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How exactly do exchange aggregators work?

A DEX aggregator functions as a liquidity aggregator, providing users with access to liquidity from various DEXs through a single interface. This type of cryptocurrency exchange allows users to trade or swap cryptocurrencies across multiple DEXs seamlessly, without the need to navigate different platforms or execute individual transactions separately.

Why do we need Dex Aggregators?

While decentralized exchanges (DEXs) offer numerous advantages, such as enhanced security and privacy, they often face challenges related to low liquidity– Liquidity is fragmented across multiple platforms. This dispersed liquidity can result in inefficiencies and trading difficulties, especially for lesser-known altcoins with smaller market caps. To address these challenges, several DEX aggregators have emerged, starting with @1inch. Since then, other DEX aggregators like Matcha, altFINS, and @paraswap have also entered the market.

DEX aggregators solve these issues by pooling liquidity from various DEXs, thereby providing users with access to a more extensive liquidity pool. This ensures that swap orders are executed swiftly with minimal slippage, improving the overall trading experience.


How do Dex Aggregators work?

When a user initiates a trade, the DEX aggregator performs complex algorithms or routing optimizations. It analyzes the order books and liquidity pools across all connected DEXs to determine the best possible execution price for the trade. This involves considering factors like price impact and transaction fees. To minimize slippage and obtain the best rates, DEX aggregators often split a single trade across multiple DEXs.

Consider a scenario where you are a crypto trader looking to swap a large amount of tokens for a different cryptocurrency. If you were to attempt this trade on a single decentralized exchange (DEX), even one with significant liquidity like Uniswap, the size of your trade might exceed the available liquidity in that specific pool. This would lead to a substantial price impact and increased slippage, meaning you would end up receiving fewer tokens than anticipated due to the significant price movement caused by your large order.

In this situation, using a DEX aggregator becomes essential. The aggregator would analyze liquidity across multiple DEXs, such as @SmarDex , @CamelotDEX , @TraderJoe_xyz , @SushiSwap , @Balancer , @CurveFinance among others. By splitting your trade into smaller parts and executing these parts across several different DEXs, the aggregator can minimize the slippage. This ensures you receive the best possible overall price for your large trade by not exhausting the liquidity in any single pool and spreading the impact across multiple platforms.


Smart Order Routing Aggregators

Smart Order Routing (SOR) aggregators dynamically route orders through various DEXs to find the best prices and trading conditions. These aggregators analyze multiple factors, such as liquidity, price impact, and transaction fees, to determine the most optimal trade paths.

Example:

@1inch : Employs complex algorithms to split and route orders across multiple DEXs, ensuring users get the best possible prices with minimal slippage.