Uniswap Foundation Grants $9 Million to Brevis to Enhance Uniswap v4 Ecosystem

Enhancing the Uniswap v4 Ecosystem with Strategic Funding

On October 24, the Uniswap Foundation unveiled plans to grant up to $9 million (approximately KRW 12.42 billion) to Brevis to foster innovation within the Uniswap v4 ecosystem. The funding initiative specifically targets the development of a “trustless gas rebate program,” constructed for decentralized exchange (DEX) aggregators that interact with Uniswap v4’s advanced “hook” pools. This substantial investment is poised to provide vital impetus for the broader adoption and evolution of the v4 platform.

Uniswap v4, introduced earlier this year, brought transformative updates to decentralized trading. Among its hallmark innovations are “hooks”—customizable functions within liquidity pools—and the “singleton” architecture, which simplifies pool management while enabling dynamic fee adjustments and greater resistance to maximal extractable value (MEV) exploits. Despite these technological advancements, the customizable nature of hooks has inadvertently created integration hurdles for DEX aggregators, such as 1inch and 0x, due to their diverse pool logic requirements.

Anticipating the widespread benefits of v4 adoption, the Uniswap Foundation aims to resolve these barriers by incentivizing router developers to integrate hooks through the grant program. By utilizing rebates, aggregators can mitigate operational costs or pass savings directly to end-users, ultimately improving user experience, boosting liquidity across the ecosystem, and accelerating the deployment of v4 hooks at scale.

Innovative Rebates Harnessing Brevis’ Zero-Knowledge Technology

At the core of the trustless gas rebate program is Brevis’ groundbreaking zero-knowledge (ZK) technology. Brevis leverages its ZK Data Coprocessor and Pico zkVM to deliver unparalleled transparency, eliminating the need for centralized databases or conventional calculation methods susceptible to inefficiencies and opacity.

The system operates as follows: router developers use Brevis’ proof framework to generate zero-knowledge proofs for transactions executed within eligible v4 pools. Brevis’ Pico zkVM computes precise gas costs for each transaction, allowing routers to submit proofs to a corresponding smart contract for rebate claims. These on-chain rebate contracts autonomously authenticate submitted proofs and distribute funds in a fully decentralized, automated manner, ensuring that rebates align with the principle of trustlessness.

By incorporating zero-knowledge proof technologies, the initiative not only reduces operational frictions but also reinforces the core ethos of decentralized finance (DeFi)—transparency, immutability, and decentralized execution.

Boosting DeFi Adoption Through Enhanced Protocols

According to a Uniswap Foundation spokesperson, “This initiative will accelerate the adoption of v4 while preserving the core principle of trustlessness in decentralized finance (DeFi).” By simplifying the integration of advanced hook pools into DEX aggregators, the program serves a dual purpose: fostering deeper liquidity within Uniswap protocols and significantly enhancing the user experience. Benefits such as improved trade execution prices and reduced slippage create opportunities for more efficient and cost-effective transactions within the DeFi ecosystem.

The grant program exemplifies Uniswap Foundation’s commitment to advancing decentralized technologies without compromising the principles of decentralization, transparency, or user autonomy. As the v4 ecosystem matures, these efforts are expected to pave the way for broader adoption of Uniswap’s innovative liquidity solutions, heralding a new era of efficiency and inclusivity for the DeFi space.

Conclusion

The $9 million grant to Brevis marks a critical step toward redefining DeFi’s technological frontier. By addressing the integration challenges of v4’s customizable hooks, the initiative lays a robust foundation for deeper liquidity, reduced costs, and enhanced trading efficiencies. Beyond its immediate impact, the trustless gas rebate program illustrates the potential of zero-knowledge technology in driving decentralization and transparency across financial systems.

Uniswap Foundation’s commitment to fostering ecosystem-wide growth while preserving the pillars of decentralized finance firmly positions Uniswap v4 as a transformative player in the rapidly evolving DeFi landscape. As router developers tap into the grant program’s economic incentives, the accelerated adoption of v4 features signals a promising trajectory for the next chapter of decentralized trading.