| FEATURE | DRIFT | GMX |
|---|---|---|
| Type | DEX | DEX |
| Taker Fee | 0.035% | 0.06% |
| Maker Fee | -0.0025% | 0.04% |
| Max Leverage | 101x | 100x |
| Perp Pairs | 40 | 87 |
| Spot Trading | Yes | Yes |
| KYC Required | No | No |
| Rating | 2.0 | 4.5 |
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
GMX
PROS
- + Low dynamic perpetual trading fees starting at 0.04% for balance-improving trades, reduced from 0.05% in January 2025
- + Up to 100x leverage on BTC, ETH, and other major perpetual pairs with isolated margin
- + Multichain deployment across 8 networks including Arbitrum, Avalanche, Ethereum, Base, and Solana
CONS
- − US users are geo-restricted at the frontend level, along with several sanctioned countries
- − No native mobile app — requires third-party wallet dApp browsers for mobile trading
- − Dynamic fee model (0.04%-0.06%) can be less predictable than fixed-fee exchanges
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Drift or GMX better?
GMX has a higher rating (4.5 vs 2). Drift offers lower fees (0.035% vs 0.06%). Choose Drift for lower fees, and GMX for its features.
What are the fees on Drift vs GMX?
Drift charges 0.035% taker / -0.0025% maker. GMX charges 0.06% taker / 0.04% maker for perpetuals.