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

Trying to choose between Bithumb and Probit 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

Probit

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United States

Europe

Yes

Latin America

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India

Yes

China

Yes

Canada

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

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.

Probit is ideal if:

Great for exploring diverse assets If you value access to a broad selection of cryptocurrencies—especially niche altcoins—ProBit Global offers one of the widest catalogs available.
Perfect for privacy-minded traders With optional KYC and no compulsory identity checks for standard usage, it suits users who prefer trading with minimal personal data.
Solid for passive income seekers Integrated staking options and opportunities to participate in IEOs make ProBit attractive for investors looking to earn without active day trading.

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.

Probit isn’t ideal if:

Not for advanced margin traders Limited functionality for leveraging or derivatives may frustrate experienced users seeking more complex strategies.
Not ideal for fiat-heavy users If you prefer depositing or withdrawing traditional currencies directly, ProBit relies on third-party gateways and doesn’t natively support fiat operations.
Not beginner-friendly The interface and limited real-time support options—like no live chat—can make it challenging for newcomers navigating the platform solo.

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).

ProBit Global charges a flat 0.2% for both maker and taker spot trades by default, but if you stake PROB (the native token), you’ll qualify for VIP levels and can reduce fees significantly—even down to around 0.05% or lower when paying with PROB, depending on your tier.

Futures/Derivatives

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

ProBit Global currently does not offer futures or derivatives trading, so there are no associated maker, taker, or funding fees to consider.

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.

While ProBit doesn’t publicly publish exact spread figures, the BTC/USDT pair on major platforms typically shows mid-market spreads of a few dollars or a very small fraction of a percent; ProBit’s liquid pairs likely fall within that tight range, especially for well-traded assets.

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 deposits are handled via third-party gateways (like Simplex, MoonPay, Mercuryo), each with varying fees typically ranging from ~1–5%; speed depends on the provider—often near instant or up to a few business days—while ProBit does not support fiat withdrawals, only crypto withdrawals.

On-chain Withdrawals

Withdrawal costs depend on the blockchain

Withdrawal fees vary by blockchain and adjust dynamically based on network congestion; they are typically network-level fees—deducted in the asset you’re withdrawing—and fluctuate rather than being fixed values.

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.

There are generally no inactivity penalties; hidden costs may include currency conversion spreads when funding via non-USD/EUR gateways, and expedited KYC or premium services may incur extra fees through payment partners, not from ProBit directly.

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 convert €500 via a payment gateway, expect ~3–5% fee plus a small spread, then trade into BTC with roughly a 0.2% trading fee, and finally withdraw crypto with a small dynamic network fee—altogether, total costs could range around ~4–6% of the original amount, depending on variables.

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.

ProBit Global features a vast catalog—around 800+ cryptocurrencies across 1,000+ spot markets, with the top-20 by volume including major pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT, alongside other highly traded altcoin pairs.

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.

It offers spot trading, staking/earn programs, grid trading bots, automated DCA tools via third-party bots (e.g., Cryptohopper, DeltaBadger), and token launchpads, but does not support margin, futures/perpetuals, options, crypto ETFs, loans, or copy trading.

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.

ProBit Global maintains solid liquidity with daily trading volumes typically ranging in the hundreds of millions USD, and order book depth on BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT is sufficient for smooth execution, especially for mid-sized orders.

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.

The platform supports limit, market, IOC, and FOK order types, integrated grid and algorithmic trading via visual bots, offers API/WebSocket access, and customizable trading interfaces—but it doesn’t have native TradingView charting.

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.

Some products like staking events or launchpad access may be limited in certain countries, and derivatives are universally unavailable—some services might even be restricted where KYC isn’t supported.

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.

ProBit continues to innovate with an active launchpad program (hosting hundreds of token sales), and staking/earn offerings that may include flexible vs locked options, helping users participate in new token listings and earn passive rewards.

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.

ProBit Global is a privately held cryptocurrency exchange, founded in 2017, operating under a corporate entity based in the Seychelles, with additional registered points of contact in European hubs to support compliance and local operations.

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 exchange does not hold formal VASP or MiCA licenses and operates outside of comprehensive regulated frameworks, relying instead on regional registrations and voluntary compliance where practicable.

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.

ProBit Global secures around 95% of user assets in offline cold wallets, combined with encryption and multi-factor authentication; however, it does not publish proof of reserves or formal audit reports.

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.

There is currently no custodian insurance or dedicated protection fund backing user assets, meaning funds are not covered in the event of a breach or other loss.

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.

ProBit maintains a clean track record—no hacks, breaches, floods, or regulatory fines have been reported since its founding—highlighting a strong security reputation to date.

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.

Users benefit from comprehensive security controls, including support for 2FA (with hardware keys like FIDO U2F), passkeys, biometric authentication, anti-phishing safeguards, and granular API permissions; there are also options for account whitelisting and layered access controls.

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.

Although there are no public monthly reserve or audit reports nor on-chain wallet disclosures, the platform does offer a bug bounty program and maintains stable infrastructure uptime, but does not publish SLAs or external transparency metrics.

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.

ProBit Global allows fiat purchases via credit/debit card and bank transfer through third-party providers, with buys typically processed within minutes to a few hours depending on provider; minimums and maximums vary by provider and region, and exact values are defined by the payment gateways rather than ProBit itself.

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.

There are two KYC tiers: Step 1 (email only) allows basic deposits, trading, and withdrawals up to about $5,000 daily; Step 2 (identity verification) unlocks full platform access, staking, IEO participation, and higher withdrawal ceilings (up to $500,000 with 2FA enabled for at least 7 days).

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 have defined minimum amounts and dynamic network fees; supported networks include major blockchains like ERC-20, TRC-20, and BEP-20—withdrawals are generally processed promptly, subject to blockchain confirmation times.

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.

ProBit offers customer support primarily via email and a ticketing system, with response times generally within a few hours to a day; it also maintains a well-structured FAQ and help center to guide users through common queries.

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 localized in over 40 languages, including English, and displays pricing in major fiat terms like USD or EUR; local payment methods vary by region, and relevant fees are shown at the point of transaction.

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.

The mobile app is described as stable and user-friendly across devices, with regular updates enhancing features and performance; while exact crash rate data isn’t publicly stated, user feedback suggests a smooth and reliable experience.

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.

The platform offers a clean, intuitive interface with a short learning curve; the mobile app even includes a lighter version (“ProBit Global Lite”) optimized for simplicity, while the standard web and mobile versions offer more control and customization for experienced users.

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.

ProBit Global delivers fast order execution with minimal latency and reliable uptime, even during volatile market spikes; however, identity verification (KYC) may take longer during high-traffic periods, especially around major crypto bull runs.

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.

While ProBit has a help center and support articles, it lacks built-in simulator or demo trading tools; educational content in Spanish or other languages tends to focus on FAQs rather than structured courses or videos.

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.

ProBit maintains active community channels including Discord and Telegram, as well as a referral program that rewards users for bringing in others—creating a collaborative and engaged user community.

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 platform integrates directly with TradingView charts and supports third-party trading bots like Cryptohopper or WunderTrading; tax or accounting tools aren’t built-in but users can export data to manage finances externally.

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.

ProBit suits privacy-conscious traders who value wide crypto choice and automated bot support, while beginners and those expecting advanced derivatives or educational tools may find it less fitting.