Indexed Finance (NDX) Explained: What Is This Crypto Coin?

NDX Liquidity Impact Calculator

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Enter your trade amount to see how much slippage you'd experience given NDX's current liquidity levels.

Estimated slippage based on:

• Current price: $0.0041

• 24-hour volume: $21

• Circulating supply: 3.44M NDX

Estimated slippage: 0.00%
Final price: $0.0041
Your trade value: 3.44 NDX

Key Takeaways

  • Indexed Finance is a DeFi protocol on Ethereum that lets you mint, burn and swap tokenized index funds.
  • Its native governance token, NDX, has a max supply of 10 million but a circulating supply under 4 million.
  • Market cap hovers between $3,000 and $15,000, with daily volume below $30, making liquidity a major concern.
  • The protocol’s unique selling point is a dynamic, capitalization‑weighted index pool that rebalances without external liquidity.
  • Compared with larger index projects like Index Coop, Indexed Finance shows minimal adoption and limited community support.

Ever wonder why a crypto project can exist on Ethereum yet barely move the needle on price charts? Indexed Finance is a perfect case study - a lofty idea wrapped inside an almost invisible token. Below we break down what Indexed Finance (NDX) actually does, how its tech works, why its market numbers matter, and what risks you should weigh before touching the token.

When you see Indexed Finance (NDX) is a decentralized finance (DeFi) project focused on passive portfolio management on the Ethereum network. The protocol lets users create and trade tokenized index funds that mimic traditional market‑cap weighted indexes. Founded in 2020 by Dillion Kellar and an anonymous developer known as PR0, the team now numbers five core contributors. The platform’s native token, NDX, functions solely as a governance token - holders vote on protocol upgrades, new index definitions, and high‑level strategy changes.

What Is the NDX Token?

NDX is an ERC‑20 token with a hard‑capped supply of 10 million. Around 3.4 million tokens are reported as circulating, representing roughly one‑third of the total supply. Its price has hovered between $0.0023 and $0.0108 since launch, with a current trading price of about $0.0041 (October 2025 data from various aggregators). The token does not pay staking rewards or share protocol fees - its only utility is voting power.

How Indexed Finance Works: Index Pools

The heart of the protocol is the Index Pool contract. Each pool represents a capital‑weighted basket of underlying assets, such as ETH, USDC, or other ERC‑20 tokens. Users can interact with a pool in three ways:

  1. Minting: Deposit the required amounts of each underlying asset, and receive an equivalent amount of the pool’s ERC‑20 index token.
  2. Burning: Return the index token to the pool and claim the underlying assets in the current weight ratios.
  3. Swapping: Trade the index token on decentralized exchanges (e.g., SushiSwap, Bancor V2) for instant exposure.

What makes Indexed Finance different from a regular AMM is the ability to change the pool’s composition without pulling in external liquidity. The modified Index Pool contract can gradually re‑weight assets, a process the team calls “binding, rebounding, and reweighing.” This eliminates the need for a separate liquidity provisioning step each time the index composition changes.

Governance Mechanics

NDX holders participate in a classic DeFi governance model. Proposals are submitted to the governor contract, and voting periods started at roughly 12 hours (measured in Ethereum blocks) before being extended to about three days after a Jan 7 2021 update. Votes are tallied proportionally to the number of NDX tokens locked for the vote. Because the circulating supply is tiny, a relatively small number of tokens can sway a decision, raising concerns about genuine decentralization.

Diagram of minting, burning, and swapping actions for an index pool using wallet and exchange icons.

Market Snapshot (October 2025)

Key Metrics for NDX
MetricValue
Current price$0.0041
Market cap$14,000 (approx.)
24‑hour volume$15‑$27
Circulating supply3.44 million NDX
Fully diluted valuation$40,700
Rank (by market cap)#10,400

These numbers reveal two critical points: liquidity is vanishingly low, and the token sits far down the market‑cap rankings. For anyone looking to trade or provide governance input, the thin order books on Bancor V2 and SushiSwap mean slippage can easily exceed 5 % for modest order sizes.

