Lighter’s LIT Token Launch Sparks Debate Over 50-50 Split

• Lighter DEX launches LIT tokens with a 50-50 split between ecosystem and insiders.
• Team and investors face a one-year cliff followed by a three-year vesting schedule.
• Polymarket traders wagered over $70 million on LIT’s fully diluted valuation.

Lighter, a perpetual decentralized exchange, has drawn mixed reactions after unveiling tokenomics for its Lighter Infrastructure Token (LIT). The protocol split allocation evenly, with 50% reserved for the ecosystem and 50% directed to the team and investors. This distribution structure caused debate across decentralized finance communities.

The protocol distributed 25% of LIT’s total supply through an airdrop linked to its first two points seasons throughout 2025. The program generated 12.5 million points, which converted into LIT tokens and were distributed to eligible users at launch. The remaining 25% of ecosystem allocation will be reserved for future points seasons, partnerships, and growth incentives.

Team and investor allocation follows strict vesting terms

The team receives 26% of total supply while investors receive 24%. Both groups face a one-year unlock cliff followed by three-year linear vesting after that initial period. “The team and investors all have a 1-year unlock and 3-year linear vesting after,” Lighter stated in the announcement.

The decision to allocate 50% of supply to insiders generated divided opinions on social media platforms. Some community members praised the transparency in token distribution details. Others labeled the 50-50 split as “wild,” questioning whether such a large insider allocation serves long-term ecosystem health.

Prediction markets show high valuation expectations

Speculation around LIT’s launch extended beyond social media into prediction markets. Traders on Polymarket wagered over $70 million on where LIT’s fully diluted valuation would land one day after launch. The market priced near certainty that LIT would exceed $1 billion FDV at minimum.

Source: Polymarket data on Lighter FDV

Confidence dropped for predictions above the $2 billion and $3 billion valuation ranges. Traders appeared less certain about the token reaching higher FDV levels immediately following launch.

CoinGecko data shows LIT currently has a fully diluted valuation of $2.73 billion and market capitalization of approximately $684 million. The token trades at around $2.74 at the time of writing. This places the actual valuation above the $2 billion threshold where prediction market confidence began declining.

The gap between market cap and FDV indicates only 25% of total supply currently circulates, matching the airdrop distribution figure. The remaining tokens remain locked under vesting schedules or reserved for future ecosystem programs.

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