiently.

Compensation and Incentives for Clearance Bots

Recognising the importance of these functions, CVEX ensures that Clearance Bots are adequately compensated for their services. Their compensation includes:

Clearance Bots receive compensation for the gas costs incurred during their operations, plus an additional premium from the Operational Fund. This incentive is designed to cover operational expenses and encourage the continuous and effective performance of their duties.

When the protocol terminates an order rather than a trader cancelling it, the trading fee is awarded to the Clearance Bot responsible for the termination. This policy compensates bots for their work and aligns their operations with the platform's financial health and efficiency.

5 min read
Our Vision for Options Trading in Crypto Markets

Options trading in the crypto markets is evolving, offering traders new ways to manage risk and capitalise on market movements. As financial instruments, options provide strategic flexibility, but they come with their unique set of challenges, especially when implemented on decentralised platforms.

What are Options?

Options are financial derivatives that give buyers the right, but not the obligation, to buy (call option) or sell (put option) an underlying asset at a specified price on or before a certain date. Unlike owning the actual asset, holding an option provides the possibility to leverage market movements with a predefined risk. Options can serve various purposes, from hedging against potential losses to speculating on the price movements of an asset with a relatively small upfront investment.

The Difference Between Options and Futures

Options and futures are both derivatives, meaning their value is derived from an underlying asset, but they function differently in key areas. 

The primary difference lies in the obligations they impose on the buyer and seller. Futures contracts require both parties to fulfill the contract by buying or selling the asset at the agreed-upon price on the specified future date, making them a commitment. In contrast, options grant the holder the right to buy or sell the asset at a predetermined price, providing the flexibility to opt out if the market conditions become unfavorable. This difference makes options a preferred choice for risk management, as they offer the potential for profit while limiting potential losses to the cost of the option premium.

Challenges in Crypto Options Trading

Implementing options in the crypto markets, particularly on decentralised exchanges (DEXs), presents several hurdles that are often underestimated. One significant issue is the complex nature of options pricing mechanisms and their integration with required margin levels. Many crypto platforms focus on innovative trading strategies like covered calls or volatility trades, yet they frequently neglect essential backend processes like clearing and settlement. These systems are vital for the stability and functionality of any financial trading system but are often inadequately developed in the crypto context.

Another challenge is the high capital cost required to establish positions in these derivatives. Without efficient cross-margin capabilities, executing sophisticated trades or managing spread positions can become prohibitively expensive, often erasing the potential gains from such strategies. This situation is exacerbated by the high cost of margin on many platforms, which deters the development of more intricate products like options. The existing margin models in crypto options markets do not sufficiently accommodate the nuances of traditional options trading, hindering the establishment of robust and functional options platforms.

Our Vision for Crypto Options Trading

At Crypto Valley Exchange, we recognise the complexities and challenges currently facing the crypto options market and are committed to forging a path toward a more mature, robust platform. 

Our vision centers on the development of an advanced, on-chain clearing and settlement system that addresses the core issues hindering the growth of decentralised options markets. By focusing on the backend infrastructure as much as the frontend user experience, we aim to create a transparent, efficient, and secure trading environment.

We believe that a comprehensive clearing and settlement system, integrated seamlessly with smart contract technology, is crucial for supporting sophisticated trading strategies and ensuring market stability. This system will facilitate accurate, timely settlements and provide a solid foundation for market participants to engage confidently in options trading. Additionally, we are dedicated to introducing cross-margin capabilities that enhance capital efficiency, allowing traders to manage multiple positions more effectively and economically.

It’s a Nice Option!

The potential of options trading in the cryptocurrency market is vast, yet untapped due to existing limitations in technology and market structure. At Crypto Valley Exchange, we are poised to revolutionise this space by addressing these challenges head-on. By focusing on essential infrastructure and innovative solutions like cross-margining and comprehensive risk management, we aim to unlock the full potential of crypto options trading. Our approach caters to seasoned traders and invites newcomers to participate in a more accessible and equitable financial ecosystem.

Join us as we pave the way for a new era in decentralised finance, where options trading is no longer encumbered by traditional constraints but empowered by blockchain innovation. Together, we can build a platform that meets the market's current needs.

5 min read
The Dunning-Kruger Effect in Trading

Misconceptions and overconfidence can lead to significant misunderstandings and financial missteps. This phenomenon, often observed in discussions around complex trading scenarios like the GameStop saga, echoes the psychological concept known as the Dunning-Kruger effect. Here, individuals with limited knowledge or competence in a specific area overestimate their understanding, leading to misinformation and potentially costly errors. 

This article, inspired by insights from our CPO James Davies — who brings over 25 years of experience in financial markets — aims to shed light on this cognitive bias and its impact on traders. We encourage our readers to follow James on Twitter (@jlldavies) for more expert insights on trading.

What is the Dunning-Kruger Effect?

The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias where people with limited knowledge or ability in a particular area greatly overestimate their own expertise. In trading, this often manifests when individuals with only surface-level information feel overly confident about their understanding of complex financial instruments, market dynamics, or the motivations of market actors. This misplaced confidence can lead to decision-making that isn't just incorrect, but potentially detrimental.

