Bitfinex vs P2B: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Bitfinex and P2B 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

Bitfinex

P2B

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United States

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

India

China

Canada

United Kingdom

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Bitfinex is ideal if:

Powerful tools for pros – If you're an experienced crypto trader who values advanced order types, deep liquidity, and customization, Bitfinex offers a feature-rich environment tailored to your needs.
Custom trading setups – With strong API options and advanced charting (including TradingView integration), it’s excellent for algorithmic strategies and fine-tuned technical analysis.
Less beginner-friendly – If you're new to crypto or prefer ultra-simple interfaces and built-in safety nets, this platform’s complexity might feel overwhelming.

P2B is ideal if:

Offers a high-performance launchpad engine that’s launched over 2,000 crypto projects without token-holding requirements—perfect if you’re a founder or eager early-stage investor.
Built for both beginners and businesses, it blends approachable trading with go-to-market support—ideal if you want a trading platform with strategic listing expertise.
Packs robust multilingual support, fast interface, and loyalty tiers—suiting you if you appreciate accessible, efficient trading plus escalating benefits for active users.

Bitfinex isn’t ideal if:

Prefer intuitive platforms – If you value ultra-simple design and guided onboarding, more beginner-oriented exchanges may feel more approachable.
Operate within strict compliance zones – If you're in heavily regulated regions, alternatives with clear compliance and licensing may better suit your needs.
Seek full insurance transparency – If knowing your funds are protected by explicit insurance or regularly published reserves matters, this platform’s limited disclosures might be a drawback.

P2B isn’t ideal if:

Limited regulatory clarity, which may cause uncertainty and higher perceived legal risk if you prefer fully regulated platforms.
Basic trading tools only, lacking advanced features like margin trading or sophisticated order types—less suited for power users or active traders.
Occasional withdrawal delays or support gaps, meaning if fast access to funds and responsive customer service are vital to you, P2B may fall short.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

Maker and taker spot fees decrease as trading volume grows, and holding the exchange’s native token grants additional reductions, making fees more favorable for high-volume and token-holding users.

P2B uses a tiered structure based on 30-day trading volume, starting at 0.2 % for both maker and taker, decreasing gradually to as low as 0.01 % maker and 0.1 % taker at the highest volume tiers.

Futures/Derivatives

Derivatives trading carries tiered maker/taker fees and incorporates periodic funding payments; higher volume and native token holdings can lead to reduced trading costs.

P2B does not currently offer futures or derivatives trading on its platform.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

On highly liquid pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT, spreads remain tight due to deep order books, offering competitive trading conditions for informed market participants.

Typical spread data isn’t publicly listed, but high liquidity in top pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT suggests spreads are likely competitive and in line with other major spot exchanges.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Fiat transactions are handled via bank wires and select payment platforms, with modest percentage fees and set minimums; processing time varies from same-day (via express services) to several business days for standard transfers.

Users can deposit fiat via wire transfer or credit card; withdrawals are available for fiat but come with percentage-based fees (e.g., 1 % for USD, 5 % for EUR) and processing time varies by method and currency.

On-chain Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawals typically impose flat network-based fees per token, varying across chains, though some tokens may carry zero withdrawal fees depending on network costs and exchange policies.

Crypto withdrawals such as BTC are charged a fixed network-based fee (for example, around 0.0005 BTC), with similar fixed fees applied across supported blockchains like Ethereum and Tron.

Hidden Costs

Beyond visible fees, users may face additional charges like conversion spreads when funding in non-base currencies, higher rates for express services, or optional costs tied to expedited KYC or funding recovery.

Users may encounter extra charges—including currency conversion fees, inactivity penalties, or expedited KYC service fees—though specifics are not always disclosed, and should be factored into overall costs.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

Buying €500 worth of BTC would involve a trading fee and a minor spread, followed by a token withdrawal fee—altogether forming a modest combined cost relative to the transaction size.

If you purchased €500 worth of BTC, you’d pay the trading fee (~0.2 %) plus any embedded spread, and then send funds on-chain—incurring the fixed BTC withdrawal fee—resulting in a slightly lower net amount of BTC received than the nominal purchase suggests.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

Bitfinex offers well over 100 cryptocurrencies and hundreds of trading pairs in total; in its top-20 by volume list, you’ll typically see major combos like BTC/USD, ETH/USD, USDT/USD, SOL/USD, XRP/USD, among others—reflecting the most actively traded liquid markets.

P2B currently supports around 118 to 120 cryptocurrencies and approximately 185 trading pairs, with its top 20 pairs including highly liquid ones such as ETH/USDT, BTC/USDT, BTC/USD, LTC/USDT, BNB/USDT, SOL/USDT, ADA/USDT, AVAX/USDT, and XRP/USDT.

