The decentralized finance (DeFi) landscape is undergoing a transformative phase, with new Layer-1 blockchains redefining scalability, security, and user experience. Among these, Sui has emerged as a standout performer. Launched in May 2023 by Mysten Labs—founded by former Meta engineers—Sui leverages a unique object-centric data model and the Move programming language to deliver high-speed, low-cost transactions. These technical advantages have enabled it to rapidly grow its DeFi ecosystem, positioning itself as a major player in the Web3 space.
By mid-2025, Sui’s Total Value Locked (TVL) surpassed $2.1 billion, making it the third-largest non-EVM chain by TVL. Stablecoin volume surged from $400 million in January to nearly $1.2 billion by May 2025, with monthly stablecoin transfers exceeding $70 billion. Meanwhile, cumulative DEX volume exceeded $110 billion, signaling robust on-chain activity and growing user adoption.
This article explores Sui’s expanding DeFi ecosystem, its strategic partnerships, user-centric innovations, and long-term roadmap—highlighting why it's becoming a preferred platform for developers, institutions, and everyday users alike.
The Rise of Sui’s DeFi Ecosystem
Sui’s architecture is purpose-built for performance. Its object-centric model allows for parallel transaction processing, enabling near-instant finality and extremely low fees. This makes Sui ideal for high-frequency financial applications like lending, trading, and staking.
As of June 2025, Sui’s DeFi ecosystem boasts over $1.7 billion in TVL, outpacing more established chains like Avalanche and Polygon. The surge in stablecoin usage—driven by native USDC, USDY, AUSD, and FDUSD—has further fueled liquidity across decentralized exchanges (DEXs) and lending platforms.
Core Keywords: Sui DeFi, Total Value Locked, Move programming language, object-centric model, decentralized exchanges, liquid staking, RWA tokenization, ZK Login
With strong fundamentals and rapid adoption, Sui is not just competing—it’s innovating.
👉 Discover how next-gen blockchain platforms are reshaping digital finance.
Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs) Powering On-Chain Trading
Sui hosts a diverse range of DEXs that offer capital efficiency, advanced trading tools, and seamless user experiences.
Cetus Protocol (CETUS)
Cetus employs a Concentrated Liquidity Market Maker (CLMM) model similar to Uniswap V3, allowing liquidity providers to allocate funds within specific price ranges. This increases capital efficiency and reduces slippage. Cetus also features a “Super Aggregator” that sources optimal prices across Sui’s DEX landscape and offers a developer SDK for easy integration.
Turbos Finance (TURBOS)
A key driver of meme coin activity on Sui, Turbos Finance supports a wide array of community-driven tokens. Its secure, independently audited codebase remained unaffected during past exploits on other platforms, reinforcing trust among users.
Aftermath Finance (AF)
Aftermath aims to deliver a centralized exchange (CEX)-like experience fully on-chain. It combines a DEX aggregator, yield farming, liquid staking (afSUI), and cross-chain bridging into one platform—making it a true one-stop DeFi hub.
Momentum DEX (MMT)
Momentum introduces the ve(3,3) tokenomics model to Sui, aligning incentives between traders, liquidity providers, and protocols. All fees and emissions go directly to users. It also plays a critical role in minting algorithmic stablecoins on the network.
KriyaDEX (KDX)
KriyaDEX stands out with advanced features like leveraged perpetual contracts (up to 20x), limit orders, and automated strategy vaults. Its focus on professional-grade tools attracts sophisticated traders seeking speed and low costs.
Lending & Borrowing: Unlocking Capital Efficiency
Lending protocols on Sui combine high yields with institutional-grade security and seamless integrations.
Suilend (SEND)
Suilend integrates multiple DeFi functions into a single platform:
- Lending & Borrowing: Deposit assets to earn interest or borrow against collateral.
- Liquid Staking (SpringSui): Stake SUI to receive sSUI—a yield-bearing token with instant unstaking, reducing liquidity risk.
- Token Swapping (STEAMM): A superfluid AMM enables efficient swaps within the platform.
- Cross-Chain Bridging: Powered by Wormhole, Suilend connects Sui with Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, and others.
NAVI Protocol (NAVX)
As the first native lending protocol on Sui, NAVI supports WBTC, WETH, and SUI. It offers dynamic interest rates and leveraged yield farming, aiming to become a decentralized bank for the Sui ecosystem.
