Viper Protocol is a decentralized exchange based on the Harmony blockchain. The Viper protocol is part of VenomDAO, a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO,) which is a community-driven entity with no central authority. According to the whitepaper, VenomDAO aims to launch cross-chain projects on new and developing Ethereum Virtual Machines (EVM) and multiple blockchains compatible with Ethereum tooling.

The Viper exchange platform aims to offer certain features to its users, such as:

The Viper token is the base of the Viper Protocol. The aim is to distribute this token fairly and extensively while rewarding active and early protocol users on priority. ViperSwap and other VenomDAO Dapps developed on the Harmony blockchain use VIPER as their governance token. However, VenomDAO is planning to be launched to act as the governing body for all protocols, ecosystems, and products established over several blockchains. VIPER can vote in elections initiated by Harmony and in the VenomDAO. Compared to VenomDAO, VIPER has the higher voting power in the Viper Protocol and Harmony.

The Viper Protocol uses a ViperPit, the single staking pool where the PitBreeder smart contract purchases VIPER tokens using the liquidity pool fees. The rewards are then distributed to those staking in the ViperPit according to their pool share.

On March 8, 2021, ViperSwap was launched on the Harmony blockchain.