| FEATURE | DRIFT | DYDX |
|---|---|---|
| Type | DEX | DEX |
| Taker Fee | 0.035% | 0.05% |
| Maker Fee | -0.0025% | -0.011% |
| Max Leverage | 101x | 20x |
| Perp Pairs | 40 | 232 |
| Spot Trading | Yes | No |
| KYC Required | No | No |
| Rating | 2.0 | 4.3 |
Drift
PROS
- + Up to 101x leverage available on SOL, BTC, and ETH perpetual markets via High Leverage Mode
- + 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: $270M stolen on April 1-2, 2026 via Solana durable nonces — protocol under recovery, relaunch pending
- − Only available on Solana — users on other chains must bridge assets
- − High Leverage Mode (up to 101x) charges 2x the bottom taker fee tier
dYdX
PROS
- + Competitive perpetuals taker fee of 0.05% at base tier with maker rebates rewarding liquidity providers, and Surge program offering 50% fee rebates for active traders
- + Fully decentralized governance — all protocol parameters including fees, market listings, and rewards are controlled by DYDX token holders through onchain voting
- + No KYC required — non-custodial trading via wallet connection with full onchain transparency on the dYdX Cosmos appchain
CONS
- − Maximum leverage capped at 20x — significantly lower than competitors like Hyperliquid (40x) or GMX (50x+) on major pairs
- − Restricted in the US, UK, and Canada — three of the largest crypto markets — plus multiple sanctioned jurisdictions
- − USDC-only collateral with no multi-collateral support — traders cannot use BTC, ETH, or other assets as margin
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Drift or dYdX better?
dYdX has a higher rating (4.3 vs 2). Drift offers lower fees (0.035% vs 0.05%). Choose Drift for lower fees, and dYdX for its features.
What are the fees on Drift vs dYdX?
Drift charges 0.035% taker / -0.0025% maker. dYdX charges 0.05% taker / -0.011% maker for perpetuals.