Bitrue vs Pionex: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Bitrue and Pionex 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

Bitrue

Pionex

⚠️ We look for what’s best for you.

₿ Getting into crypto? With eToro you can start in minutes: buy/sell top coins, set recurring buys, track markets, and use Social/CopyTrader features.

👉 Start here and explore the crypto offer.

Available Countries

United States

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Canada

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

Thinking about starting with crypto? This is for you.

In select regions, eToro offers a $10 welcome bonus when you open an account today.*

🎯 An account built to help you start with crypto—without the hassle.

➕ Buy and sell top cryptocurrencies in minutes

➕ Recurring buys, price alerts, and advanced charts

➕ Social/CopyTrader™ to follow experienced investors

➕ One of the largest and most trusted platforms worldwide

Limited-time promotion — still available.

*Offer subject to terms, eligibility and regional availability. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest.

Bitrue is ideal if:

Great if you want versatile passive income, thanks to tools like Power Piggy, staking, lending, and leveraged ETFs that let you earn and trade in one place.
Ideal for XRP-focused traders, as Bitrue stands out for its deep integration of XRP—including lots of XRP trading pairs and long-term support even amid market turmoil.
A solid pick if you prefer a trade environment that’s simple yet sophisticated, offering intuitive web and mobile interfaces, live TradingView charts, and advanced tools without overwhelming complexity.

Pionex is ideal if:

If you value trading automation: Pionex is perfect for you with its built-in, cloud-based trading bots—free to use, no coding needed, and designed for hands-off strategies.
If you’re a beginner in crypto or bots: You’re in luck—user-friendly interface paired with in-depth tutorials makes it easy to get started and understand each bot’s purpose.
If you want flexibility and broad exposure: Pionex offers wide asset access plus both manual and automated tools under one roof, ideal if you like switching between trading styles.

Bitrue isn’t ideal if:

If you rely heavily on fiat currency support, Bitrue’s services are largely crypto-to-crypto only, with limited fiat options.
If regulatory oversight matters to you, Bitrue operates without licensing from top-tier financial regulators, meaning you lack the protection that regulated platforms offer.
If you expect responsive customer service, Bitrue’s support system is known to be basic and slower than what more mature exchanges typically provide.

Pionex isn’t ideal if:

If you prefer fiat deposits and simplicity: Pionex doesn’t support direct fiat-to-crypto deposits, so newbies must first buy crypto elsewhere and transfer it in.
If you want risk-free practice: There’s no demo or virtual trading—every bot requires real funds, which might deter cautious beginners.
If you need instant, low-cost withdrawals: Some users report high fixed withdrawal fees and occasional delays, making it less convenient for quick exits or small transfers.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

Bitrue uses flat spot fees—typically around 0.098% for BTC/ETH/USDT pairs, higher for XRP-related pairs (about 0.196%), with a 20–30% discount available if you pay with the native BTR token.

Both spot makers and takers pay a flat rate (around 0.05%) across all volume tiers, though VIP users with high volume may receive reduced maker fees as they climb VIP levels.

Futures/Derivatives

For USDT-margined perpetual futures, maker fees are about 0.02%, taker around 0.06%; some older references mention maker at 0.038% and taker at 0.07%, with funding rates varying based on market conditions.

Futures trading starts around 0.02% maker and 0.05% taker, with maker fees dropping further for VIP users; there’s no separate funding fee charged by Pionex, though users receive or pay the prevailing funding rate as per the perpetual contract—the profit or cost depending on market direction.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

Bitrue offers relatively tight spreads on major pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT, consistent with competitive retail exchanges—typically just a few basis points, although exact numbers shift with market depth and volatility.

Pionex doesn’t publish exact spreads; however, based on industry norms and the platform’s aggregation model, spreads are typically tight and highly competitive on major pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Fiat purchases are offered via third-party providers (e.g., Simplex, credit cards) and come with their own fees and instant/fast processing; direct bank transfers are not broadly supported for deposits or withdrawals.

You can deposit via credit/debit cards—with modest percentage fees depending on region—or via free SEPA (for EUR), Faster Payments (for GBP), and PIX (for BRL), with processing ranging from instant to a few business days; withdrawal fees vary especially for fiat, often via third-party gateways.

On-chain Withdrawals

Withdrawal fees vary per coin and network; for example, BTC is around 0.0005 BTC, ETH around 0.01 ETH, TRX about 1 TRX—these are dynamic and adjust based on blockchain congestion and conditions.

Withdrawal fees depend on the blockchain used—some are set (like BTC’s 0.0005 BTC), while token transfers on networks like Ethereum, TRON, or BNB Smart Chain follow either fixed or network-based pricing per coin listed.

Hidden Costs

While there’s no explicit inactivity fee, currency conversions through fiat purchase providers can carry vague added costs, and expedited KYC or higher-tier verification may involve indirect delays or requirements, but no formal extra charge is advertised.

