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

Trying to choose between Bitmex and Orbix 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

Orbix

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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.

Orbix is ideal if:

Streamlined and intuitive platform Orbix prioritizes simplicity and ease of use, with a clean interface, mobile app, and user-friendly tools like Wallet Lock and real-time price alerts.
Strong local credibility in Thailand Regulated by Thailand’s SEC and backed by a prudent coin-selection process, Orbix offers a sense of trust and compliance within its home market.
Layered security for peace of mind Implements advanced measures—such as ISO-certified infrastructure, encryption, and two-factor authentication—to secure user assets and data.

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.

Orbix isn’t ideal if:

Limited asset variety Orbix supports only around 33 cryptocurrencies, which may restrict trading choices compared to more expansive platforms.
No advanced or passive features It currently offers no margin, futures, staking, or copy-trading options, limiting portfolio-building flexibility.
Support delays under pressure While help is available 24/7, response times can lag during peak activity, which could be frustrating in time-sensitive situations.

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.

Spot fees are flat, around 0.25% for both maker and taker, with modest volume-based discounts for high-volume traders—no native-token fee reduction program is mentioned.

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.

Orbix does not offer futures or derivatives trading, so there are no associated maker, taker, or funding costs.

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.

Typical bid–ask spreads hover around 1%, reflecting moderate liquidity even in major pairs like BTC/USDT or ETH/USDT.

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.

You can deposit via bank transfer, credit/debit card, or crypto—with deposits generally free and fiat withdrawals incurring a small flat fee (e.g., ~20 THB), while processing times range from same day up to a few business days.

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 are charged per network, such as a fixed ~0.0005 BTC for Bitcoin, with other chains like Ethereum or TRON likely following similarly static network-based fee structures.

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.

There are no overt hidden charges to be aware of—standard trading and network fees apply, and there’s no mention of inactivity, express-KYC, or conversion surcharges beyond typical exchange operations.

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 €500 worth of BTC would incur roughly 0.25% trading fee, a ~1% spread cost, and then a small fixed network withdrawal fee—meaning your €500 results in slightly less BTC plus a minor deduction when withdrawing, all based on standard rates, not promotional or variable offers.

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.

Orbix offers around 33 to 41 cryptocurrencies, with a similar number of trading pairs; the top 20 by volume include major tokens like BTC, ETH, USDT, ADA, DOGE, SOL, XRP, DOT, and others—as reflected in their most traded pairs list.

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.

Orbix currently supports only spot trading, with no margin, perpetuals, options, crypto ETFs, staking/earn, lending, copy-trading, grid bots, or automated DCA features available.

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.

Trading volume is modest—typically in the low six figures (e.g., ~$100K–$600K USD), with average bid-ask spreads around 1%, indicating moderate liquidity in BTC/ETH markets.

Tools

Traders benefit from a full suite of pro-grade tools

The platform includes market and limit orders, plus stop-like features (e.g., OCO functionality), along with real-time charts, basic alerts, and public API support—but no native TradingView tool.

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.

Certain markets—such as the United States, China, Iran, Iraq, and similar regions—may face access restrictions, limiting availability of services in those jurisdictions.

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.

Orbix currently lacks common innovation modules like launchpad, launchpool, flexible vs locked “earn” options, or other high-growth DeFi-style offerings—its design remains focused on core, regulated spot trading.

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.

Orbix operates under Orbix Trade Co., Ltd., founded in March 2017, headquartered in Bangkok, and is a subsidiary of Unita Capital within the Kasikornbank group, giving it strong institutional backing.

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 exchange is licensed by Thailand’s Ministry of Finance and is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Thailand, with full compliance to local regulatory standards for digital asset trading.

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.

Orbix employs its own custodial infrastructure, including Orbix Custodian (launching in March 2025), offering cold storage using FIPS 140-2 Level 4 HSM encryption via IBM, underscoring their commitment to secure key management.

Insurance & Protection Funds

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

The platform maintains insured custody under its regulated framework, but there’s no mention of third-party insurance or dedicated protection funds beyond insuring client assets under its regulated operations.

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 have been no major publicized security breaches, trading suspensions, asset freezes, or regulatory fines, suggesting a clean operational record to date under SEC supervision.

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.

Orbix deploys strong safeguards including two-factor authentication, SSL encryption, cold storage, regular penetration testing, and security auditing, offering robust protection for user accounts and assets.

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.

While detailed monthly reports or SLA commitments aren’t publicly emphasized, the platform underscores its adherence to ISO standards (ISO 27001, 27701, 22301) and regulated oversight, helping offer transparency through established operational benchmarks.

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.

Orbix supports Thai Baht deposits primarily via bank (wire) transfers; deposit times range from under 24 h for domestic transfers to up to 7 days for international ones, and credit/debit card or e-wallet options are not supported.

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 required via mobile (facial recognition/K+ authentication), without publicly segmented tiers; full KYC unlocks standard fiat and crypto functionality, though precise tier levels and limits aren’t disclosed.

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 can be made across supported blockchains with network-based fees and minimums per asset; processing typically follows established manual and blockchain confirmation workflows, with no explicit per-network limit or speed details published.

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.

Orbix provides 24/7 support via live chat, email, phone, and ticketing, with a help-center/FAQ section and responsive but occasionally delayed assistance during peak periods.

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 platform is fully localized in Thai and English, displays fees and balances in THB, and aligns its interface and compliance with local Thai regulatory expectations.

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.

The Orbix mobile app is designed to be intuitive and stable, featuring real-time price alerts, Wallet Lock with facial verification, and ongoing performance improvements—user feedback indicates it is generally smooth with minimal crashes.

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.

Orbix features an intuitive, beginner-friendly interface with a single, consistent mode rather than separate “Lite” or “Pro” versions—allowing most users to get started quickly without complexity.

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.

The platform is engineered for fast order execution with no notable downtimes during volatile periods; KYC processing remains generally steady even during strong market rallies, maintaining a smooth user flow.

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.

While Orbix offers timely crypto updates and tutorials through its blog, it does not provide a dedicated academy, demo accounts, or Spanish-language materials—leaning more on straightforward guides rather than structured educational programs.

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.

Orbix actively fosters a Thai-based community via social media and support channels, provides 24/7 chat support, and runs referral promotions, but it does not operate an official Discord or Telegram discussion group.

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.

The platform delivers essential tools like real-time charts and API access but lacks deeper integrations such as TradingView embedding, external trading bots, or dedicated tax/accounting support.

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.

Orbix is best suited for casual or entry-level crypto traders in Thailand—especially those seeking a regulated, secure platform with straightforward functionality and minimal complexity.