Coinex vs Bitso: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Coinex and Bitso 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

Coinex

Bitso

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Available Countries

United States

Europe

yes

Latin America

yes

India

yes

China

Canada

United Kingdom

yes

United States

Europe

Yes

Latin America

India

China

Canada

United Kingdom

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Coinex is ideal if:

Privacy-minded traders: you can trade without mandatory KYC up to high limits, offering anonymity while retaining full platform access.
Global assets explorer: the platform supports a wide variety of crypto tokens alongside features like strategic trading (Auto-Invest, Spot Grid), making it great for exploring diverse markets.
Security-focused users: with multi-signature wallets, rigorous cold-storage, and committed proof-of-reserves, your funds benefit from robust protection.

Bitso is ideal if:

Latin America–centric users: Tailored for users in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia with local currencies, payments, and regulatory coverage, offering a seamless regional crypto experience.
Beginners who value simplicity: Its intuitive interface and easy onboarding make it a solid entry point for anyone new to crypto trading.
Crypto holders seeking flexible future options: Features like Bitso+ (earnings on your holdings with no lock-ups) and a growing suite of tools make long-term crypto use more rewarding.

Coinex isn’t ideal if:

Strictly fiat-only traders: CoinEx doesn’t support direct fiat deposits or withdrawals; you must use third-party gateways if you want to convert between crypto and traditional currencies.
Regulation-focused investors: It lacks licensing from top-tier regulatory bodies, which may concern users seeking exchanges with clear, formal oversight.
Complete beginners seeking hand-holding: Educational resources and customer service can be less responsive or comprehensive, which may not suit those needing more guidance.

Bitso isn’t ideal if:

…you live outside Latin America: Access and services are focused mainly on countries like Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia, limiting availability elsewhere.
…you need a wide range of cryptocurrencies: Bitso’s portfolio is effective for mainstream assets, but lacks the extensive variety offered by larger global exchanges.
…you value fast, hands-on support: Customer service primarily relies on tickets and digital channels, which can result in slower response times when urgent help is needed.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

Spot trading fees decrease as your 30-day trading volume, CET balance, or VIP level increases—higher tiers enjoy lower maker and taker rates, with an extra discount if you opt to pay using the native CET token.

Bitso applies a tiered maker–taker structure where fees decrease as your 30-day trading volume increases; for instance, in the USD (USDC) market, maker rates range from ~0.25% at low volumes to ~0.04% at the highest tiers, with taker rates starting around 0.30% and dropping to about 0.05%—there’s no native token discount program.

Futures/Derivatives

Futures trading applies different maker and taker fees based on VIP status, and while CoinEx doesn’t charge funding directly, perpetual contracts settle funding between long and short positions every 8 hours (or more frequently under extreme conditions).

maker/taker and funding

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

Although CoinEx doesn’t publish spread figures directly, mainstream spot pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT generally exhibit tight spreads typical of mid-to-high liquidity venues, making execution costs reasonably competitive for active traders.

While Bitso doesn’t publish exact spread figures, available data and reviews suggest it maintains competitive spreads on major, liquid pairs, though not necessarily as tight as ultra-high-volume global platforms.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Methods, Fees, Times

methods, fees, timings

On-chain Withdrawals

Fixed vs Dynamic Fees (BTC, ETH, TRX, etc.)

fixed vs dynamic fees per network (BTC, ETH, TRX, etc.)

Hidden Costs

Currency Conversion, Inactivity, Express KYC, etc.

currency conversion, inactivity, expedited KYC, etc.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

If you buy €500 worth of BTC on CoinEx, your total cost comprises the third-party gateway’s currency conversion rate plus its service fee, the spread between buy and sell prices, and the dynamic on-chain withdrawal charge—so the final amount received in your wallet will be less than the gross purchase value due to these combined factors.

“Buying €500 in BTC” (fee + spread + withdrawal)

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

CoinEx lists over 800 cryptocurrencies and supports more than 1,200 trading pairs, including its most actively traded tokens ranked among the top 20 by volume, which typically consist of mainstream assets such as BTC, ETH, TRX, and a range of emerging altcoins.

Bitso offers around 100 trading pairs and supports roughly 55–100 cryptocurrencies, with top-volume instruments like BTC, ETH, XRP, SOL, and USDC featuring prominently among the top 20 by liquidity.

