Cex.Io vs 50X: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Cex.Io and 50X 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

Cex.Io

50X

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Available Countries

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Yes

Canada

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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Cex.Io is ideal if:

Great for beginners seeking simplicity: Offers intuitive fiat-to-crypto access and easy navigation, making first-time buying or selling smooth and straightforward.
Useful for users valuing regulatory compliance: Holds multiple licenses and registrations, which adds credibility and reassurance for those prioritizing security.
Suited to flexible and evolving needs: Includes features like staking, margin options, and mobile trading—helpful as your crypto journey grows.

50X is ideal if:

Instant coin-to-coin trades — You can swap any listed cryptocurrency directly for any other in a single transaction using its unique Any-to-Any trading core, without extra conversion steps.
Passive income through native tokens — Holding STE or A2A tokens entitles you to profit-sharing or dividend-style earnings from the platform’s performance.
Advanced trader tools with liquidity boost — The platform offers professional-grade interfaces, customizable layouts, and aggregates liquidity from major exchanges to enhance execution and depth.

Cex.Io isn’t ideal if:

Not suited for fee-sensitive traders: Deposit and withdrawal costs—especially from credit cards or SWIFT transfers—can be on the higher side.
Less ideal for altcoin hunters: Coin selection is solid for mainstream assets but may feel restrictive for those seeking niche or emerging tokens.
Not optimized for advanced traders: Lacks advanced order types and demo environments, and interface may feel cluttered during complex trading sessions.

50X isn’t ideal if:

Liquidity limitations — Lower trading volumes can result in occasional liquidity tightness, which may affect large or rapid trades.
No fiat access or KYC — You won't be able to fund your account with traditional currencies or use fiat deposits and withdrawals in the usual way.
Offshore registration — Its incorporation in an offshore jurisdiction may offer less regulatory protection and oversight compared to more regulated platforms.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

CEX.IO’s spot trading fees begin at 0.25% for taker orders and 0.15% for maker orders, and progressively decrease as your 30-day trading volume rises—reaching lower bands (like around 0.10%) at higher volumes, with no discounts tied to a native token.

50 X charges the same flat 0.20 % fee for both maker and taker spot trades; holding and paying with the internal A2A token for applicable pairs (like A2A/BTC or A2A/ETH) cuts that fee in half.

Futures/Derivatives

CEX.IO separates its derivatives platform from spot trading and applies different fee structures, but publicly available information on specific maker, taker, or funding rates is limited (often requiring account access or direct inquiry for clarity).

For futures contracts on 50 X, both maker and taker fees are effectively zero, but as with most platforms, funding fees apply periodically to align futures prices with spot.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

Spreads for major pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT on CEX.IO are generally tight and in line with competitive market norms, helping ensure that trading costs remain low for highly liquid assets.

The platform’s “Any-to-Any” matching and relatively low volume can widen average spreads on major pairs compared to high-liquidity competitors.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

You can fund your account using various options—credit/debit cards, bank transfers (SEPA, SWIFT, ACH), digital wallets, and alternative services—with timing and fees varying by method and region, and listed transparently during transaction setup.

There are no direct fiat deposit or withdrawal options—though you can buy USDT via a third-party gateway using cards or Advcash, but the fees vary significantly and are set by the provider.

On-chain Withdrawals

On-chain withdrawal fees differ depending on the blockchain (BTC, ETH, TRX, etc.) and are dynamically adjusted based on network conditions, rather than using a one-size-fits-all flat fee.

50 X applies fixed withdrawal fees per crypto and network—e.g. modest flat fees for BTC, ETH, XRP—rather than dynamic per-network pricing.

Hidden Costs

Beyond trading and transfer fees, there may be extra charges lurking in currency conversion margins, inactivity fees, or expedited KYC processing—but these are typically disclosed at the relevant step, not built into everyday trading.

You won’t face inactivity or KYC express charges, but currency conversion and payment-gateway fees (when buying via card) can be steep and are charged externally.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

If you were to convert €500 into BTC, your total cost would combine the spot maker/taker fee, the market spread, and any withdrawal or conversion fee—resulting in a composite cost slightly above the raw crypto amount, depending on your payment method and network chosen.

If you spent €500 to acquire BTC, you’d pay the platform’s spot fee (≈0.20 %), absorb the BTC/fiat spread from the gateway, and then pay the fixed network fee to withdraw on-chain.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

CEX.IO currently lists around 280 cryptocurrencies across approximately 829 trading pairs, with its highest-volume pairs including BTC/USD, ETH/USDT, ETH/USD, XRP/USD, LINK/USD—forming the bulk of daily activity.

