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What Are Crypto Aggregators?

Author

Anatol Antonovici

Author

Anatol Antonovici

About Author

Anatol is a crypto and Web3 writer at Cryptonews, where he creates educational articles, guides, and reviews about everything related to crypto.

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Last updated:

March 26, 2025

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Crypto aggregators are decentralized finance (DeFi) and Web3 tools that connect to multiple decentralized applications (dApps) to help users find the best prices, deals, and relevant data across the Web3 ecosystem.

Aggregators pull data from multiple sources, offering users improved access to liquidity, enhanced price discovery, and a more seamless user experience. Thanks to these tools, crypto users can access multiple dApps from a single interface. For example, Jupiter is a popular decentralized exchange (DEX) aggregator connecting to multiple Solana DEXs, while 1inch is the largest DEX aggregator for the EVM ecosystem dominated by Ethereum.

In this article, we’ll explore the main types of crypto aggregators, including DEX, DeFi yield, and crypto data aggregators.

Key Takeaways

Crypto aggregators are tools that connect to multiple DeFi protocols to help users find the best prices, yields, and data.
The main types of crypto aggregators are DEX aggregators, yield aggregators, and data aggregators.
These tools can improve trading efficiency, automate DeFi operating, and provide a unified view of the Web3 market.
Aggregators are making DeFi and Web3 more accessible and user-friendly.

How Crypto Aggregators Work

The main task of crypto aggregators is to pull data and liquidity from multiple sources and deliver it to the user in an accessible format.

Think of a hotel booking website and the hotels and resorts you find listed on them. Instead of researching prices and availability for each hotel separately, the aggregator pulls data from all of them to show you the best deals from a unified interface. This is similar to the function of crypto aggregators for dApps.

That said, crypto aggregators have unique abilities that make them essential to the DeFi market. For example, DEX aggregators don’t simply redirect you to a single DEX with the best rate but instead may use a process called “smart order routing.” It allows them to split trades across multiple DEXs to reduce slippage and maximize returns for users.

Whether you’re swapping tokens, searching for yield opportunities in DeFi, or analyzing market trends, crypto aggregators streamline your experience and make it more efficient.

Interacting with Crypto Aggregators

Here is how users typically interact with crypto aggregators:

Step 1: Connect a wallet – Most aggregators are decentralized and only require users to connect a non-custodial wallet like MetaMask.
Step 2: Input request or initiate process – Users initiate a desired action depending on the aggregator, such as swapping one token for another, starting a yield strategy, or exploring on-chain data.
Step 3: Aggregator searches across protocols – Next, the aggregator scans all the supported protocols to find the best rates or relevant data.
Step 4: Best route or offer is calculated – After checking all options, the aggregator analyzes the best deal. For example, DEX aggregators determine the best route for a trade, while yield aggregators calculate the best returns.
Step 5: Aggregator returns results – The user can preview the optimized results.
Step 6: Transaction is executed – Lastly, the user can choose to proceed with the transaction if they are satisfied with the deal. Some aggregators, such as yield farming tools, involve ongoing automatic operations, such as auto-rebalancing and reinvesting earnings.

Aggregators save users a lot of time and help them improve their Web3 experiences, including trading, yield farming, and data analysis.

Examples of Crypto Data Aggregators

There are several types of crypto aggregators which can specialize in certain areas. Popular aggregator platforms include:

DEX aggregators
Yield aggregators
Data aggregators
Non-fungible token (NFT) aggregators
Lending aggregators
Bridge aggregators
Launchpad aggregators
Perpetual exchange aggregators

Let’s explore the three main categories of crypto aggregators, along with their advantages and potential drawbacks.

DEX Aggregators

DEX aggregators pool liquidity from various DEX protocols, helping users find the best price for a trade. As mentioned, these tools can split trades into smaller pieces to be processed across several DEXs for maximum efficiency.

In January 2025, DEX aggregators processed over $250 billion in trading volume, which was nearly 50% of the total volume of all DEXs.

Pros

Crypto swap aggregators deliver the best rates across multiple DEXs.
Help users minimize slippage thanks to smart order routing.
Give traders access to deeper liquidity, connecting to multiple DEXs at once.
Intuitive interfaces to ensure a smooth experience.

Cons

Gas fees may add up as routing trades through multiple DEX can increase transaction costs.
If a DEX doesn’t fulfill its order, trades may fail or get rerouted with less advantageous rates.
The performance of these aggregators depends on the DEXs they support.

DeFi Yield Aggregators

DeFi yield aggregators like Beefy and Yearn Finance automate the yield farming process by allocating user funds to the most profitable yield opportunities across DEXs, lending, staking, and liquidity protocols, among others.

The total value locked (TVL) in yield aggregators is at $3.5 billion as of March 2025, which is about a third of the TVL on individual yield protocols.

Pros

By connecting to multiple protocols, yield aggregators search for the best annual percentage yield (APY) figures.
They use algorithms to automate processes so users don’t have to rebalance positions manually.
Some aggregators split funds across several platforms to diversify exposure.

Cons

Users may experience impermanent loss during high volatility.
Some platforms may include hidden fees, implement poor strategies, or have smart contract vulnerabilities.
Users have less control over their funds and risk management.