How Does Indexed Finance Compare to Other DeFi Index Protocols?

Indexed Finance vs. Index Coop vs. TokenSets
FeatureIndexed Finance (NDX)Index Coop (DPI)TokenSets (SET)
PlatformEthereum onlyEthereum, PolygonEthereum
Token typeGovernance onlyGovernance + fee revenueGovernance + set token
Liquidity (24 h volume)$15‑$27$200 M+$30 M+
Market cap$14 k$120 M$40 M
Community size (Telegram)~200 members~30 k members~10 k members
Dynamic rebalancingYes (no external liquidity)No (static compositions)Yes (set manager)

While Indexed Finance’s dynamic rebalancing is technically clever, the sheer scale gap makes the protocol a niche player. Larger projects not only enjoy deeper liquidity but also generate fee revenue that can be redistributed to token holders - a feature NDX completely lacks.

Step‑By‑Step: Using Indexed Finance

  1. Set up an Ethereum‑compatible wallet (MetaMask, Trust Wallet, etc.).
  2. Visit the official Indexed Finance UI and connect your wallet.
  3. Choose an index pool you want exposure to (e.g., a crypto‑cap weighted index).
  4. Deposit the required underlying assets. The UI will calculate the exact amounts based on current weights.
  5. Confirm the transaction - you’ll receive the pool’s ERC‑20 index token.
  6. To exit, either burn the index token back into the underlying assets or swap it on a DEX like SushiSwap.
  7. If you hold NDX, navigate to the governance portal, lock your tokens, and vote on active proposals.

Because gas fees on Ethereum can spike, it’s wise to check the current price before minting or burning - a $100 mint could cost $15-$20 in gas during peak periods.

Illustration of a whale holding NDX token, small community figures, and a cracked shield indicating risks.

Risks and Criticisms

1. Liquidity risk: With daily volume under $30, even small trades can move price dramatically. 2. Governance concentration: Low circulating supply means a few whales can dominate votes. 3. Security uncertainty: No public audit reports have been released, and the contract is a fork of an unnamed AMM, raising potential vulnerability concerns. 4. Adoption gap: The protocol is listed on only two DEXs and lacks major wallet or exchange integrations. 5. Revenue‑less token: NDX does not earn fees or share protocol profits, limiting upside beyond speculative price moves.

Future Outlook

Since the last documented governance update in early 2021, Indexed Finance has shown little development activity. No roadmap, no new index launches, and a stagnant community suggest the project may be on a slow path to abandonment. However, if the team were to secure a reputable security audit and list the token on larger DEX aggregators, liquidity could improve marginally. Until then, prospective investors should treat NDX as a high‑risk speculative asset.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main purpose of Indexed Finance?

Indexed Finance aims to bring traditional, capitalization‑weighted index funds to the Ethereum blockchain, allowing users to mint, burn, or swap a single token that represents a diversified crypto basket.

How can I acquire NDX tokens?

NDX is available on a handful of decentralized exchanges such as SushiSwap and Bancor V2. You’ll need an Ethereum wallet, some ETH for gas, and then you can swap a stablecoin or ETH for NDX.

Does NDX provide any revenue sharing?

No. NDX is a pure governance token; it does not earn fees, staking rewards, or dividend‑style payments.

Is Indexed Finance audited?

Public audit reports have not been released. Users should consider the lack of a third‑party audit a security risk.

Can I create my own index on Indexed Finance?

Only the core development team can launch new index pools. Community members can propose new pools via governance, but final approval requires a successful vote.

