Trading Perpetuals on Vertex Protocol: Fees, Pairs & How to Start

Vertex Protocol is a high-performance decentralized exchange (DEX) built on Arbitrum, offering seamless perpetual futures trading with deep liquidity and low fees. Whether you're a seasoned trader or just starting out, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about trading perpetuals on Vertex — including supported pairs, fee structure, and how to get started.

🔍 What Are Perpetuals?

Perpetual contracts are a type of derivative that allows traders to speculate on the price of an asset without owning it. Unlike traditional futures, perpetuals have no expiration date, making them ideal for short-term and long-term strategies.

On Vertex, perpetuals are traded directly on-chain, combining the speed of centralized exchanges with the transparency of DeFi.

💼 Supported Trading Pairs

Vertex offers a growing list of perpetual markets, including major crypto assets and trending tokens. As of 2025, popular trading pairs include:

• BTC-USDC

• ETH-USDC

• SOL-USDC

• ARB-USDC

• OP-USDC

• LINK-USDC

• AVAX-USDC

• BONK-USDC

• WIF-USDC

New pairs are added regularly based on market demand and liquidity. You can view the full list of available markets on the Vertex Protocol website.

💸 Trading Fees on Vertex

Vertex is known for its low and transparent fee structure, which includes:

1. Maker Fee:

• Typically 0.01%

• Applies when you place limit orders that add liquidity to the order book

2. Taker Fee:

• Typically 0.05%

• Applies when you place market orders that remove liquidity

3. Funding Rate:

• Dynamic rate paid between long and short positions

• Helps keep perpetual prices aligned with spot prices

4. Gas Fees:

• Minimal, thanks to Arbitrum’s Layer 2 scaling

• Most trades cost just a few cents in ETH

Vertex also offers fee rebates and trading incentives for active users and liquidity providers.

🛠️ How to Start Trading Perpetuals on Vertex

Step 1: Set Up a Wallet

To trade on Vertex, you’ll need a compatible crypto wallet such as:

• MetaMask

• WalletConnect

• Coinbase Wallet

Connect your wallet to the Vertex platform and ensure it’s funded with USDC and ETH (for gas fees).

Step 2: Bridge Funds to Arbitrum

Vertex operates on Arbitrum, a Layer 2 network. If your assets are on Ethereum mainnet, use a bridge to transfer them to Arbitrum. This reduces fees and improves transaction speed.

Step 3: Connect to Vertex

Visit the official Vertex DEX and click “Connect Wallet.” Approve the connection and ensure you’re on the Arbitrum network.

Step 4: Choose a Perpetual Market

Navigate to the Trade section and select a market (e.g., ETH-USDC). You’ll see real-time charts, order book data, and trading tools.

Step 5: Place Your Trade

• Choose Market or Limit order

• Set your leverage (up to 20x on some pairs)

• Enter your position size

• Confirm the transaction via your wallet

Step 6: Monitor and Manage Your Position

Use Vertex’s dashboard to track open positions, PnL, margin usage, and funding rates. You can close or adjust your position anytime.

🔐 Risk Management Tips

• Start with low leverage (2x–5x) until you’re comfortable

• Use stop-loss and take-profit orders

• Monitor funding rates and liquidation thresholds

• Never risk more than you can afford to lose

📈 Why Trade Perpetuals on Vertex?

• Fast execution with on-chain order books

• Low fees and deep liquidity

• Decentralized and transparent

• Advanced trading tools like cross-margin and analytics

• Community-driven incentives and governance

Vertex Protocol is redefining how traders interact with DeFi derivatives. With its sleek interface, competitive fees, and powerful trading engine, it’s a top choice for anyone looking to trade perpetuals on-chain.