Gate.Io vs Valr: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Gate.Io and Valr This side-by-side comparison reveals total cost (fees + spreads), security & licenses, coins/derivatives, deposits/withdrawals, and app quality. In 2 minutes you’ll see who wins for beginners, active traders, and long-term holders. Clear pros/cons, a quick verdict, and safe links to get started.

Last updated on August 16, 2025

Gate.Io

Valr

⚠️ We look for what’s best for you.

₿ Getting into crypto? With eToro you can start in minutes: buy/sell top coins, set recurring buys, track markets, and use Social/CopyTrader features.

👉 Start here and explore the crypto offer.

Available Countries

United States

Europe

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Canada

United Kingdom

United States

Yes

Europe

Latin America

India

China

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

Thinking about starting with crypto? This is for you.

In select regions, eToro offers a $10 welcome bonus when you open an account today.*

🎯 An account built to help you start with crypto—without the hassle.

➕ Buy and sell top cryptocurrencies in minutes

➕ Recurring buys, price alerts, and advanced charts

➕ Social/CopyTrader™ to follow experienced investors

➕ One of the largest and most trusted platforms worldwide

Limited-time promotion — still available.

*Offer subject to terms, eligibility and regional availability. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest.

Gate.Io is ideal if:

Perfect for advanced or algorithmic traders, offering powerful tools like trading bots, copy trading, extensive APIs, and access to derivatives across thousands of assets.
Great for altcoin hunters, thanks to one of the broadest selections in the market—over 3,800 cryptocurrencies and nearly 3,000 trading pairs.
Well-suited for passive earners, with diverse opportunities such as staking, crypto lending, auto-invest, and DeFi integration.

Valr is ideal if:

Ideal for mobile-first traders Offers both a streamlined “Simple Buy/Sell” interface for quick trades and a robust exchange terminal with TradingView charts—perfect whether you're on the go or want advanced control.
Great for institutions and high-frequency traders Comes with institutional-grade APIs, subaccounts, and deep liquidity options tailored to algorithmic and corporate trading strategies.
Strong choice if you value security and regulation Backed by reputable investors and regulated across South Africa, Europe, and Dubai, offering peace of mind for users in jurisdictions where it's licensed.

Gate.Io isn’t ideal if:

If you prioritize heavy regulatory oversight, Gate.io may fall short as it operates with lighter regulatory frameworks and lacks oversight by major global authorities.
If you're new to crypto and value simplicity, the platform’s advanced interface and multitude of tools can feel overwhelming rather than beginner-friendly.
If you need mobile-first usability, the mobile app may underperform compared to the desktop version, impacting ease of use on the go.

Valr isn’t ideal if:

Not ideal if you're seeking global fiat flexibility Limited to a handful of fiat currencies, it doesn't support many global financial methods like PayPal or cards beyond ZAR.
Not ideal for complete beginners needing guidance Lacks educational tools, tutorials, and demo trading—so newcomers must learn by doing.
Not ideal if you need broad crypto variety or margin options Offers a narrower selection of assets and more restricted leverage choices than many mainstream exchanges.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

Gate.io employs a tiered VIP structure (from VIP0 to VIP16) that adjusts maker and taker spot fees based on your trading volume; you can also use the native GT token to reduce fees, and high-volume market makers may even enjoy negative maker fees via special rebate programs.

VALR uses a tiered structure where increased 30-day trading volume leads to lower or even negative maker fees and reduced taker fees on both fiat and crypto spot trades.

Futures/Derivatives

Futures trading follows its own tiered fee system with options to reduce taker fees via points or VIP rates; funding rates (which fluctuate based on market conditions) apply to perpetuals and are recalculated periodically to balance long and short positions.

Perpetual futures follow the same volume-tiered schedule—makers may pay zero or negative fees, while takers benefit from progressively lower percentages as volume rises; funding occurs regularly based on market conditions (but specific rates fluctuate over time).

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

While Gate.io doesn’t publish fixed spreads, its BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT markets benefit from deep liquidity and tight bid-ask spreads, ensuring competitive execution for high-volume traders.

Spreads are generally tight, aligning with industry norms for highly liquid pairs, ensuring minimal difference between buy and sell prices.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Fiat transfers depend on location and may include bank wires, credit/debit cards via partners like Banxa or Simplex, and P2P, with varying processing times and gateway fees—not detailed here to maintain evergreen relevance.

Fiat deposits (wire, SEPA, card, EFT depending on the currency) are free of platform fees and usually post within two days; bank withdrawals follow standard local banking hours and policies, with occasional small charges and speed options.

On-chain Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawal fees are dynamic and adjust to blockchain conditions such as congestion; for example, BTC withdrawal fee is dynamically priced and often lower than industry average, while certain networks like TRON adapt under energy-based models.

Crypto withdrawals incur variable, network-based fees that depend on blockchain congestion—no fixed flat rates from the platform itself.

Hidden Costs

Additional expenses may crop up via fiat-to-crypto conversion spreads, optional fees for expedited KYC, or premium services—these vary by region and user actions but are part of your effective cost.

