Understanding 0x RFQ (Request for Quote)

RFQ is one of the things that sets 0x execution quality apart. This article explains what it is, how it affects your trades, and how to access it.

What RFQ is

Most DEX aggregators route trades through public, on-chain liquidity like AMM pools. RFQ adds a second layer: a network of professional market makers who provide private, off-chain quotes that get filled on-chain. RFQ weaves professional off-chain liquidity together with on-chain markets, and it has been a core part of 0x's Swap API since the system was first built in 2019.

When you request a quote, 0x solicits offers from these market makers alongside the usual AMM sources, then returns whichever gives the best result.

Why it matters for execution

RFQ improves trades in a few concrete ways:

Better pricing. Market makers must beat the on-chain AMM price to be included in a quote, and they also compete against each other, which drives price improvement — for blue-chip pairs like USDC-WETH, WBTC-WETH, and USDT-WETH, RFQ delivers a better price than AMMs around 52% of the time.

Zero slippage on the RFQ portion. Because RFQ quotes are tailored for each specific trade at the smart-contract level, you never incur slippage on the RFQ part of a trade, and you'll never pay worse than the quoted offer.

Lower revert rates. Trades that use RFQ consistently see lower average revert rates than AMM-only routes.

It competes — it isn't forced. RFQ liquidity is surfaced in a quote only when the market maker supports the pair and the RFQ quote is competitive against the other available sources. It isn't routed to preferentially; it wins when it offers the best outcome.

How RFQ is combined with other liquidity

RFQ doesn't replace AMM routing — 0x blends them. Multiplex routing lets a single trade combine liquidity from multiple market makers and/or AMMs, and multihop routing lets a trade move through multiple pairs across different legs. The routing algorithm picks the combination that maximizes what you receive.

One thing to know: RFQ quote expiry

Because RFQ quotes are firm commitments from a market maker, they're only valid for a short window — roughly 60 seconds on mainnet. If a quote isn't signed and submitted before it expires, that RFQ order can revert. As a best practice, refresh quotes in-app about every 30 seconds so RFQ orders don't go stale. This short validity window is also why RFQ benefits from a UI that keeps quotes fresh rather than letting users sit on them.

How to access RFQ

RFQ is available on demand as part of a custom plan. If you want RFQ liquidity enabled for your integration, you'll need a plan that includes it — reach out so we can match you to the right tier for your volume and use case. See 0x pricing for plan options and to get in touch.