DYdX Trading ships open-source code for version 4 of its Cosmos-based DEX

DYdX Trading, the principal developer of the decentralized derivatives exchange dYdX DYDX +1.69% , released the open-source code for its upcoming version 4. The new version is based on the Cosmos SDK and lays the foundation for an independent blockchain tailored to support the decentralized exchange.

The software architecture for the forthcoming dYdX Chain was made publicly accessible today. According to an official statement, the mainnet deployment is still pending subject to a governance vote. This is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.

If the proposal gains approval, all components of v4, from the order book to the matching engine, will become part of a decentralized, community-governed project on a self-contained blockchain, secured by audited smart contracts.

dYdX, developed using StarkEx, an Ethereum Layer 2 scaling solution, is currently the largest decentralized derivatives trading platform with a daily trading volume of above $1 billion. The transition to a Cosmos-based blockchain was initially announced as part of the v4 update, and the software development has now been completed. 

The new chain aims to offer transparent and secure derivatives trading, operated solely by code and governed by its user community.

The plan to further decentralizing the project

Beyond the blockchain transition, dYdX Trading plans to cede control over various components of the protocol and discontinue the collection of trading fees. Governance and decision-making responsibilities will be transferred entirely to the community of dYdX stakeholders and ecosystem participants.

"The dYdX Chain software release marks the full decentralization of dYdX, and is a big step on our mission to democratize access to financial opportunity. With the dYdX Chain, dYdX brings transparency and security to derivatives trading with an exchange that is run solely by code, and controlled by its users," said dYdX Trading founder and CEO Antonio Juliano.

To mitigate potential disruptions during the transition, the existing dYdX exchange, version 3, will continue to operate alongside v4 for an unspecified period.