Sai perps is a new perpetuals dex with innovative features like gasless transactions and onchain settlement built on the nibiru ecosystem. while it enhances the defi landscape and could attract traders, its immediate impact on the broader defi sector or major cryptocurrencies like btc, eth, sol (which are tradeable assets on the platform) is likely limited. the most direct positive impact would be on the nibiru ecosystem and its native token, nibi, due to increased utility for stnibi as collateral and general activity.
The news comes from a direct announcement by sai and is reported by decrypt, a reputable cryptocurrency news outlet. the platform's features (onchain settlement, gasless transactions, cex-like ux) are positive developments for dexs.
For the general defi market or major coins, the launch of one new dex, even with advanced features, is unlikely to create significant bullish or bearish momentum. any positive sentiment or price movement would be primarily localized to the nibiru ecosystem and its nibi token due to direct utility and ecosystem growth. the trading competition offers short-term incentives but won't shift macro trends.
The immediate impact is related to the launch buzz and the one-month trading competition. long-term effects on market share and liquidity depend on sustained user adoption, platform performance, and successful execution of its future roadmap beyond the initial hype.
In brief Sai has announced the launch of Sai Perps, a perpetuals trading platform. The platform is designed to offer a "clean, CEX-like experience," with onchain settlement providing transparency and settlement guarantees. Sai Perps launches alongside Let’s Go Saicho, a one-month onchain trading competition with a $25,000 prize pool. Sai has announced the launch of Sai Perps , a perpetuals trading platform designed to combine the accessibility of centralized exchanges with the transparency and self-custody of onchain settlement. The platform features gasless transactions, which Sai claims removes friction for traders while maintaining full onchain security. “Onchain markets shouldn’t require traders to compromise between speed and self-custody,” Sai contributor Matthias Darblade said in a statement shared with Decrypt . “Sai Perps is designed for active traders who want a clean, CEX-like experience, while still getting the transparency and settlement guarantees that only onchain infrastructure can provide.” Sai Perps offers a “streamlined trading experience” built atop smart contract ecosystem Nibiru, with onchain infrastructure that focuses on liquidity, risk systems and oracle design. Sai’s oracle settled pricing reflects global markets, which it claims reduces scam wicks and “makes Sai feel like a low slippage DEX even when liquidity appears light.” Flexible collateral enables capital to be reused across positions, while Sai’s single asset vaults enable users to earn a share of fees without managing pairs, with collateral deposits of USDC or Nibiru’s Liquid Staked NIBI (stNIBI) token. Let’s Go Saicho To accompany the launch of Sai Perps, Sai has unveiled Let’s Go Saicho , a one-month onchain trading competition with a $25,000 prize pool. The competition kicks off with a PNL contest for profitable traders, running from February 182 to March 4, with 50 winners sharing a $20,000 prize pool. The wait is over. Sai is live. Starting today, trade 25+ markets including BTC, ETH, SOL and more, all on a seamless interface with fully onchain, transparent execution. And yes, it’s gasless. To celebrate the launch, we’re kicking things off with Let’s Go Saicho, Sai’s first… pic.twitter.com/WUWOF6QuBC — Sai (@SaiDotFun) February 18, 2026 It’s followed by a first-come, first-serve “Be Early” phase running from March 5 to March 19, which rewards traders who “engage early and hit a minimum volume threshold.” The second phase of the contest will see 50 winners sharing a $5,000 prize pool. Following the launch of Sai Perps, Sai’s future roadmap includes stocks, commodities and FX markets, along with cross-chain deposits and Sai Savings, a yield on deposits feature. Brought to you by Sai Learn More about partnering with Decrypt. Daily Debrief Newsletter Start every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more. Your Email Get it! Get it!