dYdX Alternatives: Best Perpetual Trading Platforms in 2026

The short answer

The best dYdX alternatives in 2026 are Liquid for 24/7, non-custodial perpetuals across stocks, pre-IPO, commodities, FX, indices, and crypto; Bybit and OKX for deep crypto derivatives liquidity and tiered fees; and Kraken for a long security track record. dYdX remains a well-regarded crypto-native perp DEX.

Why traders look beyond dYdX

• Crypto-only market coverage. dYdX lists crypto perpetual markets; traders who also want stocks, pre-IPO companies, commodities, FX, or indices as perpetuals need a venue that lists those. (dYdX docs, accessed 2026-09-24)
• Wallet-and-bridge onboarding. Trading on dYdX means connecting a self-custody wallet and funding the dYdX Chain rather than opening a single account that also covers fiat and multi-asset markets. (dYdX docs, accessed 2026-09-24)
• Governance-set parameters. Fee tiers, rewards, and market listings are adjustable by governance, so the schedule and the available market set can change over time. (dYdX docs, accessed 2026-09-24)
• Conditional fee discounts. Lower fees depend on 30-day trailing volume plus staked DYDX, and staking discounts apply only to net positive trading fees, not maker rebates. (dYdX docs, accessed 2026-09-24)
• Front-end and API access. Traders interact through dYdX front-ends or APIs, which suits technical users but is a different account and product fit from a single multi-asset account. (dYdX docs, accessed 2026-09-24)

Compare dYdX alternatives at a glance

Platform	Custody	Trading hours	Max multiplier	Asset classes	AI assistant	Best for
Liquid	Non-custodial	24/7 incl. weekends	Up to 50x	Stocks, pre-IPO, commodities, FX, indices, crypto — as perps	Yes (Co-Invest)	24/7 multi-asset perps + AI
Bybit	Custodial	24/7 crypto	Varies by market	Crypto spot, perps, futures, options; some TradFi perps	No	Deep crypto derivatives liquidity
OKX	Custodial	24/7 crypto	Varies by market	Spot, margin, futures, options, Web3	No	Deep derivatives liquidity
Kraken	Custodial	24/7 crypto	Varies by market	Spot, margin, futures, some equities	No	Security track record
dYdX	Non-custodial	24/7 crypto	Varies by market	Crypto perpetuals	No	Crypto-native perp DEX

Fees compared

Every platform's published schedule in the same format: entry tier, top tier, and tier basis. Compare like-for-like — spot, futures, and perpetual fees are different products. Full ladders are linked.

Platform	Product	Entry tier (maker / taker)	Top tier (maker / taker)	Tier basis
Liquid	Perps (all-in)	0.065% / 0.095%	0.050% / 0.074%	14-day weighted volume
Liquid	Spot (all-in)	0.040% / 0.070%	0.000% / 0.025%	14-day weighted volume
Bybit	Perps / Futures	0.0200% / 0.0550%	0.0000% / 0.0300%	30-day volume or asset balance
Bybit	Spot (crypto)	0.1000% / 0.1000%	0.0300% / 0.0450%	30-day volume or asset balance
OKX	Spot	0.08% / 0.10%	Negative maker at VIP 7+	30-day volume
OKX	Futures	0.02% / 0.05%	Negative maker at VIP 7+	30-day volume
Kraken	Spot	0.40% / 0.80%	0.00% / 0.05%	30-day spot volume or assets on platform
Kraken	Futures	0.02% / 0.05%	−0.006% / 0.0125%	30-day futures/spot volume or assets on platform
dYdX	Perps	Tiered maker / taker (see dYdX docs)	Maker rebates at top tiers	30-day trailing volume (+ staked DYDX discounts)

Full published schedules: Liquid · dYdX docs · Bybit · OKX · Kraken

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1. Liquid

Overview: AI-native, non-custodial platform for perpetual contracts across stocks, pre-IPO companies, commodities, FX, indices, and crypto — 300+ markets in one account, up to 50x multipliers, instant settlement, and Co-Invest, an AI assistant in Claude, ChatGPT, Grok, Meta Muse, and iMessage.

Best for: Traders who want multi-asset perpetuals — including stocks, pre-IPO, commodities, FX, and indices — in one non-custodial account with an AI interface.

Fees: Perps 0.095% / 0.065% (Tier 0); spot 0.070% / 0.040%; 14-day weighted volume tiers; maker rebates paid continuously. Fee docs.

Custody: Non-custodial — funds stay in your wallet and trades settle on-chain; contracts are independently audited. Security docs.

Trading hours: 24/7, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Limitations: No fiat custody by design; markets, features, and eligibility vary by jurisdiction; perps are derivatives, not ownership.

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2. Bybit

Overview: Large global crypto exchange offering spot, perpetuals, futures, and options, with a VIP program.

Best for: Crypto derivatives traders who want deep liquidity and a broad set of crypto products.

Fees: Perps/futures VIP 0 maker 0.0200% / taker 0.0550%; spot crypto VIP 0 0.1000% / 0.1000%; tiers by 30-day volume or asset balance. Bybit fee structure.

Custody: Custodial.

Trading hours: 24/7 for crypto.

Limitations: Custodial; fee rates vary by region; product availability, including TradFi instruments, differs by jurisdiction.

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3. OKX

Overview: Global exchange with deep derivatives liquidity, an integrated Web3 wallet, and a broad product ecosystem.

Best for: Derivatives traders who want depth and a wide crypto product set.

Fees: Spot entry 0.08% / 0.10%; futures 0.02% / 0.05%. OKX fees.

Custody: Custodial.

Trading hours: 24/7 for crypto.

Limitations: Custodial; complex interface; perpetual futures and advanced derivatives not available to US users.

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4. Kraken

Overview: Founded in 2011; one of the longest-running exchanges, publishing proof-of-reserves reviews.

Best for: Traders who prioritize a long security track record.

Fees: Spot Tier 1 0.40% / 0.80%; futures Tier 1 0.02% / 0.05%. Kraken fee schedule.

Custody: Custodial.

Trading hours: 24/7 for crypto.

Limitations: Custodial; futures restricted in some jurisdictions; product coverage varies by account and jurisdiction.

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How we evaluated these platforms

We compared platforms on fees, custody, market coverage, asset-class breadth, and account fit for traders considering a move from dYdX. Fees use each platform's published schedule, shown in a uniform format. Data is from platform documentation, cited inline; verified 2026-09-24. We did not independently test execution quality or liquidity.

Verdict

If you want a crypto-native, governance-driven perpetual DEX, stay with dYdX — it is purpose-built for that and does it well. Choose Liquid if you want multi-asset perpetuals — stocks, pre-IPO, commodities, FX, indices, and crypto — in one non-custodial account with an AI-native Co-Invest interface. Bybit and OKX suit traders who want deep crypto derivatives liquidity on a centralized venue, and Kraken remains a fit for those who prioritize a long security track record and fiat rails.

About the author

Franklyn Wang is the CEO & Founder of Liquid, an AI-native, non-custodial trading platform. X · LinkedIn

Sources & further reading

• dYdX documentation — accessed 2026-09-24
• dYdX trading app — accessed 2026-09-24
• Bybit trading fee structure — accessed 2026-09-24
• OKX fees — accessed 2026-09-24
• Kraken fee schedule — accessed 2026-09-24
• Liquid fee documentation — accessed 2026-09-24
• Liquid security documentation — accessed 2026-09-24
• Related: Best perpetual futures platforms · Which leverage trading platforms are non-custodial?