| FEATURE | PARADEX | ASTER |
|---|---|---|
| Type | HYBRID | DEX |
| Taker Fee | 0% | 0.04% |
| Maker Fee | 0% | 0% |
| Max Leverage | 50x | 1001x |
| Perp Pairs | 76 | 519 |
| Spot Trading | Yes | Yes |
| KYC Required | No | No |
| Rating | 4.5 | 4.2 |
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
Aster
PROS
- + Industry-leading 1001x leverage on BTC/USD in Simple Mode (250x on ETH, 75x on other crypto, 200x on forex) — the highest publicly advertised leverage of any major perp DEX
- + 0% maker fees across all perpetual markets (since Feb 2, 2026) and just 0.04% taker on USDT perps (0.005% on USD1 perps), plus a 5% discount when paying fees with $ASTER and fee-free stock perpetuals
- + MEV-resistant hidden orders enable whale-size trades without front-running or price impact — unique among major perp DEXes
CONS
- − Maximum 1001x leverage on BTC/USD is extremely risky — a roughly 0.1% adverse move liquidates a 1001x position
- − Restricted in 11+ jurisdictions including the US, UK, and Canada per its Terms & Conditions — and using a VPN to bypass the restrictions violates the terms
- − Founding team is pseudonymous with limited public disclosure of the full cap table and smart-contract upgrade key management
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Paradex or Aster better?
Paradex has a higher rating (4.5 vs 4.2). Paradex offers lower fees (0% vs 0.04%). Choose Paradex for lower fees, and Aster for higher leverage.
What are the fees on Paradex vs Aster?
Paradex charges 0% taker / 0% maker. Aster charges 0.04% taker / 0% maker for perpetuals.