Binance co-founder Changpeng "CZ" Zhao has ignited industry debate by proposing dark pool decentralized exchanges (DEXs) for perpetual swaps. This unconventional approach aims to shield traders from predatory practices like front-running and liquidation hunting that plague transparent blockchain markets.
In a June 1 social media post, Zhao highlighted the inherent vulnerability of current DEX designs: "Everyone sees your orders in real-time — this becomes dangerous with leveraged positions." The commentary follows a high-profile incident where a trader lost 【$100 million】 in Bitcoin positions on Hyperliquid, allegedly targeted by coordinated liquidation attacks.
——"When executing billion-dollar trades, visibility equals vulnerability,"—— Zhao asserted, drawing parallels to traditional finance's dark pools that handle orders 【10 times larger】 than public markets.
Industry experts reveal existing privacy solutions: • Renegade Protocol: Encrypts orders using multiparty computation • Penumbra: Conducts sealed-bid auctions with ZK-proof verification • StealthEX CEO Maria Carola notes: "ZK-SNARKs could validate trades without exposing details"
However, 0xAw of Alien Base warns implementation challenges persist: "True privacy requires preventing price oracle exploitation — a non-trivial cryptographic hurdle."
The proposal enters murky waters as Carola cautions: "Onchain dark pools must navigate complex compliance landscapes while maintaining cryptographic accountability." This dual challenge of satisfying regulators and protecting traders may determine the viability of such systems.
Zhao emphasized derivatives' unique need for privacy: "Visible liquidation points make whales targets for coordinated attacks." Yet he acknowledged counterarguments — transparency allows market makers to absorb large orders efficiently.
——"Different traders need different markets,"—— concluded the Binance founder, encouraging developers to explore delayed settlement mechanisms and hidden order books. As the debate continues, one truth emerges: in crypto's high-stakes trading arenas, visibility carries an increasingly heavy price.