Major South Korean exchanges Bithumb and Upbit listed Avantis (AVNT) for spot trading on September 15, 2025, anticipating increased market accessibility and potential price volatility for the decentralized perpetuals exchange token.

Executive Summary

Major South Korean cryptocurrency exchanges Bithumb and Upbit commenced spot trading for Avantis (AVNT) on September 15, 2025. This dual listing on two prominent platforms is expected to significantly enhance AVNT's market accessibility and liquidity within the South Korean crypto landscape. The move signals potential short-term price volatility and increased trading volume for the Base blockchain-based decentralized perpetuals exchange token, which offers high-leverage trading across digital and real-world assets.

The Event in Detail

On September 15, 2025, Bithumb initiated the listing of Avantis (AVNT) on its KRW market, allowing for AVNT/KRW trading. Concurrently, Upbit also began supporting AVNT trading, offering pairs against the South Korean Won (KRW), Bitcoin (BTC), and Tether (USDT). These listings mark a substantial expansion of AVNT's presence in one of Asia's most active cryptocurrency markets. Avantis, conceived in 2024 by DeFi veterans, is designed to address fragmented access and limited leverage in the decentralized finance derivatives space. The platform operates on the Base blockchain and enables trading with up to 500x leverage on cryptocurrencies and real-world assets (RWAs), including FX, commodities, and indices, with future plans to support equities.

Market Implications

The simultaneous listing of AVNT on Bithumb and Upbit is projected to induce high volatility and increased trading volume for the token. Expanded accessibility to South Korean investors through KRW trading pairs on major exchanges typically correlates with enhanced liquidity. As of September 8, 2025, AVNT registered a market capitalization of $172.65 million, a fully diluted valuation (FDV) of $825.2 million, and a 24-hour trading volume of $667.73 million. The token's price stood at $0.8252 with a reported return on investment from listing price of 3.38x USD. The increased exposure and legitimacy derived from these listings could further solidify AVNT's market position, potentially attracting additional investors and developers to its ecosystem.

Business Strategy & Market Positioning

Avantis positions itself as a pioneering decentralized perpetuals exchange, leveraging smart contract technology on the Base blockchain to provide institutional-grade products to DeFi. Its core strategy revolves around offering up to 500x leverage for a diverse range of assets, including cryptocurrencies and real-world assets, which sets it apart from many existing decentralized platforms. This approach aims to capture both retail and professional traders seeking transparent, permissionless, and efficient derivatives trading. The project has successfully secured $12 million in funding across two private rounds, backed by prominent investors such as Pantera Capital and Coinbase Ventures, underscoring its strategic support and credibility within the industry. Avantis has notably been recognized as the largest DEX on Base by trading volume, highlighting its successful execution and market penetration.

Broader Context

The South Korean cryptocurrency market is undergoing significant regulatory adjustments, with new guidelines aimed at tightening digital asset transactions and enhancing listing standards for exchanges. These measures, effective in June 2025, include restrictions on exchanges selling tokens on their own platforms to prevent conflicts of interest, and requirements for a minimum circulating supply for new listings to curb price instability. Despite these stricter conditions, the listing of AVNT on both Bithumb and Upbit signifies a level of compliance and market acceptance for the project. The decision by these major exchanges to list AVNT demonstrates ongoing demand for innovative DeFi protocols, particularly those offering advanced trading functionalities like high-leverage perpetuals and RWA exposure, within a maturing regulatory environment.", image_alt_tags=[