Accessing dYdX Chain: A guide to Urbit, Rage Trade, and the new Python Client

dYdX Foundation
Aug 6, 2024

Decentralized platforms like dYdX Chain have gained significant popularity among DeFi users due to their non-custodial nature and advanced trading features. The web frontend at dydx.trade, along with the iOS and Android mobile apps, remain the most popular choices to access the protocol, offering robust functionalities. However, exploring additional options can enhance the trading experience, ensuring seamless and decentralized operation even during downtime or availability issues. 

To reduce dependency on a single web interface, several alternative access avenues allow users to trade on the dYdX Chain. Here, we explore three such options: Urbit, Rage Trade, and trading using the APIs.

1. Urbit

Urbit is a new operating system and peer-to-peer network designed to be simple, secure, and user-owned. It aims to replace the current fragmented internet infrastructure with a unified platform where users have full control over their applications and data.

Urbit offers a unique approach to accessing dYdX Chain by providing a decentralized, self-hosted frontend, reducing the dependency on a single externally hosted frontend and allowing users to interact with dYdX Chain in a more resilient and controlled manner.

Key Features

  • Decentralized and Self-Hosted: Users can host their own dYdX frontend on Urbit, eliminating reliance on centralized services.
  • Full Feature Parity: The Urbit client offers the same features as the open-source code of the dydx.trade website.
  • Ownership and Control: Users have complete control over their Urbit instance and the client running on it.

To get started with Urbit, the easiest way is to use Red Horizon, an Urbit partner that covers server costs and provides updates. You can get a complimentary Urbit key by visiting their website and creating an account. You can choose an available ID, launch Urbit, and use the access key to log in and access the dYdX Chain frontend on your desktop or mobile device.

Self-Hosting Options

For those seeking full control, Urbit can be self-hosted in various environments:

  • CLI: Offers maximum security, running on your local computer.
  • Native Planet: Operates on a dedicated device, accessible via mobile.
  • VPS: Provides more control, but is less secure and requires monthly costs.

You can learn more about Urbit and how to get started on the Urbit GitHub page. 

2. Rage Trade Aggregator

Rage Trade is a multi-chain perpetual trading platform aggregator that simplifies trading across various protocols, chains and markets. It provides access to deep liquidity and an easy-to-use interface compatible with various EOA wallets. Rage Trade is the first perp aggregator to integrate dYdX Chain. 

Key Features

  • Aggregated Liquidity: Trade against unified liquidity from multiple perps and chains.
  • Wallet Compatibility: Compatible with most EOA wallets for instant trading.
  • Optimized Routes: Automatically selects the best routes and incentives for trades.
  • Incentive Program: Earn DYDX Trading Rewards, DYDX Launch Incentives, and Rage Trade points weekly.
  • Unified Trading Experience: Access multiple markets, including those available on dYdX Chain and other networks, from a single interface.

There are other aggregators, like Vooi, that plan on integrating dYdX Chain into their interface and offering a unified perp venue. 

3. Python Trading Client

For those with hands-on programming knowledge, integrating directly with the dYdX Chain using the Python Client offers the highest level of flexibility and control. This method bypasses the need for any frontend and allows for custom trading solutions.

The Python client closely mirrors the dYdX API, enabling seamless access to the exchange's features and parameters, making integration intuitive and straightforward. The client is licensed under the permissive MIT license for easy integration.

Key Features

  • Asynchronous Execution: Leverages Python's async features for better concurrency.
  • Node Client: Interact with the node, send transactions and different types of trades (limit order, market order, etc.), deposits, and more.
  • Indexer Client: Read data from the indexer.
  • WebSocket: Read live updates.

To get started with the dYdX Python Client, configure your network connection. If you are using the testnet, you will need to obtain funds from the testnet faucet. Next, check your account details to ensure everything is set up correctly. Retrieve current market prices to make informed trading decisions, build and place your orders, and, for real-time updates, set up WebSockets. These steps will help you efficiently start trading on dYdX Chain using the Python Client.

Other options include TypeScript and C++ clients, providing flexibility for developers with different language preferences. To learn more, visit the dYdX Chain Clients GitHub page. 

Conclusion

By exploring these diverse pathways, dYdX Chain users can access a more distributed and versatile trading experience, moving beyond the constraints of a single frontend. Each approach brings unique advantages, such as decentralized hosting, and complete customization, catering to different levels of technical expertise and trading preferences. Embracing these options ensures uninterrupted, seamless, permissionless and decentralized access to the dYdX Chain, empowering users to take full control of their trading journey.

We encourage all developers to join the dYdX community and contribute by building new interfaces, social bots, and other innovative trading tools and solutions, expanding decentralized access to the dYdX Chain. 

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About the dYdX Foundation

Legitimacy and Disclaimer

Crypto-assets can be highly volatile and trading crypto-assets involves risk of loss, particularly when using leverage. Investment into crypto-assets may not be regulated and may not be adequate for retail investors. Do your own research and due diligence before engaging in any activity involving crypto-assets.

dYdX is a decentralised, disintermediated and permissionless protocol, and is not available in the U.S. or to U.S. persons as well as in other restricted jurisdictions. The dYdX Foundation does not operate or participate in the operation of any component of the dYdX Chain's infrastructure.

The dYdX Foundation’s purpose is to support the current implementation and any future implementations of the dYdX protocol and to foster community-driven growth in the dYdX ecosystem.

The dYdX Chain software (including dYdX Unlimited) is open-source software to be used or implemented by any party in accordance with the applicable license. At no time should the dYdX Chain and/or its software or related components (including dYdX Unlimited) be deemed to be a product or service provided or made available in any way by the dYdX Foundation. Interactions with the dYdX Chain software (including dYdX Unlimited) or any implementation thereof are permissionless and disintermediated, subject to the terms of the applicable licenses and code. Users who interact with the dYdX Chain software, i ncluding dYdX Unlimited (or any implementations thereof) will not be interacting with the dYdX Foundation in any way whatsoever. The dYdX Foundation does not make any representations, warranties or covenants in connection with the dYdX Chain software (or any implementations and/or components thereof, including dYdX Unlimited), including (without limitation) with regard to their technical properties or performance, as well as their actual or potential usefulness or suitability for any particular purpose, and users agree to rely on the dYdX Chain software (or any implementations and/or components thereof, including dYdX Unlimited) “AS IS, WHERE IS”.

Nothing in this post should be used or considered as legal, financial, tax, or any other advice, nor as an instruction or invitation to act by anyone.  Users should conduct their own research and due diligence before making any decisions.  The dYdX Foundation may alter or update any information in this post in the future at its sole discretion and assumes no obligation to publicly disclose any such change. This post is solely based on the information available to the dYdX Foundation at the time it was published and should only be read and taken into consideration at the time it was published and on the basis of the circumstances that surrounded it. The dYdX Foundation makes no guarantees of future performance and is under no obligation to undertake any of the activities contemplated herein.

Depositing into the MegaVault carries risks. Do your own research and make sure to understand the risks before depositing funds. MegaVault returns are not guaranteed and may fluctuate over time depending on multiple factors. MegaVault returns may be negative and you may lose your entire investment.The dYdX Foundation does not operate or has control over the MegaVault and has not been involved in the development, deployment and operation of  any component of the dYdX Unlimited software (including the MegaVault).

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