50 X offers around 24 cryptocurrencies and roughly 105 trading pairs in total; their top 20 pairs by volume typically include BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT, LTC/USDT, TRX/ETH, LINK/USDT, XRP/USDC, and other active altcoin-to-cryptocurrency combinations.

Product Range

CEX.IO supports spot trading, margin trading with up to 10x leverage, crypto staking and savings, and lending services; however, it does not currently offer perpetuals, options, ETFs, automated DCA, grid bots, or copy trading tools.

The platform focuses on spot trading and spot-margin (leveraged crypto-to-crypto), and also offers perpetual futures via A2A liquidity, token-based passive income (through dividends and managed accounts), but doesn’t provide options, crypto ETFs, savings staking, lending, copy trading, grid bots, or automated DCA tools.

Liquidity

Reported 24-hour trading volume on CEX.IO ranges in the tens to hundreds of millions of USD, with robust liquidity in major pairs like BTC and ETH—offering sufficient depth for swift execution without significant price impact.

Trading volume on 50 X remains modest—24-hour volume is under $100k—so book depth on BTC/ETH pairs is relatively shallow, leading to potential slippage or less depth during larger trades.

Tools

The platform provides basic order types such as limit and stop (plus OCO where available), access to advanced charting via its trading terminal, real-time price tracking, alerts, and full-featured APIs (REST, WebSocket, FIX on Prime) ideal for automated strategies.

You’ll find essential order types like limit, market, stop-loss, and trailing stops with charting tools integrated into the interface; there’s support for API and WebSocket access, but there’s no fully integrated TradingView experience or alerting system built in.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Certain features—including margin trading, staking, savings, and advanced product access—are restricted or unavailable in specific countries due to jurisdictional licensing and compliance requirements.

Derivatives and margin are generally accessible globally, but some countries with strict crypto regulations may not have full access; the platform doesn’t explicitly list those banned regions.

Innovation

CEX.IO offers flexible staking and savings options under its “Earn” program that allow on-demand access to funds; however, it does not currently support token launchpad or launchpool initiatives.

50 X brings innovation in its Any-to-Any core and dividend token model allowing passive income through profit-sharing or token loans, but it does not currently support launchpad/pool projects or offer separate flexible vs locked earning products.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

CEX.IO operates through several entities

Operated by Smart Token Exchange LTD, established in 2017 and headquartered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, this offshore structure allows for privacy but offers limited regulatory oversight.

Licenses/Registration

The exchange holds a U.S. Money Services Business registration with FinCEN and multiple state-level money transmitter licenses, a Gibraltar DLT provider license, Spanish VASP registration, and Lithuanian VASP status, reflecting a broad regulatory coverage across major markets.

The platform does not hold formal regulatory licenses such as VASP or MiCA/UE; it functions under the jurisdiction of its offshore registry without public regulatory accreditation.

Custody

CEX.IO maintains a layered custody model—hot wallets with PCI DSS-compliant security and cold wallets secured via multi-signature and manual controls; fiat is held in segregated bank accounts—though no formal public proof-of-reserves disclosures or third-party audits are noted.

Assets are custodial on the platform, though it claims 98 % of funds are kept in cold storage and a small share is hot for liquidity; there’s no publicly available proof-of-reserves or third-party audit confirmation.

Insurance & Protection Funds

While CEX.IO provides FDIC insurance for USD balances held within participating U.S. banks up to typical limits, there is no general insurance for crypto assets beyond its rigorous internal security protocols.

The exchange mentions insurance coverage and security provisions, but no clear details are provided on the scope, provider, or coverage limits of such protection.

Incident History

The platform maintains a clean operational record with no major security breaches, public incidents, service suspensions, or regulatory penalties reported to date, underlining its reputation for reliability.

There are no publicly known major security breaches or regulatory penalties, though occasional user reports mention withdrawal delays and some technical hiccups in trading operations.

Risk Controls

User protection is reinforced with mandatory KYC/AML procedures, two-factor authentication, address whitelisting, a proprietary transaction-monitoring system, and granular APIs aimed at enhancing security and user control.

Security features include enforced two-factor authentication (3-factor via Google Auth), customizable withdrawal delays, address whitelisting, and emergency master keys; granular API permissions and anti-phishing tools are not explicitly detailed.

Transparency

CEX.IO does not publish monthly financial or operational reports, nor provide public wallet addresses or formal service-level agreements (SLAs), although its regulatory compliance and security stance contribute to overall trust.