18 Responses

Prerna Sahrawat
  • Prerna Sahrawat
  • October 19, 2025 AT 08:31

In the grand tapestry of decentralized finance, Indexed Finance emerges as a most ambitious yet under‑appreciated experiment, daring to transmute traditional market‑cap weighted indices onto the immutable canvas of Ethereum. Its very architecture, predicated upon dynamic rebalancing without the need for external liquidity, reads like a manifesto for the avant‑garde of token engineering. The protocol’s native token, NDX, while ostensibly a mere governance instrument, secretly embodies the aspirations of a community yearning for true decentralisation, albeit one hamstrung by a paltry circulating supply. One must pause to consider the paradox of a token that commands voting power yet offers no fee revenue, a scenario that courts both idealism and cynicism in equal measure. The market metrics, with a market cap languishing in the low‑four‑figure range and daily volume scarcely breaching three‑figures, paint a portrait of stark illiquidity that would make any seasoned trader shudder. Yet, beyond the sterile numbers, there exists a narrative of technical ingenuity, a proof‑of‑concept that re‑weights assets through a novel binding‑rebounding‑reweighing process. Critics may deride this as mere academic curiosity, but the very existence of such a mechanism underscores the relentless march of innovation within DeFi. Moreover, the governance model, wherein a modest quantum of NDX can tip the scales of proposals, raises profound questions about decentralised power structures and the spectre of whale dominance. The sparsity of community engagement, evidenced by a telegram cohort of merely two hundred souls, further accentuates the project's isolation amidst a sea of bustling protocol ecosystems. Nevertheless, one cannot discount the potential catalytic effect of an external audit or a strategic listing on a prominent DEX aggregator, which might breathe liquidity into the stagnant order books. In sum, Indexed Finance stands at the crossroads of brilliance and obscurity, a testament to both the possibilities and perils of pioneering DeFi constructs.

Anna Kammerer
  • Anna Kammerer
  • October 21, 2025 AT 03:11

Oh, sure, let’s just ignore the fact that NDX doesn’t even pay you for holding it, but hey, voting rights are *so* thrilling, right? If you’re looking for a token that actually does something besides sit there and make you feel superior at governance meetings, you might want to keep browsing. Also, beware of those “dynamic rebalancing” buzzwords – they sound fancy until you realize you’ll need a PhD in econometrics to understand why your trade slippage blew up.

Mike GLENN
  • Mike GLENN
  • October 22, 2025 AT 21:51

Reading through the breakdown, I appreciate the transparency about the low liquidity and governance concentration. It’s valuable to see both the technical novelty and the real‑world limitations laid out without sugar‑coating. For anyone considering dabbling in NDX, keep an eye on gas fees; they can quickly erode any modest profit from minting or burning indexes. Ultimately, the project feels like a proof‑of‑concept that needs more community traction to become viable.

BRIAN NDUNG'U
  • BRIAN NDUNG'U
  • October 24, 2025 AT 16:31

While the data is sobering, I remain optimistic that with a proper audit and strategic partnerships, Indexed Finance could overcome its liquidity hurdles. A formal roadmap outlining upcoming index launches would also instill confidence among prospective users. Let us hope the developers prioritize these steps to unlock the protocol’s full potential.

Ryan Comers
  • Ryan Comers
  • October 26, 2025 AT 10:11

Look, if you’re not into paying for *real* governance power, then NDX is just a glorified meme token. 🧐💸

Molly van der Schee
  • Molly van der Schee
  • October 28, 2025 AT 04:51

Even though the numbers look grim, the concept of a decentralized index fund is still inspiring. It shows that not every DeFi project has to chase massive TVL to be meaningful. If the community can rally around the governance proposals, there may yet be a path forward.

Mike Cristobal
  • Mike Cristobal
  • October 29, 2025 AT 23:31

We must condemn the apathy that surrounds projects like this; it’s a moral failing of the DeFi space. 🙏💔 Remember, every token represents a promise to its holders – neglect that promise and you betray trust.

Johanna Hegewald
  • Johanna Hegewald
  • October 31, 2025 AT 18:11

Indexed Finance lets you swap a basket of tokens in one click, but the fees you pay on gas can be high. Keep an eye on the price before you mint, otherwise you might lose more on gas than you gain.

