Gate.io’s Dr. Han: How Perpetuals, CeDeFi and Institutions Will Shape Crypto in 2025

Gate.io CEO Dr. Han outlined a practical roadmap for crypto markets as they move into 2025, focusing on the growth of perpetual contracts, the rise of CeDeFi (centralized–decentralized finance) hybrids, and deeper institutional participation. He framed these developments as part of a maturation process in which product innovation must be matched by stronger liquidity, smarter risk controls and clearer regulatory frameworks.

Perpetual futures remain a cornerstone of crypto derivatives, Dr. Han noted, because they offer continuous exposure without expiry and are attractive to both retail traders and professional market makers. That popularity brings operational demands: exchanges must manage funding-rate mechanics, margining systems and liquidity provisioning to prevent cascading liquidations during stress events. For platforms like Gate.io, enhancing risk engines and price-feed resilience is now a priority.

On CeDeFi, Dr. Han described a middle ground between the transparency of on-chain protocols and the user experience and compliance capabilities of centralized platforms. CeDeFi models can combine custody, KYC/AML controls and faster settlement with blockchain-based settlement rails, he argued, making digital assets more accessible to institutional buyers who still require counterparty assurances and regulatory compliance.

Institutional flows are expected to accelerate in 2025 as custody, prime brokerage and regulated product wrappers improve. Dr. Han emphasized that institutional adoption will be conditional on infrastructure readiness — deeper order books, audited custody solutions, and standardized compliance practices — not just on market sentiment or token performance.

Regulation, he said, will shape product design and market structure. Rather than stifling innovation, clear rules should reduce fragmentation and encourage capital to concentrate in venues that meet compliance and operational resilience standards. That, in turn, benefits liquidity and reduces systemic risk.

Looking ahead, Gate.io plans to prioritize interoperability between on-chain settlement and off-chain matching, invest in risk-management tools for derivatives, and collaborate with regulators to define compliant product frameworks. Dr. Han’s outlook frames 2025 as a transitional year: one where derivative complexity, hybrid custody models and institutional engagement converge to push crypto markets toward greater stability and mainstream utility.