Vortum — CEX-grade perp DEX for crypto & macro markets, fully on-chain

Hey everyone! We’re building Vortum, a non-custodial perp trading platform on the Internet Computer (ICP). Our goal is to deliver a fast, familiar “exchange-like” experience while keeping the core logic verifiable and the custody model on-chain.

:movie_camera: Pitch video: https://youtu.be/M5oh2V4MEuk

:globe_with_meridians: Web app: https://app.vortum.finance

:brain: Canister: https://a4gq6-oaaaa-aaaab-qaa4q-cai.raw.icp0.io/?id=ubwju-2qaaa-aaaas-qbiuq-cai

:laptop: GitHub: https://github.com/mfactory-lab/onex

Project highlights

What’s live today:

  • Account system and core infrastructure.

  • Multi-chain wallet flows for Bitcoin, Solana, and ICP (deposits/withdrawals).

  • On-chain order book + matching engine supporting spot trading.

  • Settlement & audit history and rate limiting / DoS protection.

This means you can sign in, deposit and withdraw assets, view balances, place market and limit orders, and track order status/history.

:next_track_button:What we’re building next: Perpetuals are in progress, with risk engine & liquidations planned.

How it’s built

Vortum runs as canisters on ICP. The backend is written in Rust and exposed via a Candid interface. The system is organized around modules for accounts, wallets, assets, trading, and settlement, plus supporting infrastructure like event logging, background tasks, request guards, and stable storage.

On the Chain Fusion side, we integrate with ckBTC (minter + ledger) and the Bitcoin canister for BTC flows, use Solana RPC via HTTPS outcalls for SOL flows, and integrate the ICP ledger for ICP operations.

Internet Computer superpowers

ICP is what makes this architecture practical:

  • Chain fusion integrations allow multi-chain deposits and withdrawals without relying on traditional bridges.

  • Canisters + deterministic execution make the trading engine verifiable.

  • Reverse-gas UX helps deliver a more “web-app-like” feel for users.

  • Stable memory patterns make upgrades and persistence more manageable.

Go-To-Market strategy

We’re focused on launching with real distribution and liquidity rather than “hope marketing.” We have a strategic partnership with a Swiss fintech and trading aggregator company, and a launch plan designed around cohort migration, committed trading flow, and backstop liquidity. We’re also working with professional market makers and building a distribution pipeline through communities, bots/integrations, and aggregators.

Monetization

Vortum is intended to monetize via protocol trading fees (with maker rebates as part of the structure). We’ll publish a clear, user-friendly fee schedule as we get closer to the full-scale launch.

Status of the project + future plans

Here’s where we are today:

  • :white_check_mark: Foundation complete: accounts, multi-chain wallet flows (BTC/SOL/ICP), order book + matching engine, spot trading foundation, settlement/audit history.

  • :counterclockwise_arrows_button: Perpetuals foundation: in progress

  • :puzzle_piece: Risk engine & liquidations: planned next

If you try it or review the repo, feedback from the ICP community (especially traders, market makers, and builders) is very welcome.

2 Likes

The user interface was quite good
Smooth and simplistic, very user friendly

Go-To-Market strategy

We’re focused on launching with real distribution and liquidity rather than “hope marketing.” We have a strategic partnership with a Swiss fintech and trading aggregator company, and a launch plan designed around cohort migration, committed trading flow, and backstop liquidity. We’re also working with professional market makers and building a distribution pipeline through communities, bots/integrations, and aggregators.

This sounds very interesting :backhand_index_pointing_up:
The IC network needs more people who understand the importance of liquidity and market making