Uniswap is a decentralized exchange that facilitates automated transactions between Ethereum-based tokens. It is designed to be an open-source platform with an automated market maker (AMM) model. Instead of using an order book, token trades are facilitated directly between users through a liquidity pool and prices orders with an algorithm that relies on the equation x*y=k to create a price spectrum for token pairs available in the liquidity pools provided by other users. Uniswap tokens are used as a governance token and as an incentive for users to fund the liquidity pools. Since the platform is decentralized, all the trading fees collected are distributed among the liquidity providers; according to the share that they provide in the liquidity pools.
Uniswap is one of the largest decentralized exchanges (DEX) and one the largest cryptocurrency exchanges overall by daily trading volume. The platform was originally created by Hayden Adams, a former mechanical engineer at Siemens. It is backed by some influential venture capital funds, including: Andreessen Horowitz, Paradigm Venture Capital, and Union Square Ventures.

OAX is developing a decentralized exchange that will address some of the privacy and security risks of centralized exchanges. Their platform will have a shared and decentralized order book, and will include the following features: a mechanism for credit risk assessment, structured dispute resolution, and a collateralized deposit system. OAX will apply the 0x protocol to improve liquidity for assets on the platform. Orders will be broadcasted publicly, and will be viewed by all potential takers. ddecentralized exchange model