Misinformation Highlighted by the GameStop Saga

The GameStop trading frenzy serves as a prime example of the Dunning-Kruger effect in action. Many discussions and assertions made during the event showcased profound misunderstandings of market mechanisms and player motivations. For instance, the belief that the plight of a few hedge funds represented a systemic attack on Wall Street, or misconceptions about market practices such as naked short selling and settlement cycles, highlighted a gap between perceived and actual understanding among retail investors.

The curve explaining the effect

The Dunning-Kruger effect can be visualised through a curve that represents confidence against knowledge. Initially, a small amount of learning leads to a significant boost in confidence — a peak of "Mount Stupid", where knowledge is minimal, but confidence is high. As one gains more information and expertise, they realise the complexity of the subject, and their confidence dips, entering the "Valley of Despair". With continued learning and experience, confidence gradually rebuilds based on a more solid foundation of true expertise.

The Duty to Educate Ourselves

For DeFi and crypto markets to mature and thrive, participants must move beyond echo chambers and seek comprehensive education on trading mechanisms. Understanding the intricacies of market risk, cascade risk, default waterfalls, and calculating yields and returns with an awareness of counterparty risks is essential. The path to competing effectively with traditional financial systems lies in a well-informed community that prioritises knowledge over noise.

The future of DeFi holds tremendous potential, but realising this potential requires a community that is well-educated and deeply knowledgeable about how financial markets function. Let us commit to enhancing our understanding of trading principles and market dynamics. By deepening our knowledge, we can foster a more resilient, informed, and competitive ecosystem in DeFi. Let's take up the mantle of education and pave the way for a robust financial future.

This commitment to self-education and community enlightenment will help mitigate the effects of the Dunning-Kruger effect and empower traders to make more informed and strategic decisions in the increasingly complex world of cryptocurrency and decentralised finance.

5 min read
How DeFi Address the Weaknesses of Traditional Finance

The financial sector has long been dominated by traditional finance systems, which, despite their widespread use, harbor fundamental issues that affect everyday consumers and investors. This article introduces Decentralised Finance (DeFi) as a revolutionary model poised to fix these enduring problems.

What Are TradFi and DeFi?

Traditional Finance, or TradFi, encompasses the established systems and institutions—like banks, investment funds, and brokerage firms—that have long been the pillars of the financial world. These institutions act as intermediaries in almost every type of financial transaction, from simple banking services to complex trading and asset management. The reliance on these intermediaries often introduces inefficiencies, including slower transaction times and higher costs for consumers. For example, when sending money overseas, fees can be exorbitant, and processing may take days due to the involvement of multiple banks.

Moreover, the complexity of products and the opaque nature of TradFi can deter the average consumer from fully engaging with their finances. Products such as mortgage-backed securities and derivative contracts are often difficult to understand without specialised knowledge, creating a barrier to entry for the average person.

In contrast, Decentralised Finance, or DeFi, eliminates these traditional intermediaries by leveraging blockchain technology. DeFi platforms operate using smart contracts—self-executing contracts with the terms directly written into code—which are deployed on blockchains like Ethereum. This setup allows DeFi to operate globally, transparently, and without the need for middlemen. Transactions on DeFi platforms can occur faster and at a lower cost compared to traditional methods.

An exemplary DeFi platform is CVEX, a decentralised derivatives exchange. CVEX enables users to trade derivatives directly from their digital wallets, eliminating the need for traditional brokerage or clearinghouse intermediaries. This reduces the fees associated with trading and gives traders full control over their funds at all times. The use of smart contracts on CVEX ensures that all trades are executed transparently and that the terms of the contracts are automatically enforced, further enhancing the security and efficiency of trading.

Additionally, because DeFi platforms are typically open source, they allow for high levels of innovation and rapid development of new financial products and services that can meet the diverse needs of a global user base. This openness also helps in fostering a community of developers who continuously work to improve the platforms and address user needs in real-time, something that is less feasible in the closed ecosystems of traditional finance.

5 Problems of TradFi

  1. High Fees and Middlemen Costs. Traditional finance systems are notorious for the excessive fees charged at multiple levels of financial transactions. For example, investment management fees, brokerage fees, and bank charges can significantly erode investment returns. Studies suggest that investment management fees alone can consume up to 40% of total returns over 25 years. These costs act as a major drain on wealth accumulation for individual investors.

  1. Regulatory Burdens. While regulations are crucial for maintaining system integrity and protecting consumers, they can also create unintended consequences. The regulatory frameworks often increase operational costs for financial institutions, which, in turn, pass these costs onto consumers through higher service fees. Moreover, these regulations can erect barriers that prevent new entrants from joining the market, thus stifling innovation and competition.

  1. Inefficiencies in Transaction Processing. TradFi is often hampered by outdated systems that lead to inefficiencies in processing transactions. For example, cross-border payments can be slow and entail numerous steps involving several intermediaries, each adding their own fees and time delays. Such inefficiencies are particularly disadvantageous in a global economy where speed and efficiency are paramount.

