Why did the price of UNI go up?
Uniswap (UNI) increased by 5.62% to $6.47 in the last 24 hours, breaking away from its downward trends over the past week (-3.5%) and month (-29.4%). The main reasons behind this rise include:
- Regulatory Engagement – UNI’s CEO participated in a Senate roundtable to support crypto-friendly laws, improving market sentiment.
- Solana Integration – UNI added the ability to swap tokens on the Solana blockchain, expanding its reach and usability.
- Whale Accumulation – Large holders moved 10 million UNI tokens off exchanges since mid-September, indicating strategic buying.
Deep Dive
1. Regulatory Catalyst (Positive Impact)
Overview:
Uniswap’s CEO, Hayden Adams, took part in a Senate roundtable on October 22, led by Democrats, to push for reforms in crypto market regulations (Crypto News). The goal was to restart progress on stalled legislation, with both Democrats and Republicans proposing different plans.
What this means:
Clearer U.S. regulations could lower risks for decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms like Uniswap. However, a leaked Democratic proposal that would require Know Your Customer (KYC) checks for DeFi users has raised concerns and criticism from industry experts, who say it’s impractical.
What to watch:
Keep an eye on whether lawmakers from both parties can agree on rules by the end of the year, especially regarding which agency (SEC or CFTC) will oversee crypto tokens.
2. Solana Integration (Positive Impact)
Overview:
On October 17, Uniswap’s web app added support for Solana token swaps, using the Jupiter aggregator to route trades (The Block). Solana’s DeFi space currently holds $10.9 billion in total value locked (TVL), giving UNI users access to a fast and growing network.
What this means:
Expanding to Solana helps Uniswap diversify its services and attract new users. However, fees generated from Solana swaps don’t currently benefit UNI token holders directly under the existing governance model.
What to watch:
Monitor how many users adopt Solana swaps and whether Uniswap’s governance (DAO) considers sharing fees from these trades with UNI holders.
3. Technical Rebound & Whale Activity (Mixed Impact)
Overview:
UNI’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) was near oversold at 38.3, and since mid-September, 10 million UNI tokens have been withdrawn from exchanges—a pattern that preceded a 120% price increase in Q2 (AMBCrypto).
What this means:
The price bounced off a key support level at $6.08 (the 50% retracement of the 2024 price swing) but faces resistance near the 30-day moving average at $7.48. Large holders accumulating tokens suggests confidence in the long term, but broader market challenges, including a 38% year-over-year drop in UNI’s price, may limit gains.
Conclusion
UNI’s recent price increase shows optimism about regulatory progress and growth in its ecosystem, but challenges like delayed fee-sharing and competition remain. While technical signals and whale buying hint at a possible bottom, sustained upward momentum will likely depend on legislative breakthroughs or upgrades to the protocol, such as activating fee-sharing features.
Key watch: Can UNI maintain levels above $6.50, and will the October 22 Senate meeting lead to concrete proposals?
What could affect the price of UNI?
UNI’s price is caught between regulatory challenges and promising upgrades to its platform.
- Regulatory Risks (Negative Impact) – New U.S. DeFi rules might require identity checks (KYC), which could limit decentralization.
- Tokenomics Changes (Positive Potential) – Possible introduction of fee-sharing or token buybacks if approved by the community.
- v4 Upgrade & Unichain Growth (Mixed Outlook) – Improvements in efficiency balanced by slow user migration from the older version.
In-Depth Analysis
1. Regulatory Challenges (Mostly Negative)
Background: In October 2025, U.S. Senate Democrats proposed new rules for decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms (source). These rules could require platforms to verify users’ identities (KYC) and limit anonymous transactions. Following this news, UNI’s price dropped by 5%.
What this means for UNI: Stricter regulations could reduce activity from U.S. users and push developers to work outside the U.S., which may hurt UNI’s usefulness. However, Uniswap’s CEO, Hayden Adams, has been actively engaging with lawmakers (including a Senate meeting in October 2025), which might help ease some concerns.
