> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://rivrdex.io/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Core principles

> RivrDEX is built on four principles — open-source, permissionless, near-gasless, and non-custodial. Together, they define what the protocol is and who it's for.

RivrDEX is designed around four properties that make decentralized finance practical, not just theoretical. These aren't marketing claims — they're architectural decisions baked into how the protocol works.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Open-source" icon="code">
    The AMM architecture is fully transparent. All contract logic runs on-chain and is publicly visible. There are no hidden mechanisms, admin keys, or proprietary black boxes.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Permissionless" icon="lock-open">
    Anyone can trade, add liquidity, or create a new token pair — no application, no whitelist, no approval from a central authority. If the tokens exist, you can list them.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Near-gasless" icon="bolt">
    Vara Network's architecture keeps network fees near zero — a tiny amount of VARA, a fraction of a cent. The **0.35% swap fee** is effectively the only cost of trading.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Non-custodial" icon="wallet">
    RivrDEX never holds your assets. Trades and liquidity operations are executed directly from your wallet via smart contracts. No deposits, no custodian, no counterparty risk.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Open-source

The protocol's contracts are deployed on-chain and readable by anyone. You don't need to trust RivrDEX's claims about how it works — you can verify the logic directly.

<Info>
  All liquidity pool logic, including fee distribution and price calculation, follows the constant product formula. Nothing is obscured.
</Info>

## Permissionless

Permissionless means the protocol has no gatekeepers. You don't need to:

* Request approval to trade a token
* Apply to list a new trading pair
* Pass any form of identity verification

If a token exists on Vara Network, you can create a pool for it and start trading immediately.

## Near-gasless

On most blockchains, users pay a meaningful gas fee on every transaction in addition to any protocol fee. Vara Network's architecture shrinks that overhead to near zero.

On RivrDEX:

* **You pay**: a 0.35% swap fee — 0.3% of it goes to liquidity providers
* **You barely notice**: the network fee — a near-zero amount of VARA, and your first swap's fee is covered entirely by a [voucher](/docs/getting-started/voucher-guide)

<Tip>
  This makes small trades economically viable — you're not losing a disproportionate amount to network fees.
</Tip>

## Non-custodial

At no point does RivrDEX take custody of your tokens. Every action — swapping, depositing liquidity, withdrawing — is a direct interaction between your wallet and an on-chain contract.

* No sign-up required
* No KYC or identity checks
* No central party that can freeze or seize your funds