Zenlink is a cross-chain DEX protocol designed to run on Polkadot, and it aims to become the DEX composable center for the network. Leveraging an open, universal cross-chain DEX protocol built on Substrate, Zenlink DEX Protocol lets parachains create DEX functionality and share liquidity with each other with minimal effort. Zenlink DEX Protocol provides Module, WASM, and EVM implementations, making it adaptable enough for customized combinations and interoperability across different DeFi building blocks. 

The Zenlink DEX Aggregator brings together all DEX DApps on Polkadot and pools liquidity, targeting a low-slippage trading experience. With the Zenlink DEX Composable Hub, developers can tap into the Zenlink DEX Module to design their own distinct DEXs, helping form a composable DEX hub for the Polkadot ecosystem. 

Zenlink DEX Network architecture can be explained as below:

Zenlink DEX Protocol is an underlying cross-chain DEX protocol based on Substrate, featuring Module, WASM, and EVM implementations. Zenlink DEX Module is a module that can be plugged into parachain code using Pallet. Once integrated into parachains, it equips them with core DEX capabilities-such as swapping, creating transaction pairs, and adding or removing liquidity-without repeated redevelopment. It also enables liquidity sharing across all parachains connected through the Zenlink DEX Module. Zenlink DEX WASM denotes the ink! Pallet-written WASM contract version. A key benefit is that smart contracts can be built and released into the parachain ink! module without needing to change the parachain’s source code. WASM is the native contract approach on Polkadot and is the main contract deployment route for the future; the Zenlink DEX WASM version supports first-time deployment to a WASM contract parachain. Zenlink DEX EVM describes a contractual deployment method built for compatibility with the Ethereum virtual machine (EVM), and it also serves as a transitional approach used by the Polkadot network at the beginning. The Zenlink DEX EVM version covers the protocol layer’s functions, strengthens the testing process, and supports first-time deployment to the EVM contract parachain, expanding the platform’s coverage. Zenlink DApp is a user-facing interactive interface built on Zenlink DEX Protocol, helping users access cross-chain DEX functionality without needing to understand the underlying mechanics. Zenlink Network Token (ZLK) is the native token of the Zenlink network, intended for participants across the full Zenlink DEX network. It provides a fair and transparent governance model, along with a reasonable way to capture value, and it’s used to encourage ecosystem users to stay involved in network development over the long term.

The ZenlinkDAO Governance Committee will start with a set number of governance member seats, with one seat reserved for the Zenlink Foundation. The Zenlink Foundation will choose the initial holders for the other seats and will aim for varied representation, including important community members, strategic partners, and investors dedicated to building Zenlink. Going forward, the committee will help ZenlinkDAO evolve into a fully decentralized organization.