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MakiSwap Review: Is This HECO DEX Worth Your Trust?

published : Jul, 12 2025

MakiSwap Review: Is This HECO DEX Worth Your Trust?

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Based on article data: Zero active trading pairs and $0.00 daily volume

Warning: This DEX has no active liquidity - swaps are impossible. Verify active trading pairs before connecting your wallet.
Critical Risk Factors:
  • 0 active trading pairs
  • $0.00 24-hour volume
  • Unverified smart contracts
  • Token price crash (99.76% from ATH)

If you’ve been scanning the crypto landscape for a cheap swap platform and stumbled on MakiSwap, you’re probably wondering whether it’s a hidden gem or a red flag. Below we break down everything you need to know - from the tech behind it to the stark reality of its trading activity - so you can decide if you should even bother connecting your wallet.

What is MakiSwap?

MakiSwap is a decentralized cryptocurrency exchange (DEX) built on the Huobi Eco Chain (HECO). Launched in 2021 by the Unilayer team, it operates non‑custodially - meaning you keep full control of your private keys and the platform never holds your funds.

How does a DEX like MakiSwap work?

At its core, MakiSwap runs an automated market maker (AMM) model. Instead of matching buyers and sellers directly, it uses liquidity pools that hold two tokens in a constant‑product formula. When you swap, the pool’s ratio shifts and the price updates automatically. The process is fast, cheap (thanks to HECO’s low gas fees), and requires only a Web3‑compatible crypto wallet like MetaMask or Trust Wallet.

Meet the native token: MAKI

The platform’s utility token, MAKI, serves two main purposes: governance and fee redistribution. Holders can vote on protocol upgrades, and a slice of the 0.2 % trading fee is funnelled back to MAKI stakers. As of October 2025 the token trades around $0.0029 with a market cap just over $200 K, a staggering -99.76 % drop from its all‑time high. Such a plunge has sparked widespread accusations of a Ponzi‑style scheme.

Comparison panels show MakiSwap empty well, Uniswap fountain, PancakeSwap pancake stack.

Liquidity and trading activity - the hard facts

On paper the fees look competitive - 0.2 % per swap, no deposit or withdrawal charges - but the numbers tell a different story. Current analytics show zero active trading pairs and $0.00 24‑hour volume. In other words, there’s nobody willing to provide liquidity, making any swap virtually impossible. Compare that to Uniswap or PancakeSwap, which each host thousands of pairs and billions in total value locked (TVL).

Security concerns and fraud warnings

Because MakiSwap is non‑custodial, you bear the entire security burden. The smart contracts are public, but there’s little evidence of recent audits or bug‑bounty programs. Multiple review sites have flagged the MAKI token as an “air‑coin” and warned of potential Ponzi activity. Users report lost funds, unresponsive support, and difficulty withdrawing yield‑farming rewards. If you’re not comfortable reading Solidity code or verifying contract provenance yourself, the risk level is high.

Side‑by‑side comparison with leading DEXs

MakiSwap vs. Major Decentralized Exchanges (2025)
Feature MakiSwap (HECO) Uniswap (Ethereum) PancakeSwap (BSC)
Active Trading Pairs 0 12,000+ 7,500+
24‑h Volume (USD) $0 $3.2 B $1.1 B
Average Swap Fee 0.2 % 0.3 % 0.25 %
Chain Support HECO only Ethereum + Layer‑2s BSC + select side‑chains
Liquidity Incentives None (no active pools) Yield farming, liquidity mining Yield farming, lotteries
Audit Status Unverified / outdated Audited by multiple firms Audited, but occasional exploits
Community Size Very small, < 1 % of DEX market Millions of active users Hundreds of thousands
User walks away from MakiSwap with a red X, while Uniswap shows a green check.

User experience - is it beginner‑friendly?

Connecting a wallet to MakiSwap is technically straightforward, but the platform expects you to already have HECO‑compatible assets. That means you must bridge tokens from Ethereum or BSC, incurring extra gas costs and added steps. Documentation is sparse, community channels are almost silent, and there’s no live chat or ticket system. For a newcomer, the learning curve feels more like a DIY tutorial than a polished product.

Final verdict: should you use MakiSwap?

In a nutshell, the answer is no for most traders. The MakiSwap review reveals a DEX with zero liquidity, a token that has crashed nearly 100 %, and multiple fraud warnings. If you are an experienced developer looking to experiment with HECO smart contracts, you might find the codebase interesting. Otherwise, stick to established platforms that offer real liquidity, audited contracts, and active community support.

