| FEATURE | AEVO | DRIFT |
|---|---|---|
| Type | DEX | DEX |
| Taker Fee | 0.08% | 0.035% |
| Maker Fee | 0.05% | -0.0025% |
| Max Leverage | 20x | 101x |
| Perp Pairs | 144 | 40 |
| Spot Trading | No | Yes |
| KYC Required | No | No |
| Rating | 4.2 | 2.0 |
Aevo
PROS
- + Rare on-chain options markets alongside 144 perpetual pairs — one of the only DEXs offering vanilla options and perps under a single unified margin account
- + Competitive perpetual fees of 0.08% taker / 0.05% maker, with options at 0.05% / 0.03% and up to a 20% fee discount for AEVO stakers
- + No KYC required — non-custodial trading by connecting any EVM wallet, accessible globally except the US, Canada, and China
CONS
- − Maximum 20x leverage on perpetuals is well below competitors like GMX (100x) and Avantis (500x), limiting appeal for high-leverage traders
- − TVL of roughly $15M is far smaller than leading perpetual DEXs such as Hyperliquid, which can reduce depth on lower-volume pairs
- − The full 20% fee discount requires staking AEVO with lock-ups of up to 12 months, so casual traders pay standard rates
Drift
PROS
- + Up to 101x leverage available on SOL, BTC, and ETH perpetual markets via High Leverage Mode (pre-suspension product)
- + Maker rebates up to -0.0033% at VIP tier, meaning makers earn a rebate on each trade
- + Cross-collateral system lets any supported asset (USDT, SOL, JLP, etc.) serve as margin for any position
CONS
- − MAJOR EXPLOIT: ~$286M drained on April 1, 2026 via an administrator private-key compromise (suspected DPRK-linked / Mandiant UNC6862); ~$295M in user losses still outstanding
- − Public perpetual trading suspended since the exploit — only a private beta is live as of July 2026, with no announced public relaunch date
- − Recovery pool started at only ~$3.8M and must accrue protocol revenue and Tether/partner funds over time to cover ~$295M in losses, so users are far from being made whole
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aevo or Drift better?
Aevo has a higher rating (4.2 vs 2). Drift offers lower fees (0.035% vs 0.08%). Choose Aevo for its features, and Drift for lower fees.
What are the fees on Aevo vs Drift?
Aevo charges 0.08% taker / 0.05% maker. Drift charges 0.035% taker / -0.0025% maker for perpetuals.