Scallop (SCA)
Scallop is the first DeFi protocol to receive an official grant from the Sui Foundation. It emphasizes peer-to-peer lending with high capital efficiency and regulatory compliance—making it attractive to institutional participants.
Liquid Staking Derivatives (LSDs): Enhancing Liquidity
Liquid staking is central to Sui’s DeFi growth. Key LSD providers include:
- SpringSui (sSUI): Instant unstaking feature enhances safety and liquidity.
- Aftermath Finance (afSUI): Integrated into broader DeFi activities.
- Volo (vSUI): Focused on yield optimization.
- Haedal Protocol (haSUI): First LSD on Sui; expanding across exchanges and dApps.
These derivatives allow users to stake while maintaining liquidity—unlocking yield without sacrificing flexibility.
Stablecoins and Cross-Chain Infrastructure
Sui supports multiple stablecoins including USDC, USDY (yield-bearing), AUSD, and FDUSD. This diversity strengthens DeFi liquidity and supports gaming economies.
Interoperability is ensured through:
- Cross-chain bridges: Wormhole and Axelar enable asset transfers across major chains.
- Oracles: Pyth, Stork, Supra, and Switchboard provide real-time off-chain data.
- RPC Providers: Ankr, RockX, NOWNodes ensure reliable node access for developers.
- Developer Tools: Sui CLI, VSCode extension, TypeScript SDKs, tutorials, and active community support lower development barriers.
Strategic Partnerships Driving Institutional Adoption
Sui’s growth is accelerated by high-impact collaborations:
- Fireblocks: Enables secure institutional custody and DeFi access.
- 21Shares: Partnering on RWA tokenization and crypto ETPs.
- Ondo Finance: Launching tokenized U.S. Treasuries on Sui.
- ATHEX Exchange: Exploring on-chain fundraising via Sui.
- Microsoft: Collaborating on enterprise blockchain integration.
- Ledger & OKX Wallet: Enhancing secure self-custody and cross-chain engagement.
These partnerships signal strong institutional confidence and pave the way for mainstream financial integration.
👉 See how institutional capital is flowing into next-generation blockchains.
User Experience & Developer Enablement
Sui prioritizes accessibility:
- ZK Login: Allows users to log in with email or social credentials—no seed phrases required.
- Sui Name Service (SuiNS): Replace complex addresses with human-readable names like
alice.sui. - Developer Support: Comprehensive SDKs, documentation, hackathons (e.g., Sui Overflow), grants, and weekly office hours foster innovation.
This dual focus on UX and dev tools creates a flywheel effect—better apps attract more users, which in turn draws more builders.
Future Roadmap: Scaling DeFi, GameFi & AI
Sui’s long-term vision includes:
- Deeper DeFi Integration: Exploring synthetics, RWAs, and stable-yield products.
- GameFi Expansion: The upcoming SuiPlay0X1 gaming console will drive demand for play-to-earn games.
- Technical Upgrades: Layer-2 solutions using ZK tech for faster, cheaper transactions; Mysticeti v2 for improved consensus.
- Community Growth: Ongoing hackathons, education programs, and ecosystem grants.
Analysts project strong price appreciation by 2030, with some estimates placing SUI between $6 and $12—driven by adoption in AI-driven applications and enterprise use cases.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What makes Sui different from other Layer-1 blockchains?
A: Sui’s object-centric data model enables parallel transaction processing, resulting in ultra-fast speeds and low fees—ideal for DeFi and gaming applications.
Q: How does liquid staking work on Sui?
A: Users stake SUI tokens through protocols like SpringSui or Haedal to receive liquid staking tokens (e.g., sSUI or haSUI), which can be used in DeFi while earning staking rewards.
Q: Is Sui compatible with Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)?
A: No. Sui uses its own Move-based architecture instead of EVM, offering better performance but requiring developers to learn Move.
Q: Can I use popular wallets with Sui?
A: Yes. Supported wallets include Phantom, Ledger, Backpack, Binance Wallet, Coinbase Wallet, Martian Wallet, Ethos Wallet, and OKX Wallet.
Q: What role do partnerships play in Sui’s growth?
A: Collaborations with Fireblocks, 21Shares, Ondo Finance, and Microsoft enhance institutional credibility and enable real-world asset tokenization.
Q: How can developers start building on Sui?
A: Developers can use the Sui SDKs (JavaScript/TypeScript), CLI tools, extensive documentation, and join community programs like the Move Accelerator.
👉 Start building on one of the fastest-growing Web3 ecosystems today.