rewrite this title Apertum Marks One Year Since Launch, With Eyes on Ecosystem Depth in 2026

Apertum reaches its first anniversary today, February 1, 2026, a meaningful checkpoint in an industry where projects can move from “new” to “general purpose” within a single market cycle. Rather than leaning on big promises, the more useful anniversary question is simple: what actually got done in year one, and what should the Apertum and at large, the Web3 community look out for next?

Based on milestones and metrics shared by the team, Apertum’s first year centered on three themes: expanding access to its token, growing on-chain activity, and establishing basic security and visibility benchmarks then setting a second-year agenda that’s largely about infrastructure, DeFi maturity, and decentralization.

The first-year timeline, in brief

Apertum launched on February 1, 2025 under the Apertum Foundation. A few weeks later, the network’s native token $APTM launched on Apertum DEX on February 19, 2025, according to the project.

That sequence—network first, token shortly after—is fairly typical for early Layer-1 rollouts. What’s really important, over time, is whether the network attracts repeat usage (retail and otherwise), satisfied developers who become loyal to and build within the ecosystem, and validators that keep the system meaningfully decentralized.

Exchange availability: easier access, broader reach

One of Apertum’s headline updates is that $APTM is now listed on eight centralized exchanges, including MEXC, BingX, and BitMart. 

The project also references “120 million traders.” In practical terms, that figure is usually best understood as the combined user base reported by the listed exchanges, not the number of unique Apertum users or APTM holders. Still, more listings generally mean fewer barriers for new participants and (often) better liquidity conditions over time—especially if market makers and organic trading activity follow.

What the on-chain numbers suggest so far

Beyond listings, Apertum points to network usage metrics that aim to show the chain is actually being used, not just talked about. In the first two quarters of 2025, Apertum processed over 1.5 million transactions, surpassed 50,000 active on-chain members, and saw 530+ smart contracts deployed. Some other impressive metrics include:

8.6 million+ transactions processed in under a year380,000+ unique wallet addressesseveral decentralized applications (dApps) launched on the network

While these figures don’t automatically prove long-term adoption as on-chain activity can be influenced by a few high-activity applications, incentives, or bursts of experimentation…they are relevant early signals, especially if usage remains steady over multiple months and spreads across different dApps rather than clustering in one place.

For community members and observers, the next layer of “proof” in year two is usually retention: repeat users, consistent developer shipping, and an ecosystem that keeps growing even when incentives cool off.

Security and visibility: audits, listings, and discoverability

Security claims are easy to overstate in crypto, so the wording used matters here. Apertum was audited by CertiK and that the audit identified zero vulnerabilities within the audited scope.

On the visibility side, Apertum in July 2025 completed an integration with CoinMarketCap (CMC), which is typically an important step for new assets making their entry into the crypto market. CMC makes basic market and token information easier to discover and track for users who aren’t already plugged into the community.

Awards and recognition

Apertum in 2025 was awarded “Most Innovative Layer-1 Blockchain of the Year” by FinanceFeeds and “Top Layer-1 Blockchain” by Crypto.News.

Getting shortlisted for and winning these awards signals mindshare and momentum but it’s reasonable to treat these as recognition—useful for visibility—while still relying on product delivery and usage data as the primary measures of progress.

What Apertum is building toward in 2026

With year one mostly about getting the chain established and the token broadly accessible, Apertum’s stated priorities for 2026 read like a shift from “launch mode” to “mass adoption” The roadmap focus areas include:

Scaling decentralized ecosystem infrastructureImproving the stability and growth of DeFi productsExploring AI-driven blockchain prediction modelsExpanding global adoption and market footprintStrengthening decentralization and validator participationSupporting more innovation built on the network

For the Web3 community, the most useful way to track this list is to translate it into observable signals:

Infrastructure: better tooling, faster iteration cycles, improved UX for developers and usersDeFi maturity: deeper liquidity, clearer risk parameters, fewer “fragile” products, and better user educationAI claims: transparent methodology, measurable performance, and clear real-world use cases (not just buzzwords)Decentralization: growth in validators, healthier geographic and organizational distribution, and visible community involvementBuilder ecosystem: more dApps that people keep using after launch week

If those signals show up consistently across the year through releases, documentation, on-chain activity patterns, and sustained communities around apps, Apertum’s second year could look less like an anniversary victory lap and more like the start of a longer, steadier phase.

About Apertum

Apertum is a Layer-1 blockchain built using Avalanche’s subnet technology, with EVM compatibility, DAO-style governance, and deflationary tokenomics. The project also says it has been developed without VC or institutional backing, positioning its growth as community-led and organic.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational purposes and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein should be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading or investing in cryptocurrencies carries a considerable risk of financial loss. Always conduct due diligence. 

If you want to read more market analyses like this one, visit DeFi Planet and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and CoinMarketCap Community.

Take control of your crypto  portfolio with MARKETS PRO, DeFi Planet’s suite of analytics tools.”