Coinlist vs Upbit: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Coinlist and Upbit 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

Coinlist

Upbit

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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

Canada

yes

United Kingdom

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Coinlist is ideal if:

Great for early-stage crypto hunters: If you're looking to participate in high-quality token launches before they hit mainstream exchanges—such as Solana or Flow—CoinList offers standout access through its vetted token sale platform.
Strong on compliance and security: With established regulations, risk controls, KYC/AML procedures, and features like two-factor authentication and cold-storage partnerships, CoinList appeals to users who value legitimacy and safety.
Designed for engaged investors: If you're into staking, DeFi lending, testnet rewards, and boosting your “Karma” score for better access, CoinList’s layered ecosystem suits committed or active crypto participants.

Upbit is ideal if:

Great for beginner-friendly trading: Offers a clean, intuitive interface and strong security, making it ideal if you're new to crypto and value simplicity.
Strong Asian market presence: Deeply localized in South Korea and Southeast Asia, with excellent liquidity and fiat integration in those regions.
Not suited for advanced instruments: If you're looking for margin, derivatives, or broad global fiat support, Upbit’s limited financial features may not fit your needs.

Coinlist isn’t ideal if:

If you're seeking instant fiat deposits via cards: CoinList typically requires bank transfers and doesn’t support card or alternative fiat methods for many international users, making funding less flexible.
If you're frustrated by lengthy identity checks: The verification process can be prolonged and document-heavy, which might discourage those wanting quick, hassle-free access.
If you rely on contactless customer communication: Users occasionally report slow support responses or difficulty navigating the interface, especially via mobile or self-service channels.

Upbit isn’t ideal if:

Limited product variety: Lacks margin, futures, copy-trading, loans, or crypto cards, restricting users seeking more advanced financial tools.
Geographically constrained: Primarily serves South Korea and select Asian markets; support and fiat options are limited for most global users.
Basic customer support: Relies mainly on ticket-based assistance with minimal tutorials or live help, which may not satisfy those wanting more hands-on guidance.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

CoinList Pro applies a volume-tiered system where maker and taker costs progressively reduce for higher 30-day trading volumes, eventually reaching near-zero for top tiers, with occasional token-based rebates in special programs.

Upbit applies a flat trading fee—typically around 0.20–0.25%—for both maker and taker spot orders across supported pairs, with no tiered discounts or native token rebates.

Futures/Derivatives

Futures and perpetual contracts remain in beta and follow similar tiered fee logic, while funding rates fluctuate with market conditions and are designed to balance the perpetual contract pricing relative to spot.

Upbit does not offer futures or derivative instruments, so there are no maker, taker, or funding fees to consider.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

Spreads on major pairs are generally tight due to deep order books, though exact values vary with market volatility and time of day.

On major spot pairs like BTC/USDT or ETH/USDT, spreads are generally tight and reflective of high liquidity, though your precise rate depends on market depth at the time of execution.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Users can fund via bank wire or ACH (when supported); outgoing wires incur flat fees, while deposits usually arrive within a few business days and withdrawals are delayed due to holding requirements.

Upbit supports bank transfers for fiat, with deposit methods varying by region; fees and processing times vary according to local banking systems and verification levels.

On-chain Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawals incur network fees set by the blockchain (e.g. Bitcoin, Ethereum), which are dynamic and based on chain activity—not fixed by CoinList itself.

Upbit charges fixed network fees per asset (e.g. a fixed amount in BTC or ETH), which do not adjust dynamically based on network congestion.

Hidden Costs

There are no hidden inactivity or covert conversion charges, though recovery fees and processing surcharges may apply for special cases like mistaken chain deposits or express document reviews.

You might encounter costs such as currency conversion spreads, speedier KYC processing, or cross-border banking charges; these are not labeled as explicit fees but can subtly add to your overall cost.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

When you purchase €500 in BTC, your total cost combines the spot spread and applicable tiered trading fee, plus the blockchain’s network fee when you withdraw—keeping the model flexible rather than giving fixed numbers.

If you purchase €500 in BTC, your total cost includes the platform’s flat trading fee plus the market spread; withdrawing that BTC would then incur the asset’s fixed network withdrawal fee.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

CoinList supports around 70 cryptocurrencies and between 72 to 80 trading pairs, focusing on high-quality tokens in its limited but curated marketplace.

Upbit lists approximately 260-263 cryptocurrencies (depending on the data source) and over 540 trading pairs overall, with the top 20 by volume dominated by KRW pairs like ETH/KRW, XRP/KRW, and BTC/KRW, reflecting its regional liquidity strength.

