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

Trying to choose between Bithumb and Abcc 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

Abcc

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Available Countries

United States

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Yes

Canada

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Europe

Latin America

India

China

Canada

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.

Abcc is ideal if:

Active traders who value speed and simplicity — ABCC shines with a straightforward trading-focused environment, especially for those placing frequent trades.
Tech-savvy users comfortable without passive income options — It lacks staking, referral, or yield features, so it’s tailored for direct trading only.
Users seeking ease with familiar interfaces — The platform offers an intuitive TradingView-based terminal and seamless fiat crypto deposits, making onboarding hassle-free.

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.

Abcc isn’t ideal if:

Not suited for passive-income seekers — Lacks features like staking, referrals, yield or investment programs, making it less appealing for users wanting to earn beyond trading.
Limited altcoin depth and liquidity — Offers a basic roster of digital assets and modest trading volume compared to more prominent exchanges, which might limit your options.
Customer support and transparency concerns — User feedback highlights issues with withdrawals, support responsiveness, and limited operational clarity—potentially frustrating if support matters to you.

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).

ABCC maintains a flat trading fee structure—0.10 % for both makers and takers when trading through the standard interface, with reduced rates of 0.05 % available via API access; there’s no tiered volume structure or explicit discounts tied to holding the AT token, although API usage and AT holdings can indirectly influence cost savings.

Futures/Derivatives

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

ABCC currently does not offer futures or derivatives trading, so there are no associated maker/taker fees or funding rate mechanics to consider—its services remain focused solely on spot markets.

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.

ABCC quotes market spreads that align with live order-book depths, generally competitive for liquid pairs like BTC/USDT or ETH/USDT, making its trading environment practical for access to those key markets, though actual spread values fluctuate with market conditions and aren’t fixed.

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.

Fiat transfers occur via third-party OTC partners—users must complete KYC to access USD deposit and withdrawal options, with wire times typically ranging from 1 to 5 business days; ABCC charges a handling fee on USD withdrawals—specifically 3 % of the requested amount (with no fixed component), and any additional bank or intermediary charges depend on the user’s banking institutions.

On-chain Withdrawals

Withdrawal costs depend on the blockchain

Cryptocurrency withdrawals incur network-specific fees that ABCC displays on the assets page—these vary by blockchain (e.g., BTC, ETH, TRX) and are dynamically set according to current network conditions rather than being fixed, ensuring cost reflects real-time congestion.

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.

ABCC doesn’t charge explicit inactivity or express-KYC fees, but users should be aware that conversion costs may arise if engaging in fiat pair trading where implied FX is applied, and third-party bank fees on fiat transfers may create indirect, less obvious expenses beyond the advertised 3 % handling rate.

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 were to fund €500 via fiat (converted through OTC into USDC or USDT) and then purchase BTC, your cost breakdown would include the 3 % fiat handling fee (about €15), a trading fee of 0.10 % on the purchase (approx. €0.50), and then any subsequent withdrawal would incur a dynamic network fee depending on your chosen blockchain—resulting in a total cost of roughly €15.50 plus the applicable on-chain fee.

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.

ABCC lists around 20–30 digital assets, including major coins like BTC, ETH, LINK, DOT, AAVE, and more, typically paired with stablecoins such as USDT and USDC; the top 20 by volume closely align with these key tokens.

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.

ABCC offers spot trading only—there’s no access to margin, futures, perpetuals, options, ETFs, staking, lending, copy-trading, grid bots, or automated DCA options.

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.

The platform’s liquidity is modest—daily trading volume is quite low (often just a few dozen dollars to a few thousand across pairs) and order book depth for BTC/ETH is limited, meaning price impact may be more pronounced for larger trades.

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.

You get a capable suite of tools including multiple order types (like limit, stop, OCO), real-time alerts, a TradingView-powered charting interface, and API/WebSocket access—all lending solid technical support for active spot traders.

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.

While ABCC is accessible globally, certain features—like its token sales or AT-related promotions—may be unavailable or restricted in jurisdictions such as the US, China, or Singapore, depending on local rules.

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.

ABCC includes occasional IEOs (initial exchange offerings), enabling users to participate in token launches, but it does not provide flexible or locked earn options (like staking or yield pools) as part of its products.

