Cover policies are available for users of dYdX v3 from the Popular DeFi dApps diversified cover pool, available on the Ethereum chain as well as on Arbitrum.
About dYdX#
The dYdX protocol is a decentralized trading platform built on the Ethereum blockchain that allows users to trade a range of cryptocurrency derivatives such as margin trading, perpetual swaps, and options.
The major differences between version 3 and version 2 of the dYdX protocol are the introduction of new features and improvements to existing ones. Version 3 also introduced cross-margin trading, which allows users to utilize their entire account balance across multiple positions. Other improvements in version 3 include increased performance, lower gas fees, and more advanced risk management tools. Overall, version 3 represents a significant upgrade over version 2, with new features and improvements that enhance the user experience and make trading on dYdX more powerful and efficient.
dYdX is currently working on version 4, which promises zero gas fees, low latency, and high throughput. dYdX is looking at options to find ways of reducing the possibility for validators to reorder or manipulate transactions in the mempool, commonly referred to as MEV (maximum extractable value) or “invisible tax”.
What Makes the dYdX Protocol Unique?#
While there are several other decentralized exchanges in the cryptocurrency space, dYdX stands out from the competition due to its several unique features.
First and foremost, dYdX is one of the few decentralized exchanges that offers margin trading. Margin trading allows users to trade with leverage, which means that they can open larger positions than their available balance. dYdX allows users to trade with up to 10x leverage and supports several different assets, including Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Margin trading allows users to trade with leverage, which means that they can open larger positions than their available balance. In the case of dYdX, it allows trading with up to 10x leverage, and also supports several assets, including Bitcoin and Ethereum. The margin trading feature is popular among professional traders due to increased potential profits, but it also comes with increased risk.
Another unique feature of dYdX is its use of order book trading. Order book trading is a popular method of trading in traditional financial markets, and dYdX is one of the few decentralized exchanges that has implemented it. This allows for greater liquidity and price discovery, which can result in better prices and faster execution for users.
dYdX also stands out due to its support for cross-margin trading. Cross-margin trading allows users to utilize their entire account balance across multiple positions as opposed to isolating each position with its own margin requirements. This can be especially useful for traders who are managing multiple positions and want to maximize their capital efficiency.
Finally, dYdX is unique in that it allows users to trade both spot and derivatives markets on the same platform. This means that users can easily move between different types of trades and take advantage of different market conditions. This is in contrast to many other decentralized exchanges that focus solely on spot trading or derivatives trading.
In a nutshell, the dYdX protocol is unique in its support for margin trading, order book trading, cross-margin trading, and its ability to offer both spot and derivatives markets on the same platform. These features make dYdX a versatile and powerful tool for traders looking to trade cryptocurrencies in a decentralized and secure environment.
Financials#
The dYdX protocol is a privately funded company that has raised over $87 million in funding to date. The company's most recent funding round in June 2021 raised $65 million and was led by Paradigm, a16z, Polychain Capital, Wintermute, and Three Arrows Capital. While dYdX does not disclose its revenue or profit figures, the company has stated that it generates revenue from trading fees and plans to introduce additional revenue streams in the future. As of May 4th, according to DefiLlama, dYdX has a market cap of over 409 million USD and a treasury of nearly 94 million USD. Overall, dYdX appears to be well-funded and is backed by a strong group of investors in the cryptocurrency space.
dYdX has an active presence on social media platforms such as Twitter, which has over 200k followers, Discord, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Reddit. The platform uses these channels to keep its users informed about product updates, new listings, and other important developments. dYdX also uses social media to engage with its community, answer user questions, and provide educational resources about cryptocurrency trading. Overall, dYdX's social media presence is a strong asset that helps to build trust and loyalty among its users.
Cyber Security Track Record#
Since its launch in 2018, dYdX has prioritized security and transparency as critical components of its protocol and has taken steps to ensure the safety of user funds.
The platform has implemented multiple security measures to protect against attacks, including multi-signature wallets, smart contract audits, and regular security assessments. In addition, dYdX has established a bug bounty program that rewards security researchers who identify vulnerabilities in the platform.
On September 8, 2021, the team shared an update in their community forums, stating that there was a bug in one of their contracts. An error was discovered in the deployment process for their Safety Staking Pool smart market. Due to this, access to the safety pool was temporarily removed before a fix was pushed. The team also announced that no compensation for deposited funds was necessary as the funds were not at risk.
On November 27, 2021, the team was notified of a critical vulnerability in their proxy contract that handled deposits to the exchange. They immediately conducted white-hat rescue operations to recover the vulnerable users' funds, totaling approximately $2 million. These rescued funds were sent to a non-custodial contract, from which only the original owner of those funds could retrieve them. As per their vulnerability disclosure policy, they paid a handsome bounty of 500,000 USDC to the white-hat hacker. The team was successful in recovering the majority of the affected funds. However, a total of 1.5 WETH and approximately $206,134 were stolen, all of which were later reimbursed to the affected individuals.
Despite its strong track record, it is important to note that no system is completely immune to attacks, and the cryptocurrency space is constantly evolving. dYdX continues to prioritize security and is committed to staying vigilant against potential threats. The platform regularly updates its security measures and works closely with security researchers and auditors to identify and address any vulnerabilities.
In conclusion, dYdX has a strong track record when it comes to cybersecurity and has implemented multiple measures to protect user funds. While the platform cannot guarantee complete protection against attacks, its proactive approach to security and transparency should provide users with a level of confidence when using the platform.
