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ApeX Protocol
ApeX Protocol
ApeX Protocol is a decentralized, non-custodial, multi-chain trading platform focused on derivatives and spot markets. It is designed to provide a permissionless and transparent trading experience by combining the performance and user experience of a centralized exchange (CEX) with the security and self-custody of a decentralized exchange (DEX). The protocol leverages zero-knowledge (zk) proofs to ensure users retain full control over their assets while enabling high-speed, low-cost transactions. [1] [2]
Overview
ApeX Protocol's mission is to deliver CEX-level functionality to the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. The platform operates under the slogan "Built for Traders, Owned by Traders," highlighting its focus on a user-centric design and a community-oriented model. The protocol is built to be censorship-resistant and provides open financial tools for a global user base. [1] [3]
The protocol's ecosystem has evolved through several iterations. The initial product, ApeX Pro, was an order-book-based derivatives platform. The current flagship platform is ApeX Omni, an aggregated multichain liquidity trading platform built on a modular, intent-centric architecture. This design abstracts the complexities of cross-chain interactions, allowing users to trade assets across different blockchains from a single interface. The protocol supports a range of products, including perpetual contracts, spot trading, tokenized stock trading, and prediction markets. Security and scalability are underpinned by technologies like the StarkEx Layer 2 engine and zk-proofs, which allow for self-custody without compromising performance. [1] [4]
As of November 2025, ApeX Protocol reported a cumulative trading volume of over 37 million. The protocol is supported by a native utility and governance token, $APEX, which is used for staking, governance, and rewards within the ecosystem. The protocol also implements a revenue-sharing model through a token buyback program. [1] [5]
History
The official X (formerly Twitter) account for ApeX Protocol was created in December 2021. The first version of the protocol was launched in February 2022, offering decentralized access to the crypto perpetual swaps market. This was followed by the official launch of the ApeX Staking Program on July 1, 2022. [4] [5]
A significant development in 2022 was the announcement of ApeX Pro on July 27. ApeX Pro was positioned as the protocol's gateway to social trading in Web3, shifting to an order book model. Its public beta launch in August 2022 was accompanied by a retroactive airdrop of 1,500,000 APEX token) to early community members and a feedback campaign with a 25,000 USDC reward pool. The platform later added features like Take-Profit and Stop-Loss orders in October 2022, ahead of its mainnet launch in November 2022. [4] [2]
In June 2024, the protocol launched its next-generation platform, ApeX Omni, on mainnet. This marked a strategic evolution towards an aggregated multichain framework designed to address liquidity fragmentation in DeFi. As part of this transition, the protocol's roadmap included the planned sunsetting of the legacy ApeX Pro platform in the second quarter of 2025. Throughout 2025, the protocol has rolled out various incentive programs, such as "APE Season 1," which rewards users with points and staking rewards. These initiatives are supported by a token buyback program funded by protocol revenue; for the week ending November 17, 2025, the protocol executed a APEX. [2] [1] [5]
Technology
ApeX Protocol is built on a modular, intent-centric, and chain-agnostic architecture designed to enhance security, efficiency, and user experience.
Core Architecture
The protocol operates on the Ethereum blockchain and utilizes StarkEx, a Layer 2 scalability engine developed by StarkWare. StarkEx employs Zero-Knowledge Proofs (specifically zk-STARKS) to bundle thousands of transactions off-chain and then post a single cryptographic proof to the Ethereum mainnet. This allows ApeX to offer high-speed, low-cost (or zero-gas) transactions for traders while inheriting the security and decentralization of the Ethereum network. The non-custodial design ensures that users maintain full control over their funds, as assets are held in a smart contract and can only be accessed with the user's private key. [3] [1]
ApeX Omni
ApeX Omni is the protocol's flagship platform, introducing several architectural innovations:
- Intent-Centric Design: This model simplifies the user experience by abstracting away underlying blockchain complexities. Users express their desired outcome (their "intent"), such as "swap Asset A on Chain X for Asset B on Chain Y." The protocol's backend then determines and executes the most efficient path to fulfill this intent, navigating different chains and liquidity sources without requiring the user to manually bridge assets or manage multiple wallets.
- Modular Architecture: The platform is built with a modular structure, which allows for a more flexible and agile development process. This enables the protocol to rapidly integrate new features, trading products, and support for additional blockchain networks in response to market demands.