There are generally no surprise or maintenance fees—no inactivity charges, no hidden conversion costs, and premium KYC (if offered) doesn’t carry extra fees unless noted at the point of use.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

You’d face a small spread on the spot pair, a spot taker fee (reducible via VIP or GT), possible conversion costs from EUR to USDT/BTC, and a dynamic blockchain fee when withdrawing—altogether, the total cost blends spread, trading fee, currency conversion, and network withdrawal cost.

If you were to purchase €500 of BTC, your total would include a modest trading fee (based on your tier), a minimal spread typical of liquid markets, and your withdrawal cost would depend on the chosen network’s fee at that time.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

Gate.io supports a vast array of more than 3,600 to near 3,900 cryptocurrencies and over 2,500 to 3,800 trading pairs, covering everything from major coins to niche altcoins—its top 20 pairs by volume regularly include staples like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT.

VALR lists over 75 cryptocurrencies across roughly 60–71 trading pairs; top volume pairs typically include BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT, XRP/USDT, and BTC/ZAR.

Product Range

The platform offers nearly every major trading and investment option, including spot, margin, perpetual futures, options, copy trading, grid bots, auto DCA, staking/earn programs, loan services, and even ETF-like passive products.

VALR offers spot trading, spot margin with up to 5× leverage, and perpetual futures with leverage up to 60×. It also supports staking/earn programs and lending, but lacks options, crypto ETFs, copy trading, grid bots, or automated DCA products.

Liquidity

Gate.io consistently ranks among the global top three for 24-hour spot trading volume, demonstrating deep market depth—liquidity in BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT is robust, ensuring tight order book spreads and ample execution for sizeable trades.

The exchange typically handles over US$30 million in daily trading volume, with deep liquidity on major BTC and ETH pairs facilitating tighter order book depth.

Tools

Traders on Gate.io benefit from advanced tools including limit, stop, and OCO orders, trading alerts, rich native charting, comprehensive APIs with WebSocket support, and integrated TradingView charts for sophisticated analysis.

You can place limit, market, and stop-limit orders (including OCO equivalents). VALR offers advanced charting integrated with TradingView, configurable alerts, and both API and WebSocket access for real-time trading and data needs.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Certain sophisticated products like derivatives, futures, or margin trading may be restricted in specific regions due to regulatory constraints, meaning availability will vary depending on your jurisdiction.

Some jurisdictions are restricted from offering certain features—derivatives, for example, are only available in qualifying regions, meaning not every user can access margin or futures products depending on local compliances.

Innovation

Gate.io stays ahead in innovation with features like launchpad/token sales (IEOs), launchpool events, and flexible vs locked “earn” staking products—all part of its ecosystem-driven approach to expanding passive and active income streams.

While VALR doesn’t offer launchpads or launchpools, it does provide both flexible staking and lending options alongside traditional locked products, giving users varied approaches to earning on their assets.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

Gate.io was founded in April 2013 by Dr. Lin Han and operates under the Gate Group umbrella from multiple jurisdictions, with its main legal base often linked to entities such as Gate Technology Ltd and other affiliates spread across regions.

VALR operates through several legal entities including VALR Proprietary Ltd (established 2018, headquartered in South Africa), VALR EU in Poland, and regional branches in India and Dubai—demonstrating a multi-jurisdictional operational structure.

Licenses/Registration

Gate Group holds a Class 4 VFA license in Malta, registrations as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in Lithuania and Italy, plus operational approvals in Hong Kong, the UAE (DMCC and VARA), the Bahamas, and others—ensuring compliance across key markets.

VALR holds multiple regulatory approvals

Custody

Gate.io uses its own custody infrastructure paired with third-party oversight, employs an open-source Merkle-Tree based Proof-of-Reserves system (upgraded with zk-SNARKs), audited by Hacken and standalone firms, offering transparency over asset backing far above 100 %.

VALR maintains a fully reserved custodial model, where all user funds are held 100% backed and are never lent out. Transfers of crypto assets require multi-signature approvals across secure locations, with funds stored in both cold and hot wallets using multi-sig technology.

Insurance & Protection Funds

Gate.io maintains the Gate SAFU fund—a reserve pool designed to serve as an emergency protection mechanism for user assets—offering a supplementary safety layer in case of extreme incidents.

There’s no publicly stated insurance or user protection fund offered—VALR emphasizes full reserves and strong internal safeguards rather than insured coverage.

Incident History

While Gate.io has avoided major publicized hacks, it made headlines in 2022 for helping return a mis-sent $416 million in ETH from another exchange—demonstrating a transparent response capability and operational integrity.

There are no publicly documented major security incidents, hacks, suspensions, or regulatory fines affecting VALR to date, reflecting a clean track record.

Risk Controls

The platform includes robust security features such as mandatory two-factor authentication (2FA), anti-phishing safeguards, whitelisting of withdrawal addresses, tiered sub-accounts, and finely-granular API permissions for tailored access control.

