dYdX vs Orbix: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between dYdX and Orbix This side-by-side comparison reveals total cost (fees + spreads), security & licenses, coins/derivatives, deposits/withdrawals, and app quality. In 2 minutes you’ll see who wins for beginners, active traders, and long-term holders. Clear pros/cons, a quick verdict, and safe links to get started.

Last updated on September 9, 2025

dYdX

Orbix

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United States

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Canada

United Kingdom

United States

Europe

Latin America

India

China

Canada

United Kingdom

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dYdX is ideal if:

You thrive on decentralized control: If you value true self-custody and want to trade without intermediaries, dYdX delivers that fully trustless experience through its app-chain model.
You demand professional-grade derivatives: Ideal for experienced traders seeking advanced tools (perpetuals, deep liquidity, order books) wrapped in a sleek, CEX-like interface.
You prioritize scalability and speed: Built on its own Cosmos-based Layer 1 chain, dYdX offers lightning-fast execution and high throughput—perfect for active or algorithmic trading.

Orbix is ideal if:

Streamlined and intuitive platform Orbix prioritizes simplicity and ease of use, with a clean interface, mobile app, and user-friendly tools like Wallet Lock and real-time price alerts.
Strong local credibility in Thailand Regulated by Thailand’s SEC and backed by a prudent coin-selection process, Orbix offers a sense of trust and compliance within its home market.
Layered security for peace of mind Implements advanced measures—such as ISO-certified infrastructure, encryption, and two-factor authentication—to secure user assets and data.

dYdX isn’t ideal if:

You want a huge crypto selection: If you prefer platforms with hundreds or thousands of assets, dYdX’s limited range (focused on derivatives and select tokens) might feel restrictive.
You’re new to DeFi or prefer full KYC onboarding: If you expect a traditional, identity-verified trading experience, dYdX’s wallet-only, non-custodial flow may seem unfamiliar or cumbersome.
You need fiat deposits or simple spot-only trades: If your strategy relies on using bank transfers or just spot trading with fiat, dYdX’s focus on crypto leverage/perpetuals may not suit your needs.

Orbix isn’t ideal if:

Limited asset variety Orbix supports only around 33 cryptocurrencies, which may restrict trading choices compared to more expansive platforms.
No advanced or passive features It currently offers no margin, futures, staking, or copy-trading options, limiting portfolio-building flexibility.
Support delays under pressure While help is available 24/7, response times can lag during peak activity, which could be frustrating in time-sensitive situations.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

dYdX employs a tiered maker/taker fee model—starting at around 0.02% for makers and 0.05% for takers for lower trading volumes, and reducing significantly (even resulting in rebates for makers) as your 30-day volume and market share increase; no explicit discount is tied to holding the native token anymore.

Spot fees are flat, around 0.25% for both maker and taker, with modest volume-based discounts for high-volume traders—no native-token fee reduction program is mentioned.

Futures/Derivatives

Perpetual futures follow a similar tiered structure, with maker fees beginning around 0.01% and taker around 0.05%, and both shrinking as volume grows; funding rates are variable and pair-specific, aligning positions’ pricing periodically without fixed values.

Orbix does not offer futures or derivatives trading, so there are no associated maker, taker, or funding costs.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

dYdX operates with tight spreads for highly traded perpetual pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT thanks to deep liquidity on its order book structure—typically narrower than what’s common on many centralized platforms.

Typical bid–ask spreads hover around 1%, reflecting moderate liquidity even in major pairs like BTC/USDT or ETH/USDT.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Fiat on-ramps are not provided directly—users must bring crypto in via bridges (e.g., Skip Go Fast, IBC or via Coinbase for USDC); there are no platform fees, but third-party or network fees may apply, and processing can range from seconds to a few minutes depending on method.

You can deposit via bank transfer, credit/debit card, or crypto—with deposits generally free and fiat withdrawals incurring a small flat fee (e.g., ~20 THB), while processing times range from same day up to a few business days.

On-chain Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawals incur only network or bridge fees—fees vary dynamically by network (e.g., Ethereum, Cosmos, Solana)—and are not fixed; the platform itself doesn’t add extra charges beyond those required for settlement.

Crypto withdrawals are charged per network, such as a fixed ~0.0005 BTC for Bitcoin, with other chains like Ethereum or TRON likely following similarly static network-based fee structures.

Hidden Costs

There are essentially no hidden fees—there’s no inactivity charge, no extra cost for expedited KYC (since KYC is minimal), and currency conversions occur only through normal network swaps without opaque surcharges.

There are no overt hidden charges to be aware of—standard trading and network fees apply, and there’s no mention of inactivity, express-KYC, or conversion surcharges beyond typical exchange operations.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

For a €500 BTC purchase, your cost comprises a small taker fee (around 0.05%), a tight spread inherent to the order book, and then if you withdraw, only the network fee on the chain—there’s no layered fee structure or hidden markup adding to the total.

