| FEATURE | PARADEX | DYDX |
|---|---|---|
| Type | HYBRID | DEX |
| Taker Fee | 0% | 0.05% |
| Maker Fee | 0% | 0.01% |
| Max Leverage | 50x | 20x |
| Perp Pairs | 600 | 120 |
| Spot Trading | Yes | Yes |
| KYC Required | No | No |
| Rating | 4.5 | 4.3 |
Paradex
PROS
- + Zero trading fees for retail users — both maker and taker — on 100+ perpetual futures markets, with pro taker fees at just 0.02%
- + Privacy-preserving trading via zk-encryption hides positions, entries, exits, and PnL from public view, preventing MEV and liquidation sniping
- + 600+ markets spanning perpetual futures, perpetual options, and spot — roughly triple the next competitor's roster
CONS
- − USDC-only collateral — no multi-collateral support, limiting flexibility for traders holding other assets
- − Restricted for US persons, Canadian persons, and sanctioned jurisdictions — VPN usage explicitly prohibited in Terms of Service
- − Minimum order size of $500 on BTC, ETH, and SOL perpetuals ($200 on other markets), higher than many competitors
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
- − Maximum leverage capped at 20x — significantly lower than competitors like Hyperliquid (50x) or GMX (100x) on major pairs
- − 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
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Paradex or dYdX better?
Paradex has a higher rating (4.5 vs 4.3). Paradex offers lower fees (0% vs 0.05%). Choose Paradex for lower fees, and dYdX for its features.
What are the fees on Paradex vs dYdX?
Paradex charges 0% taker / 0% maker. dYdX charges 0.05% taker / 0.01% maker for perpetuals.