There are no inactivity or platform maintenance fees, but third-party fiat deposit methods may incur conversion charges; express KYC or related services aren’t publicly detailed, so any extra cost may come from external providers.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

If you use a card to buy €500 of BTC, expect a third-party purchase fee (e.g., ~3.5%) plus a spread on the BTC rate, then to withdraw on-chain, a network fee such as 0.0005 BTC applies—so total cost includes purchase markup and withdrawal fee.

Suppose you credit €500 via SEPA (no deposit fee), convert to USDT or BTC via a 0.05% trade (small fee plus tight spread), then withdraw BTC on-chain (e.g., a 0.0005 BTC fee)—your total cost would include that small trading fee, potential slippage, and the network withdrawal charge.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

Bitrue supports over 700 cryptocurrencies and more than a thousand trading pairs; among the top 20 by volume you’ll typically find major markets like BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT, XRP/USDT, SOL/USDT, ADA/USDT, and others based on current trading interest.

Pionex lists over 120 cryptocurrencies and maintains more than 200 trading pairs, with the top 20 by volume largely featuring major tokens like BTC, ETH, BNB, SOL, XRP, ADA—though exact rankings shift frequently.

Product Range

Bitrue offers spot trading, futures/perpetuals with leverage, staking via Power Piggy, lending products, ETFs-like crypto bundles, copy trading options, and basic bot strategies including grid and DCA through third-party integration, though options trading isn’t available.

Pionex offers spot trading, leveraged futures (up to 100×), numerous free built-in bots (grid, DCA, arbitrage, TWAP, spot-futures, margin-grid, reverse grid, Infinity Grid, etc.), plus copy trading; it also supports P2P fiat conversion, staking/earn programs, but doesn’t appear to provide options, ETFs, or crypto-lending services.

Liquidity

The exchange handles hundreds of millions in combined daily volume across spot and derivatives, with deep order books in BTC and ETH markets—enough to support sizable trades with moderate slippage.

Pionex aggregates liquidity from major exchanges like Binance and Huobi, delivering high 24-hour volumes—reported in the tens of billions—and deep order books on BTC and ETH, ensuring tight execution and reliable bot performance.

Tools

Users get standard order types like limit, stop, and OCO, plus market alerts, advanced charting, and a fully featured API/WS connection; TradingView tools are embedded directly within the platform.

The platform supports limit, market, stop, and OCO orders, alongside bot-driven strategies; while it offers customizable dashboards and APIs, there’s no native TradingView integration, so users rely on built-in charts or external tools.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Certain products, such as futures and leveraged trading, may be restricted or unavailable to users in jurisdictions with tighter regulations, though general availability varies by country.

Derivatives and advanced instruments like futures may be unavailable in certain regions (e.g., specific countries within Europe or Asia), while others are limited to spot and bot trading depending on local regulations.

Innovation

Bitrue introduces innovations like flexible, no-lock staking through Power Piggy and periodic promotional farming pools—though full “launchpad” ecosystems are limited, the platform frequently refreshes its earn mechanics for users.

Pionex doesn’t currently offer launchpads or launchpools, but it distinguishes itself with flexible earn programs and an ever-evolving lineup of AI-enhanced bots that automate strategies 24/7 without locking funds—championing passive innovation over token-sale hype.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

Bitrue is operated by RealB Singapore Pte. Ltd, founded in 2018 and headquartered in Singapore, with its regulated entity Bitrue Lithuania UAB extending services in parts of the EU.

Pionex operates through its global platform headquartered in Singapore (launched in 2019) and a U.S.-specific platform, Pionex.US, registered in Princeton, New Jersey—with each entity governed under its own legal structure.

Licenses/Registration

Bitrue holds Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) licenses in Lithuania and Poland, positioning itself for EU expansion and alignment with forthcoming MiCA regulations across the bloc.

It’s officially registered as a Money Services Business (MSB) with FinCEN in the U.S., but does not hold a MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore) license, contrary to some reports.

Custody

Customer funds are secure with multi-signature cold storage for major assets like XRP, and Bitrue commits to annual, third-party audited proof-of-reserves to confirm asset backing.

User funds are held via partnerships with major exchanges; Pionex publicly conducts periodic Merkle Tree-based Proof of Reserves, audited independently by firms like Elite Partners and Moore, verifying assets exceed liabilities.

Insurance & Protection Funds

The platform maintains an internal insurance fund stocked with XRP and BTR tokens to compensate users in the event of a security breach caused by platform vulnerabilities.

There’s no publicly disclosed insurance policy or dedicated protection fund for user assets, beyond the strong reserve and custody practices already in place.

Incident History

Bitrue has no major public history of hacks or service suspensions, with no recorded regulatory penalties or asset freeze incidents reported.

To date, there are no known security breaches, hacks, fund suspensions, or regulatory penalties, reflecting a clean operational track record.

Risk Controls

The exchange enforces strong security protocols including two-factor authentication, email safety codes, device and IP whitelisting for withdrawals, account lockdown options, and presumably robust API permissions.

Security measures include mandatory 2FA, IP whitelisting, anti-phishing warnings, and KYC-based account levels; API permissions are likely granular, though sub-account features aren’t prominently promoted.

