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What Is 0x?

0x (ZRX) is an open protocol that provides the infrastructure for decentralized exchange of ERC-20 tokens on the Ethereum blockchain and other EVM-compatible chains. Co-founded in October 2016 by Will Warren (CEO) and Amir Bandeali (CTO), 0x was one of the earliest projects to build DEX infrastructure, with the vision that tokenized assets would eventually encompass everything from digital game items to stocks to gold. Warren brought a background in applied physics research at Los Alamos National Laboratory and mechanical engineering from UC San Diego, while Bandeali came from fixed-income trading at DRW after studying finance at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

The project attracted backing from notable investors including Fintech Blockchain Group, Pantera Capital, Polychain Capital, Jen Advisors, and Blockchain Capital. Its advisors included figures connected to Polychain Capital, Coinbase, and Pantera Capital, including Olaf Carlson-Wee, Fred Ehrsam, and Linda Xie -- all former Coinbase employees. The ZRX token launched on August 15, 2017, with a fixed total supply of one billion tokens. The distribution allocated 50% to the public sale, 15% retained by 0x, 15% to a developer fund, 10% to the founding team, and 10% to advisors and early backers, with founder and advisor allocations vesting over four years.

The original 0x protocol introduced a maker/taker/relayer model designed to improve on fully on-chain decentralized exchanges like EtherDelta. In early DEXs, every action -- deposits, order placements, cancellations, and trade executions -- required an on-chain transaction, each costing gas fees. 0x addressed this by moving order books off-chain while settling trades on-chain. A maker would broadcast a signed order off-chain, relayers would host and present these orders in their order books, and a taker would fill the order by submitting both signatures to the 0x smart contract for on-chain settlement. This dramatically reduced gas costs compared to fully on-chain exchanges. The protocol also offered 0x OTC, a peer-to-peer product that allowed two parties to exchange tokens directly without a relayer, sending order details through any communication channel -- email, social media, or even on paper.

Early relayers building on the protocol included Radar Relay, Paradex, and Ethfinex, and projects like Augur explored integration. Because 0x provided a shared protocol layer, all relayers could access the same pool of orders, creating a network effect where liquidity grew as more applications adopted the standard.

0x has evolved significantly from that original design. The 0x API is now the protocol's most widely used product, serving as a DEX aggregation layer. It aggregates liquidity from dozens of sources across multiple blockchain networks, including Uniswap, SushiSwap, Curve, Balancer, and many others. When a user or application requests a token swap through the 0x API, it finds the best available price across all connected liquidity sources and routes the trade optimally, often splitting orders across multiple pools to minimize slippage and achieve the best execution. The Matcha DEX aggregator, built on 0x, provides a consumer-facing interface for this functionality. The protocol has been deployed across Ethereum, Polygon, BNB Chain, Arbitrum, Optimism, Avalanche, and other chains, processing billions of dollars in cumulative trading volume.

The ZRX token serves dual roles in the 0x ecosystem. As a governance token, ZRX holders can participate in decisions about protocol upgrades, fee structures, and treasury allocations through 0x DAO. ZRX staking also allows token holders to earn a share of protocol fees generated by trades flowing through the 0x smart contracts. This governance model gives the community direct influence over the protocol's evolution.

Getting Started With 0x

  1. Step 1: Understand the 0x Protocol. Visit 0x.org to learn about the protocol's architecture, the 0x API, and how it powers decentralized token trading across multiple blockchains.
  2. Step 2: Try the 0x-Powered Trading. Many popular DeFi applications use 0x under the hood for token swaps. The Matcha DEX aggregator at matcha.xyz is built on 0x and provides a user-friendly interface for finding the best swap rates.
  3. Step 3: Acquire ZRX Tokens. Purchase ZRX on a supported exchange or swap for it on a DEX. ZRX is needed for governance participation and staking within the 0x ecosystem.
  4. Step 4: Participate in Governance. Stake your ZRX tokens and participate in 0x DAO governance to influence the future direction of the protocol, including fee parameters and treasury spending.

How to Get a 0x Wallet?

MetaMask

ZRX is an ERC-20 token that can be stored in MetaMask. Install the MetaMask browser extension or mobile app and ZRX will be automatically recognized. MetaMask also allows you to interact with 0x-powered dApps and governance.

Hardware Wallets

Ledger and Trezor support ZRX as an ERC-20 token, providing secure cold storage. Connect your hardware wallet to MetaMask for convenient access to 0x ecosystem applications while maintaining security.

Coinbase Wallet

Coinbase Wallet supports ZRX and provides a mobile-friendly interface for managing your tokens and interacting with Ethereum dApps. It offers self-custody with an easy-to-use interface.

0x Resources

How to Buy 0x?

ZRX tokens can be purchased on major centralized exchanges including Coinbase, Binance, and Kraken. Create an account, complete verification, deposit funds, and trade for ZRX.

For decentralized options, ZRX can be swapped on Matcha (the 0x-powered DEX aggregator), Uniswap, or any Ethereum DEX. Matcha will automatically find the best rate across multiple liquidity sources.

Latest 0x News

0x continues to expand its DEX aggregation infrastructure across multiple blockchain networks. The protocol processes significant trading volume through its API, which is integrated into numerous DeFi applications, wallets, and interfaces. The 0x team has been focused on improving swap routing efficiency, expanding multi-chain support, and growing the 0x DAO governance framework to give ZRX holders more influence over the protocol's development.