Cetus DEX Fee Calculator
Estimated Trading Costs
Capital Efficiency
Up to 10x higher capital efficiency with concentrated liquidity
Low Slippage
Reduced slippage due to concentrated liquidity model
Fast Transactions
On-chain swaps settle in under 2 seconds on Sui/Aptos
If you’ve been scrolling through DeFi options lately, you’ve probably seen Cetus pop up as a fast‑growing DEX on Sui and Aptos. This Cetus exchange review breaks down exactly what makes Cetus different, how its fee structure works, and whether it’s safe enough for your capital.
What Is Cetus?
Cetus Protocol is a decentralized exchange (DEX) that runs on the Sui and Aptos blockchains and uses a concentrated liquidity model. Launched in 2023, the platform aims to combine the speed of modern layer‑1 chains with the capital efficiency of Uniswap V3‑style AMMs. By June2025 the protocol has processed over $52billion in trade volume, handled 129million swaps, and attracted more than 13million unique accounts.
Core Technology: Concentrated Liquidity Market Makers
The engine behind Cetus is its Concentrated Liquidity Market Maker (CLMM). Unlike classic AMMs that spread liquidity across the entire price curve, CLMM lets providers pick a price range-say $0.95‑$1.05 for a stable‑coin pair-and allocate their funds only inside that window. The result is up to 10‑fold higher capital efficiency, lower slippage for traders, and bigger fee shares for liquidity providers (LPs).
Key Features and Tools
- Infinity Pools are permissionless pools with multiple fee tiers, allowing LPs to fine‑tune their risk/reward profile.
- Super Aggregator routes trades through the deepest pools across the Sui ecosystem, trimming slippage automatically.
- Intent Trading offers programmable orders-DCA, limit, and range orders-so users can automate strategies without leaving the DEX.
- Native CETUS token powers governance, fee sharing, and staking rewards.
- Staked xCETUS (the escrowed version of CETUS) gives voting power and higher fee rebates via a ve‑token model.
Tokenomics at a Glance
The dual‑token system separates utility from governance. CETUS serves as the reward token for liquidity mining, staking, and protocol fees. Holders can lock CETUS for 1‑4years to receive xCETUS, which follows a ve‑model: longer lock‑ups yield proportionally higher voting weight and fee share. This design discourages short‑term dumping and aligns incentives with long‑term ecosystem health.
Fees, Costs, and Slippage
Cetus charges a base swap fee that ranges from 0.05% to 0.30% depending on the pool’s fee tier-comparable to Uniswap V3’s 0.05%‑0.30% structure. Because LPs concentrate capital, total fees collected per dollar of liquidity are typically 2‑3× higher than on uniform AMMs.
Transaction costs are also low. On Sui, a standard swap costs roughly 0.0005SUI (≈$0.0001 at current rates), while on Aptos it’s about 0.0008APT. These numbers stay stable even during network spikes, thanks to the high‑throughput consensus mechanisms of both chains.
Security and Audits
The smart‑contract suite behind Cetus is fully open‑source on GitHub and has undergone two third‑party audits (by PeckShield in Q12024 and by Trail of Bits in Q32024). No critical vulnerabilities have been reported to date. However, as with any DeFi protocol, users should be aware of potential smart‑contract bugs, oracle manipulation risks (though Cetus relies mostly on on‑chain price data), and the inherent risk of impermanent loss for LPs.
User Experience (UX)
From a trader’s perspective, the UI mirrors familiar centralized‑exchange layouts: a clear price chart, quick‑swap widget, and a “Pool” tab for adding liquidity. The “Intent Trading” screen lets you set DCA schedules or limit orders with a few clicks-something most DEXs still lack.
Developers benefit from a robust SDK that lets projects embed Cetus liquidity into their own front‑ends or launch custom token pairs without writing new smart contracts. Community feedback on Discord and Reddit frequently praises the low‑latency swaps and the flexibility of Infinity Pools.