2. Governance and Tokenomics Update (Positive Outlook)
Background: The Uniswap community is discussing changes to how fees are handled. One idea is to redirect 0.25% of swap fees to UNI token holders or to use funds for token buybacks. A previous proposal in February 2025 (details here) allocated $45 million for liquidity incentives but didn’t move forward.
What this means for UNI: Introducing fee-sharing could turn UNI into an income-generating asset, attracting more institutional investors. For comparison, the SUSHI token saw a 40% price increase after launching a similar fee-sharing model in 2023.
3. v4 Upgrade and Unichain Progress (Mixed Results)
Background: Uniswap’s latest version, v4, introduced “hooks” — customizable liquidity pools — in January 2025. However, these currently make up only 5% of total trading volume. Unichain, Uniswap’s Layer 2 solution on Ethereum, holds $1.2 billion in total value locked (TVL), which is less than competitors like Arbitrum ($4.1 billion).
What this means for UNI: Unichain offers faster and cheaper trades, which could help Uniswap maintain its lead in decentralized exchanges (DEXs). But slow adoption of v4 features risks losing market share to competitors like PancakeSwap, which had $160 billion in trading volume in May 2025 compared to UNI’s $80 billion.
Conclusion
UNI’s future depends on how regulatory issues unfold, decisions made by its community, and Unichain’s success in attracting users. Approval of fee-sharing or a favorable regulatory environment could push UNI’s price up to $9–$11, about 50% higher than the current $6.46. On the other hand, harsh regulations or slow progress with v4 could cause the price to fall back to the 2025 low of $4.25.
Keep an eye on: Governance votes in Q4 2025 about fee-sharing and the final version of the Senate’s DeFi legislation.
What are people saying about UNI?
The Uniswap community is watching closely as the token shows signs of potential growth, while also waiting on important governance decisions. Here’s what’s happening:
- Traders are watching for a breakout above $12 as UNI holds steady around $11.50
- Big investors (whales) are accumulating, hinting at a possible price jump
- A proposal to share fees with token holders is sparking debate about UNI’s future value
Deep Dive
1. Uniswap Holding Strong Near $11.50
“A break above $11.80 could trigger a rally toward $12.10”
– CMC Community Post (Aug 13, 2025)
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What this means: UNI’s price staying above $11.50 shows buyers are confident. If it moves past $11.80, it could quickly climb to $12.10, signaling positive momentum.
2. Large Investors Are Buying In
“A recent whale withdrawal... setting the stage for a potential 100% rally”
– CMC Community Post (July 15, 2025)
View original post
What this means: When big investors move large amounts of UNI, it often means they expect the price to rise. This could lead to a doubling in value, but it depends on overall market interest.
3. Debate Over Sharing Fees With Holders
“$140M Q1 revenue... Fee Conversion initiative could allocate protocol fees to holders”
– CMC Article (May 23, 2025)
View original post
What this means: This proposal could make UNI tokens generate income for holders, which is good news. However, regulatory hurdles might delay or complicate this plan.
Conclusion
The outlook for UNI is optimistic but cautious. Traders are focused on the $11.50 to $12.10 range, while long-term holders are watching governance votes on fee sharing. A weekly close above $11.80 would confirm positive momentum. Keep an eye on updates about the Fee Conversion proposal’s DAO vote for future direction.
What is the latest news about UNI?
Uniswap is navigating regulatory challenges while expanding its presence across multiple blockchain networks. Here’s the latest update:
- Crypto Leaders Meet Senate Democrats (October 22, 2025) – Uniswap’s CEO joins discussions to revive stalled U.S. crypto laws.
- Solana Integration Launches (October 19, 2025) – Uniswap adds support for Solana token swaps, increasing cross-chain trading options.
