8 Possible Plot Threads in the Perpetual Trading Ecosystem in 2026: From Infrastructure to Dark Horse Potential

The perpetual DEX track is undergoing differentiation. Some are tech-savvy players favored by VC capital, while others leverage ecosystem relationships to pry open market space. To understand this situation clearly, you need to first ask a key question: What type of trader are you?

Script players, manual grid traders, or wealth management whales require completely different adapted projects. The former need high liquidity and low slippage environments, while the latter pursue stable returns and risk isolation. This determines which track you should position in.

Even more sobering is the marginal returns issue. Some early-stage star projects' yield curves have already begun flattening, while new entrants are still making decisions based on old data. This involves both market saturation factors and mechanism design degradation problems.

VC-heavy bets on potential stocks are another matter entirely. Capital flows typically lead the market by 3-6 months, and projects that secure top-tier institutional funding are generally incubating some form of product or ecosystem breakthrough. However, not all financing converts into real growth—the key is whether it can solve user pain points.

The stories of these 8 projects deserve a complete video breakdown.