Product Range

The platform offers a comprehensive set of services—including spot, margin, and perpetual futures (linear and inverse contracts), copy trading, crypto loans, one-click swap exchanges, staking, Auto-Invest plans, and Spot Grid bots—offering flexible strategies across investing and automated trading.

Bitso provides spot trading plus a flexible staking/earn product (Bitso Earn) and fiat-crypto remittances (via Bitso Shift), but it does not offer margin, derivatives (futures/options), ETFs, lending, copy trading, grid bots, or automated DCA strategies.

Liquidity

CoinEx maintains solid liquidity, especially on BTC and ETH markets, reflected by consistently vigorous 24-hour trading volume and deep order-book depth that supports efficient execution even during volatile periods.

Daily volumes for major pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT run into the tens of millions USD, offering sound liquidity and stable order-book depth, though not as deep as global mega-exchanges.

Tools

You’ll find a robust toolkit featuring common order types like limit, market, stop-limit, plus advanced modes such as OCO and maker-only, along with real-time alerts, charting, API/WebSocket access, and built-in TradingView integration for sophisticated analysis.

Bitso supports market, limit, stop-loss, and stop-limit orders, integrates with TradingView for advanced charting, offers price alerts, and provides robust API/WebSocket access through its Bitso Alpha platform.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

While CoinEx is globally available in over 200 countries, certain products like derivatives and copy trading may be restricted in jurisdictions such as the U.S., Canada, Hong Kong, and China due to regional regulatory limitations.

Certain advanced features like staking and fiat on-ramps are limited to Latin American residents; derivatives and margin aren’t offered at all, and access is restricted outside these primary markets.

Innovation

The exchange actively innovates with features such as launchpads/pools, flexible versus locked staking options, and strategic products like Auto-Invest and Spot Grid—providing both passive yield and automated market participation tools.

Bitso excels with its flexible-earn staking (withdraw anytime, weekly rewards) and has broadened coverage into emerging DeFi space by adding new tokens like HYPE, though it doesn’t currently run launchpads or locked-pool offerings.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

The exchange began in 2017 and is operated under the ViaBTC ecosystem, with its legal base and main offices located in Hong Kong.

Bitso operates under the legal entity Badger Technology Company Ltd, incorporated in Gibraltar, with operations stretching across Latin America since its launch in 2014 out of Mexico City.

Licenses/Registration

CoinEx holds registration as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in certain jurisdictions such as Estonia and complies with applicable regulations, but it does not currently fall under the EU’s MiCA framework.

The platform holds a pioneering DLT license from the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission and operates in Mexico under the local Fintech law as an authorized payment institution (IFPE).

Custody

CoinEx uses its own custody infrastructure with both hot and cold wallets, enhanced by multi-signature security. It publishes frequent Merkle-tree-based Proof of Reserves—maintaining a 1

Bitso uses its own custody infrastructure, reinforced with multi-signature controls and disaster recovery via CoinCover, and offers transparency through real-time security metrics via its Trust Center.

Insurance & Protection Funds

The platform supports its risk management with a “Shield Fund,” which redirects around 10% of fees into a reserve designed to buffer against extreme or unexpected market shocks

Bitso has complemented its digital-asset protection by partnering with CoinCover to provide additional risk mitigation and recovery mechanisms for user funds.

Incident History

Since its 2017 launch, CoinEx has maintained a clean security record with no known hacks, outages, freezing of accounts, regulatory fines, or major incidents to date

To date, Bitso has not experienced any known hacks or security breaches, and it has a track record of uninterrupted service without suspensions or major compliance penalties.

Risk Controls

CoinEx implements strong safety protocols, including two-factor authentication (2FA), address whitelisting, anti-phishing measures, support for sub-accounts, and granular API permission controls, designed to minimize unauthorized access and bolster overall platform security.

The platform enforces robust risk safeguards including two-factor authentication (2FA), phishing prevention, transaction whitelists, and granular API permissions for institutional users.

Transparency

The platform demonstrates transparent practices through monthly reserve updates, publicly verifiable wallets using Merkle trees, and clear communication via announcements—though formal SLA commitments are not prominently outlined.

In the interest of openness, Bitso shares live security and compliance metrics in its Trust Center, though it does not produce regular reserve or transparency reports or public wallets.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

CoinEx offers fiat deposits through partnerships with eight external providers like MoonPay, Banxa, Simplex, Mercuryo, Paxful, Guardarian, XanPool, and Advcash, enabling methods such as Visa/MasterCard, Apple Pay, UPI, SEPA, bank transfers, Revolut, and PIX. Minimum and maximum order limits vary by provider, and most transactions are completed within around 30 minutes once initiated.

