Uniswap has crashed the party on OKX's X Layer, the exchange's own layer-2 blockchain, becoming the chain's preferred decentralized exchange as OKX doubles down on its DeFi ambitions. The integration hands X Layer users a direct line to Uniswap's markets, from crypto token pairs to liquidity pools, with swaps executed at layer-2 costs and Uniswap Labs charging no fees.
Launched in 2024, X Layer is OKX's Ethereum Virtual Machine-compatible network, serving as the core plumbing for its DeFi applications. The network is baked into OKX's wallet and exchange, letting users shuttle assets onto the layer-2 without breaking a sweat. Uniswap is one of the largest and most widely used decentralized exchanges, reporting about $4.4 billion in total value locked at this writing, according to DefiLlama data.
Uniswap Labs founder Hayden Adams said the new integration will give Uniswap "increased activity and liquidity." According to OKX founder and CEO Star Xu, the integration is a "core pillar of phase two" of the company's three-phase rollout, which focuses on integrating major DeFi protocols and reinforcing core infrastructure.
Exchanges are increasingly trying to fuse onchain activity with their centralized user bases. In February 2023, Coinbase launched Base, its Ethereum layer-2 blockchain designed to give developers a cheaper, secure sandbox for building decentralized applications. Base began rapidly gaining share among decentralized exchange traders in early 2024, overtaking rival networks such as Ethereum and Arbitrum, according to Token Terminal data at the time. By January 2024, Base accounted for about 80% of Uniswap's monthly active traders.
In September 2025, crypto exchange Gate.io announced the launch of Gate Layer, a layer-2 network built on the OP Stack and secured by GateChain. The exchange framed Gate Layer as the foundation of its DeFi ecosystem, rolling out onchain trading and liquidity products as part of its Web3 strategy.
Uniswap has also launched on OKX's X Layer, enabling zero-fee swaps and access to native markets such as xBTC, USDT, and USDG directly through its app and wallet. The launch was confirmed in a Jan. 16 post on X, with Uniswap (UNI) saying users can now swap tokens, provide liquidity, and explore X Layer directly through the Uniswap web app, wallet, and trading API.
At launch, Uniswap offers zero interface fees on X Layer, making swaps cheaper across its apps. Users gain immediate access to core markets, including USDG and other major stablecoins, alongside native trading pairs such as xBTC and USDT. X Layer is a zkEVM-based network that went live in 2024 and is designed to work closely with the OKX ecosystem. The network eliminates the hassle of bridging across multiple blockchains, enabling users to trade and transfer assets on-chain.
OKX said the Uniswap integration brings deep liquidity, low transaction costs, and institutional-grade trading infrastructure to X Layer. According to the exchange, swaps on the network can cost as little as a few cents while maintaining established security standards. For OKX, the launch is part of a wider push to blend centralized exchange access with decentralized trading infrastructure.
The community's response on X has been overwhelmingly positive, with users citing easier access to DeFi products and more seamless on-chain execution for OKX's worldwide user base. The deployment aligns with Uniswap's strategy of expanding across layer 2 networks to reduce costs and improve user experience, while keeping trading accessible through a single interface.
The launch follows several recent updates to Uniswap. Governance authorized the burning of 100 million UNI tokens from the treasury and the elimination of interface fees in late December 2025. Additionally, Uniswap has increased its integration with new networks like Monad, Ledger wallets, and fiat onramps like Revolut. With X Layer now supported, Uniswap continues to focus on lower-cost trading and easier access across multiple networks, while OKX adds a major DeFi protocol to its layer 2 offering.
