dYdX scores 13 points above Lighter on the published criteria (20.3 vs 15.6 points), which this ranking scores from the record as a whole, not criterion by criterion. dYdX ranks #3 and Lighter #7 of 12 published perp DEXs. Every term of the gap is on the ledger below; the inputs are on the audit receipt.
dYdX67
vs
LILighter54
Scores are out of 100; published scores fall within 41–99 · ranks #3 and #7 of 12
dYdX scores 13 points above Lighter on the published criteria (20.3 vs 15.6 points), which this ranking scores from the record as a whole, not criterion by criterion.
dYdX #3 of 1267
LILighter #7 of 1254
Scores are out of 100; published scores fall within 41–99; a bar is empty at 41 and full at 99.
Why, term by termdYdX leads on 0 of 2 published criteria; Lighter on 0. The terms sum to the gap.
TermdYdXLighterWeightPoints
Published criteriaScore dimension20.315.630+12.2for dYdX
Net of the terms+12.2
Reproduced gap+12.2
Published gapAfter score rounding and bounds — see the note below6754+13.0
Weight is in points of the 86-point weighted total. Points are score points of the gap between the two.
This ranking scores its published criteria from the record as a whole, not criterion by criterion, so they count here as one term and no single criterion is credited.
dYdXScore 67Its own Cosmos appchain — decentralised orderbook, self-custodialStrength: Decentralised validator-run orderbook on its own chainWatch-out: Matching runs on an in-memory orderbook that validators hold off chain, not committed to consensus (blocks are committed onchain) — a hybrid model rather than every order being onchain stateLighterScore 54zk-verified onchain orderbook — self-custodial, force-withdrawableStrength: zk-verified orderbook with proofs committed to EthereumWatch-out: Newer venue (2025) — shorter track record, and the live verifier was replaced on 3 and 10 September 2026 with no sources published, so the published audits cannot be shown to cover the running code
Quick facts
At a glance
3 of 5 rows read the same for both.
FactdYdXLighter
Trading feeSnapshotModel: validator-run in-memory orderbook, onchain settlement (own Cosmos chain). Since 2023 (v4). Self-custodial. Audited (2023 v3 loss was manipulation). Up to 50x. Fees (dYdX docs "Rewards, Fees and Parameters", read 3 November 2026): tier 1 (under $1M 30-day volume) shows "5.0" in the Taker (bps) column and "1.0" in the Maker (bps) column; converted from basis points (worked conversion, not a page figure: 5.0 basis points = 0.05%), the taker fee is 0.05%; "Fees are uniform across all markets". Live TVL shown for context (DefiLlama, dated), not scored.Model: zk-verified orderbook (offchain sequencer, proofs committed to Ethereum). Since 2025. Self-custodial with L1 force-withdrawal. Admin-controlled (a protocol multisig, the governor, holds the administrative functions). Audited (nine published audits; the September-2026 verifier changes have no published sources). Up to 50x. Fees (Lighter docs "Trading Fees", read 3 November 2026): Standard Accounts "Fees: 0 maker / 0 taker on regular perpetual and spot orders; 1 bp on TWAP/advanced orders and RFQ"; Plus and Premium/Advanced accounts pay maker and taker fees. Live TVL shown for context, not scored.
dYdX leads on no published criterion; its edge is published criteria (20.3 vs 15.6 points). Pick it if that term is what you are buying.
Strength
Decentralised validator-run orderbook on its own chain
Tradeoff
Matching runs on an in-memory orderbook that validators hold off chain, not committed to consensus (blocks are committed onchain) — a hybrid model rather than every order being onchain state
LI
Lighter
54#7 of 12
Pick it when
Lighter leads dYdX on no published criterion and no score dimension — pick it only if a fact outside the score (country, funding rail, custody) decides for you.
