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

Trying to choose between Mexc 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

Mexc

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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Mexc is ideal if:

You’re seeking wide token access and early listings: MEXC regularly lists emerging altcoins—often before other major exchanges—so it’s great if you're hunting for fresh or niche projects.
You value advanced trading tools and fast execution: With spot, futures, margin, copy trading, and leveraged ETFs, plus a high-performance engine, it’s built for active and experienced traders.
You want low-cost, globally accessible trading: It offers zero maker fees and deep liquidity across 170+ countries, making it efficient and budget-friendly worldwide.

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.

Mexc isn’t ideal if:

You prefer ultra-clear, fast customer support: Some users report delayed responses and unclear communication during risk control or account reviews.
You’re new to crypto platforms: MEXC’s breadth of tools and features may feel overwhelming if you’re a beginner seeking simplicity.
You highly value unrestricted global access: Risk-control flags or restrictions—particularly when accessing via VPN or from certain regions—can unexpectedly limit account usability.

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

Maker fees start at zero and taker fees around 0.05%, with improved discounts (up to 20–50%) when using the native MX token or meeting volume-based holding thresholds—perfect for high-volume traders.

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 also offer 0% maker and about 0.02% taker rates, while funding fees are paid peer-to-peer every 8 hours and vary (typically ±0.01–0.03%), impacting your position cost depending on market sentiment.

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

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

Although not officially posted, spreads on highly liquid pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT tend to be very tight—typically just a few basis points—due to the platform’s deep order book and high trading volume.

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

You can deposit fiat via bank transfers, credit/debit cards, or third-party providers like Banxa and Simplex; fees and processing times vary by provider, while fiat withdrawals require advanced KYC and proceed via P2P or SEPA methods, usually completing within two business days.

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

MEXC charges withdrawal fees that vary by cryptocurrency and network—like fixed rates for Bitcoin or Ethereum—and the amount changes based on network congestion and chosen blockchain.

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

While most platform fees are transparent, additional costs can arise from automatic currency conversions, inactivity penalties, expedited KYC services, or optional tools—so it’s wise to review your account settings periodically.

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

Buying €500 worth of BTC involves a taker-style execution fee (a small percentage), a minimal spread due to liquidity, and any later withdrawal cost depends on the chosen crypto network—altogether forming the total outlay beyond just token value.

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

MEXC offers access to nearly 3,000 spot trading pairs and over 1,100 futures pairs, ensuring you can trade a wide variety of digital assets beyond just the most popular ones—while the top 20 by volume typically include major coins like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT, along with trending altcoins.

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

MEXC delivers a full suite of products—spot trading, margin, perpetual futures, crypto ETF-like instruments, staking and earning programs, loan services, copy trading, grid trading bots, and automated DCA setups—to cater to diverse trading and investment needs.

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

With daily futures volume reportedly exceeding $25 billion, MEXC provides substantial liquidity, and its BTC/USDT order book depth within ±5 basis points of mid-price can reach around $82 million, offering notably tighter execution than many competitors.

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

MEXC equips traders with a full toolkit, including limit, stop, and OCO orders, real-time price alerts, rich charting features, direct TradingView integration, and robust API/websocket support for automated or advanced trading strategies.

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 advanced features like futures and derivatives may be restricted in specific jurisdictions due to regional regulations, so availability can vary depending on your location despite global platform reach.

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

MEXC drives innovation with launchpad-style token offerings and frequent airdrop events, while offering both flexible and locked earn products that allow users to choose between liquidity or potentially higher yield locked structures.

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

MEXC was originally registered as MEXC Global Limited in Seychelles in 2020, but the entity was dissolved in December 2024, reflecting a shift in its legal presence and raising questions about its official operational jurisdiction.

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

The platform operates without formal licensing in major financial jurisdictions and does not comply with frameworks like MiCA, FCA, or VASP regimes, leaving it largely unregulated despite being flagged by multiple authorities for its unlicensed status.

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

MEXC holds users’ assets primarily in-house, employs cold-hot wallet separation, supports multi-signature protection, and publishes bi-monthly proof-of-reserves audits demonstrating full backing (often above 100%) for major cryptocurrencies.

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

MEXC has an established insurance fund designed to absorb losses from forced liquidations or extreme market events, enhancing overall risk resilience on its trading platform.

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

There are no widely reported hacks or major security breaches involving MEXC, and it has not been subject to known regulatory penalties, though ongoing scrutiny due to its unlicensed operations persists.

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 offers robust security controls, including SSL encryption, mandatory two-factor authentication, address whitelisting, anti-phishing codes, support for sub-accounts, and fine-grained API permission settings to enhance user protection.

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

MEXC promotes transparency via regular proof-of-reserves disclosures, external security audits, and public wallet data, though it does not currently provide formal service level agreements or detailed monthly financial reporting.

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

MEXC supports fiat deposits via bank transfers (like SEPA), credit/debit cards, and third-party gateways; limits (e.g., up to €20,000 per transaction and €200,000 per day via SEPA) apply, with processing ranging from near-instant with SEPA Instant to up to 2 business days for standard transfers.

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)

MEXC operates with tiered verification: no KYC allows basic access with a 10 BTC daily withdrawal limit; Primary KYC lifts that to around 80 BTC per day; Advanced KYC further increases it to roughly 200 BTC or about $20,000 in fiat, unlocking full platform privileges.

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

On-chain withdrawals are enabled across multiple networks (like ERC-20, TRC-20, BEP-20), with network-dependent limits (up to ~200 BTC/day for verified users), and typical processing times depending on blockchain congestion.

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

MEXC offers around-the-clock customer support via live chat and email, complemented by a comprehensive help center and documentation for self-service needs, though official average response times aren’t publicly stated.

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’s interface is available in English and other languages, with fees displayed in EUR and USD depending on region; however, it does not emphasize localized regulatory disclosures per jurisdiction.

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

MEXC’s mobile app is widely regarded as fast and intuitive, offering demo trading and smooth performance; while official crash rate metrics or update logs aren’t published, regular updates and a stable experience are implied by user reviews.

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

MEXC’s interface offers customizable layouts—like standard, horizontal, or vertical arrangement of charts and order panels—allowing users to tailor the view to their preferences, though it doesn’t offer distinct “Lite” or “Pro” modes; this flexibility helps both novices and pro traders adapt the dashboard to their learning curve.

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 fast order execution thanks to its high-performance engine, but during extreme volatility it has previously experienced system slowdowns affecting spot trades; there’s little public reporting on KYC queues during bull runs, though swift identity processing is generally emphasized.

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

MEXC hosts an extensive Learning Hub with guides on trading strategies, futures, grid bots, and copy trading—though it lacks dedicated demo accounts or simulators, and while content spans multiple languages, Spanish-language materials are still limited in depth.

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

While MEXC promotes engagement through active Telegram and Discord channels and offers referral incentives, its own web platform doesn’t include built-in forums, encouraging users to connect via those external community hubs.

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 provides native TradingView chart integration and API/websocket support for automating strategies or connection with bots, but it does not natively integrate with tax reporting or accounting tools—i.e., users rely on external services for portfolio tracking.

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

MEXC is ideal for seasoned traders who value interface customization, deep liquidity, and strategy flexibility; newcomers who prioritize guided learning or simulator tools may find the learning curve steeper and tools more limited.

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.