# Overview

The **Zenko Exchange** is a non-custodial, performance-grade crypto trading platform that combines the efficiency of centralized order execution with the security and transparency of decentralized custody. It is engineered to operate as a **hybrid CEX/DEX model**, where all user funds remain in self-custody and trades are settled through smart contract mechanisms.

Traditional exchanges act as custodians, introducing central points of failure, opaque balance sheets, and custodial risks. Zenko removes these vectors by separating **execution from custody**, giving users full control of their private keys while still enabling fast, low-latency trading.

Key design principles of the Zenko Exchange:

* **Self-Custody by Default:** Users retain full control over their assets at all times. No funds are held by the exchange — all trades are routed through audited smart contracts or MPC-based signature flows.
* **High-Performance Matching Engine:** A centralized matching layer ensures millisecond-level order execution, deterministic matching, and support for advanced order types.
* **Composable Trading Infrastructure:** Built with modular APIs and SDKs for developer integrations, trading bots, and programmatic strategy execution.
* **Revenue Alignment with the Ecosystem:** All exchange fees (maker/taker, listing, premium tools) are programmatically directed to community-aligned systems — including token buybacks, burns, staking rewards, and treasury reserves.
* **Transparency and Auditability:** Core logic governing fees, custody, and protocol revenue flows is embedded in public smart contracts and tracked via on-chain dashboards.