DEX (Decentralized Exchange)

DeFi

Exchange using smart contracts and pools or order books.

A decentralized exchange enables peer‑to‑pool or peer‑to‑peer trading without custodians. Implementations include AMMs with liquidity pools and order‑book DEXes with on‑chain matching.

Frequently asked questions

  • What’s the difference between AMM and order book DEXs?
    AMMs use liquidity pools and pricing curves; order books match bids/asks. AMMs excel for long‑tail assets; order books can offer tighter spreads for liquid pairs.
  • Why does slippage happen on DEXs?
    Trades move the price along the curve and depend on pool depth. Large trades vs. shallow liquidity increase slippage.
  • How do aggregators help?
    They route orders across multiple DEXs/pools to improve price and reduce slippage and MEV exposure.