DEX Development Services, Polygon CDK, and FunC TON Development: Choosing a Tech Stack

A concise guide for founders and product leaders deciding between launching a DeFi appchain with Polygon CDK or building natively on TON with FunC—complete with 2025-era capabilities, concrete design patterns, and implementation playbooks.

Summary: In 2025, Polygon’s multistack “AggLayer CDK” and TON’s FunC/Tact toolchain present two very different—but equally powerful—paths for DEX builders. This article lays out where each shines, the newest primitives to leverage, and step‑by‑step plans to reach production with low risk and high liquidity.

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Who this is for

• Startup CEOs/CTOs validating a DeFi product thesis
• Enterprise innovation teams scoping appchains or wallet-native user flows
• PMs comparing time-to-liquidity and operational risk across ecosystems

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The decision in one view

• Choose Polygon CDK if you want an appchain you can shape (gas token, fee policy, DA, sequencer stack), while tapping unified cross-chain liquidity and fast interop via AggLayer. 2025’s multistack support (OP Stack + ZK security) removes a big adoption barrier and lets you bring existing OP tooling. (polygon.technology)
• Choose TON + FunC if you need Telegram-native distribution, instant USDT settlement at consumer scale, and ultra-lean contracts built for the TVM’s async message model—ideal for viral mini‑apps, payments UX, and DeFi that meets users where they already are. (theblock.co)

Below, we detail what’s new, practical tech choices, and battle‑tested patterns for each path.

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What’s new in 2025 that changes the calculus

• Polygon CDK goes multistack with native AggLayer interop: You can now stand up OP Stack–based chains (cdk‑opgeth) with ZK‑backed security, pessimistic proofs on mainnet, and no “superchain tax.” Performance reported at 60–100+ Mgas/s (≈4,700+ peak TPS), with a Type‑1 trajectory toward fully verified execution using SP1 + Plonky3. (polygon.technology)
• AggLayer v0.3 is live, targeting sub‑10s cross‑chain UX and opening to non‑CDK chains (Polygon PoS connect planned), with upgraded execution-proof mode; Katana will be first to use it. (agglayer.dev)
• Succinct’s SP1 zkVM (built with Polygon Plonky3) underpins AggLayer’s pessimistic proofs; security updates in 2025 (SP1 Turbo) matter for anyone integrating the prover network. (polygon.technology)
• On TON, stablecoin rails are mainstream: USDT launched April 20, 2024; Telegram wallet and mini‑apps are driving adoption at unprecedented scale for crypto UX. (theblock.co)
• TON’s dev stack matured: Blueprint unifies FunC/Tact/Tolk workflows; Jetton 2.0 (2025) optimizes wallet placement in shardchains; mintless airdrops (TEP‑176/177) enable low‑cost mass distributions. (docs.ton.org)

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Option A: Build a DEX on a Polygon CDK chain (with AggLayer)

Why teams pick this

• Appchain control with ecosystem liquidity: You set fees, gas token, DA layer, and sequencer while inheriting shared interop/liquidity via AggLayer, including fast cross‑chain finality backed by pessimistic proofs. (docs.agglayer.dev)
• Multistack familiarity: Bring OP tooling (geth/OP node, EVM libraries) while benefiting from ZK security and AggLayer’s bridge model. (polygon.technology)
• Proven RaaS and sequencer options: Conduit’s G2 sequencer and cdk‑opgeth accelerate launches with ZK enhancements and native AggLayer integration. (conduit.xyz)

Architecture decisions you’ll make (with current best choices)

• Execution stack
  • cdk‑opgeth (OP Stack + ZK): Fastest path if your team already ships on OP; native AggLayer; roadmap to full execution proofs via SP1. (outposts.io)
  • cdk‑erigon: Erigon‑based CDK with large state efficiency (≈90% storage reduction) and custom gas tokens; fits high‑throughput, low‑storage footprints. (outposts.io)
• Security and interop
  • AggLayer pessimistic proof now live on mainnet; v0.3 enables chain‑agnostic joins and sub‑10s cross‑chain UX targets. Build with SP1 prover network (and keep SP1 Turbo patched). (agglayer.dev)
• Data availability (DA)
  • Options include Ethereum DA (rollup), Polygon CDK Validium with DAC, and modular DA like Celestia—supported in CDK to slash fees. (cointelegraph.com)
• Policies and access control
  • In Validium mode, CDK policies let you manage allow/deny lists and ACLs at the mempool layer (e.g., who may deploy or send txs)—useful for phased launches. (docs.polygon.technology)

