Wazirx vs Ascendex: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Wazirx and Ascendex 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

Wazirx

Ascendex

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Available Countries

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

India

Yes

China

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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Wazirx is ideal if:

Great for INR-based traders seeking seamless deposits and withdrawals via Indian banking rails and P2P exchanges.
Ideal if you value a clear, user-friendly interface and mobile app with advanced charts and straightforward navigation.
Perfect choice when you want a local platform with global reach, offering many cryptocurrencies plus features like WRX-token incentives and Smart Token Fund partnerships.

Ascendex is ideal if:

Versatile trader tools – Offers both beginner-friendly and pro-grade interfaces for spot, margin, futures, staking, copy trading, and yield farming.
Passive-earning focus – Multiple earning paths available (staking, DeFi yield, OTC, Invest programs), ideal if you want crypto to work for you passively.
Robust performance engine – High-throughput tech, advanced analytics, and mobile support make it ideal for active or institutional traders needing speed and reliability.

Wazirx isn’t ideal if:

If you rely on instant crypto withdrawals, this platform may not suit you due to ongoing limitations and partial access issues following recent security events.
If you're an advanced technical analyst, you'll likely find the charting tools and order types (e.g. no market orders) too simplistic for complex trading strategies.
If you need responsive customer support, WazirX may fall short—user feedback points to frequent delays and limited support channels.

Ascendex isn’t ideal if:

Regulatory uncertainty – Lacks formal licensing in many regions, meaning oversight and user protections may be limited.
Customer service concerns – Some users report slow or unhelpful support, particularly for withdrawals or issue resolution.
Past security breach – A significant hack occurred, which may worry users who prioritize platforms with a flawless security record.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

WazirX uses a tiered maker/taker model where fees decrease based on 30-day trading volume and WRX token holdings, encouraging active trading and WRX ownership for ongoing fee discounts.

Spot trading fees follow a tiered VIP structure based on your 30-day trade volume and holdings of the native ASD token; larger volume or ASD holdings unlock lower maker and taker rates, especially for major market-cap pairs.

Futures/Derivatives

WazirX currently focuses exclusively on spot trading and does not offer futures or derivatives, so there are no maker/taker or funding fees associated with those instruments.

Futures (perpetual) trading uses its own VIP-based fee tiers—maker fees can be as low as around 0.02%, takers around 0.05%—and funding payments occur every eight hours to align perpetual contract prices with spot.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

Liquid pair spreads like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT are typically narrow and market-competitive, reflecting high liquidity and fast matching, without meaningful average spread markup.

Liquid pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT exhibit tight spreads thanks to deep order books and efficient matching, making execution cost minimal beyond standard fees.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

INR fiat deposits and withdrawals work through local Indian banking channels (such as UPI and NEFT/IMPS), with generally quick processing for deposits and moderate processing times for withdrawals, depending on banking partners and verification status.

You can fund via credit/debit card or bank transfers through third-party processors; while deposits are quick, they may include a dynamic processing fee; withdrawal options and speeds depend on your local banking rails and chosen method.

On-chain Withdrawals

Cryptocurrency withdrawals use dynamic network fees that adjust based on blockchain congestion, meaning the cost varies across networks like BTC, ETH, or TRX rather than a flat fixed rate.

BTC, ETH, TRX, etc.)

Hidden Costs

There are few hidden costs—minor currency conversion charges may apply if depositing or withdrawing in a non-INR currency, and expedited account verification might help speed processes but doesn’t incur extra public fees.

Implicit costs may arise from conversion markups when buying crypto with fiat, inactivity penalties, or optional fast-track identity verification services, so even if explicit fees are low, these can add to your total cost.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

Buying €500 worth of BTC would involve paying a trading fee (discountable via WRX token), a tight market spread, and then paying a dynamic blockchain withdrawal fee to transfer the BTC on-chain—resulting in a slightly lower net BTC amount received than the €500 spent.

When you convert €500 into BTC, costs include the processing spread from fiat to crypto, the trading fee on your spot purchase, and any withdrawal network fee—so the net BTC received will be noticeably less than the €500 equivalent due to layered transaction components.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

WazirX lists over 250 to 300 cryptocurrencies and supports hundreds of trading pairs, with its top 20 pairs generally involving major coins like BTC, ETH, and USDT in high-volume combinations.

AscendEX supports over 200 to 300 cryptocurrencies across more than 200 trading pairs, with the most liquid top 20 pairs typically dominated by BTC, ETH, USDT, and popular large-cap and DeFi tokens if ranked by volume.

