What is expected in the development of UNI?
Uniswap’s roadmap is focused on growing its decentralized finance (DeFi) features, encouraging more liquidity, and expanding across different blockchain networks.
- Liquidity Incentives Program (Q4 2025) – $45 million set aside to increase total value locked (TVL) and trading activity.
- Unichain Expansion into Asia (2026) – Aiming to bring institutional DeFi users on board through local partnerships.
- Enhanced Governance Experiments (2026) – Testing new ways for UNI token holders to decide on protocol fees.
- Smart Wallet Feature Rollouts (Late 2025) – Introducing gas fee sponsorship and cross-chain token swaps.
- Hooks Ecosystem Growth (Ongoing) – Over 150 active “hooks” to improve liquidity and developer engagement.
Deep Dive
1. Liquidity Incentives Program (Q4 2025)
Overview
The “Uniswap Unleashed” proposal (UF-025) allocates $45 million in UNI tokens to reward liquidity providers in Uniswap’s v3 and v4 pools. The goal is to increase the total value locked (TVL) by 20% by tying rewards to trading volume milestones.
What this means
This is positive for UNI holders because more TVL usually means higher fees earned by the protocol (up to 0.25% per trade). However, there’s a risk that some rewards might go to short-term traders who move their funds quickly, which could reduce the long-term benefit.
2. Unichain Expansion into Asia (2026)
Overview
Unichain, Uniswap’s Layer 2 scaling solution, plans to partner with Asian institutions in 2026, as outlined in the Growth Program renewal (RFC-25496). This includes adding local identity verification (KYC) and support for Japanese Yen (JPY) and Chinese Yuan (CNY) stablecoins.
What this means
This move could unlock over $50 billion in institutional investments if regulatory challenges are managed well. It’s a cautiously optimistic step that depends on navigating complex local laws.
3. Enhanced Governance Experiments (2026)
Overview
In 2026, Uniswap’s decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) will test “Conditional Funding Markets,” allowing UNI holders to vote on flexible fee structures, like changing fees for different pools.
What this means
If successful, this could make UNI more attractive by sharing revenue with token holders. But if decision-making stalls, it could slow down important upgrades.
4. Smart Wallet Feature Rollouts (Late 2025)
Overview
Following the Pectra upgrade, the Uniswap Wallet will support gas fee sponsorship, where businesses cover transaction costs, and allow users to pay fees with any token (EIP-7702).
What this means
These features could make using Uniswap easier and attract over a million new users. However, there’s always a risk of technical issues with smart contracts.
5. Hooks Ecosystem Growth (Ongoing)
Overview
Uniswap v4 introduces “hooks,” which are customizable strategies like time-weighted average market maker (TWAMM) orders and pools resistant to miner extractable value (MEV). As of July 2025, over 800 developers are building hooks (v4 whitepaper).
What this means
Hooks help increase liquidity and keep developers engaged, which is good for the platform’s growth. But spreading liquidity across many hooks might reduce price efficiency.
Conclusion
Uniswap’s roadmap balances immediate goals like boosting liquidity with longer-term investments in infrastructure and governance. While regulatory and execution risks remain, successful governance experiments and expansion into Asia could strengthen UNI’s position as a key player in DeFi liquidity. The big question is: Will Uniswap’s modular approach outperform competitors who focus on fully integrated solutions?
What updates are there in the UNI code base?
Uniswap’s latest updates focus on improving user experience and security.
- Smart Wallet Integration (July 11, 2025) – One-click token swaps bundled into single transactions help lower gas fees.
- UniswapX Optimization (July 22, 2025) – Most swaps now finalize within one Ethereum block, making trades faster.
- v4 Security Overhaul (January 31, 2025) – A $15.5 million bug bounty and multiple audits strengthen the protocol’s safety.
Deep Dive
1. Smart Wallet Integration (July 11, 2025)
What’s new?
Uniswap Wallet now includes smart wallets by default, using a technology called EIP-7702. This lets users combine several actions—like approving tokens and swapping them—into a single transaction. The result? Gas fees can be cut by up to 40% for common tasks.