Strength
zk-verified orderbook with proofs committed to Ethereum
Tradeoff
Newer venue (2025) — shorter track record, and the live verifier was replaced on 3 and 10 September 2026 with no sources published, so the published audits cannot be shown to cover the running code
Self-identify in 10 seconds
Which one is actually for you?
dYdXLeads
dYdX leads Lighter on no published criterion
Choose it only if something outside the published criteria decides for you — your country, a funding rail, or custody.
dYdXScore 67Its own Cosmos appchain — decentralised orderbook, self-custodialStrength: Decentralised validator-run orderbook on its own chainWatch-out: Matching runs on an in-memory orderbook that validators hold off chain, not committed to consensus (blocks are committed onchain) — a hybrid model rather than every order being onchain state
LILighter
Lighter leads dYdX on no published criterion
Choose it only if something outside the published criteria decides for you — your country, a funding rail, or custody.
LighterScore 54zk-verified onchain orderbook — self-custodial, force-withdrawableStrength: zk-verified orderbook with proofs committed to EthereumWatch-out: Newer venue (2025) — shorter track record, and the live verifier was replaced on 3 and 10 September 2026 with no sources published, so the published audits cannot be shown to cover the running code
Criterion by criterion
Scorecard
Published criteria · weight in points of 860 of 4 cells scored. Strength is read from the evidence file; the weight is the published one. Methodology
Security
weight 14.4 of 86Not scored
dYdXNot scored
No evidence cell for this criterion, so no strength is drawn.
LighterNot scored
No evidence cell for this criterion, so no strength is drawn.
Decentralization
weight 9.6 of 86Not scored
dYdXNot scored
No evidence cell for this criterion, so no strength is drawn.
LighterNot scored
No evidence cell for this criterion, so no strength is drawn.
Score dimensions
weights sum to 86
The published score is five dimensions, each weighted for the category. "Published criteria" is the criteria block above; the other four are the engine's own terms — availability, friction, trust record, measured data. Each bar is one side's points out of that dimension's maximum; the weight beside the name is its points of the 86-point weighted total. The published criteria above can fill 24 of the block’s 30. A weight marked “constant here” belongs to a dimension every ranked product in the category holds at the same value: it still counts in the total, and it orders nothing here.
Availabilityweight 20 of 86 · constant here
dYdX14/20Lighter14/20
Tie
Published criteriaweight 30 of 86
dYdX20.3/30Lighter15.6/30
dYdX leads
Frictionweight 10 of 86 · constant here
dYdX2.7/10Lighter2.7/10
Tie
Trust recordweight 8 of 86 · constant here
dYdX3.2/8Lighter3.2/8
Tie
Measured dataweight 18 of 86 · constant here
dYdX5.5/18Lighter5.5/18
Tie
Decision rulePublished order
Choose dYdX unless the term Lighter leads on is the one you are buying.
Lighter leads dYdX on no published criterion and no score dimension — pick it only if a fact outside the score (country, funding rail, custody) decides for you.
The published order weighs every criterion the same way for everyone. To weigh them your way, run .
From the published order
Next best action
If this isn't your case
Other matchups worth comparing
How you can lose money here, and what the ranking scores
Contract failure: the code holding the funds is exploited.
Scored by Security & track record · 60%
Control failure: a key or vote changes the rules, freezes or mints.
Scored by Decentralization & trust-minimization · 40%
Not assessed by this ranking: Oracle failure, Insolvency failure, Regulatory failure, Execution failure, Exit failure. A high place says nothing about these; the Methodology tab says what each means.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
dYdX scores 13 points above Lighter on the published criteria (20.3 vs 15.6 points), which this ranking scores from the record as a whole, not criterion by criterion. Published scores, out of 100: dYdX 67 (rank 3 of 12 perp dexs), Lighter 54 (rank 7 of 12).
Reviewed means both products compared here was read against its sources on or after that date; every ranked category is re-read at least every 45 days. Models research, extract and parse. A deterministic engine ranks. Every quote passes an adversarial refute pass.
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