  1. Economic Disparity and Lack of Social Mobility. The traditional financial system has played a role in widening the economic gap. Wealth and power are increasingly consolidated within the finance sector, predominantly among the top 1% of the population. This consolidation has contributed to stagnation in social mobility and growing economic disparities across different societal segments.

  1. Opaque Practices and Lack of Transparency. TradFi is often criticised for its opaque practices where the true costs, risks, and returns are unclear to consumers. This lack of transparency can lead to misinformed financial decisions and perpetuates a system where only the well-informed or well-connected can navigate successfully.

How DeFi Can Help

DeFi, or Decentralised Finance, acts as a potent transformative force within the financial sector, tackling many inefficiencies and inequalities found in traditional finance. By leveraging blockchain technology, DeFi eliminates the need for intermediaries such as banks and brokers. This reduction lowers transaction costs and accelerates financial exchanges globally, enhancing both the speed and accessibility of financial services.

The use of blockchain ensures that every transaction is recorded on a public ledger, making every process visible and reducing the possibility of fraud. This level of transparency fosters trust among users, who can rely on the integrity of financial activities without traditional audits. Moreover, the public nature of blockchain democratises access to financial services, bringing them within reach of the unbanked and underbanked populations around the world. This is particularly transformative for global financial inclusion, allowing individuals who were previously excluded from the financial system to engage in economic activities and manage their financial futures.

Furthermore, DeFi promotes a competitive financial ecosystem by reducing barriers to entry, encouraging innovation, and facilitating a broader range of participants. This enriches the market and ensures financial services evolve to meet the needs of today’s digitally-oriented and globally connected population. Unlike traditional finance, where decisions are often centralised, DeFi platforms frequently use governance models that allow users to vote on key issues, empowering them with a direct stake in the platform's development.

By these means, DeFi challenges the traditional financial model with its advanced, inclusive technologies and promises a more equitable and transparent future for financial markets worldwide.

Bottom Line

DeFi represents a significant step forward in creating a more equitable, efficient, and transparent financial system. As this sector matures, it will require continuous innovation, active community engagement, and adaptive regulatory approaches to ensure that its growth aligns with the broader objectives of financial equity and accessibility. The transformative potential of DeFi could redefine the global financial landscape, making it more inclusive and fair for all participants.

5 min read
What Can We Offer to Market Makers?

Market makers often get a bad rap, portrayed as shadowy figures manipulating the markets. However, they play an integral role, not as hidden forces but as fundamental pillars ensuring market liquidity and stability. At CVEX, we recognise the pivotal role of market makers in creating a dynamic and efficient trading environment, which is why we are committed to promoting partnerships with them.

Market makers help bridge the gap between buy and sell orders, ensuring that trades can be executed swiftly, even during periods of significant volatility or when large orders are placed. This is crucial in maintaining an orderly market and preventing price manipulations or extreme fluctuations that could harm the market’s integrity. By providing liquidity, market makers enable other traders to enter and exit positions at competitive prices, enhancing overall market health and trader confidence.

Our Strategy for Market Maker Engagement

Market makers are vital in ensuring sufficient liquidity on trading platforms, which is essential for the execution and pricing of trades, especially in derivatives markets. By continuously buying and selling financial instruments, they help fill the order book and enable smoother transactions, reducing slippage and enhancing the trading experience for all platform participants. That’s why we have prepared an attractive strategy to empower your work, our precious MMs:

Selection of Designated Market Makers (DMMs)

To optimise our trading environment, we collaborate with DMMs, which are selected based on stringent criteria, including financial robustness, trading expertise, and technological capabilities. Our platform accommodates up to four DMMs at any given time to ensure diversity and competitive market-making activities.

Incentives and Support

We understand the need for market makers to have solid incentives. Therefore, 40% of transaction fees collected by CVEX are redistributed to DMMs. This performance-based reward system encourages them to maintain tight spreads and a deep order book. Additionally, we provide DMMs with operational support, such as technical advice and assistance to empower their trading strategies.

Transparent and Stable Operational Framework

Regular assessments ensure that our market makers meet pre-defined liquidity and efficiency criteria. We maintain a stable incentive structure to provide a predictable working environment for DMMs, which is crucial for long-term planning and effective market-making.

Why Market Makers Choose CVEX

Our platform offers a uniquely supportive environment for market makers:

  • Financial Incentives: Attractive fee redistribution and performance-based rewards.
  • Technological Support: Access to advanced trading tools and analytics.
  • Transparency: Clear communication and open access to platform developments.
  • Governance Participation: Involvement in decentralised governance through our DAO, influencing platform operations and future developments.

Our collaboration with market makers remains a top priority as we continue to grow and evolve. We are committed to enhancing our platform's features and stability, supporting robust trading strategies and operations. The collective goal is to build an ecosystem that supports current market needs and adapts to future challenges and opportunities.

We invite market makers looking to impact a leading cryptocurrency trading platform to join us. Together, we will shape the future of decentralised trading, creating a more efficient, transparent, and beneficial market for all participants.

Join Us!

If you want to collaborate with us or learn more about our market maker program, please contact our Chief Product Officer, @jlldavies on Twitter. We look forward to forging strong partnerships that drive mutual success and innovation.

Read a part of our Docs about Market Makers.

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