Bitstamp vs Coinex: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Bitstamp and Coinex 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

Bitstamp

Coinex

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Available Countries

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

yes

Europe

yes

Latin America

yes

India

China

Canada

yes

United Kingdom

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Bitstamp is ideal if:

Institution-ready platform – Streamlined KYC, global licensing, and institutional-grade protocols make Bitstamp a solid match if you're seeking a dependable and scalable exchange experience.
Strong fiat infrastructure – Supports core currencies like USD, EUR, and GBP with smooth bank transfer options, ideal if you prefer converting between crypto and traditional money effortlessly.
Focused and straightforward interface – Delivers a clean, no-frills trading environment with essential tools, making it a great option if you value simplicity over flashy extras.

Coinex is ideal if:

Privacy-minded traders: you can trade without mandatory KYC up to high limits, offering anonymity while retaining full platform access.
Global assets explorer: the platform supports a wide variety of crypto tokens alongside features like strategic trading (Auto-Invest, Spot Grid), making it great for exploring diverse markets.
Security-focused users: with multi-signature wallets, rigorous cold-storage, and committed proof-of-reserves, your funds benefit from robust protection.

Bitstamp isn’t ideal if:

Limited crypto variety – With a modest selection of cryptocurrencies, it might not satisfy those looking for niche or emerging altcoins.
No advanced or leveraged trading – The platform is spot-only and lacks support for features like margin, derivatives, or leverage strategies.
Slower support and processes – Some users report that identity verification, wire transfers, or customer support can feel slow or cumbersome.

Coinex isn’t ideal if:

Strictly fiat-only traders: CoinEx doesn’t support direct fiat deposits or withdrawals; you must use third-party gateways if you want to convert between crypto and traditional currencies.
Regulation-focused investors: It lacks licensing from top-tier regulatory bodies, which may concern users seeking exchanges with clear, formal oversight.
Complete beginners seeking hand-holding: Educational resources and customer service can be less responsive or comprehensive, which may not suit those needing more guidance.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

Bitstamp uses a tiered maker/taker model where both fees decrease as your 30-day trading volume rises—from modest percentages at low volumes down to nearly zero for very high volumes.

Spot trading fees decrease as your 30-day trading volume, CET balance, or VIP level increases—higher tiers enjoy lower maker and taker rates, with an extra discount if you opt to pay using the native CET token.

Futures/Derivatives

Bitstamp’s perpetual futures follow a maker/taker structure along with periodic funding payments every 8 hours, where long or short trade

Futures trading applies different maker and taker fees based on VIP status, and while CoinEx doesn’t charge funding directly, perpetual contracts settle funding between long and short positions every 8 hours (or more frequently under extreme conditions).

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

Spreads for highly liquid pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT remain tight and competitive, ensuring cost-effective trading for standard market participants.

Although CoinEx doesn’t publish spread figures directly, mainstream spot pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT generally exhibit tight spreads typical of mid-to-high liquidity venues, making execution costs reasonably competitive for active traders.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Fiat can be deposited via bank transfers or cards and withdrawn with standard methods; timing varies from instant to a few days, depending on the channel.

Methods, Fees, Times

On-chain Withdrawals

Withdrawals in crypto are charged based on actual network fees per coin—typically variable and reflecting blockchain congestion—without additional hidden markup.

Fixed vs Dynamic Fees (BTC, ETH, TRX, etc.)

Hidden Costs

There are no surprise fees such as inactivity charges or forced express KYC costs; however, currency conversion may incur a minor spread if needed.

Currency Conversion, Inactivity, Express KYC, etc.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

If you buy €500 worth of BTC, you’d incur a small trading fee, experience a narrow market spread, and pay a standard crypto network withdrawal fee—all adding up to a small, predictable total cost.

If you buy €500 worth of BTC on CoinEx, your total cost comprises the third-party gateway’s currency conversion rate plus its service fee, the spread between buy and sell prices, and the dynamic on-chain withdrawal charge—so the final amount received in your wallet will be less than the gross purchase value due to these combined factors.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

Bitstamp lists around 85–90 cryptocurrencies, covering all major top 20 volume pairs and delivering a curated, dependable selection focused on the most traded digital assets.

CoinEx lists over 800 cryptocurrencies and supports more than 1,200 trading pairs, including its most actively traded tokens ranked among the top 20 by volume, which typically consist of mainstream assets such as BTC, ETH, TRX, and a range of emerging altcoins.

Product Range

Bitstamp offers straightforward spot trading, with additional services including crypto-backed lending and staking (where available), but it does not extend into advanced features like futures, options, margin, ETFs, copy-trading, grid bots, or automated DCA strategies.

