What Is a DEX? Decentralized Exchanges Explained

What is DEX

As they did so, the volume in the pool would rise, reducing its offered price until it matched the wider market. Hardware wallets are a secure way to store cryptocurrency and can be used with DEXs. To use a hardware wallet with a DEX, users must first connect their wallet to the exchange directly or via ConnectWallet. It’s important to https://www.tokenexus.com/ note that hardware wallets are only as secure as the user’s security practices. Therefore, users should always ensure that their wallets are properly secured and regularly monitored for any suspicious activity. AMMs are algorithmic processes which match trades on a DEX based on its liquidity pool — the collection of tokens available.

Real Decentralization?

What is DEX

Meanwhile, learn all about cryptocurrency and how to trade it with the TabTrader Academy. The complex task of repricing cryptoassets on an exchange is handled in a highly efficient manner by algorithmic AMMs using basic principles of supply and demand. If you enjoy getting to grips with crypto and blockchain, check out our School of Block video Get Rich Quickly In Crypto. If you want to create your own DEX, you’ll need a lot of background knowledge involving blockchain architecture and more. You would need to know how to code, identify key features that your DEX would have, and much, much more. You’re likely better off using an existing DEX, rather than creating one from scratch.

Popular Searches

Despite the launch and rise in popularity of numerous DEXs within the past few years, some factors may slow down adoption. Unlike traditional market-making, whereby firms provide an accurate price and a tight spread on an order book, AMMs decentralize this process and allow users to create a market on a blockchain. No counterparty is needed to make a trade, as the AMM simply interacts with a blockchain to “create” a market. Instead of transacting directly with another person, exchange, or market-maker, users trade with smart contracts and provide liquidity.

  • Ethereum-based DEXes like UniSwap lead the pack, but several Ethereum-based  Layer-2 DEXes have emerged with lower network fees, as well as Layer-1 competitors like Solana.
  • Users can trade cryptocurrencies and DEXs do not require a centralized authority to operate, but they do need access to a reliable source of liquidity to service their users.
  • Smart contracts fulfill the role of a backend on traditional exchanges — they only allow a trade to execute if the conditions of the agreement behind that trade are met.
  • The benefits of DEXs, including increased transparency, security, and decentralization, make them an attractive option for many users​.

Should I Use a DEX or a CEX?

What is DEX

Instead, they exclusively trade cryptocurrency tokens for other cryptocurrency tokens. Think of a DEX as a set of smart contracts that algorithmically establish the prices of various cryptocurrencies and use “liquidity pools” to facilitate trades. The transactions on DEXs are recorded directly on the blockchain, making them transparent and secure. However, Binance has created BNB Smart Chain, which is an EVM-compatible smart contract platform that is home to numerous decentralized exchanges that enable users to trade BEP20 tokens. Exchanges enable people to buy and sell assets, including cryptocurrencies, but they are free-standing platforms that must be monitored by third parties. DEX is the type of exchange which allows users to make transactions directly between two wallets while pooling liquidity from multiple sources.

What is DEX

Decentralization is a fundamental philosophy of blockchain technology and the crypto space. It redistributes authority from a central power, and places it in the hands of users. And the concept of decentralization is reengineering how many conventional financial services operate. In return for providing liquidity, LPs earn rewards, usually in the form of fees paid by users who trade with the pool.

More integrated services

What is DEX

In essence, they fulfill the role that an order book and in-house accounts otherwise would on a CEX. A DAO’s financial transactions and rules are maintained on a blockchain. In the context of understanding what is DEX, a DAO could be used to manage the rules of the exchange, decide on fee structures, or make other governance decisions. DAOs allow for decentralized control and decision-making, aligning with the ethos of DEXs. Now we know what is DEX, let us know the variety of benefits they offer. They provide access to a vast array of tokens, and most DEXs don’t require personal information, preserving users’ privacy.

  • If you work at a desk all day, you may be better off with a traditional computer, at least for now.
  • While there are whole communities of DEX users, you’re responsible for your own money.
  • However, a CEX’s additional transaction fees must be weighed against the gas fees of using a DEX, which can be considerable on some networks.
  • High liquidity also helps traders to get good prices for their trades.
  • The two most common types are order book DEXs and automated market makers (AMMs).
  • Projects working on this front include the aforementioned Uniswap and Kyber Network (which taps into the Bancor protocol), both facilitating the trade of ERC-20 tokens.
  • Some DEXs may also “decentralize ownership across a community of distributed” token holders.
  • It takes time to grasp how a DEX works confidently, and to invest responsibly, you should always understand your tools.
  • Just like a traditional financial (TradFi) or crypto exchange, some DEXes employ an order book to handle trades.

There are several DEX designs, each offering a different benefits and trade-offs in terms of feature-sets, scalability, and decentralization. The two most common types are order book DEXs and automated market makers (AMMs). DEX aggregators, which parse through multiple DEXs on-chain to find the best price or lowest gas cost for the user’s desired transaction, are also a widely used category.

Automated market makers (AMMs)