HTX's Strategic Boost to the USDD Ecosystem: On-Chain Stablecoin Infrastructure as a Catalyst for DeFi Growth

In 2025, HTX has emerged as a pivotal force in reshaping the decentralized finance (DeFi) landscape through its aggressive expansion of the USDD ecosystem and on-chain stablecoin infrastructure. By leveraging strategic partnerships, governance innovations, and high-yield incentives, the exchange is not only solidifying its position in global payments but also catalyzing measurable growth in DeFi metrics such as Total Value Locked (TVL), user adoption, and yield farming participation.

Strategic Initiatives: Diversifying the USDD Ecosystem

HTX's approach to stablecoin infrastructure is multifaceted. The platform has launched six new stablecoins in 2025, including USD1 (backed by World Liberty Financial) and EURR, EURQ, and USDQ, which are designed to support multi-chain asset management and high-frequency trading, according to a Decrypt report. These stablecoins are integrated into trading pairs like BTC/USD1 and ETH/USD1, enabling users to hedge and trade across chains with minimal friction, as outlined in an HTX Research report. Crucially, HTX's collaboration with TRON-a network processing over $21.5 billion in daily stablecoin transfers-has amplified cross-border transaction efficiency, particularly in emerging markets where low fees and high throughput are critical, according to a Chainwire report.

The exchange has also prioritized regulatory alignment, with USD1 gaining traction amid evolving U.S. frameworks. This strategic move aligns with the Genius Act, which mandates non-bank-issued stablecoins to partner with regulated entities, ensuring institutional adoption and compliance, as Chainwire noted. By bridging traditional finance and Web3, HTX is positioning its stablecoins as foundational settlement layers for global transactions, a vision underscored by its 1:1 USDT/USDD conversion feature, which reduces on-chain friction for users, as stated in HTX's mid-year report.

Infrastructure Innovations: USDD 2.0 and Beyond

A cornerstone of HTX's strategy is the USDD 2.0 upgrade, which introduces a Peg Stability Module (PSM), secure liquidation mechanisms, and dynamic collateral management, as Decrypt reported. These enhancements ensure USDD maintains a stable 1:1 peg to the U.S. dollar while enabling seamless integration into DeFi protocols. For instance, USDD's deployment on TRON and Ethereum has facilitated its use in lending platforms like Aave and JustLend, where it now constitutes a significant portion of collateral in the SA001-A vault, according to a Protos report. This vault, entirely funded by HTX, subsidizes yields for USDD holders, offering up to 20% APY and attracting liquidity to DeFi ecosystems (the Protos analysis details the vault's composition).

HTX's Sonic public chain further exemplifies its infrastructure ambitions. With 2,000 TPS, 0.7-second finality, and near-zero fees, Sonic has driven a 500% surge in on-chain TVL in 2025, surpassing $260 million in stablecoin supply, as described in an HTX Research report. Innovations like Silo v2 Loop Lending and FlyingTulip DEX have enabled users to optimize capital efficiency, with APYs reaching 169% in niche strategies (the HTX Research Sonic report provides further technical details). This technical prowess underscores HTX's ability to create scalable, user-centric infrastructure that directly supports DeFi growth.

DeFi Growth Metrics: TVL, User Adoption, and Yield Participation

HTX's initiatives have directly contributed to DeFi's resurgence in 2025. The global DeFi TVL reached $123.6 billion by Q2 2025, with Ethereum dominating at $78.1 billion, based on Coinlaw data. HTX's USDD ecosystem has played a role in this growth, with its Stablecoin Earning Zone offering up to 20% APY on major stablecoins like USDC and USDD, as reported in an Analytics Insight article. For example, the USDD Flexible Earn product provides a 12% APY with hourly compounding, attracting over $400 million in deposits, according to a PR Newswire release. This product's success is evident, with Decrypt reporting a 92% increase in new user registrations that helped bring HTX's total user base to 50 million.

Moreover, HTX's liquidity movements have influenced DeFi lending rates. A $400 million withdrawal from Aave in June 2025 temporarily spiked USDT deposit APY to 24.65%, highlighting the platform's systemic impact, as noted in a 1Token blog post. Such volatility underscores HTX's role in shaping market dynamics, while its DAO Treasury System-allocating trading fees to community-driven projects-further incentivizes ecosystem growth, as Decrypt observed.

Case Studies: Sonic and USDD-Driven Yield Strategies

The Sonic public chain serves as a prime case study. By June 2025, its TVL surged 500% despite broader bear market conditions, driven by yield strategies like Euler + Rings Protocol Combo and Shadow DEX liquidity provision (detailed in the HTX Research Sonic report). These strategies leverage USDD's stability to generate high returns, with some APYs exceeding 169%. Sonic's technical innovations, including SonicVM and SonicDB, have also attracted institutional interest, with protocols like Spark Protocol achieving $59 billion in TVL, according to the Protos analysis.

Another example is the USDD Flexible Earn product, which has become a cornerstone of HTX's yield farming ecosystem. By allowing users to deposit USDT at a 1:1 ratio with zero slippage, the product has democratized access to high-yield opportunities, as the PR Newswire release describes. This has been particularly impactful in high-inflation economies, where USDD substitutes for local fiat and facilitates cross-border remittances, as Chainwire reported.

Conclusion: A Decentralized Future Powered by HTX

HTX's strategic investments in the USDD ecosystem and on-chain infrastructure are redefining DeFi's trajectory. By combining regulatory compliance, technical innovation, and user-centric incentives, the exchange is not only driving TVL growth but also fostering a decentralized, censorship-resistant financial system. As DeFi TVL continues to climb and stablecoins become the backbone of global payments, HTX's role as a catalyst for this transformation is undeniable. For investors, the platform's ecosystem presents a compelling opportunity to capitalize on the next phase of DeFi's evolution.