Current users can upgrade their wallets through prompts in the app, and new users automatically get smart wallets.
Why it matters:
Lower fees and simpler steps make Uniswap more accessible, especially for everyday users. This could lead to more people swapping tokens on the platform, which is good news for UNI. (Source)
2. UniswapX Optimization (July 22, 2025)
What’s new?
UniswapX now offers near-instant trade finality—most swaps complete within a single Ethereum block. It does this by using off-chain order routing and a network of “fillers” who compete to execute trades using combined liquidity from different sources, including Uniswap’s v3 and v4 pools and private inventories.
If a trade fails, users don’t pay any gas fees.
Why it matters:
This improves the trading experience by making swaps faster and cheaper. However, some trading volume may move away from Uniswap’s native pools. On the plus side, the deeper liquidity could attract bigger, institutional traders. (Source)
3. v4 Security Overhaul (January 31, 2025)
What’s new?
After launching v4, Uniswap ran nine security audits and launched a $15.5 million bug bounty—the largest ever in decentralized finance (DeFi). Over 500 security researchers took part, and no critical issues were found so far. The bounty program is still active until the full mainnet release.
Why it matters:
Strong security is essential for gaining trust from institutional investors. This thorough review reduces risks related to smart contracts, making UNI more attractive for serious players. (Source)
Conclusion
Uniswap’s recent updates focus on making the platform easier to use (smart wallets), more efficient (UniswapX), and safer (v4 security). These improvements help UNI maintain its position as a key player in decentralized finance. However, relying on third-party “fillers” introduces new dependencies. It will be interesting to see if the customizable features in v4 unlock new financial tools by the end of the year.
What could affect the price of UNI?
Uniswap is at a crossroads, balancing potential upgrades with growing competition in the market.
- Fee-Sharing Vote (Positive) – A governance decision could start sharing revenue with UNI holders, creating a new income stream.
- DEX Competition (Negative) – New Layer 2 (L2) platforms and slower adoption of Uniswap v4 might split liquidity and reduce dominance.
- Whale Activity (Mixed) – Large leveraged bets contrast with significant UNI transfers to exchanges by institutions.
Deep Dive
1. Protocol Fee Activation (Positive Outlook)
What’s Happening:
Uniswap’s community is considering a proposal to share 65% of revenue from Unichain (a Layer 2 network) with UNI token holders. In 2024, Uniswap earned over $1 billion in fees, indicating strong potential for steady returns.
Why It Matters:
If approved, UNI would shift from just a governance token to one that generates cash flow, attracting investors looking for income. Similar moves in other projects, like Curve’s CRV token, have led to price increases of 40-60% before the fee-sharing started.
2. Layer 2 Fragmentation (Negative Outlook)
What’s Happening:
Uniswap v4 is expanding across more than 10 different blockchain networks. However, this expansion risks spreading liquidity too thin. Competitors like PancakeSwap now control 58% of trading volume on the BNB Chain, and Uniswap’s adoption of v4 is slower compared to its previous version.
Why It Matters:
Spreading across many chains can reduce the total fees collected on any one network and make governance more complicated. Since UNI’s value is closely linked to Ethereum’s total value locked (TVL), a shift of activity to other chains could hurt UNI’s price.
3. Whale & Institutional Moves (Mixed Signals)
What’s Happening:
On August 11, a large investor (whale) took a $3.84 million leveraged long position on UNI. Meanwhile, the Uniswap Foundation moved 437,000 UNI tokens (worth $4.1 million) to Binance in May 2025.
Why It Matters:
These actions send mixed messages: some traders are betting on price gains, while institutions might be preparing to sell or manage liquidity. UNI’s 30-day price volatility remains high at 54%, so watching token flows on exchanges can help spot buying or selling trends.
Conclusion
UNI’s near-term future depends on whether fee-sharing is approved and how well it can keep liquidity amid growing Layer 2 competition. The $9.70 to $10.40 price range is a key resistance level—breaking above it could push UNI toward $12, while failing might lead to a drop back to $8.80.
Will the new “DUNI” legal framework open the door for more institutional investors, or will regulatory concerns continue to hold UNI back?