- Seamless Multi-Chain Trading: ApeX Omni aggregates liquidity from various blockchains, giving users access to a deep and diverse pool of native assets and trading pairs. This helps to minimize slippage and ensures competitive pricing. For certain transaction types like spot swaps, USDT is used as a unified currency for both trades and gas fees, further simplifying the cross-chain experience. [1]
Market and Oracle Model
ApeX Protocol utilizes different models to facilitate trading. ApeX Pro, the legacy platform, was built on an order book model familiar to traders from centralized exchanges. The broader protocol also incorporates an Elastic Automated Market Maker (eAMM) model, which dynamically adjusts liquidity based on market conditions to provide more stable pricing and reduce slippage. The protocol also manages its own liquidity through a mechanism known as Protocol Controlled Value (PCV), which enhances stability and reduces reliance on external liquidity providers. [4] [3]
For its Real-World Asset (RWA) perpetuals trading, ApeX Protocol integrated Chainlink Data Streams. This oracle solution provides sub-second price updates across multiple networks, enhancing the responsiveness and reliability required for trading derivatives based on real-world assets like stocks. [2]
Products and Features
ApeX Protocol offers a suite of products for trading, yield generation, and social finance.
| Product | Category | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Omni Perps | Derivatives Trading | Enables trading of perpetual contracts with up to 100x leverage. Features include zero gas fees, low trading fees, cross-collateral support, and advanced order types. |
| Omni Spot Swap | Spot Trading | Allows users to trade supported assets on any supported chain. USDT is used as a unified currency for trades and gas fees, simplifying the process. |
| Stock Perpetuals | Derivatives Trading | Allows users to trade perpetual contracts based on global stocks directly on-chain, powered by RWA data feeds. |
| Prediction Markets | Derivatives Trading | Enables users to trade on the outcome of future events with leverage. An example market included a contract on whether gold's price would exceed $4,000 in 2025. |
| DeFi Vaults | Copy-Trading | A social trading feature where investors can allocate funds to vaults managed by traders. Profits are split, with investors receiving 90% and managers 10%. |
| Staking (V4) | Yield Farming | Users can stake $APEX and $esAPEX tokens to earn weekly rewards derived from protocol revenue. |
| ApeX Social | Rewards Program | A rewards hub where users earn points for trading activity, which can be used to unlock mystery boxes containing prizes like USDT and other items. |
| ApeX AI (Alpha Radar) | Trading Tools | An AI-powered tool designed to provide real-time market insights and analytics to help users make more informed trading decisions. |
The platform also runs seasonal incentive programs like "APE Season," a points-based system that rewards users for their trading activity during specific periods. A VIP Program is available, which can reduce trading fees to 0% for high-volume traders. [1] [5] [2]
$APEX Token
$APEX is the native utility and governance token of the ApeX Protocol. In the protocol's early stages, the ecosystem also featured a reward token named $
Utility
- Staking: Holders can stake esAPEX in the protocol's staking program to earn a share of protocol revenue. Stakers receive weekly rewards, which have included distributions of 30,000 to 50,000 $APEX tokens per week.
- Governance: $APEX token holders can create and vote on governance proposals, giving them influence over the future development and policies of the protocol.
- Incentives: The token is used as a primary reward mechanism in various incentive programs, including APE Season, liquidity mining, and other participation rewards. [1] [3] [2]
Tokenomics
-
Supply: The maximum supply of APEX. As of late 2025, the circulating supply was around 128 million.
-
Allocation: The initial token allocation designated 23% for the core team and early investors, with the remaining 77% allocated to the DAO Treasury. The treasury funds are used for participation rewards, ecosystem building, and liquidity bootstrapping.
-
Buyback Program: The protocol implements a "Buy-Back & Share" program, dedicating a portion of weekly fee revenue (stated as 50% in some announcements) to buy back 8.25 million as of mid-November 2025.
-
Contract Addresses:
- Ethereum (ERC-20):
0x52a8845df664d76c69d2eea607cd793565af42b8 - Arbitrum One:
0x61a1ff55c5216b636a294a07d77c6f4df10d3b56
- Ethereum (ERC-20):
The token reached an all-time high of 0.1105 on October 20, 2023. It is available for trading on centralized exchanges such as Bybit and MEXC, as well as on decentralized exchanges like Camelot. [2] [3] [5]
Leadership and Investors
According to data on CoinMarketCap, the leadership team of ApeX Protocol includes Quentin Deroissart as Chief Commercial Officer, Mariam I. as Chief Executive Officer, Dave Myers as Founder and CEO, and Patrick West as President. This information has not been independently confirmed by other primary sources provided and may be subject to inaccuracies. [3]
ApeX Protocol is backed by a group of prominent venture capital firms and trading entities in the Web3 space. Its investors include:
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