Crypto Data Aggregators

Crypto data aggregators collect and display real-time information across various DeFi protocols, crypto exchanges, blockchains, and wallets, helping users make informed decisions. Some examples of crypto data aggregators include Cryptonews.com’s coin tracker, Coinmarketcap, DefiLlama, DEX Screener, and DappRadar.

Additionally, crypto portfolio trackers like Coinstats, Kubera, and Delta help crypto holders manage their funds across multiple exchanges and wallets from a single place.

Pros

Users can easily track assets, trends, and metrics across multiple chains from a single dashboard.
Help crypto investors, researchers, and developers perform in-depth analysis and real-time monitoring to make better trading decisions.
Many offer customization features, such as filters, metrics, personalized alerts, multiple visualization options, and more.

Cons

The processing time of some platforms may be slow, leading to delays and inaccuracies.
Some data aggregators want to offer as much as possible, but this can be confusing for newcomers.
Some crypto data platforms require a paid subscription for advanced metrics and features, which can be quite expensive.

Key Features of a Cryptocurrency Aggregator

The goal of most crypto aggregators is to make life easier for crypto investors and researchers. This is why many of them place a great emphasis on user experience, offering various features to streamline Web3 interaction.

One of the main features is the dashboard, which may serve as the gateway to the crypto market. It helps users perform operations smoothly.

For example, 1inch, a leading DEX aggregator, offers a user experience similar to that of a regular DEX like Uniswap. Its dashboard allows users to swap tokens with no hassle.

A good example of a clean data aggregator dashboard is Coinmarketcap. It uses a light theme by default and shows a lot of on-chain information directly on the homepage, including trending coins, market cap, the fear & greed index, the altcoin season index, and a long list of supported coins that can be filtered by multiple categories.

Other key features of crypto aggregators include customization options, cross-chain support, saved preferences and watchlists, and automated processes, among others.

Benefits of Crypto Aggregator for Users

Crypto aggregators simplify and streamline Web3 and DeFi interactions, helping users find the best deals or the most relevant data. Here are the main benefits of these tools:

Time Efficiency and Convenience

Crypto aggregators save users a lot of time by pulling data, liquidity, and prices from multiple DeFi protocols or data platforms. Without them, users would have to check each protocol separately, resulting in less efficient trading or yield farming.

Some crypto aggregators connect to hundreds of projects, saving countless hours for users.

Optimized Trading Outcomes

Thanks to smart order routing and real-time price comparison, DEX aggregators optimize trading outcomes by discovering the best prices, minimizing slippage, and improving execution.

DeFi traders benefit from higher value per transaction compared to swapping on individual DEXs.

Cost Efficiency

DeFi aggregators aim to find the best prices on the market, and this translates into significant savings for users. The cost efficiency is significant even if gas fees on aggregators may often be higher than on individual protocols due to order routing.

Many aggregators show real-time gas estimates, helping users anticipate transaction costs.

Improved Security

Crypto aggregators in DeFi are more secure than centralized exchanges and platforms, as they provide users with full control over their funds.

Also, by interacting with supported protocols from a single dashboard, crypto traders have fewer chances of becoming phishing victims by connecting to malicious apps. For example, at the end of 2024, crypto anti-scam solution provider Scam Sniffer reported that a PEPE holder lost $1.4 million worth of tokens due to a Uniswap phishing scam.

Some aggregators use security features like two-factor authentication.

Potential Challenges and How to Overcome Them

While crypto aggregators offer efficiency and convenience, they have much room for improvement. One of the main goals is to simplify the experience for beginners with intuitive dashboards and enhanced streamlined onboarding. Here are the main challenges that aggregators must overcome:

Complexity and User Error

While aggregators aim to simplify processes, beginners may not understand how they work behind the scenes, making it difficult to choose the best tool for their needs.

Also, some aggregators pack tons of features directly on the main dashboard, which may be overwhelming for newcomers.

Dependence on External Data

The main problem of all crypto aggregators is that they rely on other protocols and external data. If a supported DEX experiences an issue during the token swap process, the aggregator will fail to complete it and will have to re-route the trade, which may result in additional costs.

Security Risks

DeFi aggregators may be safer than many centralized exchanges, but they have their security risks as well. If their smart contracts or APIs are compromised, they can become targets for hackers.

Sometimes the aggregator itself can be used to facilitate hacking attacks by hiding traces. In mid-March 2025, OKX was forced to temporarily suspend the activity of its DEX aggregator amid concerns that it had been misused by North Korean hacking group Lazarus.

Crypto users should deal with audited aggregators that are transparent.

Regulatory Uncertainty

DeFi aggregators depend on crypto regulations across many jurisdictions. In some regions, their operations could be influenced by local or international restrictions. Some platforms may geo-fence users or implement KYC verification.

For example, DEX aggregator KyberSwap doesn’t operate in countries like Syria, Iran, Russia, or North Korea.

The Future of Crypto Aggregators

Crypto and Web3 adoption is expected to grow in the coming years, and the use of DeFi and data aggregators will also increase as a result.

As mentioned earlier, DEX aggregators already handle around half of all DEX trading volume, and their influence will likely grow.

When it comes to data aggregators, they already dominate the information space, with platforms like Coinmarketcap being used as the main source for market updates.

The crypto market may experience a more diverse range of aggregators, as more platforms introduce innovative services and approaches.