The decentralized finance (DeFi) sector continues to evolve rapidly, with layer-1 blockchains like SUI positioning themselves as key players in perpetual futures trading and stablecoin infrastructure. Recent ecosystem developments on SUI highlight growing adoption, as trading volumes surge and new financial primitives emerge to bridge on-chain activities with traditional finance.
SUI's DeFi Ecosystem Shows Robust Growth
SUI Network has experienced significant activity in its DeFi segment, driven by the rapid success of new protocols and integrations. Between August and September 2025, the network recorded approximately $2.6 billion in total value locked (TVL) and processed $412 billion in stablecoin transaction volume, underscoring its role as a high-throughput platform for digital asset settlement. These figures reflect broader market trends where perp DEXs—decentralized exchanges for perpetual contracts—now account for more than 25% of the global derivatives market, which recently surpassed $1 trillion in monthly trading volume.
Astros Perp DEX Achieves Rapid Trading Milestones
Launched in late October 2025, the Astros perpetual DEX on SUI quickly demonstrated strong user engagement. Within one week of going live, the platform accumulated over $100 million in trading volume, signaling effective onboarding and liquidity provision in a competitive landscape. Key factors contributing to this performance include:
- Daily “Ores Lucky Draw” incentives tied to user trading activity, where Ores tokens function as entry points for future ecosystem rewards and airdrops.
- Native integration with the NAVI Protocol’s lending pool, valued at $1 billion, enabling seamless borrowing and lending for leveraged trading.
- Partnerships with major wallets such as Binance, OKX, KuCoin, and Gate.io, enhancing accessibility for SUI ecosystem users.
This growth positions SUI to challenge established DeFi hubs, particularly in perpetuals, where high-speed execution and low costs are critical. Analysts note that such integrations could drive further TVL inflows, potentially increasing SUI’s market share in the $1 trillion-plus derivatives space. However, sustained volume depends on broader market conditions, including volatility in underlying assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
"Perp DEXs have become the ultimate litmus test for a blockchain’s ability to support real financial infrastructure," said Jerry Liu, founder of Astros. "Sui’s performance advantage gives us the foundation to compete at the highest level."
While these metrics indicate positive momentum, uncertainties remain around long-term retention, as early trading spikes can fluctuate with promotional incentives.
USDsui Stablecoin Launch Enhances On-Chain Utility
Complementing the DeFi surge, SUI introduced its first native stablecoin, USDsui, on November 12, 2025, in partnership with Bridge, a Stripe-backed entity. This fiat-backed asset is designed for compliance and integration across DeFi protocols, supporting payments, cross-border remittances, and peer-to-peer transactions. USDsui incorporates features like yield-sharing mechanisms and readiness for the GENIUS standard, aiming to anchor SUI’s economy in real-world applications. Built on Bridge’s Open Issuance platform, it streamlines stablecoin deployment, reducing traditional barriers such as lengthy regulatory approvals. The launch aligns with a trend of blockchains developing proprietary stablecoins—similar to Hyperliquid’s USDH rollout in September 2025—to foster internal liquidity and reduce reliance on external issuers like USDT or USDC. For SUI, this could amplify transaction volumes, with implications for developer adoption and ecosystem scalability.
"With this launch, Sui’s digital assets are connected with global commerce and fintech rails, making Sui a leading player for the next phase of on-chain economic activity," stated Adeniyi Abiodun, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Mysten Labs.
Bridge CEO Zach Abrams emphasized the platform’s efficiency:
"Open Issuance removes the complexity and long timelines associated with stablecoin creation," allowing networks like SUI to "scale rapidly with robust, regulatory-aligned stable assets."
Market observers predict that USDsui could contribute to SUI’s TVL growth, potentially reaching new highs if integrated widely, though adoption rates will hinge on regulatory clarity and competition from established stablecoins. As SUI’s ecosystem matures, these developments underscore the interplay between trading infrastructure and stable value transfer in DeFi. Investors and developers may find opportunities in protocols leveraging SUI’s speed, but risks from market volatility persist. How might integrating USDsui into your DeFi portfolio affect exposure to layer-1 growth?
