What is a perpetual DEX?
A perpetual DEX (perp DEX) is a decentralized exchange for trading perpetual futures: derivatives that track an asset's price with no expiry date. Unlike a traditional futures contract, a perpetual can be held indefinitely, with a periodic funding rate keeping its price aligned to the underlying spot market.
"Decentralized" means you trade from your own wallet or account rather than handing custody to a centralized company. Settlement happens on-chain, and you keep control of your funds.
How is it different from a CEX?
On a centralized exchange (CEX) you deposit funds into the platform's custody and trust it to hold them. On a perp DEX, your funds stay in your own account, and trades settle on-chain. The tradeoff is that you manage your own keys or wallet approvals.
Popular perp DEXs include dYdX and Hyperliquid, with newer venues like Aster and Arcus adding trade-only agent access that lets tools trade on your behalf while you keep custody.
What is perpetual funding?
Because a perpetual never expires, exchanges use a funding rate to tether its price to spot. When the perp trades above spot, longs pay shorts; when it trades below, shorts pay longs. Funding is exchanged periodically and is an important cost to factor into any strategy that holds positions for a long time.
Why use trading bots on a perp DEX?
Markets run 24/7, and reacting by hand is slow and emotional. Bots execute a defined strategy automatically and consistently:
- Grid bots profit from volatility inside a price range.
- DCA bots build or unwind positions gradually to smooth your average price.
- Copy bots mirror proven on-chain traders automatically.
- TradingView bots turn your alerts into live orders through a webhook.
How Coinner fits in
Coinner is an automation layer on top of perp DEXs. You connect your own account with trade-only access: API keys on dYdX and Arcus, or a trade-only agent approval on Hyperliquid and Aster. Coinner then runs your bots in the cloud around the clock. Your funds never leave your account, and there is no subscription: Coinner earns a small share of exchange fees through referral and builder-code programs only when you trade.
Ready to try it? Explore the bot guides or explore perp DEX platforms.