Bitmex vs Bit: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Bitmex and Bit 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

Bitmex

Bit

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Europe

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India

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China

Canada

United Kingdom

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United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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Bitmex is ideal if:

Best suited for seasoned traders who want advanced derivative tools, including futures, perpetual swaps, and customizable bot integrations.
Perfect for those who value high liquidity, low-latency execution, and a platform built for competitive, fast-paced trading environments.
Makes sense if you're looking for crypto-only margin trading with leverage and staking options, and you're comfortable with complex interfaces.

Bit is ideal if:

You want access to a professional-grade platform with advanced derivatives and options for major cryptocurrencies.
You prefer a unified margin account that simplifies collateral management across spot, futures, and options.
You value institutional-level liquidity and infrastructure backed by a reputable global crypto finance group.

Bitmex isn’t ideal if:

Not beginner-friendly—interface and features can overwhelm users without prior experience in derivatives or margin trading.
Limited ecosystem and fiat support—only crypto-to-crypto funding and a narrower product range than broader exchanges.
Regulatory and compliance concerns—it has faced serious legal scrutiny and governance issues that may raise trust or availability doubts.

Bit isn’t ideal if:

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

Maker and taker fees on spot are tiered based on your 30-day trading volume or BMEX tokens staked; higher tiers mean lower percentages for both, and staking BMEX may further reduce taker fees and increase maker rebates.

BIT uses a tiered fee structure where maker and taker rates decrease as your 30-day trading volume increases, and some users benefit from additional discounts by using the platform’s native token to pay fees.

Futures/Derivatives

Derivatives follow a volume-based tiered fee structure with negative maker fees (rebates) and modest taker fees; funding payments on perpetual contracts occur roughly every eight hours and fluctuate depending on market conditions and your position.

Futures trades follow a similar tiered model with both maker and taker fees declining as your volume grows; funding rates are dynamic and reflect real-time market demand but are transparently displayed on the trading interface.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

BitMEX typically offers tight spreads in its most liquid pairs, keeping them competitive and only slightly wider than those found on major centralized exchanges.

On highly liquid pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT, typical spreads are very tight, thanks to strong liquidity and professional market infrastructure—even though exact values aren’t publicly listed, they remain consistently narrow.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Fiat can be funded via credit/debit cards, bank or instant transfers, and services like Apple Pay, with fees determined by the third-party provider; processing times and costs vary by method and region.

BIT’s fiat support is limited, and where offered (e.g. via partners), deposit and withdrawal options—such as bank transfers—exist but with general processing times of hours to days and no fixed fee details publicly disclosed.

On-chain Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawals incur either a dynamic network fee for Bitcoin or fixed fees for other assets; BitMEX doesn’t charge the fee itself, although Bitcoin fees adjust with network congestion and some assets display fixed withdrawal charges.

Crypto withdrawals incur network-based fees that adjust dynamically per blockchain (e.g., BTC, ETH), instead of a flat rate—this means actual costs vary in real time according to network congestion.

Hidden Costs

There are minimal extra costs—currency conversion fees may apply via your payment provider, there’s no inactivity fee, and expedited KYC may have unspecified third-party costs but none imposed by BitMEX.

There may be subtle costs like currency conversion when trading non-supported stablecoins, inactive account fees, or expedited KYC processing—but BIT emphasizes transparency, and these are minimal or avoidable through regular activity.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

If you convert fiat to crypto equivalent of 500 €, the total cost would encompass your third-party payment-processing fee, the slightly wider spread, and the on-chain withdrawal fee — all varying by method and network conditions, with no extra platform charges added by BitMEX.

A €500 BTC purchase would include the spot fee (based on your VIP tier), a tight spread typical for Bitcoin, and an on-chain withdrawal fee that fluctuates with network conditions—all combined to present a total cost that remains competitive and transparent.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

BitMEX lists over 100 cryptocurrencies across roughly 180 trading pairs; the most traded tops (such as BTC/USDT, BMEX/USDT, ETH/USDT) dominate volume share, reflecting its focus on highly liquid assets.