- “Worthless Crypto” Criticism Sparks Discussion (October 19, 2025) – Arca’s CIO questions the value of UNI despite Uniswap’s growth.
Deep Dive
1. Crypto Leaders Meet Senate Democrats (October 22, 2025)
Overview: Uniswap CEO Hayden Adams will participate in a Senate roundtable alongside Coinbase’s Brian Armstrong and Ripple’s Stuart Alderoty. Led by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the meeting aims to resolve political disagreements over crypto market regulations. Recently, Democrats proposed stricter rules for decentralized finance (DeFi), such as mandatory identity verification (KYC) for user interfaces, which Adams criticized as a “nonstarter” that could hinder innovation in the U.S.
What this means: In the short term, this is neutral for UNI since the outcome of the legislation is still uncertain. However, engaging with lawmakers now could help create clearer and more favorable regulations in the future. A bipartisan agreement might reduce compliance risks for DeFi platforms like Uniswap. (Cryptonews)
2. Solana Integration Launches (October 19, 2025)
Overview: Uniswap has expanded its platform to support token swaps on Solana directly through its web app. This move comes after community discussions about focusing mainly on Ethereum development. CEO Adams explained that this integration meets user demand without taking away resources from Ethereum.
What this means: This is positive news for UNI, as allowing users to trade across different blockchains can attract more users and increase trading volume. Solana’s decentralized finance ecosystem, valued at $10.9 billion, adds significant liquidity. However, Uniswap may face more competition from Solana-native decentralized exchanges like Raydium. (Cryptotimes)
3. “Worthless Crypto” Criticism Sparks Discussion (October 19, 2025)
Overview: Jeff Dorman, Chief Investment Officer at Arca, called UNI “the most useless crypto asset ever.” He pointed out that UNI does not share fees with holders and has lost 86% of its value since 2021, despite Uniswap handling $3.3 trillion in trading volume since 2022.
What this means: This reflects a negative view of UNI’s current role as a governance token without direct financial benefits. However, some investors seem optimistic, as indicated by 10 million UNI tokens being moved off exchanges since mid-September, possibly anticipating future fee-sharing proposals. (AMBCrypto)
Conclusion
Uniswap is balancing efforts to influence regulation, expand its technology, and address market skepticism. While the Solana integration strengthens its position across multiple blockchains, UNI’s value depends on governance changes and potential fee-sharing. The upcoming Senate roundtable could either help protect innovation in DeFi or add more regulatory uncertainty.
What is expected in the development of UNI?
Uniswap’s development plan focuses on expanding across different blockchains, improving governance, and innovating its protocol.
- Solana Wallet Integration (Q4 2025) – Adding support for Solana, a popular blockchain outside of Ethereum-compatible networks.
- Unichain Expansion (2026) – Growing Uniswap’s own Layer 2 solution to improve decentralized finance (DeFi) trading.
- Fee Conversion Activation (Pending Governance) – Proposing to share protocol fees directly with UNI token holders.
- UniswapX Enhancements (Ongoing) – Improving gas-free, cross-chain token swaps for a smoother user experience.
Deep Dive
1. Solana Wallet Integration (Q4 2025)
Overview
Uniswap recently added Solana support to its web app (NullTX), allowing users to swap Solana-based tokens using Jupiter’s liquidity. The next step is full wallet integration, like with Phantom, making it easier to access DeFi services across different blockchains.
What this means
This is positive for UNI because it opens up access to Solana’s $10.9 billion DeFi market, potentially increasing trading volume. However, there are technical challenges, such as how efficiently assets move between blockchains, and competition from Solana-native decentralized exchanges like Orca could limit growth.
2. Unichain Expansion (2026)
Overview
Unichain is Uniswap’s Layer 2 solution on Ethereum designed to offer faster and cheaper trades (Uniswap Governance). Plans include rewarding validators with 65% of the chain’s revenue and attracting developers to build on it.
