Leading Uniswap v3 aggregator Oku recently announced its launch on Etherlink (an EVM-compatible L2 operating atop the Tezos network) leveraging the latter’s high-throughput, low-fee architecture to deliver a user experience approaching that of today’s top performing centralized exchanges (CEXs).
Technically speaking, Etherlink inherits Tezos’s base-layer security while offering faster transactions and dramatically lower costs which, in practice, means that it is able to achieve sub-second block times with transaction fees around just $0.001.
Thus, with Oku now live on Etherlink, Tezos users can access Uniswap v3’s liquidity through a professional-grade interface, deepening its liquidity exposure and integrating a battle-tested DEX into the Tezos ecosystem.
The ins and outs of the development
As a Uniswap v3 front-end, Oku brings an array of sophisticated trading features to the mix. For starters, it provides a unified, non-custodial interface where traders can execute market and limit orders, optimized order routing, and active liquidity management across Uniswap v3 pools.
Moreover, users can gain access to in-depth analytics (including live charts, historical data and pool insights) alongside a Uniswap v3 position management tool which stands to be at par with those available on centralized trading platforms. Notably, Oku also integrates conveniences like fiat on-ramps for buying into crypto and cross-chain bridging support, enabling participants to move assets to and from Etherlink with ease.
All of these functions operate within a single interface where users retain full custody of their assets at all times. According to the Oku team, the goal is to narrow the long-standing usability gap between decentralized and centralized exchanges, with Dan Zajac, Business Development Lead at Oku recently stating:
“Our mission is to merge the user-friendly feel of a centralized exchange with the trustless benefits of DeFi,. By launching on Etherlink, we can deliver high-speed, low-cost trading with sophisticated tools – from advanced order types to aggregated liquidity – all in a non-custodial environment. Oku’s integration on Etherlink truly narrows the user experience gap between decentralized and centralized exchanges, while preserving self-custody for users.”
Broadening horizons and maximizing Tezos’ overall utility
The addition of a high-profile interface like Oku comes amid accelerating growth for Etherlink and the wider Tezos DeFi stack. Since exiting its beta phase in February of this year, Etherlink’s total value locked (TVL) reportedly surged from roughly $1.4 million to over $18 million within weeks, driven in part by its incentive programs (such as the $3 million Apple Farm rewards initiative) which were designed to onboard more users and deepen liquidity.
This expansion was further fueled by March’s Calypso network upgrade, which promised to deliver up to 30× faster smart-contract storage, reduced disk footprint requirements for node operators, and improved network robustness, effectively laying the groundwork for faster withdrawals, stronger bridge functionality, and smoother user experiences.
To add to this, recent integrations with LayerZero as well as the Bifröst upgrade have enabled seamless asset and data transfers between Tezos, Ethereum, and other EVM-compatible ecosystems.
Growing momentum with a quick look at the numbers
As things stand today, more than 50 projects are actively building on Etherlink, including DeFi platforms like IguanaDEX, Superlend, and Uranium.io, as well as real-world asset tokenizers like Spiko, which recently announced the launch of its tokenized T-Bill money market funds on the platform.
Lastly, as per Messari, daily active addresses on Etherlink surged by 45,000% year-over-year in Q3 2024, and by Q1 2025 the network was responsible for an estimated 25% of Tezos’ total on-chain activity. The same report also noted that over $2.8 million in value had been bridged from other EVM chains.
Thus, integrating Uniswap v3 via Oku will most likely further attract veteran DeFi traders and liquidity providers who seek a familiar trading experience. Also, by hosting an Ethereum-centric DEX frontend, Tezos seems to be fundamentally altering how users can switch from different ecosystems seamlessly.
Source: Depositphotos