Buying €500 worth of BTC would incur roughly 0.25% trading fee, a ~1% spread cost, and then a small fixed network withdrawal fee—meaning your €500 results in slightly less BTC plus a minor deduction when withdrawing, all based on standard rates, not promotional or variable offers.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

dYdX offers over 200 perpetual markets on its Chain, spanning the most traded assets (like BTC-USD, ETH-USD, SOL-USD) as well as emerging tokens; the top 20 by volume include the largest-cap cryptocurrencies and most liquid pairs across derivatives.

Orbix offers around 33 to 41 cryptocurrencies, with a similar number of trading pairs; the top 20 by volume include major tokens like BTC, ETH, USDT, ADA, DOGE, SOL, XRP, DOT, and others—as reflected in their most traded pairs list.

Product Range

dYdX currently offers perpetual derivatives and margin trading, with no spot, options, ETFs, staking/earn, loans, copy trading, grid bots, or automated DCA — though future versions (v4+) are preparing to expand back into spot and other synthetic offerings.

Orbix currently supports only spot trading, with no margin, perpetuals, options, crypto ETFs, staking/earn, lending, copy-trading, grid bots, or automated DCA features available.

Liquidity

The platform maintains strong 24-hour trading volume often exceeding several hundred million dollars, with deep order books for BTC-USD and ETH-USD delivering consistent market depth and low slippage.

Trading volume is modest—typically in the low six figures (e.g., ~$100K–$600K USD), with average bid-ask spreads around 1%, indicating moderate liquidity in BTC/ETH markets.

Tools

Traders benefit from advanced order options (limit, market, stop-loss/take-profit), real-time charting with native TradingView support, API and WebSocket access for automation, though there’s no built-in alerts panel yet.

The platform includes market and limit orders, plus stop-like features (e.g., OCO functionality), along with real-time charts, basic alerts, and public API support—but no native TradingView tool.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Product availability varies by region — for example, derivatives may be restricted or disabled in certain jurisdictions like the U.S., while other global areas generally have full access to perpetual trading on dYdX Chain.

Certain markets—such as the United States, China, Iran, Iraq, and similar regions—may face access restrictions, limiting availability of services in those jurisdictions.

Innovation

dYdX’s ‘Launchable’ and MegaVault systems allow community-driven, instant market creation and liquidity pooling, while staking rewards and other incentives are dynamically distributed, without fixed earn or lock-up schemes.

Orbix currently lacks common innovation modules like launchpad, launchpool, flexible vs locked “earn” options, or other high-growth DeFi-style offerings—its design remains focused on core, regulated spot trading.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

dYdX is operated by dYdX Operations Services Ltd., a Cayman Islands-based company managing the front end and indexing services, and governance itself is transitioning to a Cayman Islands Foundation Company for stronger legal structure and decentralization.

Orbix operates under Orbix Trade Co., Ltd., founded in March 2017, headquartered in Bangkok, and is a subsidiary of Unita Capital within the Kasikornbank group, giving it strong institutional backing.

Licenses/Registration

The platform doesn’t hold traditional financial licenses like VASP but has voluntarily released a MiCA-aligned whitepaper detailing its token governance, risk frameworks, and legal positioning under the EU regulatory regime.

The exchange is licensed by Thailand’s Ministry of Finance and is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Thailand, with full compliance to local regulatory standards for digital asset trading.

Custody

Users retain full custody due to the non-custodial, smart-contract model; funds are verifiable on-chain in real time (transparent Proof of Reserves), and the protocol publishes open-source audits—there’s no centralized cold-reserve custody by dYdX itself.

Orbix employs its own custodial infrastructure, including Orbix Custodian (launching in March 2025), offering cold storage using FIPS 140-2 Level 4 HSM encryption via IBM, underscoring their commitment to secure key management.

Insurance & Protection Funds

dYdX does not maintain insurance or protection funds like centralized platforms—liquid funds rely on cryptographic guarantees and community governance rather than third-party insurance.

The platform maintains insured custody under its regulated framework, but there’s no mention of third-party insurance or dedicated protection funds beyond insuring client assets under its regulated operations.

Incident History

Since its launch, dYdX has not experienced any major hacks, freezes, or regulatory penalties—its decentralized chain operations and open-source design have helped avoid such incidents.

There have been no major publicized security breaches, trading suspensions, asset freezes, or regulatory fines, suggesting a clean operational record to date under SEC supervision.

Risk Controls

As a non-custodial DeFi platform, security hinges on your wallet; dYdX’s interface supports API and WebSocket connectivity but does not offer traditional controls like 2FA or sub-account whitelists because private key and wallet security remain user-managed.

Orbix deploys strong safeguards including two-factor authentication, SSL encryption, cold storage, regular penetration testing, and security auditing, offering robust protection for user accounts and assets.

