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DEX · ARBITRAGE GAPS

DEX Arbitrage Price Gaps: How to Read the Number Before a Swap

Price gaps between pools or venues look like free money. Fees, impact, gas and timing usually explain them.

By ChartsPod Editorial Team · Reviewed by ChartsPod Research
Published · Updated · 5 min read

Short answer

An arbitrage gap is a price difference for the same token between pools, chains or a DEX and a CEX. Before acting on one, add up the cost to close it: pool fees on both sides, price impact at your size, gas (and bridge costs across chains) and the time for transactions to confirm, during which the gap may close. Persistent gaps often mean the cost exceeds the gap, or the tokens aren't identical (different bridge versions).

What the number means

ReadingInterpretation
Gap < costsNot an opportunity
Persistent gapCosts or identity issue
Gap closes fastBots active
Different token versionsNot the same asset
Illustrative 0.8% gap vs costs (%)Illustrative 0.8% gap vs costs (%): Gap 0.80 %; Fees both sides 0.60 %; Impact 0.25 %; Gas 0.10 %.ILLUSTRATIVE 0.8% GAP VS COSTS (%)Gap0.80 %Fees both sides0.60 %Impact0.25 %Gas0.10 %
Costs exceed the gap. Original ChartsPod editorial graphic.

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Checks before the swap

Arbitrage Gaps checksArbitrage Gaps checks: Same token address/version; Fees both legs; Impact at size; Gas and bridge; Time to confirm.ARBITRAGE GAPS CHECKSSame token address/versionFees both legsImpact at sizeGas and bridgeTime to confirm
Each takes under a minute. Original ChartsPod editorial graphic.

Example

Illustrative: a 0.8% gap between two pools costs about 0.95% to close at your size. The gap stays because closing it loses money.

Related: GeckoTerminal for Cross-Exchange Price Comparison: What It Can and Cannot Cover, DEX Bridge-Token Identity: How to Read the Number Before a Swap.

An arbitrage gap is a price difference for the same token between pools, chains or a DEX and a CEX.

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Questions readers ask

Are DEX price gaps arbitrage?

Only if they exceed all costs.

Why do gaps persist?

Costs, timing or non-identical tokens.

What costs to include?

Fees, impact, gas, bridge.

Sources and methodology

DEX Screener behaviour comes from its official documentation; pool and token concepts from CoinGecko, Uniswap, Raydium and Solana documentation, as read on 17 October 2026. Examples use illustrative numbers and do not refer to any real token. Nothing here is a recommendation to trade any token.

  1. DEX Screener: API reference — token and pair endpoints, nullable fields, rate limits.
  2. Uniswap: Concentrated liquidity — active liquidity within price ranges.

This article explains research tools and workflows. It is not financial advice, does not recommend buying or selling any asset and does not predict prices. Crypto derivatives carry a risk of rapid and total loss of margin.

CHARTSPOD EDITORIAL EDITION · RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ONLY · NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE.