Uniswap is a decentralized exchange and finance protocol on Ethereum for swapping ERC-20 tokens. Founded by Hayden Adams in 2018, Uniswap is intended to operate as a public tool that lets its users trade tokens without middlemen. Uniswap is an open-source protocol that allows everyone-developers, liquidity providers, and traders-to take part in a financial marketplace that is accessible to all.
Uniswap has its native token called UNI. The UNI is a governance token that gives investors a chance to convert ERC-20 tokens or Ethereum into other projects on the Ethereum network
Connecting Your Uniswap Account To ZenLedger
- To import your transactions, log in to Uniswap and copy your receiving address.
- Paste the receiving address you copied from Uniswap into the wallet address field in ZenLedger.
- Select the proper coin from the dropdown list.
- Select if the wallet is based in the USA or not.
- Then hit add a coin.
How To Generate Uniswap Crypto Tax Forms?
After you’ve connected your Uniswap account, completed your import, and confirmed that your transaction information and tax liabilities are correct, simply click to download your forms!
How Does Uniswap Work?
Uniswap is a decentralized exchange that operates through a smart contract deployed on the Ethereum blockchain, enabling users to trade ERC20 tokens directly without relying on a centralized exchange. When a user wishes to swap one token for another, they send their tokens to the Uniswap smart contract, which calculates the exchange rate based on the current market price.
This exchange stands out for its decentralized nature, lacking a centralized order book found in traditional exchanges. Instead, it depends on liquidity pools to establish prices and execute trades. Liquidity pools consist of capital contributed to facilitate market liquidity.
The DEX employs an automated market maker (AMM) algorithm to set prices and execute trades based on market supply and demand, eliminating the need for a centralized order book and enhancing resistance to manipulation.
The protocol encourages users to provide liquidity by imposing a 0.3% fee for cryptocurrency swaps. Liquidity providers deposit cryptocurrencies into pools and, in return, earn a portion of the fees collected by the protocol. These providers are crucial for the protocol’s operation, as their capital ensures there is enough liquidity for trades to occur.
To contribute to a pool, users must deposit equal values of both tokens into it. For instance, for the ETH/DAI pool, a user deposits 1 ETH and 1 DAI to participate and subsequently earns a share of the pool’s fees. Liquidity providers receive Uniswap (LP) tokens with each transaction, which track the amount and duration of liquidity provided, ensuring they receive their fair portion of fees.
This entire system operates autonomously through smart contracts, eliminating the need for a centralized exchange and making it highly resistant to manipulation and attacks. The DEX exclusively supports ERC20 tokens due to its foundation on the Ethereum blockchain.
The UNI token plays a role in decentralizing the exchange’s governance. While UNI holders have voting rights on protocol changes, it’s important to note that owning UNI tokens is not a requirement to use the Uniswap protocol.
How To Buy Uniswap Crypto?
Let’s get started with how to buy Uniswap (UNI) with three simple steps:
1. Create An Account
In case of the absence of ERC-20 token for swapping Uniswap (UNI), you can use centralized exchanges directly for the direct buying and selling of UNI. Once you place your order, your crypto exchange or crypto broker will carry out the order on the basis of pre-set instructions in lieu of commission or fee.
2. Connect Your Wallet
Next, you have to store your tokens away from the prying eyes of hackers in a crypto wallet. There are many such wallets available in the market that aim to keep your tokens protected. It is recommended to use a hardware crypto wallet, instead of a software wallet as the former offers higher security. But if you’re looking for something accessible, a software wallet such as a Coinbase wallet will do the job
3. Start Purchasing
Now that your account is set up and your wallet is connected, it’s time to purchase on your exchange. Here’s how to place the order:
Step 1: Determine how much you’ll purchase
Keeping the volatility of the crypto market in mind, it is important to observe the current scenario of the market before deciding how many UNI you would need to purchase.
Step 2: Place your order
Now you must place your order on the broker’s platform. Here you must specify the type of order that you want to place.
Step 3: Order filling by broker
Once your order is submitted, your task is done. Your broker will now fill the order based on the specifications set by you. In case the order can’t be filled, your broker might withdraw it during or towards the end of the trading day or can leave it indefinitely open. Under any circumstance of filing an order or cancellation of the order, you will be notified by email.
The Bottom Line: Is Uniswap A Good Investment?
It is the largest cryptocurrency DEX exchange operating on Ethereum Blockchain. There are various features that set it apart that make it a good investment option. Let’s look at some of those features:
- Uniswap uses a pricing mechanism called the “Constant Product Market Maker Model”
- Allows listing of any ERC-20 token – no permission required
- Smart contracts and liquidity pools can be created if they don’t exist for a token
- Latest updates in Uniswap V2 and Uniswap V3
Uniswap V2 was released in May 2020. It offered many new features and technical improvements.
Recently, Uniswap V3 was launched in May 2021 with more advanced features like concentrated liquidity, the ability to change risk levels when volatile assets are being traded, more tier fees, and also inexpensive and accessible oracles. Uniswap V3 also generates non-fungible tokens (NFTs) depending on the liquidity provider’s position.
Developments in 2023
Uniswap’s current version, V3, has gained significant popularity due to its innovative features like concentrated liquidity and improved capital efficiency for liquidity providers, marking a clear focus on capital efficiency compared to its predecessor, V2. However, the development team had even more ambitious plans for the V4 release.
In June 2023, the crypto community witnessed the release of Uniswap V4’s draft code, signaling the beginning of a new era for the decentralized exchange protocol. This highly anticipated launch of Uniswap V4 revolutionized the user experience, introduced advanced features, and addressed existing limitations.
V4’s launch represents a significant milestone for the Ethereum network’s largest decentralized exchange protocol, boasting an impressive total value locked (TVL) of approximately $4 billion, as reported by DefiLlama.
This transition has been centered around the implementation of “hooks,” smart contracts that enable tailored interactions within V4, encompassing various aspects such as pools, swaps, fees, and LP positions. These enhancements have introduced new options for fees, on-chain limit orders, and personalized on-chain oracles.
At the heart of V4’s architecture lies a focus on cost reduction and efficiency enhancement, primarily achieved through the introduction of a “singleton” contract that houses all pools. This unique integration of hooks and singleton architecture has delivered an exceptionally potent platform, characterized by swift and secure pool customization, as well as efficient routing capabilities across numerous pools.