Star: OKX exchange's built-in DEX trading is now available, making multi-chain exploration simple and seamless.

Author: Star Xu, Founder of OKX

OKX's mission is to make global markets accessible through reliable and transparent technology.

The built-in "DEX trading" on exchanges goes a step further, combining the efficiency of centralized infrastructure with the openness of decentralized networks.

Starting today, the built-in "DEX trading" feature is officially launched on the OKX App, including in the United States and major regions worldwide. Users can directly access the decentralized marketplaces of Solana, Base, and X Layer without leaving the OKX ecosystem.

Lowering the barrier to decentralized access

For most users, accessing DEX markets typically requires multiple wallets, frequent network switching, managing mnemonic phrases, and cross-chain token transactions for gas fees. Each step can introduce wear and tear, delays, and risks.

Using the exchange's built-in "DEX Trading," users can start DEX trading in just one step. The system automatically creates a self-custodied wallet and securely protects it with a passkey, eliminating the need to manage a mnemonic phrase. Users have complete control over their private keys and assets, while also having direct access to on-chain liquidity.

More importantly, users can directly explore the DEX market using their existing OKX exchange trading account balances. This integration eliminates the cumbersome process of manual transfers or cross-chain operations—the OKX App seamlessly completes settlements between centralized and decentralized environments.

Unified interface and intelligent inquiry

The exchange's built-in "DEX Trading" integrates the functions of CEX and DEX into a unified and concise interface. Users can freely switch between centralized order books and decentralized liquidity within the same portfolio view.

Our intelligent order routing system can search hundreds of liquidity pools in real time to find the optimal trading path. This provides both the speed and reliability of a CEX and the transparency and coverage of a DEX.

Early market access and transparency

Many new projects will first list on DEXs before entering CEXs. Through the exchange's built-in "DEX trading," OKX users can directly access these early markets on Solana, Base, and X Layer using the same account system as centralized exchanges. Every on-chain transaction is verifiable, auditable, and completely under the user's control.

Design Principles

The design of the "in-line DEX" was based on the following engineering priorities:

• Unified access —enable CEX and DEX trading through the same balance and interface.
• Self-custodied wallets are owned and controlled by the user.
• Security with simplicity — use passkey authentication instead of mnemonic phrases.
• Transparent execution —all on-chain operations are verifiable.
• Interoperability — Supports Solana, Base, and X Layer (partial region support).

This design reduces operational complexity while expanding access to decentralized liquidity and early token ecosystems.

OKX's "in-store DEX" represents an evolution in how the crypto market operates: it's a modular system where centralized efficiency coexists with decentralized access. By connecting user balances, a unified interface, and self-custody, we are moving towards a fully interoperable financial architecture—one where access is determined by technology, not intermediaries.