Alexey Akhunov

The protocol aimed to provide users with best-execution pricing by routing orders across CEX and DEX venues without requiring custody of funds. Akhunov's architectural vision for Orion centered on the ORN token as a staking asset for brokers who provided order routing services within the protocol — creating an economic incentive system that linked capital staking requirements to order flow quality and reliability. This design required balancing on-chain settlement mechanics with off-chain order matching for CEX venues, a technically complex integration challenge. His leadership oversaw multiple development phases including the mainnet launch, DEX aggregation features, and partnerships with major centralized exchanges to integrate their liquidity APIs into the Orion platform. The protocol's approach — sitting between CeFi and DeFi rather than choosing one model — positioned it as a potential infrastructure layer for cross-venue liquidity in a fragmented market. The aggregation-focused model required sustained partnership negotiations with exchanges reluctant to share order book access, and Akhunov's operational leadership involved managing both technical development and the commercial relationship building necessary to expand the network of integrated liquidity sources.