DEX‑specific patterns on CDK

• LVR/MEV mitigation
  • Integrate batch auctions, dynamic fees, or MEV redistribution at the AMM layer; 2024–2025 research points to auction‑based or dynamic‑fee designs outperforming static fees in many markets. (arxiv.org)
• Oracle and compute
  • zkOracles (e.g., HyperOracle) are available in CDK for verifiable compute and indexation—handy for onchain TWAPs, circuit‑verified risk checks, or intent settlement. (polygon.technology)
• Settlement and stablecoin UX
  • Track AggLayer’s emerging stablecoin rails and katana‑style chain economics for unified DeFi flows; fast cross‑chain transfer/settlement is a 2025 priority. (blockworks.co)

Practical example: a “DeFi engine” appchain

• Stack: cdk‑opgeth + Conduit G2 sequencer, AggLayer pessimistic proofs via SP1, modular DA (Celestia), oracle with HyperOracle, and intent-based RFQ on L2. (conduit.xyz)
• Why now: Katana (Polygon + GSR) is showcasing a DeFi‑optimized chain using OP‑based CDK with zk finality (SP1) to concentrate liquidity and recycle yield—your blueprint if you want appchain‑level economics. (blockworks.co)

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Option B: Build a DEX natively on TON using FunC (and friends)

Why teams pick this

• Distribution: Telegram Wallet + mini‑apps funnel billions of sessions into TON flows; USDT on TON makes fiat‑like settlement feel native. (theblock.co)
• Throughput and cost: TVM’s cell tree and async messaging deliver low‑fee, high‑speed UX; jettons are sharded by design (user wallets are contracts). (beta-docs.ton.org)
• Mature wallet/dApp connect: TON Connect 2.0 SDKs make wallet UX and embedded dApps straightforward across mobile/desktop. (github.com)

The 2025 TON dev stack

• Languages and tooling
  • FunC for low‑level control, Tact/Tolk for faster iteration; Blueprint unifies create–test–deploy, with Sandbox and TypeScript wrappers. (docs.ton.org)
• Tokens and drops
  • Jetton standard (TEP‑74) for fungibles; Jetton 2.0 improves shard placement for faster operations; Mintless Jettons (TEP‑176/177) enable massive Merkle airdrops with minimal chain load. (beta-docs.ton.org)
• Storage, gas, and fees
  • Know your numbers: flat VM start cost, per‑gas price, and storage per bit/cell—optimize code and state accordingly. (docs.ton.org)

FunC patterns that actually matter in production

• Gas‑aware signatures
  • Prefer cell_hash or builder_hash over slice_hash for signature verification—drops gas from ~526 to sub‑100 (or 26 when hashing a cell) in typical flows. (beta-docs.ton.org)
• Dictionaries and throughput
  • Each dictionary update creates many new cells (≈500 gas per cell write at TVM level). Keep hot paths shallow, avoid unbounded loops, and compress keys. (docs.ton.org)
• Message flags for refunds and bounce
  • Use 0x10 for non‑bounce and 64 flag to carry unused gas to the next hop (critical for multi‑contract workflows). (docs.ton.org)

A tiny FunC snippet you’ll actually use

() send_money(slice addr, int amount) impure inline {
  var msg = begin_cell()
      .store_uint(0x10, 6)     ;; non-bounce
      .store_slice(addr)
      .store_coins(amount)
      .end_cell();
  ;; 64 => carry remaining gas to recipient
  send_raw_message(msg, 64);
}

This is the pattern behind many wallet-to-contract and contract-to-contract transfers; refine it with your own payload and refund logic. (docs.ton.org)

DEX‑specific patterns on TON

• Jetton mechanics
  • Jetton master + per‑user jetton wallet contracts make scaling natural; index balances via

    get_wallet_data()

    and wallet‑side notifications. (docs.ton.org)
• AMM choices in the wild
  • STON.fi: AMM with Omniston aggregator (RFQ + DEX routing) and IL protection (up to 5.72%, capped monthly pool) targeting safer LP UX. (ston.fi)
  • DeDust: Protocol 2.0 supports volatile and stable pools, multi‑hop, and a TypeScript SDK; docs spell out pool creation, deposit/withdraw, and CPMM v2 nuances. (docs.dedust.io)

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Trade‑offs that move the needle

• Time‑to‑liquidity
  • TON: You can list a Jetton, create a pool on DeDust/STON in hours and ride Telegram distribution. (help.dedust.io)
  • CDK: Appchain brings sovereignty (great) but requires bootstrapping validators/provers, DA, and liquidity migrations—AggLayer reduces, but does not eliminate, lift. (docs.agglayer.dev)
• UX and reach
  • TON: Embedded flows (mini‑apps) plus USDT rails make retail UX exceptional. (theblock.co)
  • CDK: Wallet UX is standard EVM; AggLayer’s sub‑10s target can make cross‑chain UX feel “single‑chain” for DeFi commuters. (agglayer.dev)
• Security and ops
  • CDK: Keep SP1 stack updated (Turbo) and monitor AggLayer client versions; choose DA redundancy. (blog.succinct.xyz)
  • TON: Engineer for async messages, gas refunds, and storage fees; test bounce cases and shard‑aware flows under load. (docs.ton.org)

