Maya Protocol, Non Custodial DEX

DEX, it matters

Maya Protocol is a next generation decentralized exchange (DEX) designed to enable native, non-custodial, cross chain asset swaps with advanced tokenomics, security, and broad integration across wallets and DeFi platforms.

https://www.mayaprotocol.com/

Here’s a structured deep dive into its ecosystem based on the official site and independent sources.

What Is Maya Protocol & Why It Matters:

  • Decentralized & Permissionless DEX Built as a fork of THORChain, Maya Protocol empowers users to swap assets across blockchains, like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dash, and more without bridges, wrapped tokens, or central custody  .
  • Core Technical Foundations: Operates on the Cosmos SDK using Tendermint consensus and GG20 threshold signatures.
  • Mission: Provide censorship resistant, self custodial liquidity offering a decentralized backbone akin to THORChain but with improved efficiency and redundancy. On chain vaults replace traditional bridging, minimizing security risks linked to wrapped assets  .

Dual-Chain Architecture:

  • MAYAChain (Operational) Functions as a cross chain Automated Market Maker (AMM), enabling native swaps backed by continuous liquidity pools. Assets like BTC, ETH, DASH, USDC, and more are traded against the CACAO token  .
  • AZTECChain (In Development) A smart contract-enabled chain leveraging Cosmos Hub’s ecosystem. It’s designed for algorithmic stablecoins, derivative products, and centralized exchange style order books, further expanding Maya’s DeFi capabilities.

Tokenomics: CACAO, MAYA, and Future AZTEC

  • $CACAO: Native chain gas and settlement asset.
  • $MAYA: Revenue sharing token distributing 10% of swap fees in CACAO daily to holders.
  • $AZTEC: Still in development; expected to power smart contracts and economic features on AZTECChain. Used to create liquidity pools in pairs like BTC/CACAO, ETH/CACAO. Designed to capture long term protocol value  .

This dual token model balances economic utility ($CACAO) with a sustainable incentive mechanism ($MAYA), and lays a foundation for future smart contract functionality.

Notable Integrations & Ecosystem Growth

  • Support for Dash Dash became the first unique chain integrated into Maya beyond THORChain’s scope. Users can swap and earn yield on Dash in a permissionless, non custodial manner  .
  • Radix Integration A community led vote approved integration with Radix, enabling native, trust-minimized swaps between Maya and Radix networks  .
  • Zcash Discussion Though not yet live, community talks highlight Maya’s openness to integrating privacy coins like Zcash  .
  • Zcash & Privacy Enhancements The team is exploring Zcash integrations to enhance transaction privacy and decentralization  .

Maya Protocol powers the backend infrastructure, while multiple frontends enable users to interact seamlessly. Below are prominent integrations grouped by category:

  • Decentralized Exchanges: ThorWallet DEX, El Dorito Swap, CacaoSwap, Asgardex, ThorSwap, InstaSwap, Astrolescent, FortunaDEX, LeoDEX, DefiSpot, offer swaps and liquidity management across desktop and mobile  .
  • Wallets: Ctrl Wallet, Moca, Vultisig, Edge, KeepKey, WinBit32, Caviar Nine, Phantom, etc. Multi chain support with native CACAO/MAYA functionality.

Tools:

  • Pulsar Finance: Portfolio tracker across Maya assets.
  • Maya Scan: Blockchain explorer and analytics.
  • Mayans.app: Social finance interface with messaging, staking, and DeFi gaming  .
  • SwapKit & XChainJS: Developer SDKs for integrating Maya into third party projects  .

This rich ecosystem gives flexibility to build dApps, wallets, and services on Maya’s backend.

Maya Protocol stands out as a robust, non custodial, cross chain DEX ecosystem:

  • True native swaps across multiple L1 chains with no bridges or wrapped tokens.
  • Innovative dual token model ($CACAO for settlement, $MAYA for revenue sharing).
  • Diverse ecosystem of partners including Dash, Radix, various wallets, UIs, and analytics tools.
  • Transparent governance and audited practices ensuring user safety.
  • Future ready roadmap with AZTECChain, smart contracts, stablecoins, privacy assets, and order books.

For anyone interested in DeFi infrastructure or building interoperable apps, Maya Protocol offers a secure, permissionless, and flexible foundation. Let me know if you’d like a comparison to THORChain, walkthrough on liquidity provision, or help integrating SwapKit into a project!