LATEST UPDATE: JULY 1ST, 2024

Introduction

Today marks an exciting day at Zeta as we pull back the curtain on our long-term roadmap, a beacon guiding us through our journey to make perps trading accessible for everyone.

This moment signifies the start of a new chapter for our protocol and the vibrant community surrounding us. Far from being a sterile list of upcoming features or a mere checklist, this reveal is about laying the groundwork for greater open dialogue and transparency with our users and the broader Solana ecosystem, ensuring their involvement every step of the way that lies ahead.

From the outset, Zeta has been propelled by a singular mission: to dismantle the barriers that have traditionally held DeFi back. The slow, glitchy, and costly experiences are all too familiar. We’re here to change that. And the only way forward is to offer users the best trading experience ever, combining the efficiency of centralized exchanges with the benefits of decentralization: transparency and control over your funds.

That's what we're building towards: a future where DeFi is the norm, and it’s seamlessly accessible for everyone.

Our roadmap is a testament to this vision, charting the course to become the leading trading exchange that not only promises but delivers DeFi mass adoption. On Solana, the only chain capable of supporting our vision at scale.

In this spirit, we're amped to share the path we've envisioned. Get comfy, and enjoy the alpha!

This blog post will serve as a living document, regularly updated to include all key milestones and relevant sources as we achieve them, making it a one-stop source for all our community members and new joiners.

Master Roadmap Overview

Our roadmap unfolds through 4 distinct phases, each designed to build on the last, propelling us toward this final goal.

Today, our unwavering focus on the product has already positioned Zeta as the fastest perps exchange on Solana, featuring a smoothly buttered trading experience (also from mobile) and the Z-Score system, laying the groundwork for rewarding our users and fueling upcoming community activation programs.

The Foundations phase is ushered in by the official launch—and airdrop—of the $ZEX token, signifying the transition of Zeta from the user-centric platform you already know and love to a community-driven protocol. Here, the value generated within the platform is actively shared with users and participants. This is achieved through the launch of $ZEX staking, and the expansion of Global Programs aimed at ambassadors and creators, rewarding community engagement and contribution. Additionally, we're broadening our reach and impact through strategic ecosystem initiatives.

The Catalyst phase accelerates this transformation, fully embracing the DAO structure to put governance in the hands of our community. This move is a testament to our belief in the power of collective decision-making.

Throughout this path, the core focus continues to revolve around product development (you remember we’re here to deliver the best trading experience ever, right?). The launch of Zeta V3 - which includes the rollout of new markets and features such as Zeta-Lend and multi-collateral support - ensures Zeta remains at the forefront of perps innovation.

These developments pave the way for Zeta’s latest stage, Prevalence. This phase marks the culmination of our efforts, introducing a pioneering Zeta X, Solana's first DeFi Layer 2. This technology leap forward not only strengthens our platform's core capabilities, but also propels Zeta into the spotlight, competing directly with centralized exchanges. It’s a bold stride that places Zeta at the forefront of both the DeFi sphere and the entire crypto trading world, realizing our vision of seamless and widely accessible DeFi trading, all made possible by cutting-edge technology and the support of our vibrant community.

Single Phases - Deep Dive

Phase 00 - Beginning

Zeta was built for speed, simplicity and security. Emerging from the second Solana hackathon just three years ago, we have quickly become the fastest and most reliable perps DEX on the market, and pioneers of the on-chain central limit order book (CLOB). As of July 2024, our platform has facilitated +$10 billion in trading volume, serving more than 125,000 MAU. All this, coupled with a seamless mobile experience, near-instant cross-chain deposits, and Z-score rewards.

Relevant Sources:

• Introducing Z-Score

• Zeta Launches on Mobile

• Zeta's Maker Incentives Program

• Zeta Ambassador Program (Act 1)

• Zeta Creator Grant - Act 1 & Act 2

Phase 01 - Foundations

The launch and airdrop of $ZEX signify the genesis of community ownership. Meanwhile, Zeta’s trading experience is refined for maximal accessibility, incorporating user-friendly features like passphrase-free oauth signup and direct fiat onramps into DeFi. This ensures that both seasoned traders and newcomers can access a smooth experience. Additionally, Global Programs continue to act as a driving force for new users to explore and harness the power of DeFi.

Relevant Sources:

• Fee Tiers

• Zeta's Genesis Epoch

• $ZEX Whitepaper

• The Role of $ZEX

• $ZEX Airdrop Claim

• $ZEX Airdrop - 24h Highlights

• $ZEX Staking

Phase 02 - Catalyst

Zeta V3 launches, introducing Zeta-Lend, lending markets, and yield products, along with multi-collateral support (i.e. SOL, xSOL as collateral). Furthermore, this will entail a smart contract rewrite and re-audit that will bring further execution speed and security benefits. Governance takes a significant leap forward with a second airdrop for long-term aligned $ZEX stakers and the power to direct incentive emissions, disseminated via vote-escrow. With this, also comes the formal establishment of the Zeta Vanguard, an alliance of the strongest projects and leaders in the ecosystem. The community of token holders expands through ecosystem campaigns and the listing of $ZEX across major exchanges. The taker incentives program goes live to reward loyal users with $ZEX for their continued trading activity, with boosts being applied for loyal token stakers.

Relevant Sources:

• $ZEX is Live

• 2% Staking Airdrop for $ZEX Holders

Phase 03 - Prevalence

Zeta enters its final form, pioneering a first-of-its-kind Solana DEX rollup that competes with CEXs by enabling massive scalability whilst inheriting security from the Solana L1.

This evolution is accompanied by an expansion of market offerings shaped by community governance, including the introduction of new index perps and pre-listing markets.

The flywheel created by the growth of the ecosystem, utility of the $ZEX token, and value generated by the protocol will usher in an era of growth of DeFi perps with Zeta Markets being at the eye of the storm, capturing users and liquidity at a global scale.

Relevant Sources:

• Zeta X - Litepaper

What Now?

• Addressing one of the most anticipated topics in our roadmap, we’re excited to officially announce that all participants from Season 1 and Season 2 of Z-Score will be eligible for the $ZEX token airdrop, recognizing their crucial contributions to the Zeta protocol. Z-Score Season 2 will continue until $ZEX’s TGE - keep trading on Zeta to ensure you maximize your allocation!

• Detailed information about the upcoming airdrop, including the official dates and links to claim and staking pages, will be shared through our official channels and will be included in this piece as we progress. Make sure to turn on your notifications!

• Likewise, all future updates will be relayed here, making this document the definitive guide for both our dedicated community members and newcomers alike.