Sonic's Ultimate Playbook: How to Seize the DeFi Boom Opportunity?

「mog/acc」 is rapidly sweeping through various figures, from Elon Musk to Garry Tan, boosting the project's visibility and ultimately driving up the price.

There must be another Labubu hidden beneath the ruins.

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While the industry was still embroiled in the Layer 2 scaling debate, Sonic offered a new answer through a "foundational revolution." Recently, HTX Research released its latest research report "Sonic: A Blueprint for the DeFi New Paradigm," detailing the new public chain Sonic. While fully compatible with the EVM, Sonic has achieved a throughput of over 2000 TPS, 0.7-second transaction finality, and a transaction cost of 0.0001 USD, outperforming mainstream Layer 1 solutions and even surpassing most Layer 2 solutions. The performance-boosting Sonic is reshaping public chain infrastructure, officially ushering in the "sub-second era" of public chains.

Sonic's Road to Innovation: 2000+ TPS, 0.7s Finality, Nearly Zero Cost

As a high-performance public chain based on a Directed Acyclic Graph (aDAG), Fantom Opera initially stood out for its high throughput and fast confirmation capabilities. However, as the on-chain ecosystem expanded, the limitations of its traditional EVM architecture became increasingly apparent: state storage expansion, slow node synchronization, and constrained execution efficiency. To address this, Fantom introduced the new upgrade solution Sonic, aimed at achieving performance leaps through fundamental reconstruction without relying on sharding or Layer 2.

Led by the restructured Sonic Labs, Sonic's core development team brought together top industry talents, including CEO Michael Kong, CTO Andre Cronje (founder of Yearn Finance), and Chief Research Officer Bernhard Scholz. Over a period of two and a half years, the team comprehensively optimized from the virtual machine, storage engine to the consensus mechanism, ultimately creating the standalone new chain Sonic. While being EVM-compatible, Sonic has achieved over 2000 TPS, 0.7-second finality, $0.0001 transaction cost, a 90% improvement in storage efficiency, and reduced node synchronization time from weeks to within two days.

Technological Breakthrough: A Triad Performance Leap

· SonicVM: The new virtual machine dynamically compiles EVM bytecode, caches high-frequency operations (such as SHA3 hashing), and pre-analyzes jump instructions, improving execution efficiency several times over to support high-throughput demands.

· SonicDB: Using a layered storage design, it separates real-time state (LiveDB) from historical data (ArchiveDB), compressing storage space by 90%, reducing node maintenance thresholds, and enhancing decentralization.

· Sonic Gateway: A Layer 2-like cross-chain bridge to Ethereum, balancing security and efficiency through a batch processing mechanism, supporting bi-directional asset migration, and seamless integration with the Ethereum ecosystem.

Tokenomics: Dual Incentives for Developers and Users

Sonic introduces its native token S, exchanged 1:1 with the old token FTM, undertaking functions such as gas payment and governance staking. Its innovative mechanisms include:

· Gas Fee Monetization (FeeM): Developers can receive up to 90% of transaction fee sharing, incentivizing ecosystem app innovation; non-FeeM apps have 50% of fees burned to deter inflation.

· Point Airdrop System: Users earn points (Passive/Activity Points and Gems) through holding tokens, participating in DeFi, or ecosystem interactions, redeemable for a total of 200 million S tokens, creating a "usage is mining" positive feedback loop.

Stablecoin Ecosystem: Nested Yields and Counter-trend Growth

During the market downturn in 2025, Sonic's on-chain TVL grew over 500% against the trend, with stablecoin volume surpassing $260 million, driven by high-leverage yield strategies:

· Silo v2 Recurring Borrowing: Pledge S tokens to borrow stablecoins, leverage up to 20x, capturing multiple points and spread yields.

· Euler+Rings Combination: Deposit USDC to mint overcollateralized stablecoin scUSD, leverage up to 10x, while receiving Sonic points and protocol airdrops.

· Shadow DEX Liquidity Mining: Provide liquidity for mainstream trading pairs, earning up to 169% APY and receiving a share of trading fees.

The ecosystem's future plans involve introducing Real World Asset (RWA) yields and off-chain payment scenarios, expanding through compliant asset backing and consumer app integration, establishing a sustainable stablecoin utility loop.

DeFi Infrastructure Innovation: Adaptive AMM and Dynamic Risk Management

Sonic's core DEX, FlyingTulip, designed by Andre Cronje, integrates trading, lending, and leverage functions, with key technological breakthroughs including:

· Adaptive AMM Curve: Combining Curve V2's liquidity aggregation advantage, introducing external oracle monitoring of volatility, dynamically adjusting the curve shape—close to a constant-product curve during low volatility (low slippage), and approaching a constant-product curve during high volatility (preventing liquidity depletion), reducing impermanent loss by 42%, and improving capital efficiency by 85%.

