Decentralized exchanges (DEXs) are popular alternatives to regular crypto trading platforms. They allow users to buy, sell, trade, and invest in cryptocurrencies without third parties, making them faster and cheaper than centralized exchanges (CEXs).
Interestingly, many DEXs have utility tokens that power their ecosystems. These tokens are called DEX coins, and they support various activities. However, with various DEX tokens on the market, we’ll be reviewing the top options by market capitalization in this article.
What Are DEX Tokens/Coins?
As the name suggests, DEX tokens and coins are cryptocurrencies affiliated with decentralized exchanges. They allow users to own a share of the crypto project and give them benefits like voting on future changes and developments.
Besides participating in governance for the crypto project, DEXs offer various decentralized finance (DEFi) possibilities that token holders can access. For instance, they can lock up their assets for periodic staking rewards, earn rewards for providing liquidity to their exchanges through DeFi loans, and enjoy discounted transaction fees.
The peculiar thing that sets DEX tokens apart from other cryptocurrencies is that they operate a completely decentralized system. The token platforms allow peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions that require no middleman. That’s why their asset exchanges are often faster and cheaper than you’ll find on traditional cryptocurrency exchanges.
Best DEX Coins to Watch in 2024
Now, let’s see the top-rated DEX coins worth considering in 2024. We ranked these tokens based on their market cap values as of the time of writing.
Uniswap (UNI)
With a market cap of around $5.5 billion, Uniswap is the largest DEX token on the market. The token draws strength from the Uniswap Exchange, which is the biggest DEX on the Ethereum blockchain.
Besides its popularity, the UNI token supports the exchange’s automated trading system that allows the exchange of thousands of ERC-20 tokens, serving different purposes, including transaction fee payments, network governance, liquidity incentives, etc.
The UNI token is trading at around $9, up by over 68% in the past year.
Stellar (XLM)
Stellar (XLM) is the utility token of the Stellar Network. The network supports fast and low-cost cross-border payments via its decentralized exchange. The project’s goal is to be the platform that allows people to send and receive money anywhere in the world.
It also allows users to trade crypto directly on the platform, leveraging its on-chain swap feature. The XLM token serves various purposes within the Stellar ecosystem. It secures the network by preventing double-spending. It also acts as a payment token for transactions and fees.
However, Stellar doesn’t support direct staking opportunities. This can only be done using secondary stellar staking providers. At the time of writing, the XLM token is valued at approximately $0.11, with a 23% increase in the past month.
THORChain (RUNE)
Next on the list of the best DEX tokens to invest in is THORChain (RUNE). The cross-chain liquidity protocol allows the transfer of cryptocurrencies across multiple blockchains that ordinarily cannot connect together. With THORChain, these platforms can communicate and exchange data and digital assets without middlemen.
For instance, seamless asset transfers can happen across the Bitcoin and Ethereum networks using THORChain. RUNE is the platform’s native token. It’s the governance and validator token for the THORChain network. It’s also used to reward liquidity providers and network validators for their jobs. The RUNE token is selling for about $6.5 at the time of writing.
Jupiter (JUP)
Built on the Solana blockchain, the Jupiter Network is another decentralized platform where users can access DeFi opportunities. The platform is primarily for getting an overview of all the trading activities in the DeFi space, making it easy for users to trade.
JUP is the network’s utility token. It has a market cap of over $1.6 billion and is trading for around $1.2 at the time of writing.
Raydium (RAY)
Raydium is another DeFi platform on Solana. The network functions as an automated market maker (AMM) that connects with the Serum Exchange for deeper liquidity and faster transactions on Solana.
The RAY token is Raydium’s utility coin, which can be staked for rewards, used for network participation, and liquidity mining. The DEX coin is trading for about $5, with a market cap of nearly $1.4 million at the time of writing.
dYdX (DYDX)
dYdX is a DEX and DeFi protocol that allows advanced traders to access complex markets like perpetual trading of over 143 cryptocurrencies. These include Bitcoin, Solana, and Ethereum, to mention a few.
The DYDX token powers the network’s ecosystem. It can be used for network governance, staking, and incentives. At the time of writing, the DEX coin is trading at around $1.3, up nearly 40% in the past 30 days.
Gnosis (GNO)
Gnosis is the last on our list of the top DEX coins for 2024. The Gnosis platform is primarily for users to predict various real-life events using cryptocurrencies. The idea is for them to trade digital assets representing these outcomes across various industries, including sports, elections, politics, etc. However, the platform also supports various DeFi opportunities.
Users can stake the GNO token, which is the platform’s utility token. It also makes up its reward system for staking and liquidity provision. The GNO token is valued at around $260, up by over 50% in the past month from the time of writing.
Conclusion
Decentralized Exchange (DEX) tokens offer traders and investors total control over their crypto funds, allowing access to various DeFi opportunities, including staking, DeFi loans, and liquidity provision.
With the DeFi market poised to make massive moves in 2025, it may be a good time to lock in some DEX tokens. However, remember to do due diligence before opting for any coin.
Secure Your DEX Coins With the Zypto DeFi Wallet
The Zypto DeFi Wallet is a revolutionary crypto wallet that can be used to store thousands of assets, including DeFi and DEX tokens. You can use the crypto wallet to securely trade and manage your coins using the Zypto App or website.
With the crypto market experiencing a bullish trend, which DEX coins will you be stacking up? Tell us your top picks in the comment section below.
FAQs
What is DEX in crypto?
DEX stands for decentralized exchange. It describes a P2P platform that allows direct asset transfers between traders.
Which crypto DEX is the best?
Each DEX crypto has unique features and benefits. The top-ranked options include Uniswap, Stellar, and Jupiter, to name a few.
Can you make money from DEX?
DEXs work like regular blockchains, allowing users to trade cryptocurrencies for profits. Moreover, they have different DeFi earning opportunities, including staking and liquidity provision.
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