Catenaa, Sunday, June 08, 2025- Katana, a decentralized finance-focused blockchain developed with support from Polygon Labs and trading firm GSR, launched its private mainnet on Wednesday, aiming to centralize liquidity and streamline user yields across a curated suite of DeFi applications.
Initial partners include decentralized exchange Sushi and lending protocol Morpho. The network’s architecture is designed to reduce slippage, optimize capital use and stabilize interest rates by consolidating liquidity.
The launch also introduced the Katana Foundation, a nonprofit entity charged with onboarding partner projects such as Chainlink and rollup infrastructure provider Conduit.
Users can now pre-deposit digital assets like Ether, USDC, USDT, and Wrapped Bitcoin to earn Katana’s native KAT tokens. These tokens are scheduled to unlock over nine months, with a public mainnet rollout set for June.
Katana is built on a customized version of the OP Stack, dubbed cdk-opgeth, and integrates with Polygon’s Agglayer—a zero-knowledge proof-based network that allows for scalable, privacy-preserving transactions.
The initiative marks another step in Polygon’s effort to expand modular blockchain solutions. GSR’s venture arm will oversee liquidity provisioning, cross-chain functionality, and institutional engagement. Jakob Palmstierna, president of GSR, said the firm aims to design sustainable and inclusive DeFi systems. Polygon Labs CEO Marc Boiron added that Katana’s architecture transforms legacy inefficiencies into strategic advantages for both developers and end users.
The launch positions Katana as a new player in the evolving DeFi infrastructure race, with a focus on capital efficiency and user-friendly interoperability.
