What is a DEX and why did they boom in 2026?
Before we dive into the comparison, let's lay some groundwork. A DEX, or Decentralized Exchange, is a crypto marketplace where no company or middleman holds your funds. Every transaction happens directly on the blockchain, unlike a CEX such as Binance or Bitkub where you must deposit your money with the company first.
In 2026, DEXs have grown exponentially because people have realized that CEX risks are real—from the FTX collapse in 2022 to several mid-sized exchanges facing issues. This has led to a surge in interest in self-custody. The largest DEX, Hyperliquid, now handles over $10 billion in daily volume, surpassing all other DEXs combined.
So, where does SiamDEX fit into this picture? Let's find out.
SiamDEX — The Thai Interface on Hyperliquid
SiamDEX is not a DEX that built its own blockchain or liquidity pool. Instead, it is a Thai-language trading interface that connects directly to Hyperliquid. To put it simply: Hyperliquid is the global market, and SiamDEX is the window designed specifically for Thai people.
The clear advantage is a full Thai UI, Thai manuals, and a team that understands the needs of Thai traders. Most importantly, it utilizes Hyperliquid's liquidity—the largest in the world—so you don't have to worry about slippage.
- Taker fee: 0.035% including builder fee (the cheapest in the group)
- Assets: 200+ including crypto, US stocks, gold, and oil via HIP-3
- KYC: None. Connect MetaMask and trade instantly
- Language: 100% Thai
- Best for: Thai traders who want access to global markets without using an English interface
Hyperliquid — The World's #1 DEX by Volume
Hyperliquid is the DEX that SiamDEX uses as its backend and is the primary choice for global traders seeking on-chain perpetual futures. It currently handles over $10B in daily volume with a TVL of over $1.7 billion.
Key features that make Hyperliquid stand out:
- Speed: Block time of only 0.2 seconds, the fastest among all DEXs
- Real Order Book: Not an AMM, but a Central Limit Order Book (CLOB) just like a CEX
- HIP-3: A system that allows for the listing of new assets, including stocks, gold, oil, and forex
- Maker fee: -0.002% (You get a rebate!) Taker fee 0.025%
- Downside: Entirely in English with no Thai manuals, making it difficult for Thai beginners—this is exactly why SiamDEX exists
dYdX — The Veteran Perpetual Futures DEX
dYdX is the oldest perpetual futures DEX and was the market leader before Hyperliquid arrived. It currently operates on its own Cosmos chain after migrating from Ethereum.
- Taker fee: 0.05%, higher than Hyperliquid and SiamDEX
- Assets: Approximately 80+ pairs, mostly crypto-only with no stocks or gold like HIP-3
- Volume: Significantly decreased after Hyperliquid's growth; market share has dropped to less than 5%
- DYDX token: Has a native token used for governance and staking rewards
- Downside: Requires bridging across chains, making the UX more cumbersome and liquidity visibly thinner than Hyperliquid
- Best for: Users already familiar with dYdX who want DYDX token rewards, but for newcomers, SiamDEX is much better
GMX — The Arbitrum-based DEX focusing on GLP Liquidity Pools
GMX is a highly popular perpetual futures DEX on Arbitrum and Avalanche that utilizes the GLP (GMX Liquidity Pool) system instead of an order book like Hyperliquid.
- Model: Different from others as it uses a liquidity pool instead of an order book, which can lead to higher slippage for certain pairs during market volatility
- Taker fee: 0.05-0.1% depending on the asset and direction
- GLP holders: Those who deposit funds into the GLP pool receive a share of the trading fees, which is GMX's main attraction
- TVL: Remains high at approximately $400-600 million, though volume has declined from its peak
- GMX token: Used for governance and staking to earn fee shares
- Downside: No US stocks or commodities like SiamDEX, and the UX is still more complex for beginners
- Best for: Those seeking passive income from being a liquidity provider rather than just trading
Uniswap — The World's Largest Spot Trading DEX
Uniswap is not a perpetual futures DEX but the largest spot DEX in the world. It operates on Ethereum and several L2s using an AMM (Automated Market Maker) system, which differs from the others mentioned.
- Model: Spot trading only. No leverage, no perpetual futures
- Fee: 0.01%, 0.05%, 0.3%, or 1% depending on the chosen pool
- Assets: Every ERC-20 token in the Ethereum ecosystem, totaling thousands
- Volume: Extremely high, especially during DeFi seasons or meme coin booms
- Downside: No leverage, no stocks, and Ethereum mainnet gas fees are expensive during congestion
- Best for: People looking to trade new tokens not yet listed on CEXs or who need to swap tokens on Ethereum
Comparison Summary Table
Let's look at the overview all at once:
- Lowest Fees: SiamDEX / Hyperliquid (0.035% taker) wins by far
- Widest Asset Variety: SiamDEX / Hyperliquid wins with HIP-3 (Stocks, Gold, Oil)
- Fastest Speed: Hyperliquid (0.2 seconds)
- Passive Income: GMX is best for liquidity providers
- New Tokens: Uniswap offers the most choices
- Thai UI: SiamDEX is the only one in the market
- Thai Beginners: SiamDEX is undoubtedly the most suitable
Connecting with Thai People — Why SiamDEX is the Best Starting Point
If you are a Thai person just starting to get interested in DeFi, or have only traded on CEXs like Bitkub or Binance and want to step into the DEX world, the first question everyone asks is: 'Where should I start?'
The answer for Thai people is SiamDEX, for simple reasons:
- Full Thai language support—no need to translate or guess
- Uses Hyperliquid's liquidity—the world's largest, meaning no slippage
- Lowest fees in the group
- Withdraw USDC back to Thai Baht via Bitkub within an hour
- No KYC, no document submission required
- Trade NVIDIA stocks, gold, oil, and crypto all in one platform
Workflow for Thais: Buy USDC at Bitkub → Transfer to MetaMask on Arbitrum → Deposit to SiamDEX → Start trading. If you profit, withdraw back to Bitkub and sell for Baht. The entire process takes less than 1 hour for the initial setup.
Conclusion — How to choose the right DEX for you
- Want to trade perpetual futures in Thai with low fees and diverse assets → SiamDEX
- Want to trade perpetual futures with an English interface and already understand DeFi well → Hyperliquid directly
- Want to be a liquidity provider and earn passive income from fees → GMX
- Want to buy meme coins or new tokens not yet listed on CEXs → Uniswap
- Already familiar with dYdX and want DYDX rewards → dYdX
Whichever DEX you choose, the most important thing is to understand risk management. Set a Stop Loss every time and avoid using excessively high leverage, especially for beginners. If you're ready, come try trading at siamdex.com. No KYC, no documents—just connect MetaMask and start.
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