Bithumb vs Lbank: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Bithumb and Lbank 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

Bithumb

Lbank

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Available Countries

United States

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Yes

Canada

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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Bithumb is ideal if:

Perfect for KRW-centric traders: If you prefer trading with South Korean Won as your base currency, Bithumb offers seamless fiat integration, high liquidity, and a smooth experience for KRW-based spot trading.
Great for beginners and hands-off traders: Its clear, user-friendly interface plus built-in features like staking and bot trading make it accessible and appealing to those starting out or seeking passive strategies.
Best for users prioritizing credibility and safety: With strong security certifications (like ISMS, ISO27001), full separation of client assets, and external audits, Bithumb focuses on institutional-level protection and transparency.

Lbank is ideal if:

Altcoin & Meme Enthusiast Fit: With hundreds of altcoins and a dedicated “Meme Zone,” it's ideal for traders chasing emerging tokens and meme-driven trends.
Passive Income Friendly: Offers optional staking, Launchpad & Launchpool features, plus copy-trading tools—great for users looking to earn without nonstop manual trading.
Fiat On-Ramp Simplicity: Supports instant fiat buying, P2P options, and broad fiat access via multiple gateways—making entry smooth for beginners and casual investors.

Bithumb isn’t ideal if:

You need global fiat flexibility: If you want to deposit with non-KRW currencies, Bithumb’s fiat support is limited, which may not suit you.
You're an advanced trader seeking leverage: Those looking for margin or futures trading won’t find these tools available on Bithumb.
You prefer seamless international onboarding: Verification hurdles, language barriers, and slow KYC in non-Korean languages can slow down global users.

Lbank isn’t ideal if:

Support-Dependent: If you're looking for fast, multi-channel customer service, LBank may feel too limited—it mainly relies on email and live chat, with slow response times.
Beginner Unfriendly: Without demo accounts, structured tutorials, or an extensive FAQ, newbies might find it hard to get started confidently.
Skeptic by Nature: If you prefer exchanges with independent audits or top-tier regulation, LBank's lack of transparent audits and lower-tier licensing may raise red flags.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

In KRW markets, maker and taker fees typically range from roughly 0.04% to 0.25%, with better rates unlocked through tiered trading coupons based on volume (discounts apply via native coupons, not necessarily token-based discounts).

LBank charges a flat maker and taker fee of approximately 0.10% on spot trades—fixed regardless of your trading volume and without discounts linked to its native token, LBK.

Futures/Derivatives

Bithumb does not currently offer any futures or derivatives markets, so there are no associated maker, taker, or funding fees to consider.

Futures trading on LBank involves a maker fee of around 0.02% and a taker fee of about 0.06%, though there is no specified funding rate disclosed for perpetual contracts.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

Precise spread data is not publicly provided, but given Bithumb’s strong liquidity in major markets, spreads on BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT pairs are generally tight—typically consistent with reputable high-volume exchanges.

While exact numbers fluctuate moment-to-moment, spreads on highly liquid pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT tend to remain tight due to deep market liquidity and efficient order execution.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Fiat operations center on KRW only, with deposits via bank transfer or card usually fee-free (unless below minimum thresholds) and withdrawals processed via Korean banking channels with typical processing times, without showing fixed fees.

You can deposit or withdraw fiat via diverse third-party gateways—such as cards, bank transfers, or digital wallets—where LBank itself charges no extra fees, but gateway fees usually range from 1% to 5%, with processing times depending on the provider.

On-chain Withdrawals

Withdrawal costs depend on the blockchain

Crypto withdrawals incur network fees determined by the blockchain (e.g. fixed small BTC fee like ~0.0001 BTC), which can rise in times of congestion—fees vary by asset and must be checked at the time of withdrawal.

Hidden Costs

Some indirect costs may arise from currency conversion if funding in non-KRW, and there are no inactivity fees; extra-fast verification services may not be standard or may carry internal pricing, though not explicitly detailed.

There are generally no inactivity or account maintenance fees, but costs may arise during currency conversions and expedited KYC—since certain payment gateways may tack on surcharges not directly outlined by LBank.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

If you were to buy €500 worth of BTC, you’d first face a regular spot trading fee (within 0.04–0.25%) plus a small spread in execution, then a withdrawal fee in BTC (e.g., 0.0005 BTC)—that combined cost reflects the total out-of-pocket expense.