Transparency

Bitrue publishes audited proof-of-reserves annually and provides public addresses for its insurance fund, reflecting a commitment to operational transparency, though no formal SLA is advertised.

While formal systems like monthly public reports, SLAs, or a visible public wallet aren’t prominently published, the combination of PoR audits and the availability of verification tools offer a meaningful level of transparency.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

Bitrue accepts fiat deposits through third-party gateways such as credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, local e-wallets, ACH, and wire transfers; minimum per transaction starts around $50, capped near $10,000, with card payments usually processed instantly and wire transfers taking same-day or slightly longer depending on the channel.

You can deposit fiat via SEPA for euros, CHAPS/FPS for GBP, and PIX for Brazilian real—typically fee-free for bank methods, while cards and e-wallets (Google Pay, Apple Pay, etc.) are supported via third-party providers with higher fees; processing ranges from instant to a few business days.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

Bitrue allows trading without mandatory KYC; users can opt for Level 1 (basic) verification for moderate limits or Level 2 (advanced) to unlock much higher withdrawal caps (e.g., up to hundreds of BTC).

There are two verification tiers—Level 1 (country and full name) unlocks basic deposits and up to $20,000 crypto withdrawals per day, and Level 2 (ID + facial recognition) raises limits to around $1,000,000 daily and enables credit-card fiat purchases.

Withdrawals

Withdrawal limits scale by KYC tier, with faster processing across supported networks like TRC20, ERC20, and BEP20; exact limits vary by asset and verification level but are clearly structured per your account status.

limits, timing, networks (TRC20, ERC20, BEP20)

Customer Support

Support is accessible via email or support ticket channels—live chat isn’t offered—with typical response times up to 24 hours; a helpful FAQ and knowledge base are available online.

Pionex offers live chat accessible during working hours plus email support; response times can vary, and a robust help center with tutorials and FAQs is available to guide users when agents are offline.

Languages & Localization

The platform operates primarily in English, displaying fees in USD/EUR equivalents; regional regulatory adjustments are applied automatically based on user location, though localization beyond that is modest.

The platform is primarily in English with options to display prices in € or $; fiat support is localized (e.g., SEPA in Europe), but there’s limited tailoring for regional regulations outside generic compliance.

App Quality & Stability

Bitrue’s mobile app has over half a million downloads and maintains a high user rating—its interface is smooth and regularly updated, though some occasional slow-loading screens have been noted.

Pionex’s mobile apps hold solid ratings—above 4+ on iOS and 4.4 on Android—with a large user base; while crash statistics aren’t public, consistent updates and high review scores suggest reliable performance.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

Bitrue’s interface strikes a balance between simplicity and depth—offering a clean design with intuitive menus that ease new users in, while also delivering sophisticated tools and chart layouts reminiscent of pro-mode platforms, albeit without a formal “Lite/Pro” toggle.

Pionex’s interface is clean and intuitive, offering a gentle learning curve especially through its guided bot setup; instead of “Lite/Pro” tiers, it maintains a unified experience where features like bots and charts are accessible with minimal configuration—making it ideal whether you’re starting or experienced.

Performance

The platform generally maintains smooth order execution, though some traders report occasional delays during high-volatility periods; KYC processing can slow during bullish surges, but the system typically catches up within a reasonable timeframe.

The platform has dramatically reduced data and order latency—now syncing in under 30 seconds—although there was a brief latency glitch during a peak futures volatility event in May 2024 that affected manual futures trades; KYC processing remains generally smooth, even in bull market surges.

Education

Bitrue currently lacks a built-in demo account or simulator, and while it offers blog posts and guides, its educational content in Spanish remains limited—making it more suited for beginners with access to external tutorials or Spanish-speaking resources.

While there’s no formal demo or simulator, Pionex offers multilingual support including Spanish in its blog and documentation, plus detailed step-by-step tutorials and bot walkthroughs that serve educational purposes effectively.

Community

Bitrue fosters community engagement through its active official Telegram groups and announcement channels, and runs frequent referral campaigns that incentivize inviting others via rewards and commission-sharing—building a social ecosystem around the exchange.

Pionex fosters engagement via its community channels like Telegram for API and bot discussions, along with a bot marketplace where creators can monetize their strategies; referral programs are also active, rewarding users who bring in new traders.

Integrations

Traders benefit from native TradingView chart integration for advanced analysis, plus API access that supports external bots and third-party tools like CoinLedger, Blockpit, Koinly, and Coinpanda for streamlined tax reporting and portfolio tracking.

You can integrate Pionex directly with TradingView via its Signal Bot (using alerts and webhooks), and also use the platform’s API to connect with external bot tools; however, dedicated tax or accounting tool integrations are not part of the current offering.

Who Each One Is Best For

Bitrue is especially attractive to mid-to-advanced users who value embedded charting, API-friendly tax automation, and strong community engagement, whereas total beginners seeking built-in learning tools or Spanish-language support may find it less ideal.

Pionex suits hands-off traders seeking robust automated tools and copyable strategies, as well as tech-savvy users who want to hook up custom setups via API or TradingView; those needing traditional charting ecosystems with accounting or simulator features might find it less tailored.