DEX vs CEX: What's the difference?
A centralized exchange (CEX) like Binance or Coinbase holds your funds for you. You deposit money, they control it, and you trust them to let you withdraw. A decentralized exchange (DEX) lets you trade directly from your wallet. You maintain custody of your funds at all times.
The collapse of FTX in 2022 — where billions in customer funds were lost — showed exactly why self-custody matters.
How modern DEXs work
Early DEXs were slow and expensive. Modern DEXs like Relentless run on high-performance blockchains with sub-second execution and zero gas fees. They offer the same features as centralized exchanges — leverage, limit orders, stop-losses — without requiring you to hand over your funds or identity.
Trades are settled on-chain, meaning every transaction is transparent and verifiable.
Benefits of trading on a DEX
Self-custody — your funds are always in your control.
Wallet-based access — connect a self-custodial wallet and trade in seconds.
Global markets — trade stocks, FX, commodities and crypto from anywhere.
Transparency — all trades settle on-chain.
No withdrawal limits — move your funds whenever you want.
Non-custodial — Relentless never holds your assets.
Trading on Relentless
Relentless combines the speed and features of a centralized exchange with the security of a DEX. Sign up with an email, deposit via crypto or card, and start trading — all from a self-custodial wallet you control.