Why CZ Thinks a Dark Pool DEX Is What DeFi Needs Now

Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, the founder of Binance, is mapping out a path for decentralized finance (DeFi) privacy and security. On Sunday, CZ proposed a “dark pool-style” perpetual decentralized exchange (DEX) to counter front-running and maximal extractable value (MEV) attacks in DeFi.

“Given recent events, I think now might be a good time for someone to launch a dark pool perp DEX,” Zhao posted on X. “I have always been puzzled with the fact that everyone can see your orders in real-time on a DEX. The problem is worse on a perp DEX where there are liquidations.”

A Solution to DeFi’s Transparency Problem

Perpetual DEXs offer perpetual futures contracts, allowing traders to make leveraged bets on crypto asset prices without expiration. But transparency comes at a cost: public order books and wallet-linked trades expose participants to manipulation. MEV bots exploit pending transactions, resulting in slippage, worse prices, and higher trading costs.

“If others can see your liquidation point, they could try to push the market to liquidate you,” CZ said. “Even if you got a billion dollars, others can gang up on you.”

CZ’s DEX would hide orders, positions and liquidation points using privacy-preserving tech like zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) or similar encryption, only revealing trade details upon settlement.

“This results in increased slippage, worse prices and higher costs for you,” he said.

Institutional Interest and Technical Challenges

Kadan Stadelmann, CTO of Komodo Platform, agrees:

“CZ is really onto something here. Such a solution must be trustless, non-custodial, cross-chain and secure. The non-custody feature for example promotes privacy.”

Stadelmann mentioned the need for advanced cryptography and decentralized mechanisms like atomic swaps and Hash Time Lock Contracts (HTLCs). These smart contracts enable cross-chain asset exchanges without intermediaries, with conditions such as time limits to cancel trades if requirements aren’t met.

Some other experts also say, today’s DEXs expose too much: real-time order visibility, wallet-linked order books and predictable liquidation points. However, terrible for serious traders. CZ’s post makes a strong case for the next frontier in DeFi infrastructure.

Privacy vs Trustlessness

The debate around transparency in DeFi is not new, but CZ’s proposal has sparked discussions on how to balance openness with trade confidentiality, especially for institutions that fear bots.

Zhao’s dark pool model aims to create a trustless and non-custodial platform where even high-net-worth traders can participate without being exposed. Stadelmann and Shekhawat agree that the first to implement such a DEX will open up design space for institutional-grade DeFi.

Conclusion: Developer Call-to-Action

After his proposal, CZ invited developers to collaborate on the idea through ReachMe.io, a paid messaging app he launched in March. This platform helps CZ filter high-volume inbound requests, reportedly adjusting message pricing over time to manage spam and prioritize serious inquiries.

No one knows how this will play out yet, but industry observers are set to see what happens.

FAQs

What is a dark pool perpetual DEX?

A dark pool perpetual DEX is a decentralized exchange offering perpetual futures contracts, where trades and liquidation points are hidden until settlement. This privacy-centric approach prevents front-running and MEV attacks.

How do front-running and MEV attacks affect DeFi traders?

Front-running occurs when bots detect pending trades and execute faster, exploiting price movements. MEV attacks involve reordering or injecting transactions to extract profit, resulting in slippage and higher trading costs.

What are zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs)?

ZKPs are cryptographic techniques that allow validation of a statement without revealing the underlying data, enabling privacy-preserving transactions.

How do atomic swaps and HTLCs work for decentralized trading?

Atomic swaps use HTLCs to ensure asset exchange between blockchains only happens if agreed conditions are met within a time limit. If not, the trade cancels and funds are refunded automatically, trustless and secure.

Why is CZ’s proposal important for institutional traders?

Institutions need confidentiality to protect their strategies and avoid market manipulation. A dark pool perpetual DEX could provide the privacy and trustless execution they need to participate in DeFi.

Glossary

Dark Pool: Private trading venues where large orders are executed without public disclosure, to minimize market impact.

Perpetual Futures Contract: A derivative with no expiration, for continuous leveraged exposure to an asset.

Front-Running: Trading ahead of others to profit from price changes.

Maximal Extractable Value (MEV): Value miners or bots extract by ordering or censoring transactions within blocks.

Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs): Cryptographic protocols proving a fact without revealing underlying data.

Atomic Swap: Smart contract for asset exchange between different blockchains without intermediaries.

Hash Time Lock Contract (HTLC): Contract that ensures funds transfer only if conditions are met within a time limit, used in atomic swaps.

Sources

Decrypt

CZ’s post  on X