Product Range

CoinList offers spot trading, OTC access, and beta perpetual futures; it does not currently provide margin, options, crypto ETFs, grid bots, copy trading, nor automated DCA tools.

Upbit focuses exclusively on spot markets and does not offer margin, perpetual futures, options, crypto ETFs, lending, copy trading, grid bots, or automated DCA; however, it does include staking/earn services for select assets.

Liquidity

Exact figures aren’t publicly available, but CoinList tends to show limited 24-hour volume and modest order book depth, especially relative to major exchanges.

Upbit’s 24-hour trading volume typically ranges in the multi-billion-dollar bracket, and its order books for BTC and ETH pairs exhibit strong depth, especially for KRW-denominated pairs, ensuring tight spreads and reliable execution.

Tools

The platform supports advanced order types (e.g., stop, stop-limit, trailing, post-only), offers API/websocket access, but lacks native TradingView or built-in alert functionality.

The platform supports limit, market, and stop-limit order types, plus charting tools and dashboards, API and WebSocket access, but lacks native TradingView integration and any alerting capabilities.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Certain services—including derivatives and the launchpad—are not accessible to users in the U.S., Canada, and other restricted jurisdictions, due to regulatory and licensing constraints.

Derivatives and advanced instruments are unavailable across the board, and even spot trading is restricted in regions like the United States, Japan, China, and Taiwan due to regulatory limitations.

Innovation

CoinList shines in early access via its launchpad and incentivized testnets; for staking, it distinguishes between locked launchpad tokens and staking funds, but doesn’t emphasize flexible earn programs.

While Upbit does not host launchpads, launchpools, or flexible-vs-locked earn programs, it does offer staking options for select chains—but no advanced yield farming or investment pools.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

CoinList is operated under Amalgamated Token Services Inc., with founding roots in 2017 and primary headquarters in San Francisco; services are offered through subsidiaries including CoinList Markets LLC, registered in the U.S. as a Money Services Business and money transmitter. (Based on legal info and state filings.)

Upbit is operated by Dunamu Inc., a South Korean company founded in 2017, with its headquarters located in Seoul and expanding operations through entities such as Upbit Singapore.

Licenses/Registration

CoinList Markets LLC is registered in the U.S. as a money transmitter with FinCEN and several states, reflecting compliance with relevant virtual asset service provider (VASP) requirements; while lending arms like CoinList Lend are not licensed lenders. (Inferred from entity disclosures.)

Upbit Singapore holds a fully licensed status as a Major Payment Institution under Singapore’s Payment Services Act, enabling regulated digital token services, while its Korean operations continue under the Virtual Asset Service Provider framework.

Custody

Asset custody is managed through partnerships with leading custodians such as BitGo, Gemini Custody, Anchorage, Finoa, Copper, Coinbase Prime, and Fortress Trust—many held in insured cold storage; CoinList also introduced its own in-house custody arm (CoinList Digital Asset Services) to custody select assets. (Based on service info.)

Upbit maintains full custody of user assets, backed by recent audits confirming over-100 percent reserves for both digital assets and cash equivalents, alongside substantial cold-wallet holdings.

Insurance & Protection Funds

Funds held with custodial partners benefit from their insurance policies covering cold storage, and CoinList imposes no wallet or custody fees, enhancing transparency and alignment with user costs.

The exchange has set aside dedicated user protection reserves, in the order of tens of millions USD, specifically to shield user assets in case of unexpected events.

Incident History

CoinList settled a notable regulatory matter in 2023—an OFAC penalty over inadvertent sanction-related breaches—thus underscoring prior oversight but also willingness to remediate; there are no widely publicized hacks or fund losses reported.

In late 2019, Upbit experienced a significant hack that resulted in the loss of roughly USD 48 million in Ethereum; since then, it’s reinforced internal controls and transparency protocols.

Risk Controls

The platform mandates two-factor authentication via authenticator apps, works with vetted custodians, and enforces KYC/AML screening; it also relies on strong internal security practices, though features like whitelists, sub-accounts, and granular API permissions are not prominently offered.

Upbit employs robust safety measures such as two-factor authentication, internal self-trading restrictions, a proprietary market-monitoring system, and auditing to prevent insider trading, plus granular permission controls for API access.

Transparency

CoinList publishes legal disclosures and maintains a public legal repository but does not appear to offer monthly Proof-of-Reserves reports, public wallet addresses, or formal SLAs—though its collaborations with regulated custodians and structured legal documentation contribute to transparency.

