Lighter, a Layer 2 decentralized exchange (DEX) on Ethereum focusing on perpetuals, has unveiled its native cryptocurrency, the Lighter Infrastructure Token (LIT). This move aims to align traders, developers, and supporters as it strives to merge traditional finance with decentralized finance (DeFi).
The LIT token distribution is balanced: 50% allocated to the ecosystem and 50% to the team and investors. An immediate airdrop provides early participants with free LIT tokens, converting their 12.5 million points earned in 2025. This makes up 25% of the project’s total fully diluted valuation.
The remainder will fund future incentives, partnerships, and growth. Both the team (26%) and investors (24%) will experience a one-year lockup, followed by a three-year linear vesting, as detailed by Lighter in a post on X.
The token is issued by Lighter’s operational entity, a C-Corporation registered in the U.S.
“The future of finance exists at the intersection of traditional finance and DeFi, with efficient, secure, and verifiable infrastructure vital for both sectors – bringing real-world assets into DeFi while enhancing verifiability and composability within TradFi,” Lighter stated on X.
“Thus, our utility framework for the LIT token considers how value is exchanged throughout the financial system, developing infrastructure that enhances value through efficiency, transparency, and innovation,” it elaborated.
Over the past week, Lighter’s perpetuals recorded an average volume of $2.7 billion, ranking third after Hyperliquid and Aster, according to a data tracker utilizing Dune.
Hyperliquid’s HYPE token is currently valued at $6.26 billion in the market, making it the 29th-largest digital asset globally.
Beyond a governance token
LIT serves more than merely granting voting rights or rewards. It functions as a core token powering Lighter’s trading systems.
Lighter delivers varied trading execution and data verification services, with higher-tier services requiring a larger stake in LIT tokens. Staking involves locking tokens to access these functionalities. As the network decentralizes, the staking requirements will increase, reflecting a shift from a centralized operation to one governed by many users.
Users and data providers will also incur fees in LIT for market information and price confirmations. Staking ensures the reliability of this data, which is crucial for secure trading and risk management.
Revenue monitoring and buyback strategies
The post on X clarified that revenue generated by Lighter from its trading platform and future services will be entirely traceable on the blockchain, ensuring public verifiability.
Revenue may be directed towards ecosystem development or LIT token buybacks. Buybacks entail repurchasing tokens to decrease supply, potentially enhancing their value.
These actions will not adhere to a strict timeline and will rely on broader market trends and the company’s long-term vision.
