Executive Summary
This proposal requests that the Uniswap DAO fund select Uniswap v3 deployments on the Oku interface. Over a year ago, the DAO funded deployments on six chains – Mantle, Gnosis, Linea, Blast, Polygon zkEVM, and Taiko – as part of a multichain expansion strategy. GFX Labs seeks renewal only for chains that have delivered meaningful impact to the Uniswap ecosystem. Rather than an across-the-board extension, we propose a targeted strategy based on usage metrics and ecosystem traction. By prioritizing high-performing deployments, the DAO can allocate resources more effectively while staying open to experimentation with promising new chains.
We also review for the DAO our offboarding policy for chains not recommended for renewal, ensuring a smooth experience for affected users and preserving trust in the Uniswap ecosystem.
Background
In 2024, the Uniswap DAO began funding multichain initiatives to extend v3’s reach into emerging networks. These efforts have put the Uniswap DAO in a position to gain market share on frontier chains before they scale. Early-stage chains benefit from access to the industry’s leading DEX—exposure they may not have received otherwise. Live across 36 blockchains and counting, Oku has served as a multichain liquidity conduit by improving interoperability, generating fees, enhancing experience for liquidity providers, and growing Uniswap’s dominance in the DEX vertical.
Since the launch of six DAO-sponsored chains, usage, performance, and TVL have varied significantly. Some chains have seen sustained user adoption and have promoted Uniswap v3 via Oku as their primary swap, bridge, and liquidity hub, while others have failed to grow from their promising onset of initial traction. The deployment of these chains on Oku allowed the DAO to trial new ecosystems while ensuring users had access to core Uniswap v3 functionality.
Chain Metrics
| Chain | Launch Date | V3 pool TVL | Chain TVL | Total Vol. | Cumulative Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gnosis | Aug ‘24 | $13.5M | $275M | $1B | $592,000 |
| Mantle | Jul ‘24 | $431K | $218M | $620M | $234,000 |
| Linea | Apr ‘24 | $116K | $142M | $155M | $75,000 |
| Taiko | Jun ‘24 | $195K | $292M | $138M | $113,000 |
| Polygon zkEVM | Jan ‘24 | $1.2K | $2.64M | - | - |
| Blast | Apr ‘24 | $118K | $112M | $4.5M | $14,000 |
Our overarching thesis for DAO-sponsored chain renewals is relatively simple: Trim the fat, fund what works, and save resources for higher-potential chains in the future.
Chain Notes
Gnosis - #1 multichain DEX. Substantial fee generation - clear choice for renewal
Mantle - #1 multichain DEX. Large chain TVL - room to grow v3 liquidity
Linea - Substantial chain TVL, favorable brand association - room to grow v3 liquidity
Taiko - Substantial chain TVL, opportunity to mobilize liquidity from native DEX Unagiswap
Polygon zkEVM: Polygon team is shutting down the network
Blast - Little progress on traction, and supported by Uniswap Labs’ frontend
As can be inferred from the table, the highest impact chains for Uniswap in terms of pool volume and fee generation are Gnosis and Mantle, which form the general basis of our funding request. Operational costs to host and maintain chains on Oku have always been publicly available through this forum and have not changed since we launched the first canonical deployment of v3.
Due to stagnation we advise against renewing Blast and Polygon zkEVM support. Additionally, Blast is available on the Uniswap Labs frontend. Subsequently, Oku will delist the chains after enacting our offboarding policy explained below. We welcome DAO discussion and input regarding overall sentiment and impact as it pertains to the greater Uniswap ecosystem for the respective chains.
Funding Request
We recommend the following chains be renewed for a one-year term:
- Gnosis
- Mantle
For the following chains, we are seeking discussion on whether the DAO should fund a one-year term renewal. Factors such as ecosystem impact, fee generation, network growth, and overall reputation should all be considered in the decision-making process.
- Linea
- Taiko
Not recommended for renewal:
- Blast
- Polygon zkEVM
Total: $120k ($60K per chain per year)
Costs associated with supporting these chains range from: Hosting, indexing, RPCs, dev-support, marketing, new features/updates, and ensuring global performance.
Offboarding Policy
Oku has created an offboarding policy for chains that opt out of a renewal agreement with us. To maintain trust and minimize user disruption, we announce our chain deprecation plan for a minimum of 30 days, followed by an additional 30-day offboarding period where users can access an interface for closing positions by request. At this point, the chain is fully offboarded from the Oku interface. As a non-custodial service, Oku never possesses users’ funds, and the act of closing positions can still be conducted manually after the offboarding period is complete. We feel this approach is most effective at maintaining amicable relationships with chains and users of the platform.
Conclusion
Serving as a high-performance, multichain liquidity hub, Oku provides first-in-class swap and bridge aggregation to ensure a consistent, smooth user experience for the most popular DEX across EVM. Accounting for ~10% of Uniswap liquidity, we’re positioned as an important contributor for new-chain expansion and growing Uniswap’s DEX dominance.
As we complete year-long service deployments for the chains outlined in this report, data on fee generation and usage paint clear next steps. We invite delegates to review and provide input regarding the potential renewal of Taiko and Linea. By requesting funds for only the most effective deployments, we conserve DAO spending while concentrating on markets with high potential for growth. Your support in this optimization effort will help shape a more efficient and impactful multichain strategy for Uniswap.