The decentralized finance (DeFi) landscape continues to evolve, with new Layer-1 blockchains emerging to challenge established networks. Among these, Sui has rapidly gained attention for its unique technical architecture and growing ecosystem. Launched in May 2023 by Mysten Labs—founded by former Meta engineers—Sui leverages an object-centric data model and the Move programming language to deliver high scalability, security, and user experience.
This article explores the rapid expansion of Sui’s DeFi ecosystem, its strategic partnerships, user-friendly features, and future development plans. From surging Total Value Locked (TVL) to institutional adoption, Sui is positioning itself as a major player in the blockchain space.
Core Strengths of Sui’s Architecture
Sui’s object-centric model allows digital assets to have dynamic, evolvable properties. This is a significant shift from traditional blockchain architectures and enables innovative use cases like programmable NFTs and composable DeFi products.
The network’s use of the Move language enhances security and developer flexibility. By treating all assets as objects, Sui simplifies complex operations and reduces the risk of common smart contract vulnerabilities.
These technical advantages support high transaction throughput and sub-second finality, making Sui ideal for applications requiring speed and efficiency, such as decentralized exchanges, gaming, and high-frequency trading.
DeFi Growth and Total Value Locked
Sui’s DeFi ecosystem has demonstrated remarkable growth since its launch. Total Value Locked (TVL) surged from approximately $25 million at inception to over $2.1 billion by mid-2025, establishing Sui as the third-largest non-EVM chain by TVL.
By June 2025, Sui’s TVL had surpassed longstanding projects like Avalanche and Polygon. This growth is fueled by increasing stablecoin adoption, with transfer volumes exceeding $70 billion monthly. The cumulative DEX volume on Sui crossed $110 billion, reflecting vibrant trading activity.
The expansion is not just in volume but also in diversity—lending protocols, liquid staking services, and stablecoin integrations contribute to a robust financial ecosystem.
Leading Decentralized Exchanges on Sui
Sui hosts several high-performing decentralized exchanges (DEXs), each bringing unique value propositions:
- Cetus Protocol: A concentrated liquidity market maker (CLMM) enabling efficient trading with minimal slippage. It features a “Super Aggregator” for best-price routing and an SDK for developers.
- Turbos Finance: Known for strong meme token support and resilient architecture. It maintained security during network incidents due to its independent codebase.
- Aftermath Finance: Offers a centralized exchange-like experience on-chain, with multi-asset pools, a smart-order router, and liquid staking derivatives.
- Momentum DEX: Introduced the ve(3,3) model to Sui, aligning incentives among traders, LPs, and protocols. It also supports stablecoin minting.
- KriyaDEX: Caters to advanced traders with leveraged perpetuals, limit orders, and strategy vaults, supporting up to 20x leverage.
These platforms highlight Sui’s capacity for high-speed, low-cost trading, attracting both retail and institutional participants.
Lending and Borrowing Platforms
Sui’s lending ecosystem provides capital efficiency and diverse yield opportunities:
- Suilend: Functions as a one-stop DeFi shop offering lending, borrowing, liquid staking, token swapping, and cross-chain bridging. Its instant unstaking feature enhances liquidity for users.
- NAVI Protocol: The first native liquidity protocol on Sui, supporting assets like WBTC, WETH, and SUI. It combines lending with leveraged yield farming.
- Scallop: Focuses on peer-to-peer lending with an emphasis on regulatory compliance and institutional-grade security. It was the first Sui DeFi project to receive a foundation grant.
These protocols illustrate Sui’s maturity in facilitating complex financial operations securely.
Liquid Staking and Stablecoins
Liquid staking derivatives (LSDs) unlock liquidity for staked assets, enhancing capital utility across DeFi. Key providers include:
- SpringSui (sSUI)
- Aftermath Finance (afSUI)
- Volo (vSUI)
- Haedal Protocol (haSUI)
Stablecoin integration is another strength, with native USDC, USDY, AUSD, and FDUSD driving liquidity and enabling seamless in-game economies and remittances.
Strategic Partnerships and Institutional Adoption
Sui has secured high-profile partnerships that bridge traditional finance with decentralized applications:
- Fireblocks: Provides institutional custody solutions, enabling safe access to Sui DeFi for enterprises.
- 21Shares: Collaborates on real-world asset (RWA) tokenization and financial product development.
- Wormhole and OKX Wallet: Enhance cross-chain liquidity and user accessibility.
- Ledger: Integrates secure self-custody and staking for SUI tokens.
- Microsoft: Explores enterprise blockchain solutions, expanding Sui’s use cases beyond finance.
These partnerships validate Sui’s technology and open doors for institutional capital and mainstream adoption.
Enhanced User and Developer Experience
Sui prioritizes accessibility through features like ZK Login, which allows users to access dApps using familiar web credentials—eliminating the need for seed phrases initially.
Developers benefit from comprehensive tools, including:
- Sui CLI and VS Code extensions
- TypeScript SDK and Move Accelerator program
- Regular hackathons, grants, and community support
This focus on usability helps onboard both non-crypto users and builders, creating a virtuous cycle of ecosystem growth.
Future Roadmap and Development Focus
Sui’s future development centers on several key areas:
- DeFi Expansion: Deepening liquidity, introducing synthetic assets, and expanding real-world asset (RWA) tokenization.
- Gaming and Entertainment: Launching the SuiPlay0X1 gaming console to boost GameFi adoption and attract play-to-earn titles.
- Technical Upgrades: Implementing ZK-based Layer-2 solutions for cheaper transactions and enhancing core protocol performance.
- Community and Institutional Growth: Continuing outreach through hackathons, educational initiatives, and enterprise partnerships.
Long-term price projections remain optimistic, with some analysts forecasting SUI to reach between $6 and $12 by 2030, driven by ecosystem maturity and technological advantages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Sui different from other blockchains?
Sui uses an object-centric model and the Move language, allowing dynamic digital assets and high transaction speeds. This architecture supports unique DeFi and gaming applications not easily possible on other networks.
How can I start using Sui DeFi applications?
You can begin by setting up a Sui-compatible wallet like Phantom or Suiet, acquiring SUI or stablecoins, and exploring DEXs like Cetus or lending platforms like Suilend. 👉 Explore beginner-friendly DeFi guides
Is Sui suitable for institutional investors?
Yes. With institutional custody via Fireblocks, RWA tokenization projects, and compliance-focused protocols like Scallop, Sui offers a secure environment for enterprises and funds.
What are liquid staking derivatives on Sui?
LSDs like sSUI or afSUI represent staked SUI tokens and can be used across DeFi while still earning staking rewards. This increases capital efficiency for holders.
Can I develop dApps on Sui without prior Move experience?
Yes. Sui provides extensive documentation, SDKs, and developer programs like the Move Accelerator to help new builders learn and deploy applications quickly.
What is the future of gaming on Sui?
The upcoming SuiPlay0X1 console and support for NFT-based assets position Sui as a potential leader in blockchain gaming, combining high performance with rich in-game economies.
Sui’s rapid ascent in the DeFi world underscores its technical strengths and strategic vision. As it continues to grow, its focus on user experience, institutional integration, and ecosystem diversity will likely play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of decentralized applications.