Tour de OP Yellow Jersey Update: September 27, 2024

**Velodrome** has processed **$14 billion in trading volume** across Superchain networks year-to-date, marking significant growth for the Optimism-based DEX. Key developments include: - **100% uptime optimization** through partnerships with DeFi Wonderland and Dromos Labs - **Superswaps integration** enabling seamless cross-chain trading via Hyperlane - **Boosted rewards program** launched on Celo network - **Enhanced liquidity solutions** for builders across the ecosystem The platform continues expanding its cross-chain capabilities, allowing users to trade assets anywhere across the Superchain infrastructure. *Verify with Self Protocol to access boosted rewards on Celo.*

**Velodrome continues to dominate** as the leading DEX across 8 chains during Epoch 178, processing over **$226M in trading volume** across the Superchain. **Key Performance Metrics:** - $105M in volume generated beyond OP Mainnet - $193K distributed in voting rewards to participants - Superchain total volumes have now **surpassed $14B** for the year The platform maintains its position as the **#1 decentralized exchange** across multiple chains, demonstrating consistent growth in the Optimism ecosystem. Trading activity shows strong diversification with nearly half the volume occurring outside the main OP network.

**Celo** is offering enhanced voter rewards of up to **37%** for verified users across multiple liquidity pools. **Current Reward Rates:** - USDT-WETH: ~37% - USDT-USDC: ~37% - USDT-cUSD: ~26% - CELO-USDT: ~25% **Requirements:** - Complete identity verification with **SelfProtocol** - Vote for eligible pools during the current epoch - Rewards are only claimable after verification This represents a **verification-gated incentive system** where boosted rewards are distributed normally but require identity verification to claim. Rates have remained stable compared to previous epochs, with USDT-WETH and USDT-USDC maintaining the highest yields. *Note: vAPRs change frequently based on market conditions.*

**Velodrome has redesigned its architecture from the ground up** to achieve complete decentralization. The platform now operates with: - **No centralized servers or APIs** - **No traditional databases or indexers** - **Decentralized frontend hosting** - **Direct blockchain node data only** This infrastructure mirrors Ethereum's design philosophy, prioritizing **100% uptime** and eliminating single points of failure. The move represents a significant shift toward true decentralization for the Optimism-based trading platform, removing dependencies on centralized infrastructure that could compromise availability or censorship resistance.

**Major Partnership Announcement** Velodrome, Optimism's central trading and liquidity marketplace, announces a strategic collaboration that will reshape its future. **Key Players:** - DeFi Wonderland - established DeFi protocol developer - Dromos Labs - blockchain infrastructure specialists **What's Happening:** The partnership focuses on developing the **MetaDEX** - a next-generation decentralized exchange infrastructure. Both organizations bring significant technical expertise to create what they're calling a "new meta" in decentralized trading. **Impact:** This collaboration could significantly enhance Velodrome's position as Optimism's primary liquidity hub and expand its capabilities in the broader DeFi ecosystem.