What are people saying about UNI?
The Uniswap community is divided between excitement over a potential breakout and frustration with the current sideways price action. Here’s what’s making headlines:
- Big investors ("whales") are making moves that suggest a possible 100% price increase
- A governance proposal aims to redirect $90 million per month in fees to token holders
- The $11.50 price level is a key point that could determine the next price direction
In-Depth Look
1. Whale Activity Sparks Bullish Sentiment
According to @CryptoWhale, a large investor recently withdrew $25 million worth of UNI tokens, combined with growing user numbers, indicating a strong foundation for price growth. UNI has broken through a major resistance level, suggesting the possibility of a 100% rally.
What this means: Large withdrawals like this often happen before investors start accumulating more tokens, and the increase in users points to renewed interest from big players. This is generally a positive sign for UNI’s price.
2. Governance Proposal Could Unlock Fee Revenue
The Uniswap Foundation shared a proposal for a new Wyoming-based nonprofit called "DUNI" that, if approved by the community, would activate a fee switch. This could redirect about $90 million in monthly fees to UNI token holders.
What this means: This proposal has mixed implications. On one hand, sharing fees with token holders could increase demand for UNI. On the other hand, regulatory uncertainties remain, especially with the governance vote scheduled for August 18.
3. $11.50 Price Level Is Crucial
Technical analyst @TA_Expert notes that UNI is currently trading around $11.10. If it breaks above $11.50, the price could move up to $12.50. However, if it falls below $10.80, an 8% price correction is possible.
What this means: This is a neutral signal, showing that price movement is currently limited. Volatility has decreased recently, with the average 30-day price range shrinking from about 7.8% in July to 4.2% now.
Summary
The outlook for Uniswap (UNI) is mixed. Optimism from large investors is balanced by technical challenges and regulatory questions. The DUNI proposal could change the game by providing steady income to token holders, but UNI’s price remains below its 2025 high of $14.50. Keep an eye on the August 18 governance vote turnout (currently at 41 million UNI, just shy of the 45 million needed) and the $11.50 price level. A strong weekly close above $11.50 could confirm a bullish trend.
What is the latest news about UNI?
Uniswap is carefully managing its finances while continuing to grow its platform, even as the market faces challenges. Here are the key updates:
- Q2 Financials & Runway (September 16, 2025) – The Uniswap Foundation holds $110 million in assets and expects to stay financially stable through 2027.
- Top DeFi Platform Recognition (September 12, 2025) – Uniswap was named the #1 decentralized exchange (DEX) in 2025 for liquidity and cross-chain trading.
- Price Movement & Fee Proposal (September 10, 2025) – The UNI token is testing resistance at $9.70, while a new fee-sharing plan awaits approval from the community.
Deep Dive
1. Q2 Financials & Runway (September 16, 2025)
Overview:
As of June 30, 2025, the Uniswap Foundation reported holding $110.1 million in assets. This includes nearly $50 million in cash and stablecoins, 15.4 million UNI tokens, and 241 Ethereum (ETH). They committed $6.5 million in new grants, bringing total grants to $110.2 million, and spent $1.8 million on operations. Additionally, they secured a $29 million loan backed by 5 million UNI tokens, providing liquidity without affecting the market price.
What this means:
Uniswap’s strong financial position suggests it can continue developing its platform through 2027. However, the UNI token price has dropped about 7.35% over the past month, reflecting cautious market sentiment. Having these financial reserves helps protect against market ups and downs. (Uniswap Governance)
2. Top DeFi Platform Recognition (September 12, 2025)
Overview:
Uniswap remains the top decentralized exchange in 2025, especially praised for its liquidity pools supporting ERC-20 tokens and its ability to handle cross-chain swaps. Competitors like Aave and PancakeSwap have lower trading volumes and developer activity.
What this means:
Uniswap’s leadership in Ethereum’s decentralized finance (DeFi) space strengthens its network effects, meaning more users attract even more users. However, new Layer 2 solutions like Base and Arbitrum are growing fast, so Uniswap needs to keep innovating to stay ahead. (BTCC)
3. Price Movement & Fee Proposal (September 10, 2025)
Overview:
In early September, UNI traded between $9.20 and $9.80 but struggled to break above $9.70. There is a governance proposal called “Fee Conversion” that, if approved, would share about $90 million per month in protocol fees with UNI token holders.