Product Range

The platform is focused mainly on spot trading, P2P markets, NFT marketplace and copy-style features like Smart Token Fund, and doesn’t offer margin, perpetuals, options, ETFs, staking, loans, or automated bots like grid or DCA.

The platform offers spot, margin, and perpetual futures, flexible staking and yield programs, copy-trading for futures, and supports automated strategies such as grid bots and DCA through its API and third-party tools—though options and crypto ETFs are not part of the current offering.

Liquidity

BTC and ETH markets benefit from deep liquidity powered by connection to Binance, meaning order books are healthy and 24-hour volume remains solid for core pairs—creating tight spreads and swift execution.

With a reported 24-hour trading volume ranging from hundreds of millions to a couple of billion dollars, BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT markets offer strong depth and tight order books, enabling efficient execution even for substantial orders.

Tools

WazirX provides limit and stop-limit orders, alert notifications, integrated TradingView charts, and API/WebSocket access, offering a robust toolkit for spot traders without overly complex derivatives features.

AscendEX features a full suite of order types (limit, market, stop, OCO), advanced charting with customizable indicators, real-time alerts, and robust API/WebSocket access—although it relies on its proprietary charting tools rather than native TradingView integration.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Some advanced products like derivatives and lending aren’t available globally; WazirX restricts offerings based on user location and compliance rules, limiting access to certain tools in select jurisdictions.

Certain regions face limitations such as no access to futures or derivatives features—specifically, users in jurisdictions like the United States and China are restricted from using these products due to compliance considerations.

Innovation

The platform includes creative features like a Smart Token Fund (akin to copy trading) and occasionally hosts token launch initiatives, while its P2P liquidity engine remains a standout innovation in fiat-to-crypto access.

AscendEX delivers early access to new token projects via its launchpool platform, and its Earn suite includes both flexible staking options—as well as programs with lock-up periods—giving users choice in how they deploy assets to generate yield.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

WazirX is operated by Zanmai Labs Pvt. Ltd., founded in 2018 and headquartered in Mumbai, India, with its crypto operations under Zettai Pte. Ltd. based in Singapore for restructuring purposes.

AscendEX operates under AscendEX Technology S.R.L., legally established in Romania, while the broader group includes BMXDM Technology Pte. Ltd. founded in 2018, with headquarters primarily in Singapore.

Licenses/Registration

While India currently lacks formal crypto licensing, WazirX aligns with VASP-style requirements under FIU-India rules and is increasingly moving toward global compliance readiness, including potential future MiCA adherence.

The platform adheres to AML/CTF regulations where required, but does not currently hold formal regulatory licenses such as VASP in most jurisdictions nor EU MiCA authorization.

Custody

User assets are held in a mix of on-chain wallets and third-party custodians, with an internal and third-party-verified Proof of Reserves system to back solvency and asset holdings, supported by periodic audits and real-time transparency dashboards.

Users’ crypto assets are stored primarily in cold, offline wallets managed directly by AscendEX, supported by a defense-in-depth security model; there’s no publicly disclosed proof-of-reserves audit or specific percentage of assets held in cold storage.

Insurance & Protection Funds

The exchange is actively pursuing third-party custodial solutions offering insurance coverage, and its recovery plan includes allocating a portion of trading fees into a user protection reserve.

AscendEX maintains an internal insurance fund drawn from its own balance sheet to cover potential losses in the event of security incidents.

Incident History

In July 2024, WazirX suffered a major hack resulting in loss of over $230 million and suspensions of trading and withdrawals, prompting a restructuring process and implementation of new custody and recovery systems.

In December 2021, AscendEX suffered a hot-wallet exploit across several blockchains, but fully reimbursed all impacted users and rebuilt its infrastructure with stronger safeguards.

Risk Controls

Security measures include mandatory 2FA (via SMS, email, authenticator apps, or even biometrics), anti-phishing alerts, and internal protocols—though features like API permission granularity and sub-accounts remain limited.

The platform supports two-factor authentication, device monitoring, anti-phishing alerts, and offers API access with control options and sub-account structuring to help manage risk.

Transparency

WazirX issues regular transparency reports and complies fully with law enforcement inquiries; it also publishes wallet data and Proof of Reserves dashboards, though SLA metrics and public wallet tracking remain periodically updated rather than real time.

While offering real-time monitoring and reporting tools, AscendEX does not publish monthly reserve statements, public wallet addresses, or formal service-level agreements.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

WazirX accepts INR deposits via UPI, IMPS, NEFT, and RTGS, with minimums as low as ₹100 and maximums up to ₹50 lakh per transaction; UPI deposits are instant, while bank transfer methods usually complete within a few hours during business hours, up to a maximum of around 72 hours.