Benjamin Debrick
  • Benjamin Debrick
  • November 2, 2025 AT 12:51

One might, with a certain degree of intellectual rigor, posit that the very existence of NDX within this niche ecosystem reflects a broader metaphysical discourse on value, utility, and the inherent paradoxes of decentralized governance; however, it must also be acknowledged, quite unequivocally, that the market metrics, starkly inadequate as they are, betray a palpable deficiency in liquidity, a deficiency that, if unaddressed, threatens to render the protocol an academic curiosity rather than a functional financial instrument; furthermore, the governance model, overly centralized by virtue of a minuscule circulating supply, invites scrutiny, indeed, scrutiny that extends beyond mere tokenomics into the realm of democratic legitimacy; consequently, without a decisive audit and a concerted effort to galvanize community participation, Indexed Finance risks perpetuating its own obsolescence.

mike ballard
  • mike ballard
  • November 4, 2025 AT 07:31

From a cultural standpoint, the protocol's use of “binding, rebounding, and reweighing” is a fascinating case of fintech jargon meeting real‑world asset allocation. 📊🚀 It’s the kind of buzz‑word synergy that can attract the savvy trader, provided the back‑end security checks out.

Erik Shear
  • Erik Shear
  • November 6, 2025 AT 02:11

The token’s low volume makes trading risky. Consider waiting for better liquidity.

Tom Glynn
  • Tom Glynn
  • November 7, 2025 AT 20:51

Patience and a clear strategy are key; while the protocol offers innovative rebalancing, the practical hurdles cannot be ignored. 🌱💡 Stay disciplined and remember that community support can turn the tide.

Andrew Smith
  • Andrew Smith
  • November 9, 2025 AT 15:31

Teamwork makes the dream work, even in crypto. If we collectively push for audits and broader listings, NDX could see a positive shift. Let’s keep the dialogue constructive and focus on actionable steps.

Joy Garcia
  • Joy Garcia
  • November 11, 2025 AT 10:11

Everything about Indexed Finance smells like a covert operation designed to siphon unsuspecting investors into a liquidity black hole. The silence from the developers is eerily reminiscent of classic deep‑state projects. Shouldn’t we be questioning who’s really pulling the strings behind that cryptic governance token?

Jessica Pence
  • Jessica Pence
  • November 13, 2025 AT 04:51

Idxed Finance is an interesting idea but the lack of proper audt is concering. Also you need to pay gas fees that can be hihgly variable.

johnny garcia
  • johnny garcia
  • November 14, 2025 AT 23:31

It behooves us, as discerning participants in the decentralized finance milieu, to scrutinize the underlying economic mechanisms of NDX with meticulous rigor. The token’s nominal governance utility must be weighed against its practical inefficacies, particularly those emergent from the paucity of liquidity and the absence of revenue‑sharing paradigms. In the absence of a transparent roadmap, any substantive optimism remains, at best, speculative. Nevertheless, should the custodians secure an esteemed audit and amplify integration with major DEX aggregators, a recalibration of market perception may ensue. 🌐📈

Tom Grimes
  • Tom Grimes
  • November 16, 2025 AT 18:11

I’ve seen a lot of projects in this space, and Indexed Finance feels like a ghost that never quite left the building. The idea of a dynamic index sounds great on paper, but without real users, the token floats aimlessly. Every time I check the volume, it’s like watching a snail crawl – painfully slow and almost non‑existent. The governance model also worries me because just a few big holders can dictate everything. Yet, there’s a faint hope that if the team puts in the work, maybe they could attract some attention. Even small improvements in liquidity could make a difference. At the end of the day, I’m not convinced this will become a major player, but I won’t write it off entirely without seeing concrete steps forward.

Paul Barnes
  • Paul Barnes
  • November 18, 2025 AT 12:51

The hype around NDX is overrated; real value comes from solid fundamentals, not fancy rebalancing.

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