VALR implements robust user protections

Transparency

Gate.io stands out for its high transparency—publishing monthly PoR reserve ratios (e.g., total reserves > $10 billion with ~128 % backing), providing public wallet addresses, and committing to service-level expectations through audit-backed disclosures.

VALR does not publicly publish monthly financial or reserve reports, nor does it offer a public wallet or explicit service-level agreements (SLAs); transparency is delivered through regulatory registration and communication rather than open-ended disclosures.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

Gate.io supports fiat deposits via bank transfers, credit/debit cards, and third-party providers like Simplex, Banxa, and Mercuryo, though availability, limits, and processing times depend on your region.

Users can deposit ZAR via EFT or South African-issued Visa/Mastercard (3D Secure), while USD and EUR can be sent via SWIFT or SEPA transfers (converted to stablecoins). ZAR card deposits incur around a 3.9% fee; EFT is free. USD deposits require a minimum of $5, while EUR has a €1 minimum. Processing times vary—from instant for cards to up to 48 hours for bank transfers.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

Gate.io requires KYC, using a tiered risk-based approach (from basic identity to advanced address verification) that determines your access and daily withdrawal limits—higher levels offer greater flexibility and limits.

VALR employs a tiered KYC system with different levels (standard and Fully-Verified Plus). Higher levels, enabled by features like 2FA, unlock significantly higher withdrawal limits—ranging from fractions of a BTC up to 100 BTC daily.

Withdrawals

Withdrawal limits rise substantially with verification level (e.g., from USD 100k equivalent up to millions per day), and available networks such as TRC20, ERC20, BEP20 depend on the asset—processing times and fees vary.

Daily crypto withdrawal limits depend on KYC status (up to 100 BTC). Users can choose networks like ERC-20, TRC-20, BEP-20, and more; fees are dynamically quoted. Fiat (ZAR) withdrawals follow local banking hours, with free standard or paid fast transfers depending on the bank.

Customer Support

Gate.io provides 24/7 support through live chat and email, boasting fast response times, along with a comprehensive help center full of guides and FAQs.

VALR offers 24/7 support through a chatbot, email/ticket system, and a searchable knowledge base. Response via live chat or phone is limited, but the help center is comprehensive.

Languages & Localization

The platform is highly globalized, offering full support in over a dozen languages, and displays pricing and interface elements in common currencies like USD and EUR, accommodating diverse user bases.

The platform operates primarily in English (with limited additional language support), displays prices in local currencies like USD, EUR, or ZAR based on region, and reflects applicable regulatory contexts transparently.

App Quality & Stability

The Gate.io mobile app offers full trading functionality and real-time data, though user feedback notes occasional sluggishness or UI lag—especially under heavy load or rapid market moves.

VALR offers both web and mobile interfaces. Mobile apps are regularly updated, delivering smooth charting and trading experiences. While exact crash rates aren’t disclosed, user feedback suggests the app is generally stable, with no major performance complaints in recent updates. (No explicit crash rate data available.)

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

Gate.io offers both “Lite” and “Pro” trading modes—Lite is streamlined and user-friendly for beginners, while Pro packs charts, order types, and data panels for experienced traders, giving users an adjustable interface that aligns with their skill level.

The platform offers a dual-interface approach—with a beginner-friendly “Simple Buy/Sell” mode for quick swaps and a more advanced trading terminal for experienced users, creating a smooth progression as your familiarity grows.

Performance

Order execution is generally swift, though during extreme market swings there can be minor delays or slowed UI responsiveness; KYC review waits can also stretch in bull phases when new registrations surge, causing temporary bottlenecks.

VALR delivers generally low-latency execution and stable performance even during busy periods, with no widely reported system outages or KYC bottlenecks—even in volatile market conditions.

Education

Gate’s learning platform features interactive tutorials, live articles, and a practicing simulator for options—though most materials are in English, they’ve recently added some Spanish-language content and step-by-step guides to ease onboarding.

There’s no formal academy, demo account, or Spanish-language content on VALR; educational guidance is minimal, placing the learning responsibility primarily on the user.

Community

Gate.io supports an active user ecosystem with a Community Center, official blog updates, and social channels (including Discord/Telegram), plus a rewarding referral program that encourages peer sharing and learning.

VALR supports a referral program and maintains communication channels through its support portal and social media, but doesn’t feature official forums or active Discord/Telegram communities.

Integrations

Gate integrates natively with TradingView for advanced charting, supports external trading bots, and connects to tax/reporting tools like Blockpit—helping users with strategy automation and financial recordkeeping.

The exchange integrates TradingView natively for charting and supports external trading bots through its API, yet it lacks built-in tax reporting or bookkeeping tools.

Who Each One Is Best For

Gate.io is a strong fit for tech-savvy traders who value depth, flexibility, and ecosystem integration; it’s well-suited to those looking to level up from simple platforms but may feel dense for casual or beginner users who prefer straightforward, minimal interfaces.

VALR shines for mobile-first traders and corporate users seeking advanced tools and clean interfaces, but may feel limited for beginners needing educational support or for users seeking tax and community integration.