AscendEX supports depositing fiat through third-party providers such as Simplex, MoonPay, Mercuryo, and Banxa via card or bank transfer, offering fast funding for multiple regions, with specific minimums and maximums varying per provider and region.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

WazirX applies a tiered Re-KYC process annually with varying document requirements; basic identity validation unlocks most features, and advanced verification may be prompted for higher volumes or full-feature access, with timing ranging from instant to up to 72 hours.

AscendEX requires identity verification for full platform access; unverified accounts face strict withdrawal caps (such as 0.75 BTC daily), while verified users enjoy much higher limits, with further tiered levels unlocking even greater flexibility.

Withdrawals

INR withdrawals are processed via linked bank accounts only, with no third-party transfers allowed; withdrawals typically clear within a few hours up to 72 hours depending on the bank, and fees differ by transfer mode (e.g. NEFT vs instant). Crypto withdrawals allow network-specific address tagging, especially for assets like XRP/XLM, and fees are dynamic based on blockchain conditions.

Withdrawal limits depend on KYC status—unverified accounts are capped at around 0.75 BTC per day, verified users far higher—and users can withdraw via multiple networks (ERC-20, TRC-20, BEP-20, etc.), with processing speed tied to blockchain congestion.

Customer Support

WazirX offers in-app live chat around the clock, along with email and blog support, plus dedicated phone support Monday to Sunday during Indian daytime hours; response times vary but the chat feature and support center help ensure timely assistance.

AscendEX offers round-the-clock support via live chat and email, with a comprehensive help center available for self-service; response times generally fall within reasonable hours though may vary based on query complexity.

Languages & Localization

The platform is fully localized for English speakers, displays amounts in INR but allows traders to conceptualize values in € or $ mentally, and operates under Indian regulatory guidelines—even though fiat is exclusively INR-based.

The interface supports multiple languages including English, and displays prices in common currencies like EUR and USD; it also tailors functionality—and availability—to comply with regional regulations.

App Quality & Stability

The mobile app is stable and well-maintained, with frequent updates and minimal reported crashes—keeping enhancements rolling smoothly for a reliable user experience.

The AscendEX mobile and desktop apps deliver a polished and responsive experience, receiving regular updates to bolster stability and features, with no widespread reports of performance or crash issues among users.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

WazirX’s revamped 3.0 interface delivers a clean, intuitive layout with order book and open orders adjacent to trading, requiring minimal learning effort for both beginners and experienced traders.

The platform provides both a streamlined “Lite” interface optimized for newcomers and a feature-rich “Pro” mode tailored for experienced traders, offering intuitive navigation while allowing users to progress as their skills evolve.

Performance

Order latency is generally responsive and smooth thanks to streamlined UI, though users may occasionally notice slower response or brief interface lag during extreme market volatility or peak traffic surges.

Order execution is generally fast and stable, though sharp market spikes can occasionally lead to slight delays; during bull runs, KYC processing times may lengthen, though the platform scales verification capacity to mitigate backlogs.

Education

WazirX offers a “Learn & Earn” campaign with quizzes tied to real trading, plus a dedicated Crypto Learning Zone and partner educational programs, but lacks a simulated demo or practice account for risk-free trading.

AscendEX hosts an educational hub with articles, investment lessons, and futures tutorials, but it does not currently offer demo trading accounts or Spanish-specific learning modules.

Community

WazirX maintains an active presence on social platforms like Telegram and Reddit, runs educational contests and “Learn & Earn” campaigns, and supports referral programs to incentivize user growth.

Users can connect via numerous official Telegram channels across multiple languages and leverage an active referral program that rewards users for inviting others to the platform.

Integrations

Traders benefit from integrated TradingView-style charts and API access, while official support for third-party bots or tax-accounting tools is limited—though the platform’s API allows flexible automation for developers.

The exchange offers native TradingView charts and robust API access, enabling integration with third-party bots and tax/accounting tools like CryptoTaxCalculator for portfolio tracking and reporting.

Who Each One Is Best For

WazirX suits crypto novices who want a clear and efficient interface with educational rewards, and suits mid-tier traders comfortable with API tools—but is less ideal for those needing a virtual demo, heavy automation, or advanced pro-trader environments.

Beginners benefit from the Lite mode and educational resources, active/pro traders gain from the advanced order tools and integrations, and those focused on passive strategies can leverage the automated tools and referral rewards.