| FEATURE | DRIFT | AVANTIS |
|---|---|---|
| Type | DEX | DEX |
| Taker Fee | 0.035% | 0.06% |
| Maker Fee | -0.0025% | 0.06% |
| Max Leverage | 101x | 500x |
| Perp Pairs | 40 | 90 |
| Spot Trading | Yes | No |
| KYC Required | No | No |
| Rating | 2.0 | 3.5 |
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
Avantis
PROS
- + Zero-Fee Perpetuals: no opening, closing, or borrowing fees on losing trades — only a 2.5-10% profit share on winning positions
- + Fixed-fee perps cost just 6 bps (0.06%) opening and closing on BTC/ETH/SOL, and 8 bps (0.08%) on altcoins
- + 90+ markets from one account: 60+ crypto pairs plus 18+ forex pairs, commodities (gold, silver, WTI, Brent), indices (SPY, QQQ) and MAG7 equities
CONS
- − Single-chain deployment on Base only — traders on other networks must bridge assets in
- − USDC is the only accepted collateral, so holders of other stablecoins must convert first
- − Oracle- and keeper-based execution means dependency on Chainlink feed reliability during extreme volatility
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Drift or Avantis better?
Avantis has a higher rating (3.5 vs 2). Drift offers lower fees (0.035% vs 0.06%). Choose Drift for lower fees, and Avantis for higher leverage.
What are the fees on Drift vs Avantis?
Drift charges 0.035% taker / -0.0025% maker. Avantis charges 0.06% taker / 0.06% maker for perpetuals.