Deep Dive
1. Buyback Strategy Uncertainty (Mixed Impact)
Overview:
Fluid’s governance is debating whether to allocate protocol revenue (currently $10M annualized) to token buybacks starting October 2025. Three models are proposed: dynamic FDV-based, TWAP-triggered, or a hybrid. A “no buyback” option also exists, prioritizing growth reinvestment.
What this means:
Approval of buybacks (especially the FDV-linked model) could reduce circulating supply and signal confidence, but small-scale buybacks (~$2.5M/month at current revenue) may have limited price impact. Conversely, rejecting buybacks risks dampening sentiment but preserves capital for expansion. Historical parallels like Hyperliquid’s buyback-driven 47% price surge (Coinspeaker) suggest markets react positively to structured buybacks.
2. Protocol Expansion & Revenue Flywheel (Bullish Impact)
Overview:
Fluid aims to triple its market size to $10B and revenue to $30M by Q1 2026 via multi-chain deployments (Arbitrum, Base), new products (DEX V2, fixed-rate protocols), and partnerships like Juplend. It already ranks #2 in Ethereum DEX volume with $3B TVL.
What this means:
Success would deepen liquidity and institutional adoption, directly tying protocol usage to FLUID demand. For context, Fluid’s Arbitrum TVL grew 60% MoM in June 2025 (CryptoNewsLand), showing execution momentum. However, delays or underwhelming product launches could stall price growth.
3. Layer 2 DeFi Competition (Bearish Risk)
Overview:
Fluid competes with Uniswap, SushiSwap, and 1inch on Arbitrum, where monthly users surged to 2.4M in June 2025. While Fluid’s capital-efficient DEX design captures 55% of stablecoin volume, rivals are rolling out similar liquidity incentives.
What this means:
Market share erosion could pressure revenue and token utility. For example, SushiSwap’s recent UI upgrades boosted its Arbitrum TVL by 22% in Q3 2025. Fluid’s ability to maintain >50% stablecoin dominance while expanding to perps/fixed-income markets will be critical.
Conclusion
Fluid’s price trajectory leans cautiously bullish, hinging on buyback execution and hitting aggressive growth metrics. Short-term volatility is likely around the October governance vote, while protocol expansion could drive sustained gains into 2026. Traders should monitor weekly revenue reports and TVL growth across Ethereum/Arbitrum—can Fluid maintain its 60% MoM growth streak while fending off Uniswap’s dominance?