The platform does not publish regular transparency reports, public wallet addresses, or formal service-level agreements—transparency remains limited to user-facing guides and token dividend mechanisms.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

CEX.IO allows fiat deposits via bank cards (Visa/Mastercard), bank transfers (SWIFT, SEPA, ACH, Faster Payments), and e-wallets like Skrill and PayPal; limits depend on verification level—new users may be capped at around $1,000 daily and $3,000 monthly, with standard limits applied after three months—and deposits typically arrive instantly (for cards/e-wallets) or within 1–3 business days (for bank transfers) depending on the method and region.

No direct fiat transfers, bank cards, or e-wallets are supported for deposit; only crypto deposits are accepted, and the timing depends on blockchain confirmation speeds.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

No direct fiat transfers, bank cards, or e-wallets are supported for deposit; only crypto deposits are accepted, and the timing depends on blockchain confirmation speeds.

KYC (Verification Levels)

CEX.IO enforces at least identity verification for full access to fiat features like card and transfer services; preliminary verification allows limited use, while higher account tiers—such as Enhanced or Corporate—lift deposit/withdrawal limits and enable large-scale operations.

No KYC is required—there’s no basic or advanced verification, allowing full functionality without identity disclosure.

Withdrawals

Limits, Timing & Networks

Cryptocurrency withdrawals are allowed across supported networks like ERC-20, but fiat withdrawals aren’t supported; processing time depends on network congestion, with dynamic fees reflecting real-time blockchain conditions.

Customer Support

Users have access to help via live chat (mobile and web), email support, and an extensive knowledge base containing guides and FAQs—but response times vary and are influenced by location and request complexity.

Support is available via email and Telegram chat, with varied response times—community-created guides serve as informal knowledge resources since no official 24/7 live support is guaranteed.

Languages & Localization

The platform is fully available in English (as its primary language), and shows amounts in USD or EUR depending on region; local regulatory compliance is reflected in the user’s jurisdiction which affects available payment methods and features.

The interface is available in English and other languages, displays amounts in common fiat like USD/EUR via third-party gateways, but lacks localization or regulatory adaptations for specific jurisdictions.

App Quality & Stability

The CEX.IO app boasts a solid level of stability with regular updates; while precise crash rates aren’t publicly disclosed, the platform emphasizes performance enhancements and bug fixes in app release notes to deliver a smooth user experience.

There’s no dedicated mobile app—users rely entirely on the web interface, which shows regular updates on the site and supports stable performance without known crash issues.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

CEX.IO offers a single unified interface rather than separate “Lite” or “Pro” views, relying on straightforward layout and intuitive navigation to help both new and experienced users pick up functionality quickly and seamlessly.

The interface presents a learning curve due to its rich functionality and customization options, including color theming and layout flexibility, but doesn’t explicitly offer separate “Lite” or “Pro” modes; instead, it adapts dynamically for both beginner and advanced users, though novices may feel slightly overwhelmed at first.

Performance

The platform benefits from institutional-grade infrastructure designed to minimize order latency, but like many exchanges, occasional slowdowns can surface during extreme market volatility; onboarding generally remains efficient even during high-demand periods.

The platform performs quickly due to its single-page application design and responsive internal core, although lower liquidity may lead to slowed fills or slippage during high volatility; since there’s no KYC, there’s no issue with verification queues.

Education

CEX.IO University delivers free, beginner-friendly crypto education with a comprehensive glossary and lessons ranging from basic to advanced levels—though it currently lacks a live demo or simulator, and content in Spanish is available through its educational portal.

There’s no formal academy or demo environment; educational content comes via guides and third-party reviews, primarily available in English—Spanish-language resources are limited or largely community-generated rather than official.

Community

The ecosystem includes an affiliate and referral program to reward users for spreading the word, but it does not prominently feature official forums or active Discord/Telegram communities as part of its outreach.

An active Telegram channel serves as the main community hub, and their multilevel referral program offers generous commission-sharing incentives—no official forums or Discord are indicated.

Integrations

The platform integrates TradingView for charting, offers fully featured APIs for external bot support, and allows data export for tax and accounting purposes, making it viable for integration into broader trading and reporting workflows.

Charts use TradingView’s charting library, and the platform supports API access for external trading bots; however, it lacks built-in tax compliance or portfolio/accounting integrations.

Who Each One Is Best For

CEX.IO is particularly well-suited for users seeking a balanced and compliant entry into crypto—from beginners who want ease of use and educational resources to semi-advanced traders needing reliable tools and external integration capabilities.

It’s best suited for proactive crypto traders who value fast, flexible coin-to-coin swaps and deep interface customization; casual users or those needing built-in demo tools, fiat support, or simplified dashboards may find it less immediately accessible.