· Dynamic LTV Lending Model: Drawing inspiration from Curve's LLAMA liquidation mechanism but dynamically adjusting the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio based on market volatility. For example, the ETH collateral loan-to-value ratio can plummet from 80% during calm periods to 50% during volatile periods, reducing systemic risk.

Conclusion: The Significance of DeFi 2.0

With its triple advantage of "high performance + nested yield + low threshold," Sonic is expected to exceed $2 billion in TVL within 12 months, and its token S may impact billions of dollars in market capitalization. Its model has established a new paradigm for the industry: replacing liquidity speculation with on-chain efficiency and real returns, potentially triggering a fundamental shift in the logic of public chain competition.

Potential risks are concentrated at the technical level, including the Adaptive AMM relying on an external oracle, which could result in liquidity pool anomalies if the price feed is attacked. High-leverage strategies face liquidation risks during extreme market conditions and require hedging tools (such as perpetual contract shorts) to manage volatility.

From a macro perspective, Sonic is poised to be the dark horse in the 2025 DeFi revival wave, with the success of its stablecoin ecosystem creating broad upside potential for the ecosystem token S and overall network value. Sonic's rise validates a key proposition: even in a bear market, through mechanism innovation and performance breakthroughs, DeFi can still build a "yield fortress" to attract rational capital for long-term retention. Its nested yield model, developer incentive system, and efficient infrastructure provide the industry with a reusable template. If successfully integrated with RWAs and payment scenarios, Sonic may become a bridge connecting on-chain yield with real economic demand, propelling DeFi into a new stage of mass adoption.

To read the full report, please visit: https://square.htx.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/HTX-Research-Latest-Report.pdf

About HTX Research

HTX Research is the dedicated research arm of HTX Group, responsible for in-depth analysis of a wide range of areas including cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and emerging market trends. HTX Research produces comprehensive reports, offers professional evaluations, and is committed to providing data-driven insights and strategic foresight. It plays a key role in shaping industry perspectives and supporting informed decision-making in the digital asset space. With rigorous research methods and cutting-edge data analysis, HTX Research always remains at the forefront of innovation, driving industry thought leadership and facilitating a deep understanding of the evolving market dynamics.

This article is a contributed piece and does not represent the views of BlockBeats

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Binance has announced its listing and delisting criteria, and has introduced the Alpha Point rating system. The son of the US Secretary of Commerce's 21 Capital has raised $3 billion to establish a Bitcoin investment fund in partnership with SoftBank, Tether, and Bitfinex.

「I believe that 99.9% of cryptocurrencies have no reason to exist, they are worthless.」

Recently, a high-profile dispute at the White House once again brought the U.S. government into the spotlight. The head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Musk, and the U.S. Treasury Secretary Bennett engaged in a heated argument due to ideological differences, almost escalating into a physical confrontation. In the end, Trump accepted Bennett's appointment proposal, raising concerns about cracks in the relationship between Trump and Musk. Behind this conflict is not only a power clash between Silicon Valley and Washington but also a revealing of the complex game from "close allies" to "power balancing" between Trump and Musk.

Looking back to the beginning of the year, Trump's most significant political reform involving Musk was the establishment of the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) to promote radical reform under the guise of "streamlining the government." Its core objectives include reducing government spending, digitizing the bureaucratic system, and replacing human decision-making with algorithms. The core team consists of 6 technical elites aged 19-25. Since Trump took office on January 20th, DOGE has swiftly carried out its restructuring, from shutting down the U.S. International Development Agency to significantly reducing the number of federal government employees, and even obtaining taxpayer privacy information to enhance fiscal efficiency. Under Trump's direction and support, Musk has bravely faced the challenges and spearheaded a radical reform storm in the United States.

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According to DOGE's official website data, as of April 20, 2025, DOGE has saved approximately $160 billion in total, averaging about $993.79 saved per taxpayer, with savings in various areas:

Contract Terminations: 8,454 contracts terminated, saving about $30 billion. For example, terminating the Risk Management Agency's lease in Topeka, Kansas, with an annual rent of $121,800, is expected to save approximately $964,000 over multiple years.

Grant Cancellations: 9,699 grants terminated, saving about $33 billion. For example, terminating grants from the U.S. International Development Agency to the Global Vaccine and Immunization Alliance Foundation, saving a total of $1.75 billion.

