In a move that could reshape decentralized finance (DeFi), Grvt has announced it will pay retail traders for providing liquidity—an incentive traditionally reserved for large institutions.
On August 21, the on-chain trading platform revealed the launch of a −1 basis point (−0.01%) maker fee rebate for all users. In practical terms, this means that anyone placing maker orders on Grvt will now earn money instead of paying fees, marking a first in the decentralized exchange space.
Leveling the Playing Field
Market-making incentives have long been a cornerstone of traditional finance and centralized exchanges (CEXs), but they’ve typically been limited to high-volume institutional players. By extending these rewards to everyday traders, Grvt hopes to build deeper liquidity pools and reduce barriers between retail and professional participants.
“By offering rebates that pay retail traders for placing maker orders, we’re not only boosting market depth but also creating conditions that attract greater institutional taker flow,” said Hong Yea, co-founder and CEO of Grvt. “This is about extending incentives once reserved for institutions to the broader retail community, ensuring a more balanced and liquid marketplace for everyone.”
Closing DeFi’s Retail Gap
Despite strong advantages in privacy and security, decentralized exchanges still trail their centralized counterparts in adoption. Centralized exchanges processed $3.9 trillion in spot volume in Q2 2025, compared to just $876.3 billion for DEXs, according to market data. CEXs continue to lead thanks to smoother onboarding, user-friendly interfaces, and higher liquidity.
By rewarding retail traders directly, Grvt hopes to change that dynamic. Greater retail participation could lead to tighter spreads, deeper order books, and lower hidden costs across its platform—benefits that appeal to both small traders and larger institutions.
Built for Speed and Privacy
Grvt operates as a self-custodial, peer-to-peer exchange built on zkSync’s zero-knowledge infrastructure, which enables high transaction throughput while protecting user data. The team positions the platform as a way to bring retail traders more firmly into the financial system without sacrificing control over their assets.
The Bigger Picture
DeFi’s ongoing challenge is to match the efficiency and accessibility of centralized exchanges while maintaining its core values of transparency and self-custody. Grvt’s decision to pay retail traders for liquidity is a bold experiment in that direction—one that could help close the gap between institutional and everyday participants.
If successful, the model may encourage more retail users to embrace DeFi platforms, reshaping liquidity dynamics across the crypto ecosystem.
