| FEATURE | DYDX | ASTER |
|---|---|---|
| Type | DEX | DEX |
| Taker Fee | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Maker Fee | 0.01% | 0% |
| Max Leverage | 50x | 1001x |
| Perp Pairs | 73 | 590 |
| Spot Trading | Yes | Yes |
| KYC Required | No | No |
| Rating | 4.0 | 4.2 |
dYdX vs Aster: key differences
Opening and closing a $10,000 position with market orders costs $8.00 on Aster and $10.00 on dYdX at base-tier taker fees, a difference of $2.00 per round trip.
For limit orders, dYdX charges makers 0.01%, while Aster charges makers nothing.
Aster allows up to 1001x leverage against 50x on dYdX. The headline figure usually applies to a few markets only, so check the limit on the pair you trade.
Aster lists 590 perpetual markets, dYdX lists 73.
Aster is the more liquid venue, with $668M in 24-hour volume against $3M on dYdX (about 223 times more). Deeper books mean less slippage on large orders.
Neither exchange requires KYC: both are used by connecting a wallet.
Margin is posted in USDC on dYdX and in USDT, USDC, USD1, BTC +5 more on Aster.
Figures as of 2026-10-04, from each exchange's documentation, CoinGecko and DeFiLlama.
Costs, liquidity and safety in detail
| dYdX | Aster | |
|---|---|---|
| Taker round trip on $10,000 | $10.00 | $8.00 |
| Maker round trip on $10,000 | $2.00 | $0 |
| Best-tier taker fee | 0.025% | 0.025% |
| BTC max leverage | 50x | 1001x |
| Margin modes | cross, isolated | cross, isolated |
| 24h volume | $3M | $668M |
| TVL | $108M | $793M |
| Custody | non-custodial | non-custodial |
| Collateral | USDC | USDT, USDC, USD1, BTC +5 more |
| Deposit networks | Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism +6 more | BNB Chain, Arbitrum, Ethereum +1 more |
| Minimum order | $1 | $1 |
| Order types | 6 | 8 |
| Options | No | — |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Testnet or demo | Yes | Yes |
| Vaults or copy trading | No | No |
| Insurance fund | Yes | Yes |
| Audited | Yes | Yes |
| Restricted jurisdictions | 16 | 11 |
| Founded | 2017 | 2024 |
Choose dYdX if
- Its feature set fits your workflow better; on the measured data points it does not beat Aster.
Choose Aster if
- You mostly use market orders: 0.04% taker fee against 0.05% on dYdX.
- You place limit orders: 0% maker fee against 0.01% on dYdX.
- You want higher leverage: up to 1001x against 50x.
- You trade smaller or newer markets: 590 perpetual pairs against 73.
- You trade size and need liquidity: $668M in 24-hour volume against $3M.
- You want to post margin in more than one asset.
dYdX
PROS
- + Base tier perpetuals fees of 0.05% taker and 0.01% maker, falling to 0.025% taker and a -0.011% maker rebate at 200 million USD of 30-day volume
- + Staking discount on trading fees: 3,000 staked DYDX cuts base tier fees by 25%, and 20,000 staked DYDX cuts them by 50%
- + Onchain governance by DYDX token holders controls fees, market listings and rewards, with 75% of protocol fees directed to DYDX buybacks
CONS
- − Low liquidity in 2026: 24-hour perpetuals volume was about 3 million USD on October 4, 2026, and the active market count fell from 114 to 73 in three months as governance wound down low-activity markets
- − 50x leverage is available only on BTC and ETH; SOL is capped at 20x and the other 70 markets at 5x or 10x
- − Perpetuals are restricted in the US, UK and Canada, so US traders can only use the Solana spot product
Aster
PROS
- + Up to 1001x leverage on BTC/USD in 1001x mode (250x on ETH, 75x on other crypto, 200x on forex), the highest advertised leverage among the perp DEXes compared on this site
- + 0% maker fee on all perpetual markets since February 2, 2026, a 0.04% base taker fee on crypto perpetuals, and a 5% discount when fees are paid in ASTER
- + 590 perpetual markets, including US and Hong Kong stock perpetuals with up to 50x leverage and a flat 0.0125% taker fee
CONS
- − 1001x leverage on BTC/USD is extremely risky: a price move of roughly 0.1% against the position liquidates it, and profit on 1001x trades is capped at about 300%
- − Prohibited in 11 named jurisdictions including the US, UK, and Canada, and the Terms & Conditions forbid circumventing location restrictions
- − Founding team is pseudonymous, with limited public disclosure of the cap table and of who holds smart-contract upgrade keys
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dYdX or Aster better?
Aster has a higher rating (4.2 vs 4). Aster offers lower fees (0.04% vs 0.05%). Choose dYdX for its features, and Aster for lower fees.
What are the fees on dYdX vs Aster?
dYdX charges 0.05% taker / 0.01% maker. Aster charges 0.04% taker / 0% maker for perpetuals.
Which has higher leverage, dYdX or Aster?
dYdX offers up to 50x, and Aster offers up to 1001x. Maximum leverage applies to selected markets and falls as position size grows on both exchanges.
Do dYdX and Aster require KYC?
dYdX does not require KYC. Aster does not require KYC. Both restrict some jurisdictions (dYdX lists 16; Aster lists 11), so check the terms of service for your country before depositing.
Is dYdX or Aster safer?
dYdX has been audited and runs an insurance fund, and custody is non-custodial. Aster has been audited and runs an insurance fund, and custody is non-custodial. Neither audits nor insurance funds remove smart contract risk, so size deposits accordingly.
Which has more trading volume, dYdX or Aster?
dYdX recorded $3M in 24-hour volume and Aster recorded $668M, as of 2026-10-04. dYdX lists 73 perpetual markets and Aster lists 590.