Lease Terminations: 643 leases terminated, saving about $3 billion.

However, an NPR analysis points out that some contract terminations did not result in actual savings. For example, 794 contract cancellations were expected to bring no savings as the funds were already fully committed. Additionally, the DOGE calculated savings using the potential highest value of the contract rather than actual expenditures, leading to controversy.

Honeymoon Period: Political Allies' "Two-Way Commitment"

As early as the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Musk began frequent interactions with Trump. At that time, Musk contributed $259 million, mobilized all Silicon Valley resources, and with his personal influence endorsement, became a key supporter for Trump's return to the White House. After Trump took office, as his "angel investor," Musk naturally gained unprecedented political status and power.

On February 7, Musk publicly expressed his support for Trump on social media. He said his love for Trump was "the maximum love that a straight man can give to another man."

On March 4, while attending Trump's State of the Union address, Musk was wearing a tie borrowed from Trump.

As Musk massively laid off federal employees from government agencies, a wave of vandalism against Tesla cars, intimidation of owners, and protests at dealership stores erupted nationwide. Tesla factories faced peaceful demonstrations and acts of destruction, including charging station fires. Vandalism of Cybertrucks surged across the U.S., with some owners even graffitiing their own Tesla vehicles to protest against Musk.

Reports of Tesla car and dealership vandalism as well as protest activities suggest that opposition to Musk has reached a boiling point. Bell Analyst Ben Carlo stated on CNBC, "When people's cars are at risk of being scratched or burned, even those who support Musk or are indifferent to Musk may have second thoughts about whether to buy a Tesla."

Musk has also stated multiple times that running his own businesses is "very challenging." Tesla's stock price has experienced its most severe drop in five years, and his social media company X has also suffered multiple outages.

However, such swift reforms are bound to harm the interests of a considerable portion of people. From the day Musk entered politics, opposition voices have been constant. Tesla's stock has plummeted since Musk took office, nearly halving its market value, marking the most severe decline in five years. This has led to Musk's personal assets evaporating by approximately $121 billion since the beginning of the year.

As Musk's biggest political backer and ally, Trump inevitably had to stand up for him when Musk came under attack.

On the afternoon of March 11th, local time in the U.S., Trump held a 30-minute press conference on the White House driveway. The press conference looked more like a large-scale Tesla car show—accompanied by Musk, Trump answered questions about the U.S. stock market, Canadian tariffs, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict while test-driving five different types and colors of Tesla cars.

"The one I like is that one," Trump pointed to a bright red Model S priced at about $80,000, saying. In the end, Trump chose the Model S and said he would write an $80,000 check to buy the car in full.

Trump also criticized those who were boycotting Tesla, believing that they were harming a great American company. He claimed that if the boycotters continued to treat Tesla this way, he would root out these people and "curse" them to "hell." White House spokesperson Harrison Fields also stated: "The despicable acts of violence being continuously carried out by radical left-wing activists against Tesla are no different from domestic terrorism."

Under Trump's "endorsement," Tesla's stock price rebounded during trading on Tuesday, rising 3.79% at the close.

To show loyalty, on March 24th, at Trump's third cabinet meeting, Musk wore a red hat with the words "Trump is always right."

During this period, the two were still intimate comrades-in-arms dedicated to advancing reform. Trump needed a "sharp tool" to expand his territory, while Musk needed a platform to realize his political ambitions. Both were highly aligned in their goals and interests.

The First Cracks Appear: Policy Differences and Power Struggles

Since Trump announced his high tariffs policy, a conflict arose between Trump's political goals and Musk's personal interests, leading to a crack in their relationship. The high tariffs caused a sharp drop in the U.S. stock market in a short period, and Musk's assets have shrunk by over $100 billion since the beginning of the year. Musk, as an entrepreneur, views issues from an economic rather than political perspective, supporting barrier reduction and free trade. He has also repeatedly expressed his opposition to the tariff policy.

On April 5, during the Italian Alliance Assembly held in Florence, Musk, in a video call interview with Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, expressed, "Ultimately, I hope that Europe and the United States can reach an agreement. In my view, ideally, we should move towards zero tariffs, effectively establishing a free trade area between Europe and North America." On April 7, Musk shared a video on Twitter featuring the late free-market economist Milton Friedman discussing the benefits of free trade. Musk did not add any text, but this move was widely interpreted as a criticism of Trump's tariff policies.

Musk's brother, Kimbal Musk, also criticized Trump's tariff policy on Twitter, pointing out that "Taxing consumption means less consumption, which also means fewer job opportunities, leading to even less consumption and fewer job opportunities." He believes that taxation is a "structural, permanent tax on American consumers."