Product Range

Bitfinex delivers a wide suite of instruments—spot, margin (peer-to-peer funded), perpetuals, and options (via Thalex integration), along with staking/earn, lending, OTC, paper trading, scaled orders for automated strategies, but it currently doesn’t offer crypto ETFs, copy-trading, grid bots, or auto-DCA features.

The platform offers spot trading, access to launchpad/IEO/IDO participation, staking/earning opportunities, API-based trading, but does not offer margin, futures or derivatives like perpetuals, options, ETFs, lending, copy trading, grid bots, or automated DCA.

Liquidity

The exchange handles strong 24-hour volumes across BTC and ETH, running into hundreds of millions in USD, carrying very deep order books that support high-volume executions with minimal slippage.

P2B delivers notable liquidity, with 24-hour volumes exceeding one billion USD; ETH/USDT alone often sees hundreds of millions in daily volume, while BTC/USDT also ranks among the most traded, indicating solid order book depth.

Tools

Advanced tooling is a strong suit—Bitfinex supports diverse order types (limit, market, stop, stop-limit, fill-or-kill, scaled), price alerts, sophisticated charting (including in-platform TradingView), plus REST and WebSocket APIs.

P2B’s trading interface includes limit and market orders (stop, OCO not clearly offered), customizable charts with drawing tools, real-time API access, but lacks native TradingView integration and order alerts as detailed features.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Some advanced offerings like derivatives and margin may be restricted in regions with stringent regulation, meaning availability can vary depending on your country’s compliance framework.

Some advanced offerings like derivatives are simply not available globally—P2B lacks complex products, and certain country-specific access (e.g., full product access in the U.S.) may be limited by regulation and platform policy.

Innovation

While Bitfinex doesn’t run a launchpad or launchpool, it does offer flexible and locked earning options via staking and lending, along with innovative functions like scaled order execution and demo (paper) trading to support strategic development.

P2B distinguishes itself with a launchpad (IEO/IDO) that has grown over 2,000 projects and raised significant funds, supports multiple blockchains (24 integrated) and offers both flexible and structured earn/staking opportunities for users and projects.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

Bitfinex is operated by iFinex Inc., a private company registered in the British Virgin Islands, founded in 2012, which handles global crypto trading with its legal base set offshore.

P2B is operated by a Lithuania-based company (often referenced as Partida Services), established around 2018, with links also to Ukraine and Spain, while ambiguously listing the UK as a “competent jurisdiction” despite lacking clear legal basis there.

Licenses/Registration

The platform operates under VASP frameworks, but has not explicitly confirmed MiCA (EU Crypto-Asset Service Provider) compliance yet, which may become relevant as the EU’s regulatory transition continues.

P2B is not officially licensed under top-tier global regulators or registered as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) under EU MiCA or equivalent frameworks, making its regulatory standing opaque and reinforcing its classification among less-regulated platforms.

Custody

Bitfinex stores the vast majority—around 99.5%—of user funds in multi-signature cold wallets leveraging distributed hardware modules; there’s no public proof-of-reserves or audit reports readily visible.

There is no public evidence that P2B uses third-party custody services, publishes standard Proof of Reserves (PoR), or discloses the percentage of assets in cold storage—indicating limited transparency in how user assets are safeguarded.

Insurance & Protection Funds

Insurance coverage is not prominently featured, and the exchange doesn’t offer a dedicated user protection fund, leaving recovery largely dependent on internal policies or ad-hoc compensation.

P2B does not advertise any insurance coverage or protective funds for user assets, such as those that might cover losses from hacks or insolvency, which implies users bear most of the custodial risk themselves.

Incident History

In 2016, Bitfinex suffered a major hack where over 119,000 BTC were stolen and later recovered; subsequent recovery involved issuing tokens to affected users and full reimbursement within months, and the platform’s related entity settled legal scrutiny in 2021 over operational transparency.

There are no recorded instances of major hacks or service suspensions publicly documented, but the platform’s downgraded compliance rating and warnings from regulators like the Canadian BCSC raise concerns about its operational risk profile.

Risk Controls

Strong security features include universal 2FA/U2F, IP-based monitoring, withdrawal address whitelisting, granular API permissions, real-time login alerts, and behavior-based suspicious activity detection.

P2B generally supports basic safety features including two-factor authentication (2FA) and KYC processes, though more advanced security tools like API key whitelisting, sub-account structure, anti-phishing protection, or fine-grained API permissions are either limited or not clearly detailed.

Transparency

Despite operational depth, Bitfinex does not routinely publish monthly financial or reserve reports, nor maintain a publicly accessible wallet on-chain or formal service-level agreements for users.

