Lighter, a decentralized exchange (DEX) specializing in perpetual futures trading, has reached a significant milestone by reporting approximately $200 billion in trading volume over the past 30 days. This achievement allows Lighter to surpass both Aster and Hyperliquid, as trading activity surged with the recent launch of its LIT token.
According to data from DefiLlama, Aster recorded around $173 billion in the same timeframe, while Hyperliquid trailed with about $165 billion in trading volume. In a narrower time frame, Lighter also led the pack with $29 billion in trading volume over the last week, establishing a clear edge over its competitors.
Despite Lighter”s impressive monthly performance, Hyperliquid maintained its lead in 24-hour perpetual trading volume, achieving $6.8 billion compared to Lighter”s $4.3 billion. Lighter operates on its own ZK-powered app chain, which enables swift and cost-effective trading while providing self-custody and a centralized exchange (CEX)-style order book.
The launch of the Lighter Infrastructure Token (LIT) marks a pivotal moment for the platform, as it is designed to serve multiple functions. LIT will facilitate staking and various platform utilities, including access, execution, and data services. Future plans also include using LIT for fee payments and market data verification.
In a strategic move to build its community, Lighter allocated 25% of the total LIT supply to early users during Points Season 1 and 2. Overall, half of the total supply is earmarked for community engagement and growth initiatives, while the remaining 50% is designated for the team and investors, with a one-year lockup followed by a three-year vesting period.
The LIT token is currently trading at approximately $2.6, as reported by CoinGecko, and has secured a significant listing on Coinbase, marking its first major centralized exchange appearance. Additionally, LIT can be traded on Bybit“s perpetual futures platform, broadening options for derivatives traders.
The advancements made by Lighter in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space indicate a shifting competitive landscape in perpetual futures trading. As these developments unfold, industry participants will be keenly watching how Lighter”s innovations and tokenomics influence market dynamics.
