Uniswap raises $165 million: Is exchange really decentralized?

Uniswap, the most well-known decentralized cryptocurrency exchange that revolutionized the blockchain industry sector, has created a model that challenges centralized players like Binance, FTX, and Coinbase, and has found imitators like PancakeSwap. In late April, the number of active users on the platform set a record for 2021, possibly due to a large funding round.

Uniswap Labs, founded by Hayden Adams, has confirmed that it has raised a significant amount of funding in a Series B round. With this funding, the company’s valuation increases to $1.66 billion. Existing investors, under the leadership of leading investor Polychain Capital, also stand to gain substantial profits. Investments will be made in web applications and developer tools, the launch of NFT trading, and mobile applications for on-the-go use.

However, questions have been raised about the true decentralization of this DEX. In September 2021, the SEC began an investigation into Uniswap’s use by investors. According to an analysis by Elliptic, Uniswap is the most frequently used form of money laundering in the world of DeFi, alongside 1inch and Curve. As a result, founder Adams is also trying to separate the DEX from his own company, as is often the case with many crypto projects. The fate of the DEX should be determined by the fund.

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