The price of UNI, the native token of Uniswap decentralized exchange (DEX), has surged by 9%, marking it as the top gainer in today's crypto market.

As of the latest update, UNI is trading at $10.69, reflecting an 8.5% increase over the past 24 hours. Despite a 31% decline in trading volume during this period, the uptick suggests that current UNI holders are anticipating further price appreciation.

Uniswap's market capitalization has concurrently risen to $6.4 billion, solidifying its position as the 18th largest crypto asset according to data from CoinMarketCap.

The recent price rally coincides with an intriguing announcement shared via X early on June 14 by Uniswap, cryptically stating: "Locked in. Ready for the Endgame." Accompanying this message was an image of a focused individual, a meme often used in gaming to signify intensified focus.

A subsequent X post from June 1 hinted at Uniswap v2 preparing to integrate with a new Layer-2 blockchain. While the specific L2 protocol remains undisclosed, speculation within the crypto community leans towards ZKsync, a reputable trustless Layer 2 solution recognized for enabling scalable, low-cost Ethereum transactions.

However, discussions on X have indicated mixed sentiments within the community regarding potential deployment on ZKsync.

Another catalyst for UNI's recent price surge could be attributed to the significant growth in Layer-2 volume processed through Uniswap Protocol, as highlighted in a June 13 X post by Uniswap Labs. According to analytics from Dune, Uniswap's volume milestones are noteworthy: it took 22 months to reach $100 billion, 10 months to double to $200 billion, and a mere 3 months to surpass $300 billion. This exponential growth underscores the increasing utility and adoption of Uniswap's services within the DeFi space.

Moreover, user "Kyledoops" on X noted the rising popularity of Uniswap v2 pools across various Layer-2 solutions such as Optimism, Arbitrum, and Polygon. These platforms are favored for their promise of scalability, reduced transaction fees, and improved user experience, further driving demand for Uniswap's offerings.

While Ethereum remains pivotal in DeFi, the integration of Layer-2 networks with Uniswap is significantly enhancing transaction efficiency and cost-effectiveness, positioning these networks as formidable contenders in the evolving crypto landscape.