Particularly targeted at trade advisor Peter Navarro, Musk has also made many criticisms and sarcastic comments. On April 8, he replied to a post quoting Navarro's interview where Navarro referred to Tesla more as an "assembler" than a "manufacturer," criticizing its components coming from China, Japan, and Taiwan. Musk directly responded in a heated manner, stating, "Navarro is a complete idiot, what he said here is obviously false," followed by a community note proving the Tesla Model Y is the "most American-made car." One retort apparently wasn't enough, as Musk further referred to Navarro as "dumber than a sack of bricks" in another post.

Intensifying Conflict: Bezos and Musk Engage in Fierce War of Words

Their contradictory stances on the tariff issue gradually fermented in the intricate power struggle.

On April 23, local time, it was reported by insiders that on April 17, Musk and Treasury Secretary Bezos had a heated clash during a meeting in the West Wing of the White House. Bezos lost control of his emotions and erupted with profanity, to which Musk provocatively responded with a "raise your voice." The confrontation even escalated to personal attacks, with Bezos angrily accusing Musk of exaggerating the DOGE budget cut issue, leading to no progress. Musk, in turn, directly retorted that Bezos was a "Soros puppet" and mocked him for his previous hedge fund debacle. The argument alarmed Trump and visiting Italian Prime Minister Meloni, and it took assistant intervention to separate the two.

The direct cause of this conflict was the controversy over the appointment of the IRS Commissioner. As Elon Musk, serving as the head of the U.S. Department of Efficiency, proposed the appointment of Gary Sharply as the Acting Commissioner of the IRS without the approval of Treasury Secretary Bennett, Bennett viewed this as a violation of his authority. He lobbied President Trump to revoke the appointment and instead support his own deputy, Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Falkend, for the position of IRS Commissioner.

The outcome of this power struggle seemed to favor Bennett as President Trump eventually supported Bennett's proposal, revoked Musk's nomination of Sharply, and appointed Falkend as the Acting Commissioner of the IRS.

The fact that two top U.S. officials could be so enraged as to publicly curse each other at the White House gates despite their public image was due to their long-standing animosity. Back when Trump first took office, Musk had strongly advocated for nominating Howard Lutnick as Treasury Secretary, but Trump ultimately chose Bennett and appointed Lutnick to lead the Department of Commerce. Perhaps from the beginning, Trump had strategically set up a situation where his subordinates would check each other, siding with whoever aligned more with his own ideas. This set the stage for future conflicts.

The conflict between the two was fundamentally a power struggle and game of influence between two factions within the Trump administration. The reformist faction represented by Musk sought to reshape the landscape through new policies, while the traditional faction represented by Bennett resisted actions that harmed their own interests. Trump's handling of this event was seen as a sign of Musk's diminished influence within the government.

It is worth noting that, regarding tariff policies, Bennett, unlike Musk's clear opposition, had publicly supported tariff policies, believing that implementing new tariffs in the U.S. was necessary. He also refuted the idea that new tariffs would cause an economic downturn. Perhaps the consistency in policy preferences was also a reason why Trump gradually leaned towards Bennett and distanced himself from Musk. After all, to Trump, a businessman by background, permanent interests matter more than permanent friends.

Musk's role was constrained by the 130-day term limit for special government employees, which began counting from Trump's inauguration on January 20, 2025, and is expected to expire at the end of May. Anonymous sources within the White House hinted at the end of February that Musk "will stay," but on March 31, Trump himself openly acknowledged Musk's prioritization of his commercial duties and showed no signs of insisting on retention. Perhaps as the mission of DOGE is accomplished, Musk's 130-day government employee term enters its final phase, and Trump will gradually sideline Musk from the power center, shifting to new allies who align more with his current interests. In retrospect, it's a poignant reminder of how fleeting alliances can be.

The world's richest person, Musk, experienced the thrill of a "Tech Disruption Workplace" at the center of American politics. He ignited a fire for Trump's "New Sheriff in Town," touching the interests of countless people. He reformed the behemoth of the American government at an incredible speed, leaving behind not only a controversial outline of "Algorithmic Governance" but also exposing the deep-seated contradictions between capital and power in American politics. This radical experiment of "Tech Transforming Politics" seems to be nearing its conclusion. When Musk truly departs, that red hat proclaiming "Trump Is Always Right" may perhaps become the most dramatic footnote to this brief "political marriage."

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As the dust settled in the first quarter, the market presented a stark picture of "macro narrative strong volatility, micro innovation deeply dormant."

