Solana

DeFi

USDC

Phoenix

<p><strong>Rampant bot activity on DeFi platforms has pumped up the on-chain transaction volume of Solana-based stablecoins past $1 trillion in the first two months of this year alone.</strong></p>
<p>As of Feb. 22, Solanas monthly stablecoin turnover has reached $643 billion, surpassing Januarys volume of $531.32 billion, according to data from crypto analytics platform <a href="https://app.artemis.xyz/stablecoins?stablecoinBreakdown=chain&amp;granularity=monthly" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Artemis</a>.</p>
<p>Most of Solanas transactions occur on its decentralized exchanges (DEXs), most notably on Phoenix, which has caught the attention of <a href="https://dailycoin.com/solana-stablecoin-volumes-artificially-inflated/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">media outlets</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/sphere_labs/status/1749432158098448559" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">data providers</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/WazzCrypto/status/1752074575364719040" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">social media influencers</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It has suspiciously high volumes of daily USDC transfers, hitting $27.5 billion on Feb. 20 alone, according to data provider <a href="https://www.hellomoon.io/solana-defi/tokens/usd-coin/overview" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hellomoon</a>. </p>
<p>To put that figure in perspective, that one DEX on Solana saw more USDC volume on Feb. 20 than Ethereums entire stablecoin transfers that day of $20.9 billion.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Its worth noting that Solana has $2.2 billion worth of stablecoins in its ecosystem, compared with Ethereums $71.6 billion, <a href="https://defillama.com/chain/Ethereum" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">according</a> to DefiLlama.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Phoenix has not yet responded to Cointelegraphs request for comment.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized">
 <img decoding="async" src="http://cointelegraph.com/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2.-Top-Protocols-USDC-Hellomoon.io_.png" alt="USDC" class="wp-image-29174" width="407" height="476" srcset="https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2.-Top-Protocols-USDC-Hellomoon.io_.png 615w, https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2.-Top-Protocols-USDC-Hellomoon.io_-256x300.png 256w" sizes="(max-width: 407px) 100vw, 407px">
 <figcaption class="wp-element-caption">
  <em>Solanas top DeFi protocols for daily USDC trading volume, as of 11:00 am UTC, Feb. 20. (Hellomoon) </em>
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</figure>
<p>Cointelegraphs analysis of the transactions at <a href="https://solscan.io/account/PhoeNiXZ8ByJGLkxNfZRnkUfjvmuYqLR89jjFHGqdXY" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Phoenix</a> reveals that the majority of its trades are likely conducted by bots rather than people. Trading bots <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/automated-strategies-in-defi-the-future-of-trading-bots-detailed" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">automate complex strategies</a> like arbitrage, which is the practice of purchasing assets in one platform and selling them in another to profit from the price differences in markets.&nbsp;</p>
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<p><a href="https://solscan.io/account/PhoeNiXZ8ByJGLkxNfZRnkUfjvmuYqLR89jjFHGqdXY" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Blockchain records</a> from the Solana blockchain explorer, Solscan, reveal that the majority of Phoenixs countless daily orders are spammed by just a handful of addresses.<br><br>A relentless stream of transactions, far beyond human pace, often tripping over themselves in haste, Slava Demchuk, co-founder of blockchain intelligence platform AMLBot, tells&nbsp;Cointelegraph.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The notion that bots might be orchestrating these transactions isn’t far-fetched.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized">
 <img decoding="async" src="http://cointelegraph.com/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/solana-stablecoin-volume-1024x455.png" alt="Solana" class="wp-image-29209" width="836" height="371" srcset="https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/solana-stablecoin-volume-1024x455.png 1024w, https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/solana-stablecoin-volume-300x133.png 300w, https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/solana-stablecoin-volume-770x342.png 770w, https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/solana-stablecoin-volume-1536x682.png 1536w, https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/solana-stablecoin-volume.png 1673w" sizes="(max-width: 836px) 100vw, 836px">
 <figcaption class="wp-element-caption">
  Solana’s stablecoin volume has grown fast. (Artemis)
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-the-bots-doing-on-solana-s-phoenix-dex">What are the bots doing on Solanas Phoenix DEX?</h2>
<p>Phoenix uses an on-chain order book, which means every transaction that is sent to the exchange gets stamped onto the blockchain.</p>
