| FEATURE | DYDX | DRIFT |
|---|---|---|
| Type | DEX | DEX |
| Taker Fee | 0.05% | 0.035% |
| Maker Fee | 0.01% | -0.0025% |
| Max Leverage | 50x | 101x |
| Perp Pairs | 114 | 40 |
| Spot Trading | Yes | Yes |
| KYC Required | No | No |
| Rating | 4.3 | 2.0 |
dYdX
PROS
- + Competitive perpetuals taker fee of 0.05% at base tier with maker rebates rewarding liquidity providers, plus zero-fee periods on BTC and SOL markets and a Surge program offering 50% fee rebates
- + 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
- − 50x leverage is available only on BTC and ETH — most altcoin perpetual markets are capped at just 5x-20x, lower than rivals offering high leverage across the board
- − Perpetuals remain restricted in the US, UK, and Canada — US traders can only access the new Solana spot product, not derivatives
- − USDC-only collateral with no multi-collateral support — traders cannot use BTC, ETH, or other assets as perpetual margin
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 dYdX or Drift better?
dYdX has a higher rating (4.3 vs 2). Drift offers lower fees (0.035% vs 0.05%). Choose dYdX for its features, and Drift for lower fees.
What are the fees on dYdX vs Drift?
dYdX charges 0.05% taker / 0.01% maker. Drift charges 0.035% taker / -0.0025% maker for perpetuals.