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dYdX plans to launch Telegram-based trading as part of its 2025 strategy

by ICN.live
August 28, 2025

Salma Al-Tamimi

Key Points

dYdX plans to launch Telegram-based trading in September 2025 after acquiring Pocket Protector.
Earnings of the decentralized exchange have declined 84% year-on-year, signaling urgent change.
New features target latency reduction, partner fee sharing, and improved user experience.
DeFi market growth in 2025 offers an opportunity for platforms to reclaim relevance.

dYdX plans to launch Telegram-based trading in September 2025, highlighting a bold strategic pivot.

The decentralized exchange is pushing for broader adoption as it battles shrinking revenues and declining user activity.

The platform’s updated roadmap includes technical and user-facing upgrades. These updates are designed to attract liquidity providers, cut processing delays, and simplify the user experience. From my standpoint, the shift toward Telegram reflects a need to capture fresh users where they already interact.

Roadmap reveals critical upgrades

The roadmap details features aimed at improving efficiency and execution. Traders will gain access to scale orders and TWAP orders. These upgrades allow them to manage trades across price ranges and schedule executions in intervals. By assigning designated proposers, the protocol aims to reduce latency during transaction processing.

Another key update introduces a partner fee share program. Liquidity providers and contributors to trading volume can earn up to half of the collected protocol fees. This model reflects a stronger incentive structure compared with traditional approaches in decentralized exchanges.

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dYdX plans to launch Telegram-based trading

The Telegram integration follows the July acquisition of Pocket Protector, a social trading application. Eddie Zhang, Pocket Protector’s co-founder, has joined dYdX as president. In his roadmap letter, Zhang wrote that the exchange must secure competitive positioning to expand market share and deliver long-term value to its community.

The Telegram launch demonstrates dYdX’s focus on accessibility. Social platforms have grown into hubs for financial activity. By offering direct trading inside Telegram, the platform aims to capture both casual and professional users. This approach could provide a lift in daily volumes and revive community engagement.

Income decline forces urgent action

The pivot arrives at a critical time. According to DefiLlama, dYdX generated $3.2 million in the second quarter of 2025. This marks an 84% decline from $20.1 million during the same period in 2024. Its total value locked stands at $312 million today, far below its $1.1 billion peak in October 2021.

In October 2024, the exchange laid off 35% of its staff. Leadership at the time acknowledged the need for a new path. The roadmap, therefore, reflects both recovery measures and renewed ambition.

DeFi sector growth offers fresh opportunities

While dYdX faces its own struggles, the broader DeFi market has shown notable growth in 2025. Total value locked across blockchains has risen to $158.2 billion, up from $115.9 billion at the start of the year. That is a 36.5% year-to-date increase. Ethereum remains the dominant DeFi platform, hosting $93.9 billion or nearly 60% of all value.

This context provides an opportunity for platforms such as dYdX. By aligning with sector growth, they can recover lost ground. Features like Telegram trading, USDC–DYDX swaps, and social logins represent fresh steps toward stronger adoption.

User experience becomes central

User-facing changes in the roadmap signal a direct focus on onboarding and retention. Social logins aim to reduce friction for new users. Direct USDC–DYDX swaps through Osmosis integration will simplify asset conversion. Customizable fee tiers provide competitive trading conditions with reduced fees for engaged traders.

Decentralized exchange competition remains intense. Platforms must now balance incentives, execution efficiency, and user-centric design. dYdX’s strategy reflects this balance. The shift into Telegram-based trading, if successful, could help the exchange redefine its role in the DeFi space.

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Why is dYdX moving into Telegram trading?

dYdX plans to launch Telegram-based trading to reach users where they already spend time. Social platforms such as Telegram have become hotspots for financial communities and informal trading groups. By integrating trading directly into Telegram, dYdX lowers entry barriers for new users and simplifies access for experienced traders. The move follows its acquisition of Pocket Protector, a social trading app. With Eddie Zhang, its co-founder, now president of dYdX, the company emphasizes accessibility and engagement. The goal is not only higher volumes but also deeper integration with community-driven financial activity. From my analysis, this shift represents an effort to recapture market share and differentiate the platform within the broader decentralized exchange sector.

How has dYdX’s income changed over time?

According to DefiLlama, dYdX posted $3.2 million in earnings for the second quarter of 2025. This marks an 84% decline compared to $20.1 million in the same quarter of 2024. The total value locked in the platform now stands at $312 million, down sharply from $1.1 billion in October 2021. This decline has placed pressure on leadership to seek new strategies. The platform laid off 35% of its staff in October 2024, signaling that the situation demanded significant restructuring. The latest roadmap and features such as Telegram-based trading reflect a direct response to this downturn.

What new features is dYdX introducing in 2025?

The 2025 roadmap outlines a mix of efficiency and user-facing features. On the technical side, scale and TWAP orders give traders flexible execution methods, while designated proposers are designed to cut latency. Partner fee sharing allows liquidity contributors to earn up to 50% of protocol fees. For users, the roadmap includes social logins, customizable fee tiers, and direct USDC–DYDX swaps through Osmosis. Most notably, Telegram-based trading will allow users to execute trades inside the messaging app. Collectively, these updates aim to strengthen incentives, improve trading performance, and enhance accessibility.

What role does DeFi growth play for dYdX?

DeFi has seen renewed momentum in 2025, with total value locked across all chains reaching $158.2 billion, a 36.5% increase since January. Ethereum alone hosts nearly $94 billion, reinforcing its dominance. This growth creates opportunities for decentralized exchanges that can attract liquidity and traders with competitive features. For dYdX, this environment provides a chance to recover from its earnings decline. By offering accessible trading through Telegram, better incentives, and streamlined UX, the exchange can align with the upward trend in DeFi. If executed properly, this roadmap could position dYdX to capture a larger share of a growing market.

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