dYdX trading fees: everything you need to know

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dYdX trading fees: everything you need to know

Crypto trading fees on dYdX are among the most competitive on the market, especially for those trading with leverage . Designed for users seeking efficiency and performance, the platform offers a dynamic fee structure , ideal for optimizing costs on perpetual crypto contracts without sacrificing advanced trading features .

dYdX has established itself as one of the best decentralized trading platforms , combining the advantages of a decentralized exchange like dYdX with the flexibility and speed of a CEX . dYdX 's features include an order book, conditional orders, margin trading, and integrated analytical tools, making it a comprehensive experience for all levels of experience.

In this article, we'll explain in detail how fees are calculated on dYdX , what the tiered fees are based on trading volume, and most importantly, how to reduce them as an active dYdX trading . For a broader overview of the available tools, see our complete guide on dYdX features and overall operation, along with our dYdX review .

Table of contents

How do trading fees work on dYdX ?

dYdX offers fees that vary depending on your trading activity and whether you are a maker (liquidity provider) or a taker (liquidity buyer). The trading platform follows a classic tiered fee : the higher your trading volume over 30 days, the lower your trading fees .

Maker vs. Taker: What's the difference?

In an exchange:

  • Maker : You create an order that is not immediately executed. You bring liquidity to the order book and pay lower fees, or even receive a discount.
  • Taker : you execute an existing order, consuming available liquidity. Your fees are slightly higher.

The trading fee schedule on dYdX

Here is a simplified version of the current structure:

ThirdTrading volume over 30 daysTaker Fee (bps)Maker fees (bps)
1< $1M5.01.0
2≥ $1M4.51.0
3≥ $5M4.00.5
4≥ $25M3.5
5≥ $125M3.0
6≥ $125M and ≥ 0.5% exchange market share2.5-0.5
7≥ $125M and ≥ 1% maker market share2.5-0.7
8≥ $125M and ≥ 2% maker market share2.5-0.9
9≥ $125M and ≥ 4% maker market share2.5-1.1

Note: Negative maker fees represent rebates where traders earn a percentage of the notional value by providing liquidity as makers.

  • Taker Fees : Applied when you withdraw liquidity from the order book (market orders, limit orders that cross the spread ).
  • Maker Fees/Rebates : Applied when you add liquidity to the order book (limit orders that do not cross the spread ).
  • Volume Calculation : Includes trading activity across all your sub-accounts and markets.

Important: users can also obtain additional discounts through DYDX staking staking the trading rewards program .

Hidden costs: beware of gas charges

Since migrating to dYdX v4 on its own blockchain , gas fees have become negligible for internal transactions. You no longer have to pay hefty Ethereum to interact with the platform. This makes dYdX even more competitive compared to other DEXs.

Comparison with CEX

For comparison:

  • Binance Pro takes an average of 0.1% fees on spot, lower on futures (but prohibited in many countries).
  • Kraken Pro takes between 0.16% (maker) and 0.26% (taker) on the spot.

On the dYdXplatform, even at the lowest trading volume, fees are often 2 to 5 times lower than those of these major platforms. It's safe to say that dYdX is a direct derivatives trading solution with competitive fees.

Reducing your trading fees on dYdX : practical tips

To optimize your costs on the platform, here are several effective methods to implement:

1. Increase your trading volume

dYdX applies fees based on fee reduction tiers , significantly lowering your bill, especially if you are an active user.

2. Use DYDX staking

Staking on dYdX staking to generate rewards paid in DYDX , but also to obtain discounts on transaction fees . By holding and locking your tokens, you passively improve your trading conditions.

3. Participate in the trading rewards program

Each month, dYdX will reward its most active traders with dYdX . This system allows you to offset some of your fees and encourage consistent trading volume. It's an excellent way to reduce the impact of gas fees and offset the overall costs of trading on dYdX .

To better understand dYdX works , we recommend you consult our comprehensive guide, which covers trading tools, fees, and optimization strategies.

What types of fees are there on dYdX ?

In addition to pure trading fees, other types of fees may apply:

Funding fees

With perpetual contracts , you sometimes have to pay (or receive) funding fees to balance the difference between the market price and the reference price.

  • If the funding rate is positive, longs (bulls) pay shorts.
  • If it is negative, it is the shorts (bearish) who pay the longs.

Withdrawal fees

When you withdraw your funds from the platform to another address, very small network fees (in DYDX) may apply to cover the cost of the Cosmos transaction.

No deposit fees

Good news: dYdX does not charge deposit fees .

Why are low trading fees important on dYdX ?

dYdX has reduced fees which have several major impacts:

  • Improve your profitability on active trading strategies.
  • Facilitating scalping or day trading where every small move counts.
  • order book liquidity

A closer look at the Trading Rewards program

The dYdX Trading Rewards Program rewards traders with DYDX based on their trading volume and activity. The dydx is distributed monthly dYdX a fixed amount of tokens allocated according to:

  • The relative trading volume of each user.
  • The number of trades executed.

Rewards are calculated automatically and distributed in DYDX directly to your account. You can then resell, trade, or stake them. 

These campaigns depend on the choices of dYdX's governance.

dYdX v4: an even more decentralized model

With dYdX v4, the platform migrated to a blockchain based on the Cosmos SDK. This means:

  • No central authority to unilaterally change the fees.
  • Minimal gas costs are included in the protocol.
  • Reduced trading costs compared to previous versions on Ethereum Layer 2 .

Conclusion: dYdX, a solid choice for low-cost trading

dYdX is a platform that stands out in the world of decentralized cryptocurrency trading thanks to its ultra-competitive fee policy. Whether for regular traders or users looking for a trading experience , it offers a high-performing and optimized environment.

With no deposit fees, the ability to further reduce your costs through staking , and an attractive rewards program, dYdX allows you to maximize your returns while maintaining complete control over your funds. The launch of dYdX Unlimited , based on Cosmos v4, further strengthens user sovereignty and the protocol's efficiency.

The pairs available on dYdX cover a wide range of assets, and the platform continues to establish itself as a credible alternative to centralized exchanges.

In summary, if you are looking to improve your results through cost reduction, dYdX represents a robust and decentralized solution, perfectly suited to the modern requirements of cryptocurrency trading .

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