OKX DEX is a powerful decentralized exchange aggregator that enables seamless multi-chain and cross-chain trading directly from your mobile device. By leveraging advanced routing technology, it scans numerous decentralized exchanges (DEXs) to find you the best possible prices with minimal slippage. This guide will walk you through its core features and how to use them effectively.
Getting Started with OKX DEX
Before diving in, it's important to understand what OKX DEX offers. It aggregates liquidity from over 400 DEXs across more than 20 supported blockchains, providing access to a vast array of over 3 million cryptocurrencies. Its key strength lies in its smart order routing (X Routing), which splits your orders across multiple liquidity pools to optimize price execution and reduce network gas fees, especially in complex multi-chain scenarios.
Prerequisite: To begin trading, you must first connect your self-custody wallet to the OKX app. This ensures you maintain full control of your assets while using the DEX's aggregation services.
Discovering Tokens with the Market Feature
The Market feature is designed to help you discover trending tokens and manage your watchlist with ease.
- Open the OKX App and navigate to Wallet > Trade > Market.
- Use the Search bar to find a specific token or browse the list of available assets.
- Tap on any token to view its key details and price overview. You can tap the star icon to add it to your favorites list for quick access later.
- Once you've found a token you want to trade, simply tap the "Swap" or "Buy" button to proceed to the trading interface.
Adding tokens to your favorites streamlines your research process and allows you to monitor market movements efficiently.
Executing Trades: Swap & Bridge vs. Limit Orders
The Trade section is your hub for executing transactions. After connecting your wallet, go to Wallet > Trade. Here, you will find two primary options: Swap & Bridge for immediate settlements and Limit Order for future price targets.
How to Use the Swap Function
The Swap feature allows you to instantly exchange one token for another on the same blockchain or across different chains.
- In the From field, select the token and amount you want to sell. In the To field, choose the token you wish to receive.
- You can customize the slippage tolerance (the maximum price movement you are willing to accept) before clicking Swap.
- If your wallet has sufficient native tokens for the network's gas fee, you will be directed to an order summary. Confirm the details and tap Confirm swap.
- If you have insufficient gas tokens, the app will prompt you to Approve [token] or Fill up [token]. Utilize the Swap for gas feature, a convenient tool that allows you to quickly convert a small amount of a mainstream asset into the required gas fee.
- Confirm the token and amount for the gas conversion and tap Fill up [crypto].
- Enter your wallet password to complete the gas token swap.
- You will then be redirected back to the original order summary page to finally Confirm swap.
This integrated gas solution ensures your transactions never fail due to a simple lack of network tokens.
How to Use the Bridge Function
The Bridge function is used for cross-chain transfers, moving assets from one blockchain network to another.
- Select the amount of the token you want to send (Pay) and the token you want to receive on the destination chain.
- Adjust the slippage tolerance if needed and tap Swap cross-chain.
- Review all transaction details, including the estimated arrival time and fees, then tap Confirm.
👉 Explore advanced cross-chain strategies
Important Notes on Routing and Slippage:
- OKX DEX often provides multiple route options via different cross-chain bridges (like cBridge or MultiChain). You can select your preferred provider based on estimated time or cost.
- Slippage settings are crucial. Tokens with lower liquidity may require a higher slippage tolerance (e.g., 5% or more) for the transaction to succeed. Setting it too low could cause a failure.
Placing a Limit Order
For traders who want more control over their entry and exit points, Limit Orders are essential. This feature allows you to set a specific price at which you want your trade to execute automatically.
- Within the Trade tab, select the Limit order option.
- Choose the token pair you wish to trade.
- Set your desired Price and the Amount you want to buy or sell.
- Review the order details and place the order. It will remain active until it is filled at your specified price or you cancel it.
This is ideal for executing a specific trading strategy without having to constantly monitor the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is OKX DEX?
OKX DEX is a decentralized exchange aggregator. It doesn't hold your funds but connects to your wallet and finds the best trading prices across hundreds of other DEXs and multiple blockchains, all within one interface.
Do I need to bridge assets before swapping on another chain?
Not necessarily. The Swap & Bridge function can handle it in a single step. If you select a token on Chain A to swap for a token on Chain B, the system will automatically orchestrate the cross-chain bridge and swap process for you.
Why did my transaction fail?
The most common reasons are insufficient gas fees on the source network or too low of a slippage tolerance setting for a volatile or low-liquidity token. Always ensure you have enough for gas and adjust slippage according to the asset's trading volume.
Is there a fee for using OKX DEX?
OKX DEX itself may charge a minimal fee for its service. However, you will always pay the standard blockchain network gas fee for the transaction, and the liquidity providers on the underlying DEXs charge a fee that is factored into the exchange rate you receive.
How do I know I'm getting the best price?
The X Routing algorithm is designed to split your order and find the best possible price across its integrated DEXs. You can review the quote provided on the confirmation screen before approving the transaction.
Can I trade any token on any chain?
You can trade any token that exists on the blockchains supported by OKX DEX. The availability depends on whether there is liquidity for that asset on the aggregated DEXs. The app will display all available options for your selected pair.