Quick checklist before you consider any DEX

  • Check active trading pairs and 24‑hour volume.
  • Confirm recent security audits.
  • Verify that the native token has genuine utility beyond fee rebates.
  • Assess community activity - forums, Discord, Telegram.
  • Make sure you understand the bridge process if the DEX isn’t on your primary chain.

Is MakiSwap safe to use?

Safety is questionable. The platform lacks recent audits, shows zero liquidity, and has been flagged for potential Ponzi activity. Only use it if you fully understand the risks and are comfortable with possible loss of funds.

How do I connect a wallet to MakiSwap?

Open the site, click “Connect Wallet”, choose a Web3 wallet (MetaMask, Trust Wallet, etc.), and ensure the wallet is set to the HECO network. If your assets are on another chain, you’ll need to bridge them using a service like AnySwap before swapping.

What is the MAKI token used for?

MAKI provides governance rights and a share of the platform’s trading fees. However, with virtually no trading activity, the fee‑distribution benefit is negligible.

Can I earn yield on MakiSwap?

Yield‑farming was advertised, but with zero active pools there are currently no legitimate farms to join. Any existing farms are likely abandoned.

How does MakiSwap compare to Uniswap?

Uniswap runs on Ethereum, hosts thousands of pairs, has billions in TVL, and undergoes regular security audits. MakiSwap operates on HECO, has zero liquidity, and shows no recent development, making Uniswap the far superior choice for most users.

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Comments (8)

Ron Murphy

MakiSwap is a classic example of a chain-specific DEX that never escaped its birth canal. HECO was already dying when this launched, and now it’s just a graveyard with a fancy frontend. Zero volume? No audits? The MAKI token’s market cap is less than my coffee budget. If you’re thinking of staking, just burn the cash and donate to a cat shelter instead. At least the cats will purr.

Prateek Kumar Mondal

People still chasing dead DEXes like it’s 2021. HECO is dead. MAKI is dead. The whole thing is a ghost town with a whitepaper. Save your gas fees and go to PancakeSwap. Real liquidity real rewards real community. No drama.

Nick Cooney

Wow. Zero trading volume. That’s not a DEX. That’s a digital sculpture. A monument to hubris. I mean, congrats to the dev team for building something so perfectly useless. The only thing more impressive than the 99.76% crash is how they still have a website up. Maybe they’re running a blockchain-based art installation called ‘The Illusion of Decentralization’? 🤔

Clarice Coelho Marlière Arruda

i just tried to connect my wallet and it said ‘no liquidity pools found’ and then my meta mask froze for like 3 minutes. i thought it was my internet. turned out the site literally has nothing to swap. why does this even exist? also the docs look like they were written in 2020 and then forgotten. i’m confused but also not surprised.

Brian Collett

Wait so if there’s zero volume then how are they paying out fee redistribution? Are they just printing MAKI tokens and giving them to themselves? That’s not a token economy that’s a magic trick. Also who’s even using HECO anymore? I thought everyone migrated to Base or Arbitrum. This feels like digging up a flip phone and calling it a smartphone.

Allison Andrews

It’s fascinating how we keep building these systems that promise decentralization but end up being the most centralized forms of gambling imaginable. The tokenomics are designed to extract, not to enable. The lack of audits isn’t just negligence-it’s a philosophical rejection of accountability. We’re not just losing money here. We’re losing trust in the entire premise. And yet we still click ‘connect wallet.’ Why? What are we hoping for?

Wayne Overton

Don’t use it. Lost 200 bucks. Support never replied. Token’s garbage. Move on.

Alisa Rosner

🚨 BIG RED FLAG 🚨 MakiSwap is a ghost! No trades, no liquidity, no audits, no help. If you see anyone promoting it, run! 🚶‍♀️💨 Use Uniswap or PancakeSwap instead-they’re safe, real, and actually working. I’ve used both for years and never lost a cent. Your money is safer in your piggy bank than in MakiSwap. Please don’t get scammed 💔

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about author

Aaron ngetich

Aaron ngetich

I'm a blockchain analyst and cryptocurrency educator based in Perth. I research DeFi protocols and layer-1 ecosystems and write practical pieces on coins, exchanges, and airdrops. I also advise Web3 startups and enjoy translating complex tokenomics into clear insights.

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