BIT lists over 130 cryptocurrencies and around 160+ trading pairs overall, with the top 20 by volume including BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT, SOL/USDT, PEPE/USDT, XRP/USDT and others leading daily activity.

Product Range

BitMEX offers spot trading, margin, perpetual swaps, futures, and options, plus copy-trading and automated grid-bot support—but lacks crypto ETFs, staking/earn products, loans, or built-in DCA automation.

The platform supports spot, perps (futures), US dollar–settled options, convert/swap, savings/earn, copy trading, block trades, and automated rebalance strategies— all unified under their single account model.

Liquidity

The exchange exhibits strong liquidity in perpetual futures like BTC and ETH, with billions in daily volume and substantial book depth within tight ±1% spreads, ideal for high-speed, high-volume execution.

BIT provides high liquidity and deep order books in major pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT, backed by institutional infrastructure, yielding tight spreads and strong execution even under heavy volume.

Tools

Traders benefit from a full suite of pro-grade tools

Traders can use limit, market, and OCO orders, set alerts, access advanced charting, leverage TradingView integrations, and connect via robust API/WebSocket endpoints.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Derivative products—including futures and options—are blocked for users in restricted jurisdictions such as the US, Canada (Quebec), Hong Kong, Seychelles, and parts of Russia or sanctioned regions; other areas only see limited offerings.

Certain products such as derivatives (futures and options) are restricted in several jurisdictions—including the United States and parts of Asia—depending on local law and platform policy.

Innovation

While BitMEX lacks launchpad/launchpool initiatives and structured earn offerings, it stands out with novel features like staking incentives via its BMEX token and flexible fee rebate structures for active users.

BIT continuously launches new offerings like launchpad-style products, evolving earn features with flexible and locked staking options, and expanding USD-settled options across various assets.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

Operated by HDR Global Trading Limited, incorporated in 2014 under the Seychelles’ International Business Companies Act, with its registered office in Mahé, Seychelles.

BIT is operated by a Seychelles-registered entity established around 2020, headquartered in that jurisdiction, leveraging offshore incorporation to serve a broad global clientele.

Licenses/Registration

The platform does not appear to hold formal VASP or EU MiCA licenses and operates primarily under Seychelles jurisdiction, without registration under major global financial frameworks.

It’s registered under the Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA) as a crypto-service provider, though it does not hold equivalent licenses under EU MiCA or major markets like the U.S.

Custody

Customer assets are ring-fenced and held in segregated hot and cold wallets; BitMEX publishes a Proof of Reserves and Liabilities snapshot twice weekly for full auditability, though no third-party audits or reserve ratios are published.

Client funds are predominantly held in multi-signature cold storage across multiple continents with institutional-grade encryption; BIT is working toward combining both proof of reserves and proof of liabilities using Merkle-tree verification to enhance transparency.

Insurance & Protection Funds

A sizable internal insurance fund is maintained to safeguard traders against deleveraging impacts, helping ensure solvency even during market stress.

The platform maintains an internal insurance fund—designed to absorb losses in extreme market conditions and support its liquidation system as a layer of fund protection.

Incident History

Though there have been no major public hacks or system outages recently, BitMEX faced extensive legal scrutiny and a $100 million fine in 2025 for AML/KYC violations; its founders also faced regulatory penalties.

BIT has maintained a clean track record with no publicly reported hacks, service suspensions, asset freezes, or regulatory penalties to date.

Risk Controls

The platform enforces strong security practices including 2FA, customizable API permissions, anti-phishing safeguards, and support for whitelists and sub-accounts to enhance user protection and operational control.

Security measures include mandatory two-factor authentication (2FA), IP and withdrawal whitelists, anti-phishing safeguards, and support for sub-accounts and granular API permissioning to manage operational risk.

Transparency

BitMEX offers high transparency via its twice-weekly proof of reserves reports; however, there are no public wallet addresses or official monthly reports, and no published service-level guarantees.

While BIT does not publish monthly audit reports or public wallet lists, it provides insurance fund status updates and aims to establish tools for verifying reserves and liabilities, offering growing transparency to users.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

Fiat purchases are available only through integrated third-party providers using credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Revolut, and similar e-wallets; there’s generally no minimum set by BitMEX, processing is near-instant for cards, while transfer speeds depend on the provider.