Transparency

The protocol maintains high transparency—open-source code, public chain data, on-chain governance/fund flows, and MiCA-aligned documentation provide clear accountability, though there’s no direct monthly performance report format or formal SLA.

While detailed monthly reports or SLA commitments aren’t publicly emphasized, the platform underscores its adherence to ISO standards (ISO 27001, 27701, 22301) and regulated oversight, helping offer transparency through established operational benchmarks.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

dYdX does not support direct fiat deposits; instead, users bridge in crypto via Skip Go Fast, Skip Go regular, or Coinbase/Noble, with instant to few-minute settlement depending on method.

Orbix supports Thai Baht deposits primarily via bank (wire) transfers; deposit times range from under 24 h for domestic transfers to up to 7 days for international ones, and credit/debit card or e-wallet options are not supported.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

dYdX does not support direct fiat deposits; instead, users bridge in crypto via Skip Go Fast, Skip Go regular, or Coinbase/Noble, with instant to few-minute settlement depending on method.

KYC (Verification Levels)

dYdX is fully non-custodial and does not require any KYC levels—there is no basic or advanced KYC, and therefore no user limits tied to identity verification.

Identity verification is required via mobile (facial recognition/K+ authentication), without publicly segmented tiers; full KYC unlocks standard fiat and crypto functionality, though precise tier levels and limits aren’t disclosed.

Withdrawals

Withdrawals are subject to network-specific rules—USDC via Noble has default rate limits (e.g., up to 1% of TVL per hour), supported chain options vary and times range from seconds to minutes depending on the route.

Withdrawals can be made across supported blockchains with network-based fees and minimums per asset; processing typically follows established manual and blockchain confirmation workflows, with no explicit per-network limit or speed details published.

Customer Support

dYdX provides in-app live chat powered by ACX, documentation-rich help center and community forums, aiming response times of 1–2 hours via opening help tickets and growing self-service tools continuously.

Orbix provides 24/7 support via live chat, email, phone, and ticketing, with a help-center/FAQ section and responsive but occasionally delayed assistance during peak periods.

Languages & Localization

The platform primarily supports English and Turkish for now, with localization and additional languages planned later; fiat values are not directly displayed in euros since there’s no native fiat handling built in.

The platform is fully localized in Thai and English, displays fees and balances in THB, and aligns its interface and compliance with local Thai regulatory expectations.

App Quality & Stability

The interface is robust and designed to feel like a centralized exchange in performance and UX—recent updates and seamless deposit/withdrawal UX suggest solid stability with minimal crashes reported.

The Orbix mobile app is designed to be intuitive and stable, featuring real-time price alerts, Wallet Lock with facial verification, and ongoing performance improvements—user feedback indicates it is generally smooth with minimal crashes.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

dYdX offers a dual-mode interface—Default Mode provides a simplified, intuitive layout ideal for newcomers exploring perpetuals, while Pro Mode unlocks advanced UI features and full functionality akin to the web platform, allowing users to grow into the system at their own pace.

Orbix features an intuitive, beginner-friendly interface with a single, consistent mode rather than separate “Lite” or “Pro” versions—allowing most users to get started quickly without complexity.

Performance

Built on its own low-latency Cosmos-based chain, dYdX delivers fast order execution and handles high trade throughput smoothly; while past infrastructure bottlenecks during extreme volatility prompted upgrades, there’s no user-facing KYC queuing since KYC isn’t part of the flow.

The platform is engineered for fast order execution with no notable downtimes during volatile periods; KYC processing remains generally steady even during strong market rallies, maintaining a smooth user flow.

Education

dYdX has launched a user-friendly trading guide through its Learning Hub to help onboard new traders—from wallet connection to placing orders—and while there’s no fully featured simulator or Spanish-specific academy yet, the guides are simple and approachable.

While Orbix offers timely crypto updates and tutorials through its blog, it does not provide a dedicated academy, demo accounts, or Spanish-language materials—leaning more on straightforward guides rather than structured educational programs.

Community

dYdX fosters a vibrant ecosystem with active community forums, Discord channels, and a structured referral/affiliate system offering trading incentives and rewards for community engagement learners and contributors.

Orbix actively fosters a Thai-based community via social media and support channels, provides 24/7 chat support, and runs referral promotions, but it does not operate an official Discord or Telegram discussion group.

Integrations

The platform features seamless TradingView-powered charting, open APIs for external bot and automation support, and compatibility with data tools via community resources, though no built-in tax or accounting modules exist.

The platform delivers essential tools like real-time charts and API access but lacks deeper integrations such as TradingView embedding, external trading bots, or dedicated tax/accounting support.

Who Each One Is Best For

dYdX is perfect for traders comfortable with DeFi and eager for fast, non-custodial perpetual trading, while those unfamiliar with blockchain UI or preferring guided spot experiences might find the learning curve and interface options less suitable.

Orbix is best suited for casual or entry-level crypto traders in Thailand—especially those seeking a regulated, secure platform with straightforward functionality and minimal complexity.