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It is expected that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates by June, followed by a bottoming out and rebound of the US stock market and the crypto market.

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Just yesterday, Binance announced the upcoming launch of a new reward-bearing margin asset called LDUSDT. This is another "stablecoin" financial product that can be used as margin for contract trading, following the launch of BFUSD in November 2024. What is LDUSDT, and how does it differ from BFUSD?

A "Stablecoin" That Is Not a Stablecoin

LDUSDT is a "yield-bearing margin asset" designed by Binance specifically for futures trading, with the official notice emphasizing that it is not a stablecoin. Users can convert their held USDT simple yield flexible product assets into LDUSDT.

LDUSDT serves two purposes: it can be used as trading margin while also earning yield. Binance allows users to use LDUSDT as margin for perpetual contract (inverse perpetual contract) trading, and users holding LDUSDT can continue to earn real-time annualized interest from Binance's "Principal Protected Coin" current product.

In simple terms, similar to the previously launched BFUSD, LDUSDT allows users' assets to simultaneously have "low-risk yield" and "liquidity." This is beneficial for Binance as well, as it can earn more lending interest while also earning more contract funding rates. The founder of the OG Crypto Community proposed that "if Binance chooses to use FDUSD to rebuild lending and perpetual contract liquidity, the underlying USD can also earn U.S. Treasury bonds." According to the reserve report presented by First Digital Labs on February 28th, 85% of the underlying USD composition of FDUSD consists of U.S. Treasury bonds. This is essentially a win-win situation, with LDUSDT being a product through which Binance shares the above-mentioned benefits with users.

How Is It Different from BFUSD?

After Binance launched BFUSD on November 27, 2024, similar products appeared, such as Dex Backpack and HUOBI Exchange, but their influence was not as significant as Binance's BFUSD. However, after the launch of BFUSD, although the model was innovative and participants generally believed that the model could improve liquidity, some issues with the product also emerged.

There is high yield volatility. The yield of BFUSD includes both the base interest rate and trading bonuses, with the holding limit linked to VIP levels. This model is highly dependent on market conditions and users' own trading activities. While it could reach a peak APY of up to 38%, if the market is in a one-sided trend or the trading volume is insufficient, the actual yield may be lower than expected, even approaching the minimum value of the base interest rate. During the high market liquidity at the end of last year, the APY could be maintained at around 20-30%, but starting from February-March this year, the APY has been close to 0% on many occasions.

The interest rates for retail and professional traders are different. The additional reward of BFUSD is linked to user's futures trading volume, allowing high-frequency traders or whales to significantly increase their earnings. In contrast, regular users with low trading volume may only receive the base interest rate, making the cost-effectiveness low. This design of BFUSD leans more towards professional traders rather than ordinary retail traders.

On the other hand, LDUSDT, although similar in its usage to BFUSD, has a different income structure. BFUSD is based on hedging strategies and staking, while LDUSDT's income comes from Binance sharing the annualized returns of its "Simple Earn" where users can earn risk-free returns, including a portion of platform fees, lending income, or some low-risk investment returns.

Due to these reasons, BFUSD is currently not popular in the market. Unlike BFUSD, which can experience significant fluctuations due to funding rate volatility, LDUSDT's advantage lies in its relative stability. However, the trade-off is that its yield may not be as high. While these yields may seem insignificant during a bull market, they present a good option for those seeking stable returns and liquidity during times of relatively low liquidity. Additionally, as it does not rely on the user's trading strategy, its operation is comparatively simple, thereby enabling more retail investors to participate.

Successive Launch of Yield Stablecoins, What Is Binance's Intention?

Overall, BFUSD is more like an investment tool created by Binance to provide additional value to users through proactive actions, a "Buff" of additional gains for traders who frequently trade during a "bull market." On the other hand, LDUSDT acts as a gateway, bridging the gap between Simple Earn and futures trading, a product that incentivizes conservative users to trade during a "bear market."

KOL "Loki_Zeng" expressed his feelings about this, saying, "Binance is so innovative. Thinking about the interest and circulation separation of stablecoins will inevitably lead to a final scenario, but I didn't expect Binance itself to revolutionize it." Whether BFUSD or LDUSDT, what Binance aims to do is to activate a large amount of idle stablecoins on the exchange, wrap them in a leveraged shell, and keep them within the Binance ecosystem to continue providing vitality to real business.

The water in this liquidity sponge is being squeezed by a larger hand. Can it help us survive the dry spell before the "water release"? Currently, Binance has not released more detailed information about LDUSDT, and BlockBeats will continue to monitor this matter.