BIT supports fiat deposits via bank transfer, credit/debit cards, and e-wallets depending on your region, with minimums and maximums and processing times clearly shown on the deposit screen once you initiate the flow.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

BitMEX requires full identity verification for all users before allowing deposits, trades, or withdrawals, with no tiered or anonymous access—this KYC obligation applies across the board with no optional levels.

The KYC framework includes levels like “Basic” and “Advanced” (or equivalent), where unverified users face strict limits or no fiat access, and completing higher KYC tiers unlocks full deposit, withdrawal, and product access.

Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawals are enabled across multiple networks (e.g. ERC-20, TRC-20), with dynamic fees based on network and no firm minimums declared by the exchange, though low-value blockchain limits may apply; withdrawal times vary with network congestion.

Limits, Timing & Networks

Customer Support

BitMEX offers support via email and live chat (availability not explicitly stated as 24/7), supported by a robust help center and guides, though no official average response times are published.

BIT offers 24/7 live chat and email support, with a comprehensive help center filled with FAQs and guides; response times vary but generally are prompt—especially for basic queries.

Languages & Localization

The platform and app are primarily in English; displayed pricing can adapt to user’s local fiat (€, USD); however, localized regulatory compliance and currency support depend on the user’s jurisdiction and corresponding payment provider.

The platform is native in English (and often other major languages), shows pricing and fees in local currencies like USD/EUR, and tailors certain services according to regional regulatory compliance.

App Quality & Stability

The BitMEX app is professionally developed, offering mobile trading and wallet features, generally reported as stable—while detailed crash rate metrics aren’t published, it receives regular updates and maintenance to ensure smooth performance.

The BIT mobile app is regularly updated on both iOS and Android, designed for smooth performance with minimal crashes, and offers a clean interface that mirrors the web experience.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

BitMEX delivers a powerful, feature-rich interface that caters more to seasoned traders than newcomers—there’s no “Lite” mode, but its streamlined dashboard and customizable chart workspaces help reduce complexity once you’re familiar.

The interface is clean and beginner-friendly, offering an intuitive experience without overwhelming the user—advanced options are accessible but smoothly integrated, helping you transition as you grow.

Performance

Thanks to recent engine upgrades, order responses now often register under 200 ms, latency reduced dramatically, and the platform has handled major volatility surges without overload or slowdowns; KYC queues are generally fast, even during bull runs, though exact wait times vary.

BIT’s matching engine delivers ultra-low latency (under 50 ms), ensuring fast order execution; systems remain stable even during volatility spikes, with KYC processes generally unaffected by market surges.

Education

BitMEX doesn’t offer a built-in academy or demo mode, and provides limited educational material in Spanish—but its blog, support center, and integration with tools like TradingView help bridge the learning gap for proactive traders.

While BIT doesn’t have a dedicated academy or simulator, it offers in-platform guides and multilingual content (including Spanish), helping users understand features without external research.

Community

BitMEX supports community engagement through official Discord, Telegram, and referral programs, though it lacks a native forum; most user discussions and shared knowledge happen across these social channels.

Users can connect via BIT’s official Telegram and referral programs, enabling peer interactions and rewards, though there’s currently no full-fledged forum or Discord hub.

Integrations

BitMEX integrates directly with TradingView for native charting and execution; it supports external bot automation via webhooks and APIs, but offers no built-in tax reporting or accounting tools out of the box.

Charts on BIT include TradingView integrations, and the platform supports external tools like copy trading strategies and some basic tax/accounting exports, though comprehensive third-party bot support is limited.

Who Each One Is Best For

BitMEX excels for advanced traders who value blazing-fast execution, deep liquidity, and a pro-grade ecosystem—but it’s less suitable for beginners or those seeking structured learning, passive investing tools, or easy-to-navigate platforms.

BIT is ideal for those seeking a straightforward yet powerful trading platform—great for beginners who appreciate clarity and for intermediate users who want solid tools without a steep learning curve.