Bitmex vs Coinswitch: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Bitmex and Coinswitch 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

Bitmex

Coinswitch

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India

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China

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United Kingdom

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United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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Bitmex is ideal if:

Best suited for seasoned traders who want advanced derivative tools, including futures, perpetual swaps, and customizable bot integrations.
Perfect for those who value high liquidity, low-latency execution, and a platform built for competitive, fast-paced trading environments.
Makes sense if you're looking for crypto-only margin trading with leverage and staking options, and you're comfortable with complex interfaces.

Coinswitch is ideal if:

Perfect for quick, hassle-free trades — its aggregator model lets you instantly compare and access the best prices across multiple exchanges without managing several accounts.
Great for beginners and casual users — ultra-simple interface, fast KYC, and mobile support make it easy to get started and trade on the go.
Handy for privacy-focused and non-custodial users — you keep control over your assets, with no need to deposit funds into the platform itself.

Bitmex isn’t ideal if:

Not beginner-friendly—interface and features can overwhelm users without prior experience in derivatives or margin trading.
Limited ecosystem and fiat support—only crypto-to-crypto funding and a narrower product range than broader exchanges.
Regulatory and compliance concerns—it has faced serious legal scrutiny and governance issues that may raise trust or availability doubts.

Coinswitch isn’t ideal if:

You need advanced trading tools — CoinSwitch’s aggregator model doesn't offer structured margin trading, charting, or deep order book functionality.
You expect full transparency on fees — its fees are embedded in the quoted rates, which may feel less clear than openly itemized costs.
You rely on ready access to fiat withdrawals — crypto-to-fiat conversions and bank withdrawals might be slower or less seamless than full-fledged exchange platforms.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

Maker and taker fees on spot are tiered based on your 30-day trading volume or BMEX tokens staked; higher tiers mean lower percentages for both, and staking BMEX may further reduce taker fees and increase maker rebates.

CoinSwitch applies a tiered fee model for spot trading where fees decrease as your 30-day trading volume grows—casually higher at entry-level tiers, tapering gradually for higher volumes to reward active traders, without locking you into token-based discounts.

Futures/Derivatives

Derivatives follow a volume-based tiered fee structure with negative maker fees (rebates) and modest taker fees; funding payments on perpetual contracts occur roughly every eight hours and fluctuate depending on market conditions and your position.

On CoinSwitch PRO, perpetual futures contracts include distinct maker and taker costs—maker being lower than taker—and although explicit funding rates aren’t publicly outlined, they operate as standard for perpetual contracts, adjusting with market conditions and applied periodically.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

BitMEX typically offers tight spreads in its most liquid pairs, keeping them competitive and only slightly wider than those found on major centralized exchanges.

Although specific spread figures aren’t published, CoinSwitch leverages aggregated liquidity from multiple venues, so spreads on major pairs like BTC/USDT or ETH/USDT tend to be competitive, reflecting real-time best market prices sourced from deeper pools.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Fiat can be funded via credit/debit cards, bank or instant transfers, and services like Apple Pay, with fees determined by the third-party provider; processing times and costs vary by method and region.

Fiat transactions are handled via standard banking channels (like transfers or UPI/net banking), offering reliable but somewhat slower processing, with modest cost differences depending on method—fast and instant options are often available but may incur slightly higher charges.

On-chain Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawals incur either a dynamic network fee for Bitcoin or fixed fees for other assets; BitMEX doesn’t charge the fee itself, although Bitcoin fees adjust with network congestion and some assets display fixed withdrawal charges.

Crypto withdrawals—when accessible—are priced according to network demand, meaning fees adapt dynamically (e.g. BTC, ETH, TRX), rather than being pegged to fixed amounts, helping align closely with actual blockchain conditions.

Hidden Costs

There are minimal extra costs—currency conversion fees may apply via your payment provider, there’s no inactivity fee, and expedited KYC may have unspecified third-party costs but none imposed by BitMEX.

Users should stay aware of currency conversion spreads when moving between fiat or crypto pairs, fees tied to prolonged inactivity or expedited KYC processes, and possible deviations embedded in quoted prices that may not appear separately itemized.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

If you convert fiat to crypto equivalent of 500 €, the total cost would encompass your third-party payment-processing fee, the slightly wider spread, and the on-chain withdrawal fee — all varying by method and network conditions, with no extra platform charges added by BitMEX.

Buying approximately 500 EUR worth of BTC would involve the spot fee applied to that amount, plus any spread embedded in the purchase price, and then the chosen method’s withdrawal or network cost; in practical terms that means slightly less than 500 EUR in BTC once all trading and transfer costs are accounted for.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

BitMEX lists over 100 cryptocurrencies across roughly 180 trading pairs; the most traded tops (such as BTC/USDT, BMEX/USDT, ETH/USDT) dominate volume share, reflecting its focus on highly liquid assets.