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.

ABCC is legally operated by Alphabit Consulting Pte Ltd, incorporated in Singapore and founded in 2018; it previously had subsidiaries in Malta and Gibraltar, though it has since announced plans to consolidate and sunset operations in Singapore.

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 does not hold formal regulatory licenses like VASP or MiCA-equivalents, though it has publicly expressed support for and applied to DLT licensing regimes in jurisdictions such as Malta and Gibraltar to align with regulatory clarity initiatives.

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.

ABCC retains custody of user assets using a hybrid model—likely combining internal systems with cold storage—yet it does not publish any proof-of-reserves data or conduct third-party reserve audits, leaving the ratio of cold vs. hot reserve holdings unclear.

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.

ABCC does not offer any explicit user insurance or protection funds; there’s no mention of coverage against hacks or insolvency, meaning user assets are not guaranteed beyond the self-custodial structure of the exchange.

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.

Since its 2018 launch, ABCC has not suffered any major public hacks or asset losses, and there have been no recorded suspensions or regulatory sanctions—so its historical incident record remains clean at this time.

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.

The exchange supports security measures such as two-factor authentication, withdrawal address whitelisting, anti-phishing tools, and granular API key permissions; it also automatically freezes withdrawals for a short delay after key changes like password or 2FA updates to reduce risk.

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.

ABCC does not publish monthly transparency reports, nor does it provide publicly auditable wallet addresses or service-level guarantees; its transparency is limited to periodic announcements and standard user-facing FAQs without formal compliance reporting.

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.

ABCC allows fiat deposits via local bank transfers through trusted partners like Circle and Fomopay; card payments or e-wallets are not supported. After completing KYC, users bind their bank account in a few days, then funds typically take 1–5 business days to arrive. While ABCC doesn’t enforce a fixed minimum, successful transfers often start around the equivalent of $10.

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.

ABCC operates a tiered KYC structure—Basic (no fiat or crypto deposits/withdrawals), Standard, Premier, and Prestige—with increasing withdrawal and deposit limits at each stage. The Basic level offers minimal functionality, while higher tiers unlock higher monthly and daily limits for both crypto and fiat flows.

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.

Crypto withdrawals are permitted once KYC’s completed, with limits aligned to your KYC tier; withdrawal times and fee rates depend on the chosen blockchain (e.g., ERC20 or TRC20) and network congestion, with no flat-rate cap visible to users prior to initiating a 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 via email and a ticket system through the Help Center—24/7 live chat isn’t offered. Users typically rely on FAQs and guides for immediate answers, with email responses generally provided within a few business hours to a day depending on volume.

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 is primarily in English, with pricing and fees displayed in USD; it lacks full localization into regional languages or regulatory-specific setups—so users outside major English-speaking markets might face interface and compliance gaps.

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.

ABCC doesn’t offer an official mobile app; instead, it operates via a responsive web interface optimized for mobile browsers. This avoids crash-related issues but means offline or dedicated-app functionality is not available.

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.

ABCC features a clean and intuitive interface that users—whether beginners or pros—find easy to navigate; however, it lacks explicit “Lite” or “Pro” interface modes, opting instead for a unified design with customizable dashboard elements that streamline access to tools and charts.

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.

The platform is built on a high-speed trading architecture that supports fast order execution, even during volatile markets, and its streamlined onboarding process helps avoid lengthy KYC delays—though official metrics for latency or queue times are not provided.

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.

ABCC does provide helpful beginner guides within its Help Centre available in multiple languages—including Spanish—but it does not offer a trading simulator or demo account; instead, it focuses on written resources to guide users.

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.

ABCC engages its user base through official channels like Telegram and occasionally runs referral campaigns tied to trading incentives, although it doesn’t maintain a public forum or Discord, concentrating community interaction primarily through these social touchpoints.

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.

The trading interface is powered by native TradingView charts, enhancing technical analysis capabilities, but ABCC doesn’t offer integration with external trading bots, tax tools, or accounting platforms—it remains focused on core trading functionality.

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.

ABCC is best suited for traders who prioritize a straightforward, secure trading environment with real-time charting and fast execution—and who don’t rely on advanced educational features or third-party tool integrations—making it a solid choice for active spot traders seeking efficiency and simplicity.