Paradex is a perpetual-futures DEX built as a Starknet appchain, combining the throughput of an L2 with on-chain settlement. It has matured into one of the more liquid decentralized venues, with a 0 bps maker / 3 bps taker schedule and 8-hour funding — the same cadence as most CEXs, which is worth noting for arbitrage.
What is Paradex?
Because Paradex settles funding every 8 hours while many DEX legs settle hourly, the rate can stay offset from a 1h venue for longer stretches — a structural source of cross-exchange spread. The maker rebate (0 bps) also rewards patient entries, lowering the cost of building a delta-neutral position.
Paradex points & airdrop
Paradex has its token, DIME, and is currently running a points Season 2 on top — so unlike a fully pre-TGE venue, it offers both a live token and an ongoing points campaign. Season points accrue from trading activity and are expected to feed future distributions.
For a funding-arbitrage trader that is a useful mix: a mature, liquid venue with steadier funding than brand-new DEXs, plus a points season you can farm on the leg you are already holding. Track the season status and value points with the ORBIT Points Calculator.
Paradex trading fees
Paradex charges 3 bps taker and 0 bps maker on perpetuals. On a round-trip — entry and exit, and across two venues if you trade delta-neutral — those fees are the first thing any spread has to overcome. ORBIT's backtester subtracts both legs' taker fees plus live order-book slippage, so the PnL it shows is net, not headline.
Funding rates on Paradex
Paradex settles funding every 8h. Funding is the payment between longs and shorts that anchors the perpetual to spot — and because every venue computes its own rate, the same asset can pay very differently on Paradex than on another exchange at the same moment. That gap is a tradeable, delta-neutral edge.
Is Paradex safe?
Paradex is non-custodial with a longer track record than most perp DEXs, and Starknet settlement plus solid liquidity make it one of the more robust decentralized venues for trading at size. Standard smart-contract and per-leg liquidation risks still apply.
Its 8-hour funding means larger, less frequent payments — fine for a hedged pair, but make sure both legs are sized so a single settlement swing cannot threaten either side before you rebalance.
How to get started with Paradex
- Open Paradex and connect your wallet.
- Deposit margin (USDC on Starknet) and start with a small size while you learn the interface.
- Open the Funding Screener to see where Paradex's funding diverges from another venue.
- Confirm the net edge in the backtester — it subtracts fees and slippage — before sizing up.
Paradex vs Extended
The most common comparison for Paradex is Extended. Rather than restate fees here, see the live side-by-side — funding, fees, open interest and airdrop status — on the Paradex vs Extended comparison. For funding arbitrage you often use both: long the lower-funding venue, short the higher one.
Paradex review: verdict
Paradex is a dependable, liquid Starknet venue that pairs an 8-hour funding cadence (good for spreads against hourly DEXs) with a maker rebate and an active points Season 2. It is a strong all-round leg for delta-neutral funding trades — mature enough to size into, with points still on the table. Confirm the spread net of the 3 bps taker in the backtester.