If you buy €500 worth of BTC, you’d face the ~0.10% fee on the spot trade, a minor spread embedded in the market rate, and a dynamic withdrawal fee (e.g. ~0.0001 BTC)—all combining into a modest overall cost.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

Bithumb lists approximately 170–180 cryptocurrencies across roughly 400 trading pairs, with the top 20 by volume dominated by KRW-based pairs like BTC/KRW, ETH/KRW, XRP/KRW, USDT/KRW, and others in similar high-turnover positions.

LBank lists over 900 cryptocurrencies across around 1,100 trading pairs, with the top 20 by volume dominated by major tokens like BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT, SOL/USDT, XRP/USDT, and UGOLD/USDT.

Product Range

The exchange supports spot trading, margin trading, staking, crypto lending, and bot/automated trading, but does not offer perpetual futures, options, ETFs, copy trading, or built-in DCA features.

The platform supports a broad suite including spot, futures (perps), options, crypto ETFs, staking, crypto loans, P2P, copy trading, grid bots, and automated DCA strategies.

Liquidity

Bithumb handles daily spot volumes in the high hundreds of millions to over a billion USD, ensuring deep order books—particularly for BTC/KRW and ETH/KRW—offering robust liquidity and execution.

Daily volume averages a few billion dollars (e.g. $4–5 billion), with BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT showing deep order-book liquidity and tight pricing, reflecting robust market depth.

Tools

Traders have access to basic orders (limit and market), stop orders, and coupon-driven fee tools; there are also alerts and API access (including WebSocket), though there’s no native TradingView integration.

Traders benefit from limit, market, stop-limit, and OCO orders, price alerts, advanced charting (TradingView integration built in), plus full API and WebSocket access.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Derivatives and margin features are not globally available, with access mainly focused on South Korean users; many international regions, notably US and EU, face limitations or lack derivative access.

Derivatives and other advanced products are unavailable in certain jurisdictions, and services like futures or options may be restricted depending on local regulation.

Innovation

Bithumb offers staking services and crypto lending along with occasional airdrop or DeFi/NFT promotions, but lacks formal launchpad or launchpool platforms and doesn’t separate between flexible vs locked earn products.

LBank adds value through its launchpad and launchpool initiatives for new token launches, and offers both flexible and locked staking/earn options for users with varying liquidity preferences.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

Bithumb is operated by BTC Korea.com Co., Ltd, founded in 2014 and based in Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the country’s major crypto exchanges firmly entrenched in Korean financial infrastructure.

LBank is operated by LBK Exchange Limited and related entities, founded around 2015/2017, with headquarters registered in the British Virgin Islands—though it maintains a significant business presence in Hong Kong or Indonesia.

Licenses/Registration

As a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in South Korea, Bithumb is subject to oversight under local regulations, and as of mid-2025 it was designated a “conglomerate,” meaning it must adhere to heightened compliance and public disclosure rules.

The platform holds multiple registrations—including as a Money Services Business with FinCEN (U.S.) and FINTRAC (Canada), AUSTRAC in Australia, plus VASP registrations in Lithuania and Italy—in addition to participating in Korea’s CODE VASP Alliance.

Custody

A significant portion of user assets is held in cold storage, meeting at least 80% reserve requirements; the exchange has also set aside a substantial protection reserve fund (worth over KRW 100 billion) as a buffer in case of operational risk.

LBank uses cold storage for the majority of user assets, employs cryptographic proof-of-reserves mechanisms, and has partnered with Elliptic for transaction monitoring, but there’s no public percentage of assets stored offline.

Insurance & Protection Funds

It maintains robust cyber insurance coverage, with multi-billion won policies through top Korean insurers, designed to help cover losses from cyber incidents and personal data breaches.

There is no general user-asset insurance; the internal “Insurance Fund” only covers futures liquidation deficits, leaving users fully exposed in case of hacks or platform failure.

Incident History

Bithumb has endured several hacks and investigations, including major cryptocurrency thefts in 2017 and 2018, a large insider-related loss in 2019, and multiple regulatory probes since then, though it has taken steps to strengthen its security posture.

Remarkably, LBank has not experienced any verified major security breaches to date, maintaining a clean track record with no hacks reported.

Risk Controls

The platform employs industry-standard security measures—such as two-factor authentication, withdrawal whitelists, IP restrictions, anti-phishing controls, and regular external audits—to offer layered protection for user accounts and funds.

Users benefit from strong security features like two-factor authentication, anti-phishing mechanisms, withdrawal whitelists, customizable withdrawal limits, and a dedicated Incident Response Team for rapid support.