The exchange lacks routine public reporting such as monthly transparency reports, does not offer a publicly verifiable wallet address list, and does not present any formal service-level agreements (SLA), making its transparency practices minimal.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

Bitfinex accepts fiat via bank wire, credit/debit cards, and stablecoin on-ramps, with high minimums (e.g., $10,000 USD/EUR/GBP, ¥1,000,000 JPY), while SEPA transfers via OpenPayd impose no limit but charge a small per-transaction fee; processing ranges from nearly instantaneous (OpenPayd) to several business days for wires.

Users can fund their account via credit/debit cards (e.g., Visa/Mastercard via Simplex), third-party e-wallets like ADVcash or Perfect Money, and bank wire transfers; deposit minimums vary by provider while processing ranges from near-instant (cards) to a few days (wires).

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

Bitfinex requires verification to enable functions

KYC is optional; unverified users face a daily withdrawal cap (~$1,000–$2,000), while completing full identity verification—providing documents, selfie, address—removes these limits and unlocks full account functionality.

Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawals require a minimum equivalent of about $5, support multiple networks (ERC20, TRC20, BEP-20, etc.), and fees adjust dynamically per network conditions, typically completing within hours.

Withdrawal time depends on the asset and wallet (up to 24 hours or 36 hours for cold storage); users choose networks (e.g., ERC20, TRC20, BEP20) when available, with limits and speeds tied to asset and verification level.

Customer Support

Users can access 24/7 email support, occasional live chat, and a comprehensive help center; however, user reports indicate response quality varies, with some praising responsiveness and others experiencing delays or ticket resolution issues.

Support is offered 24/7 via live chat, email, Telegram, and a comprehensive knowledge base, with response times generally fast; resource materials and FAQs help resolve most routine inquiries quickly.

Languages & Localization

The platform operates primarily in English but also offers support materials and interface options in languages like Chinese, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, and Turkish, with pricing shown in major fiat currencies and limited local regulatory disclosures.

The platform interface is available in several languages (including English, Spanish, Korean, Russian, Turkish, Thai), displays fees and balances in EUR or USD, but doesn’t tailor regulatory details per region beyond the general operating framework.

App Quality & Stability

The mobile app mirrors the web interface, offering real-time tools; however, user feedback points to occasional performance lags or crashes, suggesting app optimization could improve responsiveness and reliability.

The web interface is modern and robust with advanced charting and API stability, but mobile apps are inconsistently available—Android is claimed but hard to find, and iOS may be missing—possibly affecting mobile reliability.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

Bitfinex offers both a simplified Lite mode for quick access, basic trades, and fast pay features, and a full-featured Pro mode with comprehensive tools and layout customization, which means beginners can start simple and upgrade gradually as they gain confidence.

The interface is crafted to balance simplicity with functionality—while there’s no explicit “Lite/Pro” toggle, the trading dashboard presents a clean design with candlestick charts, multiple technical indicators, and customizable layout elements, allowing both newcomers and more experienced users to tailor their view.

Performance

The platform is designed for speed and low latency, reinforced by its high-performance API infrastructure, though during explosive market moves or bull runs, some users may face delayed order execution or occasional KYC processing delays.

Thanks to its high-speed matching engine capable of handling up to 10,000 transactions per second, P2B maintains notably fast order executions even during high-volatility periods; user reports indicate the platform remains stable with minimal latency spikes, though KYC delays can occur during sharp bull runs.

Education

Bitfinex includes educational content integrated through TradingView’s resources, plus paper trading and help articles, but dedicated multi-language academies or Spanish tutorials are more limited compared to some other exchanges.

The platform lacks a formal academy or demo simulator, but it does offer educational value through blog content, project launch tutorials, and insights in Spanish and other languages—though no structured demo or Spanish-language academy currently exists.

Community

The exchange maintains an active community via its blog, social channels, Pulse feed, and an affiliate/referral program, though it doesn’t run official Discord or Telegram groups directly from its site.

P2B supports community engagement via official Telegram and live support messaging, has a referral program and periodic airdrop or trading competition incentives, but lacks a formal forum or Discord-based discussion hub for broader peer interaction.

Integrations

Native TradingView charting is built into the platform offering over 100 indicators, and the robust API enables external bot and trading tool integrations, though first-party tax or accounting tool support is not overtly promoted.

The exchange offers its own graphical trading tools and APIs, yet it doesn’t provide direct integration with TradingView or external trading bots, nor specialized tax or accounting tool integrations at this time.

Who Each One Is Best For

Bitfinex is ideal for serious crypto traders and technical strategists who value speed, customization, and advanced features—while casual or novice users may find it powerful but slightly overwhelming without guided onboarding. Let me know if you’d like to dive deeper into any area—I’m ready when you are!

P2B suits traders who value a fast, intuitive trading experience with easy token launch participation—especially project creators or early investors—while those seeking advanced educational tools, trading automation, or social trading features may find it less fitting.