Decentralized Exchange Risk

Definition ∞ Decentralized Exchange Risk pertains to the various dangers associated with trading digital assets on platforms that operate without a central authority. These risks include smart contract vulnerabilities, impermanent loss for liquidity providers, and potential exposure to economic exploits. Unlike centralized exchanges, users maintain custody of their assets, but they remain subject to protocol-specific hazards.
Context ∞ News frequently covers decentralized exchange risks in the context of security audits, protocol upgrades, and post-exploit analyses. The absence of traditional intermediaries places a greater burden on users to understand the underlying smart contract security and potential financial implications. Mitigating these risks involves rigorous code review and community governance, which are ongoing areas of development and discussion.