Nado Perpetual DEX Rolls Out “Templars of the Storm” NFT Collection, Adds Ink‑Point Boosts and Opens Beta Season 1
Kraken’s Ink Layer‑2 platform airdropped a limited‑edition NFT series to its early adopters on Tuesday, pairing the artwork with future Ink‑point incentives as it moves into an open‑beta trading phase.
A quick glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| NFT name | Templars of the Storm |
| Distribution | Airdropped to top pre‑alpha users who opted out of an Ink‑point grant |
| Floor price (as of 30 Jan 2026) | 0.45 ETH ≈ $1,200 |
| Trading volume since launch | 141 ETH (≈ $385 k) |
| 24‑hour NFT ranking | 2nd most‑traded collection, behind Pudgy Penguins (≈ 250 ETH) |
| Perp‑DEX 24‑hour volume | $828 M (Nado) vs. $14.5 B (Hyperliquid) |
| Ink TVL (15 Jan 2026) | $570 M, a 2× increase since Nov 2025 |
Background: Nado and the Ink ecosystem
Nado is a perpetual‑contract decentralized exchange (DEX) built on Ink, Kraken’s Ethereum Layer‑2 solution. Ink has been highlighted as one of the fastest‑growing DeFi blockchains, with total value locked (TVL) climbing to an all‑time high of $570 million as of mid‑January, a figure that has doubled since the end of November 2025 (DefiLlama).
Ink points—reward tokens allocated to dApps and ultimately to end users—are slated to become redeemable for the native $INK token when Ink’s token generation event (TGE) occurs later this year.
The “Templars of the Storm” airdrop
The NFT series, dubbed Templars of the Storm, was distributed exclusively to a select group of early‑beta participants. Rather than receiving a direct allocation of Ink points, these users elected to accept the NFTs, which now serve as a gateway to future point multipliers and fee‑reduction tiers.
Since the collection went live, it has generated 141 ETH in secondary‑market activity, positioning it as the second‑most‑traded NFT series over the past 24 hours. The current floor price sits at 0.45 ETH, roughly $1,200, indicating solid demand despite the niche nature of the offering.
Open‑Beta Season 1 and incentives
With the NFT launch, Nado announced the start of Open‑Beta Season 1. NFT holders automatically qualify for:
- Point multipliers that increase the amount of Ink points earned from liquidity provision and trade execution.
- Fee‑reduction tiers, lowering the cost of perpetual swaps for participants who own a Templars of the Storm token.
These incentives are designed to accelerate user onboarding and deepen liquidity on the platform ahead of the upcoming Ink TGE.
Market context: where Nado stands
Even with the NFT‑driven incentives, Nado’s perpetual‑contract trading volume remains modest compared with sector leaders. Over the last 24 hours the DEX handled $828 million in trades, placing it outside the top‑10 perp‑DEXs. By contrast, Hyperliquid—currently the market’s dominant player—processed $14.5 billion in the same timeframe (DefiLlama).
Nonetheless, the broader Ink ecosystem is gaining traction. A surge in TVL and a growing suite of dApps suggest that platforms built on the layer‑2 could benefit from network effects, especially as incentive mechanisms like Ink points become operational.
Analyst takeaways
- NFTs as a loyalty layer – By bundling NFTs with future point multipliers, Nado is experimenting with a hybrid incentive model that could improve user retention without diluting token economics.
- Liquidity‑boosting potential – The fee‑reduction tiers for NFT holders may attract higher‑frequency traders and liquidity providers, helping Nado close the volume gap with larger rivals.
- Market positioning – While current trading volumes lag behind leading perp‑DEXs, the rapid growth of Ink’s TVL and the strategic use of NFTs could position Nado as a notable contender in the next 12‑month cycle.
- Risk considerations – The value of Ink points hinges on the successful execution of Ink’s TGE and the market’s appetite for the $INK token. Investors should monitor the TGE roadmap and any changes to the point‑to‑token conversion rate.
Key takeaways
- Limited‑edition NFTs were airdropped to top early users, now trading at a floor of 0.45 ETH.
- The collection has generated 141 ETH in volume, ranking second in 24‑hour NFT turnover.
- Ink points tied to the NFTs will be redeemable for $INK after the TGE, adding a future utility layer.
- Nado entered Open‑Beta Season 1, granting NFT holders point multipliers and lower fees.
- Despite robust incentive structures, Nado’s perpetual‑DEX volume ($828 M) remains far below market leaders.
- Ink’s ecosystem continues to expand, with TVL reaching $570 M, which could underpin future growth for platforms like Nado.
The rollout of Templars of the Storm marks a notable step in Nado’s effort to blend NFT collectibles with DeFi incentives, a model that may influence how emerging DEXs attract and retain users in an increasingly competitive market.
Source: https://thedefiant.io/news/nfts-and-web3/ink-based-perp-dex-nado-airdrops-official-nft-collection
