Decentralized exchanges are fundamental tools for the growth of the ecosystem. Learn what they are and what differentiates them from a centralized exchange.
In all financial markets, there is an organization in charge of making the exchange between two goods. This entity, typically a centralized exchange (CEX), acts as an intermediary between buyers and sellers, ensuring liquidity and security in transactions. However, the rise of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology has led to the development of decentralized exchanges (DEXs), which function quite differently. A DEX operates on a blockchain network, allowing users to trade directly with one another without the need for a central authority. This decentralized approach offers enhanced privacy, security, and control over one’s funds compared to centralized exchanges.
Simply put, a DEX is a platform that enables peer-to-peer trading, without third parties. Instead of centralizing order matching between buy and sell orders, DEXs employ smart contracts on a blockchain to perform trades automatically. These smart contracts are auto-transfer contracts where the condition of the transfer is already encoded in the protocol itself. If commerce takes place on a DEX, the smart contract guarantees that the exchange is negotiated according to the set of parameters, creating a transparent, trustless trading environment. Not only this system decreases the risk of fraud and hacking, but also decreases the entry barriers for traders that wish to keep full control over their assets.
Learn more about smart contractsSurely, the privacy advantage over a centralized exchange is one of the benefits that a DEX can offer. Unlike CEX, account registration and KYC are not required for a decentralized exchange. Simply having a cryptographic wallet such as Metamask is sufficient to access them, and this, in turn, provides the user with the security that the funds and the wallet keys are under their own control. In addition, it is characteristically the case that DEXs are more securely against hacking, since they do not hold any money in a single point storage. That they provide a more secure option for people concerned about the safety of their cryptocurrencies.
Aspect | Decentralized Exchange (DEX) | Centralized Exchange (CEX) |
---|---|---|
Privacy | No need for account registration and KYC. The use of a cryptographic wallet (e.g., Metamask) provides privacy. | Requires account registration and KYC. User identity is tied to the exchange. |
Security | Funds and wallet keys are under the user's control, reducing the risk of hacking attacks on centralized storage points. | Risk of hacking due to centralized storage of user funds in a single location. |
Access | Access requires a cryptographic wallet and internet connection; no registration needed. | Easier access via email registration and password login; often includes additional features. |
User Control | Complete control over funds and wallet keys; no third party control required. | User funds managed by the exchange, which can potentially lead to issues if the exchange is hacked or fails. |
Using a decentralized exchange is not 100% secure and you have to take some security aspects into consideration.
Care should be taken in the case of a decentralized exchange (DEX) since any token/cryptocurrency can be listed to such platforms. This open listing process is also inherently risky, as deep fake or scam tokens are being deliberately created to cheat users. Never research and confirm the validity of a token prior to trading or investing.
Second, please verify that you are getting to the actual website of the DEX, as phishing pages are one way to try to trick you. These fraudulent sites, however, copy legitimate sites in order to obtain personal or financial data from their victims. Fortunately, most modern wallets already come with built-in security and warning logs so that users are notified if they are about to encounter a phishing site. But it is still a key step in protecting your assets to be vigilant and check twice the web site address.
Currently there are a large number of decentralized exchanges, at least as many as there are blockchains. Because of this, it can sometimes be difficult to decide on a dex and make a purchase in it.
DEX | Multichain | Cross Chain | Farms |
---|---|---|---|
Uniswap | Yes | Yes | Yes |
SushiSwap | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Squid Router | Yes | Yes | No |