MUX Protocol (formerly MCDEX) is a notable perpetual DEX aggregator operating primarily on Arbitrum, offering a unique value proposition by aggregating liquidity across multiple on-chain perpetual trading platforms including GMX, Gains Network, and others. This aggregation layer optimizes for best execution price, lowest slippage, and deepest liquidity — a genuinely useful service in the fragmented perp DEX landscape.

The protocol's dual-token model (MCB governance token and MUX staking rewards) adds complexity but aligns incentives for long-term participants. Its native leveraged trading engine supports up to 100x leverage with a multi-asset liquidity pool (MUXLP), providing competitive capital efficiency.

Strengths include its first-mover advantage as a perp DEX aggregator, strong Arbitrum-native positioning, and solid technical architecture. The team has demonstrated consistent development since the MCDEX days. Concerns include relatively modest trading volumes compared to standalone perp DEXes, MCB's limited market cap suggesting early-stage adoption risks, and the inherent smart contract complexity of aggregating across multiple protocols. Regulatory uncertainty around leveraged DeFi trading remains an overarching risk. Overall, MUX fills a genuine market gap with innovative infrastructure.