Summary

In the last few weeks, the dYdX Operations subDAO has focused on enhancing frontend quality, refining internal workflows, and raising the standard of service we provide. We introduced our Service Providers and Validators Interview series to spotlight key contributors, launched new blog content covering various aspects from important product updates to technical guides, and covering industry insights and developments.

Our aim has been to continuously optimize both how we operate and what we deliver, enabling us to take on more projects and greater responsibilities with the same resources.

2025 Motto for DOS: Level Up

Level Up

This is the motto of the DOS: we are focusing on improving what we do every day and not being complacent with the status quo. This takes very different shapes depending on the area, contributor, and it also changes over time. Ultimately, we want to be able to do more with less and help dYdX win. 

While the second mandate was focused on getting started for the DOS, setting up the necessary infrastructure to get off the ground, enabling the launch of the community-owned infrastructure, and dydx.trade. We also saw the need to iterate on our structure as well as our scope, as evident in the legal structure migration from a Guernsey trust to a Cayman Island foundation for the holding company (DOT to DOF) and the expansion into QA with our QA engineer. Level Up encapsulates our drive to iterate not only in how we do things but also in what we are doing constantly to support our mandate: steward the community-owned infrastructure of the dYdX Chain. 

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As outlined above, the immediate effect of this won’t be super visible publicly as  we aim to improve internal processes on an ongoing basis. In the medium term we should be able to improve the publicly visible services that the DOS owns, such as: user support and help articles.  But in the long term, this should enable us to take on more responsibility and more projects with the same resources. 

Service Providers and Validators Interview Series + Recent Blogs

We recently launched a new content initiative called “Service Providers and Validators Interviews.” The aim is to highlight contributors, operators, and service providers who help run and scale the dYdX Chain.

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The format is a casual Q&A, where we sit down with contributors to explore how they operate, the challenges they face, and the value they bring to the ecosystem.

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These interviews are designed to answer questions the community might have and inspire curiosity among future operators and service providers who may want to get involved.

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Check out our latest two interviews:

• Spotlight #1: Polkachu - Polkachu shared insights on their approach to validator operations, focusing on high availability and secure infrastructure. They also discussed the importance of transparent governance and community engagement for long-term success.
  
  
• Spotlight #2: Imperator - Imperator highlighted their journey in building a reliable validator nodes and their strategies for managing uptime and performance. They also talked about the significance of cross-chain infrastructure in scaling decentralized ecosystems.

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Insights from Token2049 Dubai

We also published an article covering key takeaways from Token2049 Dubai, highlighting major industry trends:

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• DAO legal wrappers are becoming standard for reducing liability
• MiCA regulation is driving projects away from the EU due to complexity and costs
• Ai-driven trading tools are rapidly gaining traction
• Security and self-regulation are now core focuses for serious projects

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Read the full blog post HERE

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Running a test node on the dYdX Chain

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If you’re interested in running a test node on the dYdX Chain, we’ve published a detailed step-by-step guide for setting up an AWS instance and a testnet node

This deep dive includes instructions for configuring your AWS environment, deploying the necessary software, and ensuring your node is properly synced with the testnet. This resource is designed to make it easy for new operators to get started and participate in the network with minimal friction.

iOS app

We’ve updated our blog with the latest features and improvements to the iOS app. Highlights include:

• 200+ markets, with more added regularly
• Up to 50x leverage on select pairs
• Swipe-to-trade functionality for fast execution
• Real-time risk monitoring tools
• Near-instant withdrawals via optimized bridging
• 24/7/365 market access
• Fully self-custodial — no sign-ups or intermediaries

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Read the full update here: dYdX Chain iOS App — Now More Powerful Than Ever

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Financials

We have published the Q1 2025 Financial Update. You can read the full report here.