| FEATURE | DYDX | PARADEX |
|---|---|---|
| Type | DEX | HYBRID |
| Taker Fee | 0.05% | 0% |
| Maker Fee | 0.01% | 0% |
| Max Leverage | 50x | 50x |
| Perp Pairs | 114 | 76 |
| Spot Trading | Yes | Yes |
| KYC Required | No | No |
| Rating | 4.3 | 4.5 |
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
Paradex
PROS
- + Zero trading fees for retail users — 0% maker and 0% taker — across all 76 perpetual futures markets; professional and API takers pay just 0.02%
- + Privacy-preserving trading via zk-encrypted accounts hides positions, entries, exits, and PnL from public view, preventing MEV and liquidation sniping
- + 2,200+ markets from one unified USDC account: 76 crypto and RWA perps (including GOOGL, MSTR, silver, and oil), 2,100+ options, and spot
CONS
- − USDC-only collateral — no multi-collateral support, limiting flexibility for traders holding other assets
- − Restricted for US and Canadian persons and sanctioned jurisdictions; VPN circumvention is explicitly prohibited in the Terms of Service
- − Spot trading is limited to just two pairs (ETH and DIME) — the venue is overwhelmingly perps- and options-focused
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dYdX or Paradex better?
Paradex has a higher rating (4.5 vs 4.3). Paradex offers lower fees (0% vs 0.05%). Choose dYdX for its features, and Paradex for lower fees.
What are the fees on dYdX vs Paradex?
dYdX charges 0.05% taker / 0.01% maker. Paradex charges 0% taker / 0% maker for perpetuals.