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Implementation Playbooks

Playbook A — “Unified DeFi engine” on Polygon CDK

• Week 0–2: Select stack
  • cdk‑opgeth via Conduit; AggLayer enabled; SP1 prover network access; Celestia DA to reduce fees. (conduit.xyz)
• Week 3–6: Chain bring‑up and policy gates
  • Launch devnet with pessimistic proof client; enable Validium policies (allowlist deployments during beta). (docs.agglayer.dev)
• Week 5–10: DEX protocol
  • Start with concentrated‑liquidity AMM plus RFQ vault for large orders; integrate dynamic fee module geared to reduce LVR; wire oracle with zk proofs. (arxiv.org)
• Week 8–12: AggLayer integration testing
  • Validate sub‑10s cross‑chain UX and bridging semantics; measure Mgas/s throughput and fee curves. (agglayer.dev)
• KPI you can hit
  • <300 ms median local inclusion; <10s cross‑chain confirmation; tx fees 10–50x below L1; storage footprint reduced if on cdk‑erigon. (outposts.io)

Playbook B — “Telegram‑native DEX” on TON with FunC

• Week 0–2: Project scaffold
  • Use Blueprint to create contracts (FunC or Tact) + Sandbox tests; define Jetton 2.0 for LP tokens. (docs.ton.org)
• Week 2–5: Core AMM + gas discipline
  • Implement AMM with signed actions using builder_hash/cell_hash; avoid deep dictionary writes; size state to storage price table. (beta-docs.ton.org)
• Week 4–7: Wallet and dApp UX
  • Integrate TON Connect SDK in web/mini‑app; wire to STON/DeDust SDKs for routing or LP management as needed. (github.com)
• Week 6–9: Liquidity ignition
  • Bootstrap pools on DeDust and STON; consider mintless airdrop for user seeding; instrument indexers for

    transfer_notification

    . (help.dedust.io)
• KPI you can hit
  • 1–3s confirmation UX; <1¢ equivalent fees for simple swaps (network dependent); Telegram conversion funnels >10% from mini‑apps in early cohorts. (wired.com)

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Emerging best practices you should adopt now

• On CDK/AggLayer
  • Treat SP1 like a critical dependency; migrate to SP1 Turbo and track prover/verifier contract versions; rehearse incident response for prover network pauses. (blog.succinct.xyz)
  • Design for chain‑agnostic interop: with v0.3, expect non‑CDK chains (e.g., Polygon PoS) to connect—abstract your bridge assumptions early. (agglayer.dev)
• On TON/FunC
  • Prefer Jetton 2.0 for new tokens (co‑shard wallets); if planning mass distributions, move to mintless (Merkle) drops to avoid chain load spikes. (beta-docs.ton.org)
  • Make gas refunds a first‑class design: always carry unused gas with message flags and pre‑compute per‑handler

    msg_value

    requirements. (answers.ton.org)
• AMM/LVR
  • Bake in LVR mitigation from day one: dynamic fees tied to short‑term volatility, batch auctions, or MEV redistribution mechanisms are showing strong empirical gains. (arxiv.org)

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Choosing: quick scenarios

• You’re a fintech with existing OP tooling, want an on‑brand chain, and plan cross‑chain liquidity programs: go CDK (OP config) + AggLayer now; deploy policy‑gated beta, then open. (polygon.technology)
• You’re a consumer app with Telegram growth loops and USD settlement needs: go TON + FunC/Tact; integrate TON Connect + USDT and list on STON/DeDust day one. (theblock.co)
• You’re an enterprise exploring RWA trading: CDK + AggLayer has recent RWA chain examples (e.g., Lumia) and flexible DA for compliance constraints. (polygon.technology)

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Brief in‑depth details: cost and performance levers

• TON gas/storage
  • Launch cost flat gas (VM) and price per gas unit plus storage (per bit/cell) define your steady‑state OpEx; hash cells cheaply and keep state sparse. (docs.ton.org)
• CDK throughput and finality
  • Expect 60–100+ Mgas/s and fast interop with pessimistic proofs; pick DA and sequencer to match your latency/SLA targets; plan a path to verified execution proofs as SP1/Plonky3 integrations mature. (outposts.io)

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Bottom line

• Build your DEX on Polygon CDK when sovereignty and chain‑level economics are strategic advantages—and you want interoperability that feels single‑chain thanks to AggLayer’s security and UX roadmap. (docs.agglayer.dev)
• Build on TON with FunC when distribution, consumer UX, and instant USDT settlement are your north star—and you’re ready to code lean, gas‑aware contracts in TVM’s async model. (theblock.co)

If you’d like 7Block Labs to run a short discovery sprint, we can stand up a proof‑of‑concept on either stack in two weeks, with hard metrics on throughput, fee curves, and user conversion—so you can pick your stack with confidence.