What this means:
Technical indicators show the price is consolidating, meaning it’s stabilizing rather than moving sharply up or down. If the fee-sharing plan passes, UNI could become a token that pays holders a share of the platform’s revenue, encouraging long-term holding. This could increase UNI’s value over time. (
) (Gate.io)
Conclusion
Uniswap’s careful financial management and strong position in DeFi contrast with the relatively flat price of the UNI token. The upcoming fee-sharing proposal and Unichain’s expansion into gaming could spark new interest and growth. The big question is whether the community will approve sharing revenue with UNI holders, unlocking more value for the token.
Why did the price of UNI go up?
Uniswap (UNI) increased by 3.34% in the last 24 hours to reach $9.58, outperforming the overall crypto market, which rose by 1.39%. This rise comes despite a 7-day decline of 3.44%, showing renewed optimism around upcoming protocol upgrades and increased activity on the blockchain. Key factors driving this move include:
- Progress on Fee-Sharing Proposal – Governance is moving forward on plans to share over $1 billion in annual fees with UNI holders.
- Technical Breakout – The price is testing important resistance levels around $9.70–$9.80, supported by positive technical indicators.
- Altcoin Season Boost – Money is flowing into decentralized finance (DeFi) tokens as the Altcoin Season Index hits 71, a 57% increase over the past month.
Deep Dive
1. Fee-Sharing Governance Progress (Positive Outlook)
Overview:
The Uniswap community is making progress on the "Fee Conversion" initiative, which aims to share a portion of the protocol’s fees—over $1 billion per year—with UNI token holders. In March 2025, a governance vote approved $165.5 million for ecosystem development, including $45 million for liquidity incentives to support this change (Gate.io).
What this means:
Sharing fees would turn UNI into a token that generates cash flow, addressing long-standing questions about its usefulness. Recent financial reports (as of September 16) show $49.8 million in stable reserves and careful spending on grants ($6.5 million committed in Q2), which supports confidence in these plans.
What to watch: The timing of the final governance vote and the percentage of fees to be shared (proposals suggest starting between 10% and 20%).
2. Technical Breakout Setup (Mixed Signals)
Overview:
UNI is currently testing the $9.70–$9.80 resistance level, which it failed to break twice in September. The price is above key moving averages: the 20-day EMA at $9.45, the 50-day EMA at $9.41, and the 200-day SMA at $7.56, indicating a bullish trend.
What this means:
- The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 47, which is neutral and leaves room for the price to move higher if it breaks resistance.
- A close above $9.80 could push the price toward $10.32 (a key retracement level) and potentially $11.63 (the high from 2025).
- If it fails to break resistance, the price might fall back to support between $9.00 and $9.20, where there is strong liquidity.
3. Altcoin Season & DeFi Revival (Positive Impact)
Overview:
The CoinMarketCap Altcoin Season Index has risen to 71, up 9% in the past week, indicating that investors are moving money from Bitcoin into mid-sized cryptocurrencies. DeFi trading volumes reached $368 billion in August, with Uniswap holding 38.7% of the decentralized exchange (DEX) market share (The Block).
What this means:
UNI benefits from:
- Ethereum’s leading role in DeFi, representing 13.54% of the total crypto market cap.
- Growing use of Uniswap v4 on Unichain (Layer 2), which has processed over $12 billion in volume since January 2025.
- Increasing institutional interest in liquidity models owned by the protocol itself.
Conclusion
UNI’s recent 24-hour gain is driven by hopes around the fee-sharing proposal, positive technical momentum, and strong demand in the DeFi sector. While the $9.70–$9.80 resistance remains a challenge, successful governance decisions could justify UNI’s valuation above $6 billion.
Key points to watch: Can UNI close September above $9.80 to confirm a bullish monthly trend? Keep an eye on the progress of the Fee Conversion proposal’s on-chain voting and Ethereum’s Layer 2 activity for clues on future direction.