Uniswap V3 Protocol License Expires, Allowing Developers to Fork Code

Uniswap, the biggest automated market maker in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space, has opened up its code for developers to fork after the expiration of its Business Source License (BSL) on April 1, according to the protocol's documentation. The two-year BSL license was created to protect the author's right to profit from their creations, preventing the code from being used for commercial purposes. The expiration of the BSL license now allows developers to deploy their own decentralized exchange (DEX) using the Uniswap V3 protocol.

Uniswap V3's new license, the "General Public License," now applies to the protocol. Developers who want to fork the code will need to use an "Additional Use Grant," which is a production exemption that is meant to accommodate the needs of both open-source and commercial developers.

Uniswap is widely used by traders, token creators, and liquidity providers in the DeFi space for swapping tokens. Its native token, UNI, is popular among investors looking to gain exposure to the DeFi market. Earlier this month, Uniswap officially went live on the BNB Chain, Binance's smart contract blockchain, after over 55 million UNI tokenholders voted in favor of a governance proposal by 0x Plasma Labs to deploy the protocol on the BNB Chain. This move allows Uniswap users to access BNB Chain's ecosystem for trading and swapping tokens, as well as tap into a liquidity pool with BNB Chain's DeFi developer community.

Uniswap's decision to make its code available for forking is significant for the DeFi ecosystem, as it allows developers to create new and innovative DEXs that can integrate with the Uniswap V3 protocol. This move is expected to result in a proliferation of DEXs, each with its own unique features, contributing to the growth and maturity of the DeFi space.

While the expiration of the BSL license is a welcome development for developers, it also underscores the need for blockchain projects to carefully consider the licenses they choose to use. The BSL license has been criticized by some in the open-source community for its restrictive nature, and it remains to be seen whether other projects will follow Uniswap's lead in using the license. Nonetheless, the expiration of the BSL license is a positive development for the Uniswap community, as it opens up new avenues for innovation and growth.