CoinSwitch offers access to hundreds of cryptocurrencies—figures vary between 250+ to 650+ depending on the platform tier—and more than 45,000 trading pairs in total, with the top 20 by volume typically including major assets like BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT, SOL, ADA, and BNB on CoinSwitch PRO.

Product Range

BitMEX offers spot trading, margin, perpetual swaps, futures, and options, plus copy-trading and automated grid-bot support—but lacks crypto ETFs, staking/earn products, loans, or built-in DCA automation.

Users can trade spot and perpetual futures (no margin) and now have access to crypto options with flexible expiries; original aggregator features include SIP (automated regular buys), SmartInvest, and advanced API functionality, while products such as ETFs, staking, loans, copy-trading, grid bots, or automated DCA aren’t supported.

Liquidity

The exchange exhibits strong liquidity in perpetual futures like BTC and ETH, with billions in daily volume and substantial book depth within tight ±1% spreads, ideal for high-speed, high-volume execution.

While CoinSwitch doesn’t maintain its own order book, it taps into partner exchanges to deliver deep liquidity, especially on BTC and ETH pairs—ensuring solid 24-hour volume and book depth via aggregated sources, even though precise volume figures aren’t publicly disclosed.

Tools

Traders benefit from a full suite of pro-grade tools

The PRO interface includes essential order types like market, limit, and stop-loss (plus OCO in some cases), integrated TradingView charts, real-time alerts, and a robust API/WS setup for both spot and futures—though native TradingView remained limited to charting without full platform integration.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Derivative products—including futures and options—are blocked for users in restricted jurisdictions such as the US, Canada (Quebec), Hong Kong, Seychelles, and parts of Russia or sanctioned regions; other areas only see limited offerings.

Advanced instruments such as futures and the newly launched crypto options are generally limited to Indian users or select jurisdictions; more restrictive regions may only have access to basic spot aggregation services, not derivative products.

Innovation

While BitMEX lacks launchpad/launchpool initiatives and structured earn offerings, it stands out with novel features like staking incentives via its BMEX token and flexible fee rebate structures for active users.

CoinSwitch continues innovating with features like crypto options offering multiple expiry choices, and varied investment tools like SIP and SmartInvest; however, traditional forms like launchpads, launchpools, flexible vs locked yield programs remain absent from its ecosystem.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

Operated by HDR Global Trading Limited, incorporated in 2014 under the Seychelles’ International Business Companies Act, with its registered office in Mahé, Seychelles.

CoinSwitch is operated by operating entities such as Bitcipher Labs LLP (and related entities), incorporated in India and headquartered in Bengaluru, and has been active since its founding in 2017, serving as one of the country’s primary crypto platforms.

Licenses/Registration

The platform does not appear to hold formal VASP or EU MiCA licenses and operates primarily under Seychelles jurisdiction, without registration under major global financial frameworks.

The platform is registered with India’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) and complies with KYC, AML, and CFT regulations; it also holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification for its data security framework.

Custody

Customer assets are ring-fenced and held in segregated hot and cold wallets; BitMEX publishes a Proof of Reserves and Liabilities snapshot twice weekly for full auditability, though no third-party audits or reserve ratios are published.

Custody is managed via trusted third-party custodians using multi-party computation (MPC) safeguards and encrypted cloud infrastructure; CoinSwitch publishes regularly audited Proof of Reserves reports that consistently show it holds assets equal to or exceeding client holdings.

Insurance & Protection Funds

A sizable internal insurance fund is maintained to safeguard traders against deleveraging impacts, helping ensure solvency even during market stress.

There is no public mention of any insurance policy or dedicated protection fund for user assets beyond standard safeguards and reserve backing.

Incident History

Though there have been no major public hacks or system outages recently, BitMEX faced extensive legal scrutiny and a $100 million fine in 2025 for AML/KYC violations; its founders also faced regulatory penalties.

There are no notable past incidents of hacks, service suspensions, freezes, or regulatory fines reported for CoinSwitch, indicating a clean security track record.

Risk Controls

The platform enforces strong security practices including 2FA, customizable API permissions, anti-phishing safeguards, and support for whitelists and sub-accounts to enhance user protection and operational control.

To protect user assets, CoinSwitch enforces two-factor authentication (2FA), PIN or biometric app locks, SSL/TLS encryption, anti-phishing measures, and secure API key management; however, support for sub-accounts or API permission granularity is not prominently featured.

Transparency

BitMEX offers high transparency via its twice-weekly proof of reserves reports; however, there are no public wallet addresses or official monthly reports, and no published service-level guarantees.

CoinSwitch demonstrates transparency through independently reviewed Proof of Reserve publications and publishes reserve audits; while live wallet addresses are sometimes shared, there’s no formal SLA or regular monthly user reports.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

Fiat purchases are available only through integrated third-party providers using credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Revolut, and similar e-wallets; there’s generally no minimum set by BitMEX, processing is near-instant for cards, while transfer speeds depend on the provider.

