Decentralised & P2P Exchanges

Unlike centralised exchanges, DEXs only works with assets native to a blockchain and don’t allow for interactions between fiat and bitcoin — instead; they exclusively trade stablecoins or tokens for bitcoin. A DEX leverages the ability of smart contracts to settle transactions, so there is no intermediary to manage transactions.

Funds are locked into smart contracts and are only released when specific conditions are met, such as the price matching the buyer and seller agreed terms. Once requirements are met, the smart contract executes and the assets in question change ownership.

P2P Bitcoin exchanges allow users to buy or sell directly with another user. Unlike centralised exchanges where you have to complete KYC to process an order, most P2P exchanges allow you to send and receive bitcoin without asking you for identity verification.

Think of it as a marketplace where individuals can meet up and trade currencies with one another. A P2P market could be done in person with a meetup and you could trade your cash for Bitcoin or it can be done online through various platforms.

Also, exchanges based on the P2P model have no single point of failure like centralised exchanges do.

A user can usually register with the exchange via a website or app without identity verification. Registration simply requires an email address and a password. After registering, a user can go through different buy and sell offers posted by individuals on the platform.

Each offer has different payment options, a different rate and usually a minimum or maximum purchase amount. A buyer can select an offer and contact the seller to set up a transaction. If you’re a seller, you can post the accepted payment method and any fee involved.

Generally, P2P bitcoin exchanges use an escrow account or a multi-sig address to deposit bitcoin or other collateral from the users to ensure the platform’s safety.

Trading on decentralised exchanges can be expensive, especially if mining transaction fees are high when the trades are executed. Nevertheless, there are numerous advantages of using DEX platforms.

Anonymity 

When users exchange one cryptocurrency for another, their anonymity is preserved on DEXs. In contrast to centralised exchanges, users do not need to go through a standard identification process known as Know Your Customer (KYC). KYC processes involve collecting traders’ personal information, including their full legal name and a photograph of their government-issued identification document. As a result, DEXs attract many people who do not wish to be anonymous.

Reduced security risks

Experienced bitcoin users who custody their funds are at a reduced risk of being hacked using DEXs, as these exchanges do not control their funds. Instead, traders guard their funds and only interact with the exchange when they wish to do so. If the platform gets hacked, only liquidity providers may be at risk.

Reduced counterparty risk

Since decentralised exchanges operate without intermediaries and are based on smart contracts and multi-sig wallets, counterparties solvency risk is eliminated. You now don’t have to trust the liquidity of the exchange and their ability to custody assets correctly as everything is settled on-chain or on a second layer confirmation.

Control over your assets

When using a DEX, you never give up control over your assets; when a bid is placed, funds are locked into an escrow using a smart contract. You can remove your funds from the contract at any time. If a transaction is completed, these are all final settlements and cannot be reversed.