Transparency

It has enhanced disclosure practices, driven by its conglomerate status, though real-time proof-of-reserve reporting is not publicly available; ongoing regulatory scrutiny is pushing it toward greater transparency in operations.

While LBank offers proof-of-reserves and maintains regulatory registrations, it lacks regular public transparency reports, visible wallet addresses, or formal SLAs for security response times.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

Fiat deposits are exclusively in Korean Won (KRW) and handled via local bank transfers—debit/credit options or e-wallets aren’t supported—amount thresholds vary and processing is typically completed within the same day for local transfers.

Users can fund via bank transfer, credit/debit cards, and e-wallets through various third-party providers; deposits are generally fast and fee-free on LBank’s side, though daily min/max thresholds depend on the payment partner and can take a few minutes to process in most cases.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

Bithumb enforces tiered identity verification—basic phone/email for browsing, but Level 2 KYC is required to activate withdrawals, with higher limits tied to full verification.

No KYC is required to trade, but completing verification enables higher withdrawal limits (e.g. from 0.5 BTC up to 5.5 BTC per day) and unlocks access to fiat services and special features.

Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawals require KYC Level 2, lower minimums for verified accounts, and are processed within hours (first withdrawal may take longer for security); supported networks include standard chains like ERC-20 and TRC-20, with fees varying by asset.

Withdrawal limits rise significantly post-KYC, processing speed depends on network status, and withdrawals via ERC-20, TRC-20, BEP-20, and others follow dynamic, blockchain-determined fees visible at the time of withdrawal.

Customer Support

Support is reachable via live chat (available 24/7), email, and a regional phone line; response quality varies, backed by an FAQ and help center to assist common issues.

Support is available around the clock via live chat and email, though some users report response delays; a detailed knowledge base and FAQs help address common issues.

Languages & Localization

The interface supports multiple languages including English, with prices shown in KRW—there’s no automatic display in USD or EUR, and localization is limited for non-Korean regulatory zones.

The platform operates in native English with fiat values shown in multiple currencies (€, $), and while localized for global users, regulatory frameworks vary widely—some regions see limited features.

App Quality & Stability

The mobile app delivers a smooth trading interface with real-time data and strong security features (biometric login, 2FA), though user reports cite occasional crashes or slow performance during high-traffic periods.

LBank’s mobile app (iOS and Android) is feature-rich and generally stable, though specific metrics like crash rates aren’t publicly disclosed; the interface receives regular updates to support evolving features.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

The platform strikes a balance between newcomer friendliness and advanced functionality, offering a clean interface with clear labels and comprehensive charting tools, though it doesn’t explicitly offer separate “Lite” or “Pro” modes.

LBank features a clean, intuitive interface that’s easy for beginners to navigate while still offering pro-level tools; although there’s no formal “Lite” or “Pro” toggle, the design flows naturally from simple trading screens to advanced panels as needed.

Performance

Order execution is generally fast thanks to high liquidity, though peak volatility can bring some delays or gateway slowdowns, and KYC may slow onboarding during intense market rallies.

Thanks to recent core matching engine upgrades, order execution is noticeably faster and more stable; platform downtime during extreme volatility has been minimal, and KYC processing scales reasonably well even in bull markets.

Education

Bithumb provides a dedicated academy and tutorial content via its official channels to help users learn, but it does not currently offer demo accounts or Spanish-language learning resources.

LBank provides an educational academy with glossaries and guides, though it lacks a live demo or simulator; content is improving in localization, with support pages and FAQs available in Spanish.

Community

The platform encourages engagement through referral incentives and publishes on Medium, but it lacks officially managed forums, Discord, or Telegram communities for user interaction.

The platform supports active communities via Telegram and Discord, and rewards engagement through a structured referral and ambassador program that includes peer networks, campus partners, and a points-through-activity system.

Integrations

Bithumb supports external tools like TradingView for charting and provides API/WebSocket access for automation, but lacks built-in tax tools or direct accounting integrations.

LBank integrates native TradingView-style advanced charts and offers full REST/WebSocket APIs for external bots or tax/compliance tooling, though no built-in tax accounting features are currently advertised.

Who Each One Is Best For

It’s ideal for traders seeking a high-liquidity, reliability-focused exchange that caters to a mix of moderate experience levels, whereas those needing demo tools, Spanish-language education, or a vibrant community may look elsewhere.

LBank is ideal for altcoin enthusiasts and active traders seeking fast execution, reward channels through referrals and gamified points, and a globally intuitive interface—while more casual users or accountants might miss simulator tools or integrated tax tracking.