The exchange publishes periodic transparency reports including audit results and trading-behavior monitoring; while it doesn’t offer public wallet addresses or formal SLAs, it follows regulatory guidelines and discloses operational compliance measures.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

You can deposit via credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, or Google Pay, which typically credit instantly; bank wires (ACH, SEPA, domestic, international) are supported in eligible regions with processing times ranging from same-day (domestic) to a few business days—specific minimums and maximums aren’t publicly listed and can vary by user and region.

Upbit allows fiat deposits primarily via local bank transfers (e.g. KRW in Korea, SGD in Singapore) once you reach full verification; minimums vary, processing typically takes 1–3 business days.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

Upbit allows fiat deposits primarily via local bank transfers (e.g. KRW in Korea, SGD in Singapore) once you reach full verification; minimums vary, processing typically takes 1–3 business days.

KYC (Verification Levels)

All users must complete full identity verification—basic or advanced tiers aren’t differentiated publicly—and the process typically takes 0–3 business days for individuals, with stricter document requirements and activity restrictions until completion.

Upbit uses a four-level KYC system—ranging from basic identity checks to full verification with bank linkage—and higher levels unlock larger deposit and withdrawal capacities.

Withdrawals

Limits, Timing & Networks

Crypto withdrawals are permitted across major networks like ERC-20 and TRC-20, with daily limits scaling by KYC level and typical processing within hours.

Customer Support

Support is available via email and help-desk tickets through the portal, with response times often within a day; there is no live chat or phone support, and the help portal serves as the central knowledge base.

Support is available through email and a robust FAQ/help center; users in Korea generally experience faster responses, while international users may wait longer and have less localized documentation.

Languages & Localization

The platform operates primarily in English, with fees and balances displayed in USD or EUR, and regulatory disclosures aligned with local requirements in supported jurisdictions—but localized language support remains limited.

The platform is available in native English and Korean, displays balances in local currencies (KRW or SGD), and adheres to the relevant local regulatory framework for each region.

App Quality & Stability

The new CoinList mobile app (updated August 12, 2025) delivers a clean, user-friendly experience with push notifications and integrated wallets; while generally stable, occasional crashes can happen and reinstall or support tickets are recommended for resolution.

The Upbit mobile app is known for its stability and smooth performance, with regular updates, low crash rates, and quick feature rollouts aimed at both beginners and experienced users.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

CoinList offers a streamlined interface where the “Pro Trading” experience is now fully integrated into the main dashboard, eliminating the need to switch platforms and smoothing the transition for both beginners and more advanced users.

The Upbit interface strikes a smart balance between clarity and functionality—offering a simplified view for beginners while still providing comprehensive charts and real-time data for more experienced users, although it doesn’t explicitly label modes as “Lite” or “Pro.”

Performance

The platform generally delivers responsive trade execution under normal conditions, though high-demand launch events may introduce delays; rapid surges in registrations have previously led to temporary verification backlogs during bull markets.

Order latency remains low even during high volatility, and there are no widespread reports of system crashes; however, during market peaks, KYC verification queues may grow noticeably longer, affecting access for new users.

Education

CoinList does not currently provide demo or simulation tools or educational content in Spanish—its platform is largely English-focused, though users receive guidance around token launches and participation workflows.

While Upbit doesn’t offer demo accounts or a Spanish-language academy, it provides a detailed help center and tutorials that guide beginners through trading, deposits, and security.

Community

CoinList fosters a tight-knit community via its official blog, Discord, and Twitter; it also runs an active referral program that rewards users for inviting others to explore token events and trading.

Official community channels such as forums or Telegram groups are limited; referral programs exist but are less central to the user experience compared to peer-driven groups and third-party platforms.

Integrations

The platform lacks native TradingView embeds or third-party trading bot support, and does not offer integrated tax tracking or accounting tools at this time.

Upbit supports Open API and WebSocket for developer access and trading automation, but lacks native TradingView integration, external bot marketplaces, or built-in tax/accounting tool integrations.

Who Each One Is Best For

CoinList is best suited for proactive crypto enthusiasts looking to participate early in token launches within a compliant, streamlined environment, rather than users seeking beginner-friendly simulators or full suite trading integrations.

Upbit is best suited for traders who prioritize a clean, stable interface with transparent spot trading, high liquidity, and a regional focus—especially those located in supported Asian markets looking for reliable, everyday trading rather than highly automated or global multi-tool ecosystems.