The platform supports Indian users primarily with UPI and bank transfers, offering straightforward deposit flows with rapid crediting; there are generally no stated minimums or maximum limits, yet processing can take up to 24–48 hours in edge cases.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

BitMEX requires full identity verification for all users before allowing deposits, trades, or withdrawals, with no tiered or anonymous access—this KYC obligation applies across the board with no optional levels.

Identity verification is quick and streamlined through a video-KYC process; most users complete a single KYC tier sufficient to unlock full trading capabilities—there are no distinct “basic” or “advanced” tiers publicly outlined, and limits are implied rather than formally segmented.

Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawals are enabled across multiple networks (e.g. ERC-20, TRC-20), with dynamic fees based on network and no firm minimums declared by the exchange, though low-value blockchain limits may apply; withdrawal times vary with network congestion.

Withdrawals are available via supported networks such as ERC-20 or TRC-20 where applicable; timing is generally swift once initiated, though specific withdrawal ceilings aren’t transparently listed and depend on network conditions and anti-fraud checks.

Customer Support

BitMEX offers support via email and live chat (availability not explicitly stated as 24/7), supported by a robust help center and guides, though no official average response times are published.

Support includes 24/7 availability through in-app chat, email ticketing, and a dedicated FAQ hub that handles common issues; response times vary but generally resolve routine inquiries promptly, with clear procedural guidance available online.

Languages & Localization

The platform and app are primarily in English; displayed pricing can adapt to user’s local fiat (€, USD); however, localized regulatory compliance and currency support depend on the user’s jurisdiction and corresponding payment provider.

The interface is fully English and tailored for Indian users with INR display and local payment integration; fees appear in INR though sometimes mirrored for understanding in USD/EUR, and regulatory messaging aligns with Indian compliance norms.

App Quality & Stability

The BitMEX app is professionally developed, offering mobile trading and wallet features, generally reported as stable—while detailed crash rate metrics aren’t published, it receives regular updates and maintenance to ensure smooth performance.

CoinSwitch’s mobile app receives frequent updates, with recent versions focused on improved UI, enhanced security, performance optimization, and greater stability; overall, the app is robust and reliable for daily trading.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

BitMEX delivers a powerful, feature-rich interface that caters more to seasoned traders than newcomers—there’s no “Lite” mode, but its streamlined dashboard and customizable chart workspaces help reduce complexity once you’re familiar.

The mobile app provides a clean, intuitive interface designed for instant onboarding, ideal for beginners, while CoinSwitch PRO caters to advanced users with a denser, more data-rich screen optimized through a recent redesign for better structure and faster coin discovery.

Performance

Thanks to recent engine upgrades, order responses now often register under 200 ms, latency reduced dramatically, and the platform has handled major volatility surges without overload or slowdowns; KYC queues are generally fast, even during bull runs, though exact wait times vary.

An enhanced matching engine powers faster trade executions and clear pre-trade pricing details, helping reduce lag even during volatile periods; historically, the platform maintains stability under load with no widely reported outages or excessive KYC delays.

Education

BitMEX doesn’t offer a built-in academy or demo mode, and provides limited educational material in Spanish—but its blog, support center, and integration with tools like TradingView help bridge the learning gap for proactive traders.

CoinSwitch maintains an active content hub featuring educational video series on futures and options, beginner-friendly explainers, and technical analysis blogs; however, while rich in English, the platform lacks Spanish-language learning resources or a full demo/simulator environment.

Community

BitMEX supports community engagement through official Discord, Telegram, and referral programs, though it lacks a native forum; most user discussions and shared knowledge happen across these social channels.

The platform fosters an engaged user base through its newsletter updates, educational blogs, and community-driven feedback programs, and offers a referral program rewarding both users and friends, though there’s no official presence on Discord or public forum channels.

Integrations

BitMEX integrates directly with TradingView for native charting and execution; it supports external bot automation via webhooks and APIs, but offers no built-in tax reporting or accounting tools out of the box.

CoinSwitch PRO supports API trading with robust endpoints for spot and futures, including features like arbitrage-finder; it doesn’t yet offer native TradingView chart embeddings, external bot support, tax-specific integrations, or accounting tools.

Who Each One Is Best For

BitMEX excels for advanced traders who value blazing-fast execution, deep liquidity, and a pro-grade ecosystem—but it’s less suitable for beginners or those seeking structured learning, passive investing tools, or easy-to-navigate platforms.

CoinSwitch suits beginners and long-term investors who value simplicity, trust, and educational support, with PRO attracting semi-professionals or tech-savvy traders; full-fledged traders or institutional users seeking highly customizable tools may find the platform’s ecosystem still maturing.