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Lighter Launches On-Chain Perpetuals for South Korean Blue‑Chip Stocks With Up to 10x Leverage

The crypto‑settled contracts spotlight a growing divide between DeFi access to equities versus Korea’s forthcoming regulated 2x ETFs.

Overview

  • Lighter went live on Feb. 11 with perpetual futures tied to Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Hyundai Motor, and a Korean Composite index.
  • The fully on‑chain contracts allow 24/7 long or short positions and remain open as long as margin requirements are met, with settlement in cryptocurrency.
  • The exchange says the products deliver up to 10x leverage, offering greater exposure than traditional exchange‑traded options currently planned in Korea.
  • Lighter reports using a zero‑knowledge design intended to lower trading costs, improve execution, and keep sensitive user data off‑chain.
  • The platform operates outside South Korea’s securities framework, as regulators separately approved 2x leveraged ETFs for 2026 with planned investor‑education efforts; CryptoQuant’s Ki Young Ju notes local exchanges hold about 9.54% of global spot volume.