Synthetix returns to the Ethereum mainnet after three years of Layer 2 operations. Discover how the drastic reduction in gas fees and Ethereum upgrades have allowed the DeFi giant to reactivate its perpetual futures markets directly on the mainnet.
The decentralized financial derivatives platform Synthetix has officially relaunched its perpetual futures system on the Ethereum mainnet, marking its return after three years of operating almost exclusively in scalability solutions. This strategic move aims to reposition the protocol—originally founded in 2017—as a dominant player in the base layer of the ecosystem, leveraging the recent technical evolution of the world's most widely used smart contract blockchain.
After a long period of development focused on Layer 2 solutions, the reopening of Synthetix on the mainnet on Ethereum This marks the beginning of a new era for the protocol. The technical advancements implemented on the network over the past year have enabled superior performance and a much smoother user experience, eliminating the barriers to entry that, until recently, made high-frequency trading in the main layer unfeasible.
Trade Ethereum from Bit2MeAccording to declarations of Cain WarwickAccording to Synthetix founder George Hale, the Ethereum network has finally achieved a level of efficiency capable of supporting multiple futures platforms without experiencing congestion or critical delays. This technical progress is a direct result of a drastic reduction in gas fees and the implementation of structural improvements that optimize interaction with smart contracts.
With this relaunch, Warwick is projecting a trend that other decentralized exchanges (DEXs) could follow: returning to their roots. By operating directly on the mainnet, Synthetix seeks to capitalize on Ethereum's immense liquidity and native security, re-establishing itself as a fundamental infrastructure within the Decentralized Finance (DeFi) universe.
Synthetix's comeback fueled by the historic drop in gas prices and 'Fusaka'
For several years, high gas fees and congestion on the main network made operating on Ethereum a constant challenge. Faced with this situation, the developers at Synthetix decided in 2022 to migrate their operations to Optimism, a faster and more cost-effective Layer 2 scaling solution. Over time, they expanded their presence to other Layer 2 networks such as Arbitrum and Base, following the strategy of projects like dYdX, which migrated to these scaling solutions to optimize costs and accelerate transactions.
However, the outlook for 2025 is radically different from previous years. Recent data from Etherscan shows that the average gas fee on Ethereum has stabilized around [amount missing]. 0,71 gweiThis figure represents a reduction of almost 26 times compared to the average of 18,85 gwei recorded the previous year. This cost optimization has restored competitiveness to the core network, reopening the door for complex financial applications that require direct execution at the base layer.
Source: Etherscan
A determining factor in this paradigm shift in Ethereum has been the "Fusaka" update, successfully deployed in December of this year. This technical improvement has been key to alleviating congestion and optimizing block space, allowing data-intensive protocols, such as derivatives, to run smoothly.
Kain Warwick has been vocal about this change, stating on social media that "Ethereum now has a solid and lasting foundation for its growth."Global digital asset liquidity remains heavily concentrated in Layer 1, and the ability to access it without Layer 2 intermediaries offers significant advantages in terms of composition and security. Synthetix is pursuing a renewed strategy: to solidify its position as the leading DEX through interoperability and ease of integration, backed by the institutional trust that only the Ethereum mainnet can provide.
A new stage for derivatives on Ethereum
The coexistence of multiple derivatives protocols on a single network is transforming the decentralized finance landscape. Ethereum is currently demonstrating an unprecedented ability to manage these platforms without the bottlenecks that hampered their performance a few years ago. The Fusaka upgrade not only improved speed but also marked a technical turning point, validating Warwick's thesis: Layer 1 remains the most efficient and liquid market at present.
To ensure user safety and protocol integrity, Synthetix has designed a staggered launch phaseInstead of an immediate full opening, the deployment includes an initial controlled stage to assess the stability of the system under real load.
- Initial markets: Operations will be enabled for Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL).
- Operational capacity: Users will be able to access a maximum leverage of 50x.
- Fund security: Withdrawals will be enabled approximately one week after the official launch, a standard preventative measure to verify the proper functioning of smart contracts.
Through this progressive approach, the developers aim to demonstrate the maturity the DeFi industry has reached, prioritizing risk management over unchecked expansion. In the near future, the development team plans Integrate Real World Assets (RWA) and accept multiple types of guarantees, to provide traders with unprecedented flexibility.
Manage ETH securely: join todayLayer 1 regains its prominence in DeFi
The landscape of decentralized exchange platforms is at a pivotal moment: the protocol's location is now as crucial as its underlying technology. Therefore, Synthetix's return to the Ethereum mainnet is a sign of the ecosystem's maturity, having overcome its most critical scalability issues without sacrificing decentralization.
In this context, Synthetix is taking a significant step towards a model that prioritizes universal accessibility and base-layer security. By eliminating its exclusive reliance on second-layer solutions for its core operations, the protocol validates a more efficient and predictable Ethereum blockchain.
For the developer and user community, this move demonstrates that technical efficiency and Layer 1 security can coexist, opening the door to a more reliable, faster, and, above all, long-term sustainable digital asset trading system.
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