GMX is a decentralized, permissionless exchange for perpetual swaps and spot trading, facilitating on-chain cryptocurrency trades directly from users' wallets. Launched on the Arbitrum One blockchain in September 2021 and later on Avalanche in January 2022, GMX supports these two networks. It allows trading of major cryptocurrencies like BTC and ETH with up to 50x leverage, offering an experience akin to centralized exchanges but with users retaining asset custody.
Central to GMX is its native token, also named GMX, serving as a governance, utility, and value-accrual asset within its ecosystem. Staking GMX tokens yields a share of the protocol's fees and additional incentives. The platform's unique feature is its multi-asset pool, GLP, which holds a mix of stablecoins, ETH, BTC, and other altcoins. This pool facilitates trading and offers liquidity providers fee earnings without impermanent loss.
GMX's trading mechanism is supported by GLP, with liquidity providers earning 70% of fees generated. GLP tokens, which represent a stake in this pool, can be minted and burnt for various assets. GMX also uses Chainlink Oracles for dynamic pricing, aggregating prices from high-volume exchanges.
The GMX token not only enables voting on protocol decisions but also provides stakers with three types of rewards: a 30% share of protocol fees (paid in ETH or AVAX), escrowed GMX (esGMX) tokens, and Multiplier Points that boost yield. The token has a capped supply of 13.25 million, with a significant portion currently staked.
Distinctly, GMX offers a simple swap interface for leveraged positions, akin to traditional platforms, but with self-custody and trustless operation. It combines spot swaps and leveraged trading of perpetual swaps, aiming for high capital efficiency and reduced price impact during trading. The platform leverages Chainlink Oracles to mitigate liquidation risks from price fluctuations.
GMX fosters a strong community ethos, with various community-built tools and communication channels like the Blueberry Pulse newsletter and Blueberry Podcast. Traders and stakers benefit from a user-friendly interface for trading and staking, with clear instructions and options like limit orders, take profit, and stop loss orders. Staking GMX tokens is straightforward, offering multiple rewards visible in the user interface.