Aster DEX vs Centralized Exchanges (fees explained)

Understanding fee structures is one of the biggest differences between decentralized and centralized exchanges.

On Aster, trades are executed directly on-chain.

There are no custodial accounts and no hidden platform fees.

Key fee differences explained:

• Decentralized exchanges (DEX):

Fees are applied per transaction and depend on liquidity and network conditions.

Users trade directly from their own wallets.

• Centralized exchanges (CEX):

Fees are usually charged by the platform and may vary by trading volume, account level, or internal rules.

Funds are held in custodial accounts.

Why this matters:

On a DEX, users keep full control of their assets, and fee transparency is higher.

On a CEX, fees can be simpler to understand but come with custody trade-offs.

Knowing how fees work helps traders choose the right platform for their strategy.