While much of the financial sector has been in disarray post-2020, the decentralized finance market (DeFi) has had a successful year. Traders worldwide have come to this alternative financial sector to capitalize on the growing market volatility.
Along with the increase in funding flows, the trading sector has recently seen several new and innovative developments: DEX aggregators are one example.
The 1inch Network platform, with hundreds of billions of assets and thousands of users, is at the fore of this new DeFi revolution. The platform utilizes smart contract technology to optimize trading and liquidity across multiple exchanges. Read on to learn more about the features, pros, and cons of 1inch and see if it’s right for you.
1inch’s pros
Here are just some of the ways 1inch has set itself apart from the competition:
Find the best exchange rates for you.
1inch compares rates and prices from different exchanges to find the best deals for any exchange you want to make. The 1inch platform can offer you better rates than most major exchanges depending on the currency you’re exchanging. If spreading the swap across several exchanges gives you a better deal, 1inch can do it.
Support for many crypto-currencies, wallets, and blockchains
Once you’ve connected your wallet – whether hardware or browser wallet – you’ll instantly have access to one of the widest varieties of crypto-currencies on any decentralized exchange. Having a platform that supports many different types of crypto-currency and several other wallets and blockchains can be a huge advantage for many users.
No deposit or withdrawal fees
You have to cover all transaction fees – gas fees- and the fees of each exchange when you trade with 1inch. However, 1inch does not add any additional fees for the 1inch platform. To put it differently, when you use 1inch, There are no fees for you to pay when you deposit or withdraw your tokens.The platform does not store your assets on its server.
1inch’s Cons
There are also a few potential weaknesses that 1inch users may want to be aware of, including:
Inability to buy crypto-currencies with fiat money
Traditional money (fiat), such as the US dollar, cannot be used to buy crypto-currencies on the 1inch platform. However, With Moonpay, a third-party site, users can easily buy Ethereum using a debit or credit card. But there’s a catch. Processing fees are high, and the rate could be more competitive, so opting for this solution may not be wise.
The platform is not suitable for novice investors.
The platform may be challenging to use if you’re new to crypto-currencies. It requires a basic level of knowledge about the crypto-currency market, and you may need help finding the currencies you expect, even though you can buy a wide variety of coins.
Who is 1inch for?
1inch may be the exchange for you if:
You want to find the best cryptocurrency exchange rates but want to avoid the hassle of searching and comparing options.
You want access to a broader selection of crypto-currencies and already have a wallet compatible with DeFi.
You feel comfortable with crypto-currencies on DeFi platforms and want to deepen your knowledge.
1inch Features Review
Any DEX that aspires to be a serious competitor in the space needs to stand out with its advanced features. That’s how 1inch does it:
1inch Wallet: 1inch has a wallet to bet tokens and Chrome Browser Extension, get rewards, buy cryptocurrencies with fiat, and store NFTs.
User-friendly interface: The user interface is easy to navigate, even if you have little experience with decentralized exchanges.
Limited fees: You only need to pay a network fee to interact with the service; there are no additional fees.
Maximum security: 1inch has a high level of security: so far, there have been no security breaches or hacks.
High liquidity: acting as a DEX aggregator, 1inch ensures high liquidity of your cryptocurrency transactions by limiting the number of transactions to one transaction.
Low transaction costs: users can use Chi gas tokens rather than ETH to trade on 1inch. Monetizing CHI takes up space on the blockchain, but burning them wipes out that space and replaces it with a transaction, optimizing the process.
Cryptocurrencies in 1inch’s listing
1inch has an extensive list of cryptocurrencies. Over 400 ERC-20 tokens are available on the platform, which are digital assets backed by the Ethereum network.
You can add an ERC-20 token if the one you want to trade still needs to be listed on the Exchange. However, you won’t find well-known cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) or Binance Coin (BNB) here, as these tokens don’t operate on the Ethereum network.
1-inch subscription fee
Many cryptocurrency exchanges charge both an individual exchange fee and a network fee.
Since 1inch is a decentralized exchange aggregator, you won’t have to pay fees or commissions for using 1inch’s exchange services. However, you are responsible for covering your transaction costs. However, CHI gas tokens can barely reduce your gas costs.
1inch Exchange is a DEX aggregator, which means that the DEX you use to execute your order will significantly impact your transaction costs. It’s best to familiarize yourself with the fee structure associated with different platforms before executing trades.
For instance, 1inch claims that the platform’s primary goal is to provide users with the best swaps. As such, the platform does not charge any additional fees beyond DEX commissions.
Other solutions worth considering
Consider looking for alternatives if you are a novice crypto trader who is not yet ready for such a platform. Here are a few options you can consider:
Uniswap: the best option for beginner traders of decentralized exchanges
Uniswap is a decentralized exchange, but it is known for targeting beginners and having a very high daily trading volume. Thus, Uniswap can be a good starting point for beginner cryptocurrency traders still getting ready for platforms requiring more experience.
Coinbase: the best for beginner cryptocurrency traders
Coinbase is a centralized exchange that is ideal for traders and investors who are just starting with cryptocurrencies. The platform dApp is user-friendly and offers a wide selection of tokens.