Pros, Cons, and Who Should Use Cetus
| Aspect | Cetus (CLMM) | Uniswap V3 (CLMM) | Classic AMM (e.g., Uniswap V2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Efficiency | ~10× higher within range | ~8‑10× higher | Baseline (1×) |
| Fee Tiers | 0.05%‑0.30% | 0.05%‑0.30% | 0.30% |
| Network Speed | Sui/Aptos ≤2seconds finality | Ethereum ≤15seconds (high congestion) | Ethereum similar |
| Automation Tools | Intent Trading (DCA, limit) | Limited (third‑party bots) | None |
| Audit History | 2 major audits (2024) | Multiple audits (2020‑2023) | Few audits |
Best for: traders who need low slippage on fast chains, LPs seeking higher fee yields, and developers building DeFi composables on Sui/Aptos.
Not ideal for: users who only hold assets on Ethereum or Binance Smart Chain, or those who prefer a single‑chain DEX with broader token listings.
Step‑by‑Step: Getting Started on Cetus
- Set up a Sui wallet (e.g., Suiet, Martian) or an Aptos wallet (e.g., Petra). Ensure you have a small amount of SUI or APT for gas.
- Navigate to cetus.zone and connect your wallet.
- Choose “Swap” to trade any listed pair. Adjust slippage tolerance (default 0.5%). Confirm the transaction.
- To provide liquidity, go to “Pools”, pick a pair, set your price range, and deposit assets. Confirm the pool creation transaction.
- If you want rewards, stake your CETUS tokens in the “Staking” tab. Optionally lock them for xCETUS to boost fee share.
- Explore “Intent Trading” for automated strategies: set a DCA schedule, define a price target, and let the protocol execute orders.
All actions are on‑chain, permissionless, and reversible only by your wallet signature.
Community, Governance, and Future Roadmap
The Cetus DAO runs on xCETUS voting power. Proposals cover fee‑tier adjustments, new pool incentives, and cross‑chain bridge integrations. Recent community votes approved a 0.05% fee reduction for stable‑coin pairs, reflecting the protocol’s willingness to adapt to user demand.
Looking ahead, the roadmap includes:
- Full‑mesh interoperability with additional layer‑1 chains (e.g., Move‑based networks).
- Launchpad expansion for token projects within the Sui ecosystem.
- Advanced derivatives modules that let LPs hedge impermanent loss.
Bottom Line: Is Cetus Worth Your Time?
For anyone already on Sui or Aptos, Cetus offers a compelling mix of speed, low fees, and capital‑efficient liquidity. Its dual‑token model aligns incentives, while tools like Intent Trading give traders a taste of centralized‑exchange convenience without giving up custody. The main downside is ecosystem concentration-if you’re purely an Ethereum fan, you’ll need to bridge assets, which adds friction.
Overall, the platform’s growth trajectory, solid audit record, and active community suggest a sustainable future. If you value fast execution and want to earn higher yields as an LP, give Cetus a try.
Frequently Asked Questions
What blockchains does Cetus run on?
Cetus operates on the Sui and Aptos layer‑1 networks, both built with the Move language.
How does concentrated liquidity improve my returns?
By placing liquidity only inside a chosen price window, you concentrate the same amount of capital where trades actually happen. That means each dollar of liquidity earns more fees, often 2‑3 times what a uniform AMM would give.
Is there a risk of impermanent loss?
Yes. Any LP on a volatile pair faces impermanent loss if the price moves outside the range you set. However, the higher fee earnings from concentrated liquidity can offset this loss, especially on stable‑coin or low‑volatility pairs.
How do I earn CETUS tokens?
You can earn CETUS by providing liquidity to Infinity Pools, participating in liquidity‑mining campaigns, or staking CETUS in the DAO’s staking contract. Locked CETUS converts to xCETUS, which also distributes a share of protocol fees.
Can I use Cetus on a mobile device?
Yes. The web UI is responsive, and most mobile wallets (e.g., Suiet, Petra) can connect directly from a phone, letting you swap or add liquidity on the go.