CEX / Centralized Exchange vs DEX / Decentralized Exchange

Quick comparison to help you distinguish these two crypto terms.

CEX / Centralized Exchange
beginner
market_structure

A centralized exchange is a company-operated cryptocurrency trading platform that holds your funds, manages order matching, and requires identity verification to use.

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DEX / Decentralized Exchange
intermediate
market_structure

A decentralized exchange is a blockchain-based trading platform that allows users to swap cryptocurrencies directly from their own wallets without a company holding their funds.

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