Aptos Ecosystem Sees 100% Surge in Trading Volume, 71% of APT Staked

The period from May 15 to May 21 marked a significant milestone for the Aptos ecosystem, with substantial developments across decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), tokenization, and staking. The deployment of 500 million xBTC on the network and the surge in trading volume on several decentralized exchanges (DEXs) exceeding the $1 billion threshold have solidified Aptos' reputation as a scalable Layer 1 blockchain driven by developer innovation.

The launch of xBTC on the Aptos network, backed 1:1 by Bitcoin stored in cold storage at OKX, represents a pivotal moment. This development allows Bitcoin holders to integrate their assets into the Aptos ecosystem, enhancing the versatility of xBTC compared to traditional Bitcoin. The integration of Bitcoin, a benchmark for ecosystem maturity, brings significant value to the Aptos network, offering Bitcoin exposure in a more native format.

The DeFi sector on the Aptos network has entered a new competitive phase, with five DEXs—Thala Labs, Cellana Finance, LiquidSwap, Hyperion, and PancakeSwap—achieving cumulative trading volumes exceeding $1 billion. These platforms are attracting users and liquidity through innovative products and competitive incentives. Hyperion, in particular, distinguished itself with a remarkable $455 million in weekly trading volume, boosting its all-time trading volume to $1.6 billion. This indicates strong user retention and protocol growth.

Amnis Finance also hit a significant staking milestone, with over 60 million APT staked on the platform. The Aptos ecosystem's validator map shows global participation, with nodes operating in 23 countries and 54 cities. Nearly 861 million APT is staked across the network, with over 71 percent of all APT in circulation involved in staking. This high level of staking engagement and trading volume suggests a maturing DeFi environment with a loyal user base and potential institutional interest in the coming months.

The NFT world on Aptos is also experiencing significant growth, with 4,500 collectibles and 1.2 million individual token mintings. The ecosystem has seen an explosion of new collections, with 240 hitting the market in the last month alone. This growth is driven by a diverse group of creators, and upcoming events, such as the LFGO drop, are expected to further boost participation in the NFT space. The Aptos ecosystem is active, diversified, and growing across multiple verticals, unlike other Layer 1 blockchains that may be focusing on niche improvements or facing user attrition.

As May progresses, the focus will be on the long-term retention of the ecosystem. If the current trajectory continues, Aptos will be recognized not only for its speed and technological stack but also for the thriving on-chain economy it has developed. The ecosystem's robust development in NFTs, DeFi, and tokenized assets positions it for sustained growth and innovation.