Bitso accepts fiat deposits via local bank transfers (e.g., SPEI in Mexico, Pix in Brazil), digital dollars through Payoneer, and in some markets, card deposits; minimum and maximum deposit amounts vary based on local regulations and bank systems, and transfer times generally align with domestic banking hours.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

CoinEx features progressive verification tiers—from no-KYC to Basic and Advanced levels—with the scope of trading and withdrawal increasing by tier; higher KYC levels unlock significantly elevated withdrawal capacities.

There are typically three KYC tiers

Withdrawals

Limits, Times & Networks

Limits, Timing & Networks

Customer Support

Users can reach support via a 24/7 live chat, email ticket system, and Help Center with detailed FAQs; tickets are submitted from the website footer and responses prioritize accuracy and clarity. Language support and average response times may vary.

Bitso provides support through live chat and an extensive Help Center ticket system, with response times typically within 24–48 hours and a rich knowledge base to guide users.

Languages & Localization

The platform operates with native English and supports multiple other languages; fiat values can be displayed in common currencies like EUR and USD, while localized regulatory info may be limited depending on your country.

The platform operates natively in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, displays fees in relevant local currencies, and tailors its services to comply with regional legal and regulatory frameworks.

App Quality & Stability

CoinEx provides both iOS and Android apps, featuring a clean, intuitive design and access to core functionality. While official crash-rate metrics are not published, user feedback indicates stability with regular updates to enhance performance and usability.

Bitso’s mobile app (available for iOS and Android) mirrors the web platform in functionality and offers a smooth trading experience with strong user reviews, suggesting stability and regular updates.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

CoinEx offers a clean and intuitive interface with a clear “Beginner” section and more advanced options for experienced traders; while explicit “Lite” or “Pro” modes aren’t labeled, the layout provides a natural progression from simple guides to feature-rich dashboards, making the platform approachable for all skill levels.

Bitso caters to different skill levels by offering a stripped-down classic mode for newcomers and the more advanced Alpha Pro interface for serious traders—both seamlessly blend intuitive design with enhanced charting and order tools, making the learning curve manageable yet scalable.

Performance

The platform boasts a high-speed matching engine built to handle order execution with minimal delay, and though official latency metrics aren’t public, user feedback suggests trading remains responsive even during volatility spikes; KYC processing tends to scale adequately, though verification backlogs can surface during market surges.

Bitso’s Alpha Pro is optimized for fast trade execution and generally maintains uptime even during busy periods; however, during bull markets, KYC queues can lengthen, occasionally delaying full access for new users.

Education

CoinEx provides robust learning tools including the CoinEx Academy with security guides, glossaries, and crypto fundamentals, plus a full-featured demo trading mode for risk-free practice; Spanish-speaking users are also supported via official Telegram and localized content.

Although Bitso doesn’t offer a trading simulator or demo, it does provide educational content—including guides and insights—in Spanish across its blog and Help Center, making it accessible for Spanish-speaking users seeking self-guided learning.

Community

A strong community is available through official Telegram channels—both English and Spanish—as well as podcast-style livestreams and social media engagement; affiliate and referral programs are integrated too, rewarding users for growing the network.

Bitso fosters community engagement through active channels like official Telegram groups and a referral program, though it doesn’t operate a public forum or Discord server specifically for user discussions.

Integrations

CoinEx features native integrations like TradingView for advanced charting, supports Telegram-based trading bots, and its affiliate/referral dashboards assist tracking performance; however, specialized tax or accounting tool integrations are not prominently highlighted at this time.

Bitso integrates directly with TradingView, enabling charting and analysis of its full spot-pair range; it also supports external integration via its robust API, though it lacks built-in tax tools or direct accounting integrations.

Who Each One Is Best For

The platform suits growth-minded individuals who value a balance of clarity and strategy—newcomers benefit from educational tools and a clean interface, while seasoned traders can leverage demo trading, strategic tools like grid bots, and active community programs to refine their approach.

Bitso offers an ideal blend of simplicity and capability for Latin American users—from beginners enjoying the clean interface to intermediate traders accessing Alpha Pro—making it less suited for algorithmic traders, simulator users, or those needing integrated financial tooling.