Uniswap is a decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol that facilitates automated transactions between cryptocurrency tokens on the Ethereum blockchain through smart contracts. Launched in November 2018 by Hayden Adams, Uniswap addresses liquidity challenges in decentralized trading, enabling users to trade without intermediaries, with high liquidity and reduced costs compared to traditional exchanges. Its native token, UNI, introduced in September 2020, serves governance purposes, allowing holders to vote on key protocol decisions and upgrades.