What this means
This is neutral to positive. Its success depends on how well it competes with other Layer 2 networks like Arbitrum. If Unichain gains popularity, it could strengthen UNI’s role in managing cross-chain activities and collecting fees.
3. Fee Conversion Activation (Pending Governance)
Overview
A governance proposal (Coinspeaker) suggests distributing protocol fees directly to UNI holders through a legal structure based in Wyoming. This could unlock about $90 million in monthly revenue.
What this means
This is positive if approved, as it would turn UNI into an asset that generates income for holders. However, risks include possible regulatory challenges and the chance that liquidity providers might be less motivated if fees are redirected.
4. UniswapX Enhancements (Ongoing)
Overview
UniswapX is a gasless swap aggregator that will soon support cross-chain swaps and use AI to find the best trade routes (Uniswap Blog). Recent updates include one-click swaps through smart wallets.
What this means
This is positive for attracting more users but faces competition from other protocols like Unizen that focus on user intent. Success depends on keeping enough liquidity and resisting manipulation by bots.
Conclusion
Uniswap’s roadmap emphasizes making its platform work across multiple blockchains (like Solana and Unichain), increasing value for UNI holders through governance changes, and improving user experience. The biggest question is whether the community will approve fee sharing, which could change how UNI is used.
Will Uniswap’s multi-chain approach help it stay ahead of growing competition from other decentralized exchange aggregators?
What updates are there in the UNI code base?
Uniswap’s platform is evolving with modular upgrades and stronger security measures.
- Smart Wallet Integration (June 2025) – One-click token swaps using EIP-7702 delegation.
- Uniswap v4 Launch (January 2025) – New “hooks” let developers customize liquidity pools and reduce transaction costs.
- v4 Security Overhaul (January 2025) – $15.5 million bug bounty and nine security audits to ensure safety.
Deep Dive
1. Smart Wallet Integration (June 2025)
Overview: Uniswap introduced smart wallets using Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade (EIP-7702). This lets users combine token approvals and swaps into a single transaction.
Normally, users need to approve tokens and then swap them in separate steps, which costs more in transaction fees (called gas). Now, regular accounts can temporarily act like smart contracts, cutting gas fees by about 30% for these multi-step actions. Features include batching transactions (approve + swap in one click), gas sponsorship (someone else pays the fees), and session keys for repeated trades. Existing wallets just need a one-time on-chain setup.
Why it matters: This makes Uniswap easier and cheaper to use, encouraging more people and institutions to trade. Lower friction could lead to more swap activity and benefit UNI holders.
(Source)
2. Uniswap v4 Launch (January 2025)
Overview: Version 4 introduced “hooks,” which are modular add-ons that let developers customize how liquidity pools work. For example, pools can now have dynamic fees or support limit orders.
Uniswap also combined all pools into a single “singleton” contract, cutting the cost to create new pools by 99% compared to version 3. Another feature, flash accounting, lowers gas fees for multi-step swaps by settling only the net balances. Over 150 hooks have been created, including tools for automatic liquidity balancing and strategies that resist front-running attacks.
Why it matters: Hooks open the door to new decentralized finance (DeFi) features, which could increase the fees the protocol earns as more users adopt Uniswap. This is good news for UNI holders.
(Source)
3. v4 Security Overhaul (January 2025)
Overview: Version 4 went through nine security audits and a $15.5 million bug bounty program—the largest ever in crypto—to strengthen its code.
Despite over 500 participants testing the code, no critical vulnerabilities were found. The code is also non-upgradable, meaning it can’t be changed later, which helps ensure long-term security.
Why it matters: Strong security builds trust, especially among institutional investors, reducing the risk of hacks and making UNI more attractive.
(Source)
Conclusion
Uniswap’s latest updates focus on customization (v4 hooks), improving user experience (smart wallets), and robust security. These improvements position UNI to capture more activity in DeFi as developers build new features on its modular platform. The next question is whether proposals to share protocol fees directly with UNI holders will gain momentum.