Upgrade to node v7.0.0 now. It runs on the current runtime and is the client we support from runtime 392 on.
The sovereign Layer 1, purpose-built for trading
Sub-millisecond matching. Real orderbook. Your keys, always. Built with Substrate, connected everywhere via Hyperbridge.
Polkadex is an independent Layer 1 blockchain built with Substrate and engineered for high-performance decentralized trading. Originally launched within the Polkadot ecosystem, Polkadex has evolved into a sovereign network, combining exchange-grade performance with the transparency, security, and self-custody of DeFi.
🌐Independent Layer 1
A sovereign blockchain with its own validators, roadmap, and governance, not a parachain.
⚙️Built with Substrate
Battle-tested framework from the team behind Polkadot. Modular, upgradable, secure by design.
🗳️Sudo key removed
No entity can control the network or user funds. Every upgrade is enacted through on-chain governance.
⚡️Exchange-grade performance
Sub-millisecond order matching via the OCEX engine, with every trade settled on-chain.
🔑Non-custodial
Users always retain full control of their assets. No centralized honeypot, no operator to trust.
🌉Native interoperability
Hyperbridge integration for trust-minimized cross-chain transfers across Ethereum and beyond.
Fully circulating. No unlocks ahead.
Most projects still have years of token unlocks and VC vesting overhang. Polkadex doesn't. What you see on-chain is what exists, and the only new PDEX comes from staking rewards.
Exchange-grade speed, settled on-chain, without the compromises
Polkadex Orderbook is a non-custodial trading application: orders are matched at exchange-grade speed and every trade settles on our sovereign Layer 1. High-frequency trading, low fees, self-custody, all in one place.
On-chain settlement
Every trade settles on our sovereign Layer 1, with funds in on-chain custody the whole time. The matching engine can execute your orders but never touch your assets.
Sub-millisecond matching
Orders are matched off-chain by the high-performance OCEX engine: exchange-grade speed, without handing over custody.
Blockchain security
Secured by a validator set of 200+ network nodes: decentralized consensus, not a trusted operator.
Limit & market orders
Full price control with limit orders and instant execution with market orders. Real orderbook, not an AMM.
Bots & HFT API
Connect your own bots and strategies through the trading APIs. Programmatic trading is a first-class use case.
Cross-chain, for real
Bridged assets from Ethereum and beyond via Hyperbridge, verified by consensus, not multisigs.
Why an orderbook beats a swap
If you've only used Uniswap or PancakeSwap, you've been trading without limit orders, stop-losses, or real price discovery. Here's what changes with a real orderbook that settles on-chain.
For Traders
| Feature | Orderbook | AMM |
|---|---|---|
| Price discovery | Real bids & asks | Mathematical pricing curve |
| Limit orders | Yes | No |
| Market orders | Yes | Yes |
| Stop-loss / Take-profit | Yes | No |
| Slippage on large trades | Lower (with liquidity) | Higher |
| Trading experience | Full orderbook | Simple swaps only |
| Best for | Active traders | Casual users |
For Liquidity Providers
| Feature | Orderbook (Market Maker) | AMM (Liquidity Provider) |
|---|---|---|
| Impermanent loss | None | Possible |
| Control over pricing | Full control | Determined by the AMM |
| Capital allocation | Place orders where needed | Entire range or predefined ranges |
| Market making strategies | Advanced | Limited |
| Rewards | Spread + incentives | Trading fees + incentives |
| Best for | Professional market makers | Passive liquidity providers |
Where we are, where we're going
What is done, what is in progress, and what comes next.
Foundations
Mainnet runtime upgrade by governance
Runtime 393
Orderbook balances returned, inflation cut to about 3 percent, fee burn, inactive validators chilled, venue fee share to the treasury
Bridge
The bridge activated on mainnet
Orderbook relaunch
New settlement pallet and orderbook engine, version 0.6, reviewed and built
Earn passive rewards on your PDEX
Nominate a validator and start earning within 24 hours. Rewards are paid every era, and your PDEX never leaves your wallet.
Network-wide average. Source: the Polkadex Explorer.
Passive income
Rewards accrue every era (~24 hours) and compound automatically when you claim them.
Non-custodial
Your PDEX never leaves your wallet. Nominate a validator without giving up control of your keys.
Secures the network
Staking helps validate blocks and keeps Polkadex mainnet decentralized and trust-minimized.
Compatible wallets
Three steps to own PDEX
Get native PDEX directly on-chain: no exchange account, no waiting periods, no intermediaries.
Set up a wallet
PDEX is native to Polkadex mainnet. Install a Polkadot-compatible wallet (Talisman, SubWallet, PolkaGate, or Polkadot.js) and create an account.
Swap into native PDEX
Head to BuyPDEX.com and swap USDC, ETH, or USDT directly into native PDEX. Fully on-chain: no sign-up, no KYC, no account to open.
Put it to work
Stake PDEX and earn passive rewards paid every era (~24 hours), or trade on the Polkadex Orderbook once mainnet trading launches.
Building with the best in Web3
Parachains, exchanges, market makers, security firms, and infrastructure providers working alongside Polkadex.
Trust-minimized transfers, verified end-to-end
Deposits and withdrawals between Polkadex and other chains are powered by Hyperbridge, a cryptographic interoperability protocol. No relayers, no multisigs, no honeypots.
Verified by consensus
Every transfer is verified by cryptographic consensus and state proofs, not trusted relayers or multisig committees.
Security equal to the chains
Transfers between Polkadex and Ethereum inherit the security of both chains. No middleman to trust or hack.
Real cross-chain, not wrapped
Native cross-chain messaging via ISMP. Bridged assets act like the real thing on Polkadex, not synthetic IOUs.
Backed by and building alongside Web3
Partners, integrations, security audits, and investors powering the Polkadex ecosystem.
Coverage across global crypto media
Click any outlet to read the full article. Only publications with direct, verifiable coverage are listed here.
Follow along as we ship
We post an update every two weeks: upgrade progress, plan changes and validator news. Pick your channel.