CEX.IO Exchange Review 2025: Top Features, Trading Tools, and Security Measures

Overview

CEX.IO, a crypto industry pioneer since 2013, began as the GHash.IO mining pool, which mined over 583K bitcoins. After nearly reaching 51% of Bitcoin’s mining power, the platform voluntarily scaled back operations to prevent a potential 51% attack, shifting its focus to trading. Since then, CEX.IO has grown into a comprehensive ecosystem with over 15M registered users, offering services for buying, storing, trading, selling, sending, and earning digital assets. As the first exchange to enable crypto purchases via credit card, CEX.IO has led in innovation while maintaining a spotless 11-year record of security and regulatory compliance, having 40 global licenses and registrations [37 MLT licenses (the US), license in Spain, registration in Lithuania, FINCEN registration].

Feature	Details
Official Website	CEX.IO
Founded	2013
Domicile	The United States, Lithuania, St.Kitts and Nevis
Total Listed Coins	170+
Trading Pairs	350+
Supported Fiat Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP
Trading Fees	Maker/Taker: 0.1% – 0.25%
Native Token	No
Mobile App	Yes (CEX.IO App)
Customer Support	24/7 Chat Support
Geo Restrictions	Link

Key Features of CEX.IO

Versatile Trading Functionality

• Convert: Perform anything-to-anything swaps. Whether it’s a crypto-to-crypto, crypto-to-fiat, or fiat-to-fiat transaction, you can access all exchange selections for supported assets with this service.
• Spot Trading: Access 350+ crypto markets with and explore a wide array of trading tools, including multifunctional charts and risk management instruments.
• Margin Trading: Trade with up to 10x leverage on all supported markets. Traders can choose between USDT, ETH, and BTC as collateral for trading across any market, eliminating the need to purchase or hold specific assets.

Deep Liquidity

• CEX.IO features deep liquidity aggregated from the largest exchanges and other top-tiers sources, offering minimal slippage.
• Supported markets feature near-zero spread.
• According to Kaiko data, CEX.IO is second in the industry in terms of 2% market depth, offering one of the most robust trading environments.

Instant Buy/Sell

• Instant Buy: Purchase 170+ cryptocurrencies with debit/credit cards, Google/Apple Pay, and other payment options, in minutes, without the need to fund an account in advance.
• Instant Sell: Sell crypto from the wallet balance, and immediately withdraw fiat funds via a preferred payment method, in a few clicks/taps.

Daily Crypto Rewards

• Staking: Earn daily rewards with up to 12% APY by staking SOL, ATOM, DOT, and other cryptocurrencies. Assets dedicated to staking on CEX.IO are not locked and can be moved in and out immediately, enhancing flexibility.
• Savings: Earn daily rewards by holding BTC, DOGE, stablecoins, and numerous other assets on a dedicated account. Unlike savings services on many other platforms, CEX.IO offers flat savings APY for all supported assets instead of tiered APY. This allows users with larger sums of money to maintain high APY. Furthermore, funds can be moved to/from a savings account in a matter of seconds.

Crypto Card for Online/Offline Payments

• CEX.IO features a Mastercard-powered card that allows customers to use their crypto balance for online/offline purchases in 150+ countries.
• The card can be claimed for free, with no annual or maintenance fees, as well as zero fees for cross-border transfers.
• CEX.IO Card can be also connected to Google/Apple Pay for seamless transactions.

Note: the CEX.IO Card is currently available only to EEA residents.

Top-tier Security Measures

• Users can enable several layers of two-factor authentication (2FA) protection simultaneously.
• Nearly 100% of users’ funds are stored in cold storage.
• CEX.IO has never been hacked, ensuring a secure trading environment.

Fees and Payment Options

Spot Trading fees

30-Day Volume (USD)	Maker/Taker Fee
≤ 10,000	0.25 %
≤ 100,000	0.23 %
≤ 500,000	0.19 %
≤ 1,000,000	0.17 %
≤ 2,500,000	0.15 %
≤ 5,000,000	0.13 %
≤ 10,000,000	0.11 %
≤ 20,000,000	0.10 %

Margin Trading fees

Open/Close Fee	0.1%
Rollover Fee	0.005%
Liquidation Fee	1%

Note: Unlike the common 8-hour fee model, CEX.IO calculates rollover fees hourly, which can significantly reduce costs for short-term traders.

Broad Range of Payment Methods

CEX.IO customers can utilize a variety of funding methods, some of which offer zero fees. Supported payment methods include:

• Visa/Mastercard debit/credit cards
• Google/Apple Pay
• Bank transfers (i.e. SWIFT and SEPA)
• E-wallets (i.e. Skrill, Neteller, and Epay)
• Cryptocurrencies
• MoneyGram
• PayPal

Notably, CEX.IO supports 40+ blockchains and features multichain support for certain digital assets, empowering users to transfer crypto via several networks.

In addition, CEX.IO features three primary fiat currencies: USD, EUR, and GBP. Card transactions in other local currencies will be converted to a set primary currency at bank rates. More details about limits and commissions can be found here.

Also Read: WhiteBIT Exchange Review: Features, Fees, and What Sets It Apart

Get Started on CEX.IO

New users can start trading in under 10 minutes via the website or mobile app.

Note: The guides below are primarily dedicated to CEX.IO’s web interface, but the mobile app features similar steps.

Account Creation

• Click the Register button.
• Provide email address, desired password, and country of residence.
• Confirm the email to activate the account.
• Complete identity verification to access CEX.IO services. Higher verification levels increase deposit/withdrawal limits, and provide access to certain payment methods.

How to Buy Crypto (Instant Buy)

• Visit the Instant Buy page.
• Select crypto and your primary fiat currency.
• Enter the amount and select your payment method.
• Confirm the details and complete the transaction.

How to Deposit Funds

• Go to the Wallet page and click Add Funds.
• Select the payment methodand follow the instructions.
• Enter the amount you wish to transfer.
• Double-check that all details are correct, and confirm the transaction.

How to Trade Crypto (Spot Trading)

• Navigate to the Trade page.
• Pick your preferred market.
• Specify order type and trade amount.
• Confirm to execute the order.

How to Trade Crypto with Leverage (Margin Trading)

• Open the Margin Trading terminal.
• Choose a market and define your collateral asset (i.e. BTC, ETH, or USDT)
• Select the position (Long/Short) and leverage.
• Set order details and protection measures (Take Profit/Stop Loss)
• Confirm to open the position.

How to Withdraw Funds

• Go to the Wallet page and click Withdraw.
• Select the payment methodand follow the instructions.
• Enter the amount you wish to withdraw.
• Ensure all details are correct, and confirm the transaction.