The platform offers a comprehensive set of services—including spot, margin, and perpetual futures (linear and inverse contracts), copy trading, crypto loans, one-click swap exchanges, staking, Auto-Invest plans, and Spot Grid bots—offering flexible strategies across investing and automated trading.

Liquidity

For liquid markets such as BTC and ETH, Bitstamp maintains robust 24-hour trading volume and solid order book depth that supports efficient execution at competitive spreads for most routine trades.

CoinEx maintains solid liquidity, especially on BTC and ETH markets, reflected by consistently vigorous 24-hour trading volume and deep order-book depth that supports efficient execution even during volatile periods.

Tools

The platform supports functional essentials—limit and stop orders—alongside API and WebSocket for automated access; while it may offer real-time charts, advanced options such as OCO, alert triggers, or integrated TradingView remain limited.

You’ll find a robust toolkit featuring common order types like limit, market, stop-limit, plus advanced modes such as OCO and maker-only, along with real-time alerts, charting, API/WebSocket access, and built-in TradingView integration for sophisticated analysis.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Though spot trading is broadly available, specialized offerings like staking or institutional lending may be withheld in certain jurisdictions due to regulatory constraints, meaning product access can vary by country.

While CoinEx is globally available in over 200 countries, certain products like derivatives and copy trading may be restricted in jurisdictions such as the U.S., Canada, Hong Kong, and China due to regional regulatory limitations.

Innovation

Bitstamp maintains a conservative innovation path—it does not run launchpads or launchpools, and while traditional staking or earn functions may exist, differentiated flexible versus locked yield options are not a core part of its product suite.

The exchange actively innovates with features such as launchpads/pools, flexible versus locked staking options, and strategic products like Auto-Invest and Spot Grid—providing both passive yield and automated market participation tools.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

Bitstamp is operated by Bitstamp Ltd., founded in 2011, and headquartered in Luxembourg; it also maintains European registration as an EU payment institution and a UK-registered entity for broader reach.

The exchange began in 2017 and is operated under the ViaBTC ecosystem, with its legal base and main offices located in Hong Kong.

Licenses/Registration

The exchange holds a Luxembourg-based CASP license under EU MiCA, enabling compliant crypto services across Europe, and also operates under formal BitLicense regulation in New York, reinforcing its regulatory credibility.

CoinEx holds registration as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in certain jurisdictions such as Estonia and complies with applicable regulations, but it does not currently fall under the EU’s MiCA framework.

Custody

Bitstamp retains full control of its custodial infrastructure, with annual major-audit transparency by a Big Four firm since 2016—including proof of liabilities—and holds customer assets 1:1 securely, with a large portion maintained in cold storage.

CoinEx uses its own custody infrastructure with both hot and cold wallets, enhanced by multi-signature security. It publishes frequent Merkle-tree-based Proof of Reserves—maintaining a 1

Insurance & Protection Funds

While Bitstamp emphasizes full asset backing and strong security measures, it does not currently highlight an insurance fund or formal compensation scheme for user losses, instead relying on robust audits and governance practices.

The platform supports its risk management with a “Shield Fund,” which redirects around 10% of fees into a reserve designed to buffer against extreme or unexpected market shocks

Incident History

The platform experienced a DDoS attack in 2014 and a hack in early 2015, which led to service interruptions and loss of funds, but it has since rebuilt its infrastructure and security frameworks to solid industry standards.

Since its 2017 launch, CoinEx has maintained a clean security record with no known hacks, outages, freezing of accounts, regulatory fines, or major incidents to date

Risk Controls

Bitstamp enforces comprehensive risk safeguards, including mandatory two-factor authentication, anti-phishing measures, API permissions, and (in select cases) whitelisting of address withdrawals for enhanced account protection.

CoinEx implements strong safety protocols, including two-factor authentication (2FA), address whitelisting, anti-phishing measures, support for sub-accounts, and granular API permission controls, designed to minimize unauthorized access and bolster overall platform security.

Transparency

The exchange maintains strong operational openness, including routine global audits, public proof-of-reserves exercises, a high security governance score, and a compliance-first culture, even though it does not publish live wallet addresses or formal SLAs.

The platform demonstrates transparent practices through monthly reserve updates, publicly verifiable wallets using Merkle trees, and clear communication via announcements—though formal SLA commitments are not prominently outlined.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

Bitstamp supports deposits via bank transfers (SEPA, SWIFT, ACH Express), credit/debit cards, and in some regions e-wallets; minimums begin around €/ $10 or more, and processing ranges from near-instant (cards or SEPA Instant) to several business days (standard bank transfers).