<p>Cointelegraph analyzed the activity of one of the addresses suspected of running an arbitrage bot, <a href="https://solscan.io/account/FreyaXYaCwVy86BdNECd7BXnqEvFUbt3p6d2B5eS5zDv" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">FreyaXYaCwVy86BdNECd7BXnqEvFUbt3p6d2B5eS5zDv</a> (which we will call Freya for simplicity sake), to better understand Solanas transaction volumes.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Freya creates about 150 orders per minute at Phoenix, with most of these transactions failing for various reasons, such as slippage and insufficient balance. Examining one of Freyas <a href="https://solscan.io/tx/5g2AV6qaKFJgTYkkE6KGKv5X3S8mfjzEjB1VLycM195vFzRps4a3eSAtXinxBUfT6YMX76Dj2JbBDHXFeHZNFFPF" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">unsuccessful transactions</a> shows that the address runs a <a href="https://solscan.io/account/YmirFH6wUrtUMUmfRPZE7TcnszDw689YNWYrMgyB55N" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">program</a> called my-arb-program when interacting with Phoenix and other Solana-based DEXs.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized">
 <img decoding="async" src="http://cointelegraph.com/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/4.-Freya-unsuccessful-transaction-1024x937.png" alt="Freya" class="wp-image-29176" width="750" height="686" srcset="https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/4.-Freya-unsuccessful-transaction-1024x937.png 1024w, https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/4.-Freya-unsuccessful-transaction-300x275.png 300w, https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/4.-Freya-unsuccessful-transaction-770x705.png 770w, https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/4.-Freya-unsuccessful-transaction.png 1155w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px">
 <figcaption class="wp-element-caption">
  <em>A program log of one of Freyas failed transactions matches the trading activities of an arbitrage bot. (Solscan)</em>
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The program log shows a sequence of calls and responses that align with how trading bots interact with blockchain networks. They often rely on programmatic interfaces to execute sequences of operations based on certain triggers.</p>
<p>The sequence of Freyas instructions includes multiple swaps and transfers across different DEXs (Orca, Phoenix, and Raydium), reflecting the trading activities of an arbitrage bot attempting to profit from price discrepancies across the platforms.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>While Phoenixs volumes are inflated by bots, that is not necessarily their purpose.</p>
<p>My guess would be that they are ‘normal’ users of the system that are running bots on it, said Sam Williams, founder of distributed storage network Arweave<em>.</em> Most of the [traditional finance] trades are also made by bots so this is a positive, not negative sign, Williams added.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-market-makers-and-arbitrage-bots"><strong>Market makers</strong> and arbitrage bots </h2>
<p>Bot activities can signal a sophisticated market. However, when bots are unleashed on platforms with on-chain order books like Phoenix, their failed transactions can also inflate trading volumes, painting a misleading picture of the networks trading activities.</p>
<p>Compounding the issue, arbitrage bots may not be the only non-human traders on Phoenix and other Solana-based DEXs. Eugene Chen, co-founder of Phoenix core contributor Ellipsis Labs, <a href="https://www.dlnews.com/articles/defi/solana-phoenix-stablecoin-volume-is-misleading/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">told</a> DL News that market makers are also behind the titanic volumes.</p>
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<p>X19, a pseudonymous developer at infrastructure company Syndica, tells Cointelegraph that its a lot easier to run profitable market-making bots on a central limit order book DEX but speculates they might have additional motivations too.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Since Phoenix might have a token later they might just be wash trading to up their volume in hopes for an airdrop, x19 says.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Market makers play an important role in financial markets as liquidity providers. Like arbitrage trading, this function is usually delegated to automation in both traditional and crypto markets.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Cointelegraph has unpacked the trading activity of LUKAzPV8dDbVykTVT14pCGKzFfNcgZgRbAXB8AGdKx3 (which we shall call LUKA), an account that appears to be running a market-making bot. LUKA creates about 150 orders per minute on Phoenix.&nbsp;</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized">
 <img decoding="async" src="http://cointelegraph.com/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/5.-LUKA-spams-transactions-on-Phoenix-1024x617.png" alt="LUKA" class="wp-image-29177" width="738" height="445" srcset="https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/5.-LUKA-spams-transactions-on-Phoenix-1024x617.png 1024w, https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/5.-LUKA-spams-transactions-on-Phoenix-300x181.png 300w, https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/5.-LUKA-spams-transactions-on-Phoenix-770x464.png 770w, https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/5.-LUKA-spams-transactions-on-Phoenix.png 1288w" sizes="(max-width: 738px) 100vw, 738px">
 <figcaption class="wp-element-caption">
