Lighter Launches Public Mainnet and Outlines Plans for Upcoming TGE

In a significant milestone for decentralized finance (DeFi), Lighter—a cutting-edge perpetual futures exchange (Perp DEX) built on Ethereum Layer 2—has officially launched its public mainnet. This comes after eight months of rigorous private beta testing, during which the platform attracted over 188,000 unique users and consistently ranked among the top Perp DEXs by trading volume. With daily volumes now exceeding $7 billion and total value locked (TVL) surpassing $816 million, Lighter is positioning itself as a serious contender to established players like Hyperliquid and Aster.

A Seamless Transition from Beta to Mainnet

The public mainnet, powered by custom zero-knowledge (ZK) circuits for verifiable matching and liquidations, went live on October 1, 2025. This Ethereum L2 solution delivers institutional-grade performance: instant order execution, zero slippage, and ultra-low fees for retail traders. High-frequency traders and market makers can access API features for even greater efficiency, though fees apply to prevent abuse.

Key enhancements in the mainnet include:

• Enhanced Security: Full smart contract audit completed, with robust protections against Sybil attacks, wash trading, and market manipulation.
• User-Friendly Tools: An updated block explorer for real-time transaction monitoring and no more deposit caps—welcome news for whales and institutions.
• Free Trading for Retail: Basic frontend access remains fee-free, democratizing high-performance trading.

During the beta, Lighter's Liquidity Provider (LLP) program delivered impressive returns of over 150% year-to-date, underscoring the platform's profitability for liquidity contributors.

Season 2 Points Program: Building Momentum Toward TGE

Coinciding with the mainnet launch, Lighter has kicked off Season 2 of its highly anticipated points program, set to run through the end of 2025. This initiative rewards active participants and is widely expected to tie into the platform's upcoming Token Generation Event (TGE).

How to Earn Points in Season 2

• Trading Volume: Higher volumes mean more points—liquidations and successful trades are incentivized to encourage genuine activity.
• Referrals: Invite friends and earn bonuses; no referral codes required to join, but the invite program offers extra perks.
• Competitions and Events: Weekly drops (starting with 600k points on October 17) and special compensations (like the recent 250k-point drop for October 10 event impacts) keep the community engaged.
• LLP Participation: Deeper dives into LLP mechanics were shared in recent X Spaces, with allocations now scalable based on points held (up to 100% for top earners).

Approximately 250,000 points are distributed weekly, with boosts for high performers. Early beta users have already accumulated millions of points, setting the stage for substantial rewards.

TGE on the Horizon: What to Expect

Lighter's team, backed by heavyweights like a16z and Lightspeed Venture Partners, has confirmed that the TGE is on track for Q4 2025, likely by year-end. While exact tokenomics remain under wraps, community speculation points to a fair launch model rewarding points holders through an airdrop.

Post-TGE plans include:

• Fee Distribution: A portion of trading fees will flow directly to native token holders, creating sustainable value accrual.
• DeFi Integrations: Deeper ties with the Ethereum ecosystem, including cross-protocol liquidity and advanced features like using LLP positions as margin.
• Governance and Expansion: Community-driven decisions to evolve the platform, potentially adding new asset classes and languages (recent additions: Turkish and Spanish).

As Vlad Novakovski, Lighter's CEO and founder, noted in a recent X Space: "We're building for traders first—verifiable, fast, and fair. Season 2 is just the beginning of what's next."

Why Lighter Matters in the Perp DEX Landscape

In a market where perpetual DEX trading volumes hit a record $1 trillion in September 2025 alone, Lighter stands out for its ZK-powered transparency and Ethereum-native settlement. Unlike off-chain alternatives, every trade is provably fair, settling directly on Ethereum without compromising speed.

Whether you're a retail trader dipping into perps or an institution seeking low-latency execution, Lighter's mainnet offers a glimpse of DeFi's future. With TGE looming, now's the time to dive in, rack up points, and position yourself for potential airdrop windfalls.

Head over to app.lighter.xyz to start trading today. Follow @Lighter_xyz on X for the latest updates on Season 2 drops and TGE teasers.

Stay tuned to our blog for more DeFi insights and project spotlights.