CoinEx offers fiat deposits through partnerships with eight external providers like MoonPay, Banxa, Simplex, Mercuryo, Paxful, Guardarian, XanPool, and Advcash, enabling methods such as Visa/MasterCard, Apple Pay, UPI, SEPA, bank transfers, Revolut, and PIX. Minimum and maximum order limits vary by provider, and most transactions are completed within around 30 minutes once initiated.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

Bitstamp requires KYC with at least two tiers

CoinEx features progressive verification tiers—from no-KYC to Basic and Advanced levels—with the scope of trading and withdrawal increasing by tier; higher KYC levels unlock significantly elevated withdrawal capacities.

Withdrawals

Withdrawals are available via bank transfer, card reimbursement, or crypto transfers on networks like ERC-20 or others; limits and speeds vary by KYC level and method—crypto tends to be quickest, bank options may take 1–3 business days.

Limits, Times & Networks

Customer Support

Support includes an email/helpdesk and a knowledge base; availability is broad (chat or phone support based on region), with response times ranging from a few hours to a day depending on the channel.

Users can reach support via a 24/7 live chat, email ticket system, and Help Center with detailed FAQs; tickets are submitted from the website footer and responses prioritize accuracy and clarity. Language support and average response times may vary.

Languages & Localization

Bitstamp’s interface is available primarily in English, displays balances in €/USD/GBP, and adapts to local regulatory norms in supported jurisdictions.

The platform operates with native English and supports multiple other languages; fiat values can be displayed in common currencies like EUR and USD, while localized regulatory info may be limited depending on your country.

App Quality & Stability

The Bitstamp mobile app for iOS and Android delivers a stable trading experience with regular updates and rare crashes, reflecting a mature, dependable app platform.

CoinEx provides both iOS and Android apps, featuring a clean, intuitive design and access to core functionality. While official crash-rate metrics are not published, user feedback indicates stability with regular updates to enhance performance and usability.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

Bitstamp now offers two tailored interfaces—Bitstamp Go, designed with interactive flows and a friendly UX ideal for newcomers, and Bitstamp Pro, packed with advanced tools and metrics for experienced users, striking a smooth balance between ease and capability.

CoinEx offers a clean and intuitive interface with a clear “Beginner” section and more advanced options for experienced traders; while explicit “Lite” or “Pro” modes aren’t labeled, the layout provides a natural progression from simple guides to feature-rich dashboards, making the platform approachable for all skill levels.

Performance

The platform delivers consistent performance with low order latency even during high-volume moments; falling-back issues or KYC bottlenecks during bull markets are rare, thanks to its robust tech infrastructure and scalable verification processes.

The platform boasts a high-speed matching engine built to handle order execution with minimal delay, and though official latency metrics aren’t public, user feedback suggests trading remains responsive even during volatility spikes; KYC processing tends to scale adequately, though verification backlogs can surface during market surges.

Education

While Bitstamp includes helpful in-app guidance and a well-organized knowledge base, it lacks a full demo or simulator environment, and Spanish-language educational materials are limited, focusing more on global core content.

CoinEx provides robust learning tools including the CoinEx Academy with security guides, glossaries, and crypto fundamentals, plus a full-featured demo trading mode for risk-free practice; Spanish-speaking users are also supported via official Telegram and localized content.

Community

Bitstamp encourages community engagement through helpdesk support and knowledge articles, though it doesn’t maintain public forums, Discord, or Telegram channels—its platform leverages a referral system as the main peer-sharing feature.

A strong community is available through official Telegram channels—both English and Spanish—as well as podcast-style livestreams and social media engagement; affiliate and referral programs are integrated too, rewarding users for growing the network.

Integrations

Bitstamp integrates natively with TradingView for seamless charting and order execution and supports connection with external bot platforms through its API—but it does not offer built-in tax tools or accounting integrations.

CoinEx features native integrations like TradingView for advanced charting, supports Telegram-based trading bots, and its affiliate/referral dashboards assist tracking performance; however, specialized tax or accounting tool integrations are not prominently highlighted at this time.

Who Each One Is Best For

Bitstamp is ideal for users seeking a clean, secure, and regulated exchange—Go mode for beginners looking for clarity, and Pro for more advanced individuals wanting control without noise—though those craving hands-on automation or rich educational tooling may look elsewhere.

The platform suits growth-minded individuals who value a balance of clarity and strategy—newcomers benefit from educational tools and a clean interface, while seasoned traders can leverage demo trading, strategic tools like grid bots, and active community programs to refine their approach.