  <em>LUKAs transaction activity on Phoenix. (Solscan) </em>
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The <a href="https://solscan.io/tx/2MWML4e6XoriksuCHHtcwmzcWxFK4htmk8EYoE5fTrCBgzL2zuJBYfdZDKt43hZxAVN6HcSw8upgijPKinyvCqVm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">program log</a> for LUKAs transactions shows nine different sequential instructions, including trading actions: canceling orders, placing limit orders, and placing multiple post-only orders.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The automated sequence of actions and structured order placements indicate pre-defined strategies being executed by bots that resemble a market maker rather than an arbitrage bot. For instance, the placing of limit and post-only orders point towards intentions to provide liquidity.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Arbitrage bots, on the other hand, seek to profit from price differences between markets without necessarily providing liquidity.&nbsp;</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-the-bots-healthy-manipulative-or-meaningless">Are the bots h<strong>ealthy, manipulative or meaningless?&nbsp;</strong></h2>
<p>In traditional finance, arbitrage trading is legal in most jurisdictions, including the United States. Such strategies can contribute to improving the health and efficiency of markets by effectively adjusting mispriced assets.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Behind the scenes, bots are driven by the allure of profit, exploiting every sliver of opportunity for arbitrage or market manipulation. While their dance can help align market prices, theres a thin line between healthy arbitrage and disruptive market gaming, says Demchuk of AMLBot.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It’s a nuanced debate, touching on the essence of fair play in the digital age.</p>
<p>Some market participants believe Solanas transaction volume is false and manipulative, but others <a href="https://twitter.com/0xShitTrader/status/1751011766710976518" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">argue</a> that the transfers from market makers are legitimate, albeit meaningless.</p>
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  <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
   <p lang="en" dir="ltr">I believe the widely circulated Solana Stablecoin Volumes, particularly <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24USDC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">$USDC</a>, are completely FALSE if not MANIPULATED through Spoofing.<br><br>And I got the receipts to show for it, please read on:<br><br> <a href="https://t.co/GqjCpGDhf9" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/GqjCpGDhf9</a></p>— Wazz (@WazzCrypto) <a href="https://twitter.com/WazzCrypto/status/1752074575364719040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">January 29, 2024</a>
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  <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solana-is-the-comeback-kid"><strong>Solana is the comeback kid</strong></h2>
<p>The emergence of widespread bot activity comes during a time of resurgence for Solana. In December 2022, following <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/ftx-ftx-us-and-alameda-file-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy-in-us-sbf-resigns" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">FTXs</a> bankruptcy, SOL traded under $10 for the first time since cracking double digits in February 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Solana is maybe one of the most shocking price actions (among the large-cap coins) that weve seen in the past 24 months, says Justin dAnethan, Asia-Pacific head of business development at crypto market maker Keyrock. For a moment, it almost felt like it wouldnt survive the bear market and the association or support from <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/solana-ceo-says-ftx-fallout-hurt-ecosystem-startups" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">FTX/Alameda</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>At the time of writing, SOL was changing hands for $103 per token, up by more than 10x from the lows it plunged to when FTX collapsed. Solanas native coin SOL is still the worlds fifth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, with approximately $50 billion.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Solana has faced criticisms directed at the networks inability to stay online, including a May 2022 <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/solana-suffers-7th-outage-in-2022-as-bots-invade-the-network" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">outage</a> caused by bots invading the network. Earlier this month, Solana suffered its 11th <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/solana-network-outage-block-production-halted" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">outage</a> in the past two years.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Unlike the many outages that plagued the blockchain in 2021-2022, the more recent pause was due to a bug in the updated version of the Solana validating software, which was then quickly fixed. Other than that, even in periods of high throughput, the blockchain has been running unencumbered for many months, says dAnethan.&nbsp;</p>
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The DeFi bots pumping Solana’s stablecoin volume

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