dYdX scores 18 points above Paradex on the published criteria (20.3 vs 13.4 points), which this ranking scores from the record as a whole, not criterion by criterion. dYdX ranks #3 and Paradex #8 of 12 published perp DEXs. Every term of the gap is on the ledger below; the inputs are on the audit receipt.
dYdX67
vs
PAParadex49
Scores are out of 100; published scores fall within 41–99 · ranks #3 and #8 of 12
dYdX scores 18 points above Paradex on the published criteria (20.3 vs 13.4 points), which this ranking scores from the record as a whole, not criterion by criterion.
dYdX #3 of 1267
PAParadex #8 of 1249
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; Paradex on 0. The terms sum to the gap.
TermdYdXParadexWeightPoints
Published criteriaScore dimension20.313.430+17.9for dYdX
Net of the terms+17.9
Reproduced gap+17.9
Published gapAfter score rounding and bounds — see the note below6749+18.0
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 stateParadexScore 49Starknet appchain perps — offchain order matching, bridged custodyStrength: Starknet-based appchain with settlement proven onchainWatch-out: A January-2026 chain rollback reversed an incident — an operational intervention and a centralisation/liveness signal to weigh
Quick facts
At a glance
2 of 5 rows read the same for both.
FactdYdXParadex
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: offchain orderbook on a Starknet-based appchain (centralized sequencer matching, settlement proven onchain). Since 2024. Bridged custody; admin-controlled (the operator can block L1 deposits and limit L1 and L2 withdrawals). Audited (Cairo Security Clan, May 2025). Jan-2026 chain rollback (operational, not a fund-draining exploit). Up to 50x. Fees (Paradex docs "Trading Fees", read 3 November 2026): "Retail Takers and Makers have 0% fees on all products: Perps, Spot and Options"; API (Pro) traders pay the published Pro schedule. Live TVL shown for context, not scored.
dYdX leads on no published criterion; its edge is published criteria (20.3 vs 13.4 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
PA
Paradex
49#8 of 12
Pick it when
Paradex 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
Starknet-based appchain with settlement proven onchain
Tradeoff
A January-2026 chain rollback reversed an incident — an operational intervention and a centralisation/liveness signal to weigh
Self-identify in 10 seconds
Which one is actually for you?
dYdXLeads
dYdX leads Paradex 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
PAParadex
Paradex 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.
ParadexScore 49Starknet appchain perps — offchain order matching, bridged custodyStrength: Starknet-based appchain with settlement proven onchainWatch-out: A January-2026 chain rollback reversed an incident — an operational intervention and a centralisation/liveness signal to weigh
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.
ParadexNot 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.
ParadexNot 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
dYdX14/20Paradex14/20
Tie
Published criteriaweight 30 of 86
dYdX20.3/30Paradex13.4/30
dYdX leads
Frictionweight 10 of 86 · constant here
dYdX2.7/10Paradex2.7/10
Tie
Trust recordweight 8 of 86 · constant here
dYdX3.2/8Paradex3.2/8
Tie
Measured dataweight 18 of 86 · constant here
dYdX5.5/18Paradex5.5/18
Tie
Decision rulePublished order
Choose dYdX unless the term Paradex leads on is the one you are buying.
Paradex 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
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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 18 points above Paradex on the published criteria (20.3 vs 13.4 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), Paradex 49 (rank 8 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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