When you're looking for a crypto exchange that doesn't play it safe, CoinEx stands out. It's not the biggest name like Binance or Coinbase, but if you care about trading hundreds of obscure altcoins, paying near-zero fees, or earning passive income without leaving the platform, CoinEx might be exactly what you need. The catch? It's banned in the U.S. and Canada, and it doesn't answer to regulators like the SEC. That’s not a bug-it’s part of the design.
What CoinEx Actually Offers
CoinEx isn’t trying to be everything to everyone. It’s built for traders who want access to over 1,400 cryptocurrencies, including tokens you won’t find on most major exchanges. Think obscure DeFi projects, community-driven memecoins, and early-stage blockchain experiments. The exchange adds new coins every week through user voting. If enough people ask for a token, CoinEx lists it. No corporate gatekeepers. No slow approval process. Just community demand driving what gets traded.
That’s why traders who specialize in altcoins keep coming back. You can buy tokens on CoinEx that aren’t even listed on KuCoin or Gate.io. For some, that’s worth more than a polished interface or a fancy mobile app.
Trading Fees That Actually Matter
Fees are where CoinEx crushes the competition. Spot trading starts at 0.2000%. That’s lower than Binance’s standard rate and way below Coinbase’s 0.5%-1%. If you hold CET, CoinEx’s native token, you can slash that fee even further-down to 0.1% or less. It’s not a gimmick. It’s a real discount you can use every time you trade.
No deposit fees. Ever. Whether you’re sending Bitcoin, Ethereum, or some obscure BEP-20 token, CoinEx doesn’t charge you to move funds in. Withdrawals? Low flat fees, mostly under $1. For frequent traders, that adds up to serious savings over time.
Advanced Trading Without the Overload
CoinEx doesn’t just let you buy and sell. It gives you tools to amplify your moves:
- Futures trading with up to 100x leverage on major coins like BTC and ETH.
- Margin trading up to 10x, with borrowing and lending built right in.
- Isolated and cross margin modes so you can control your risk.
- Copy trading for beginners-just follow a top performer’s trades automatically.
It’s not just for pros. The interface is clean. You can toggle between light and dark mode, collapse panels, and go full-screen with charts. No clutter. No confusing menus. It feels like a trading terminal built by traders, not marketers.
Passive Income on Autopilot
CoinEx turns your idle crypto into a cash machine. Here’s how:
- Staking: Lock up coins like ATOM, DOT, or even obscure tokens and earn rewards weekly.
- AMM Liquidity Pools: Deposit pairs of tokens into pools (like USDT/ETH) and earn a cut of every trade that happens in that pair. You’ll face impermanent loss, but the fees often offset it.
- Cryptocurrency lending: Lend your coins to others and earn interest. Rates change daily based on demand-sometimes over 10% APY for less popular tokens.
- Token launch pools: Stake CET or other coins to mine new tokens before they hit the open market.
Most exchanges make you go to three different platforms to do this. CoinEx does it all in one place. For someone holding a mix of altcoins, this is a game-changer.
Security: Trust, But Verify
CoinEx had a rough patch in 2023. A hack hit its hot wallets, and users lost funds. Most exchanges would’ve gone quiet. CoinEx didn’t. They reimbursed every single affected user-no delays, no excuses. Then they made changes.
Now, they use Proof of Reserves. Every month, they publish a Merkle tree audit showing that their total holdings match or exceed user balances. You can check it yourself. That’s rare. Even big exchanges don’t do this consistently.
They also scored well on CertiK’s security rating: 76/100 overall. Server security? 79/100. Penetration tests? Perfect 100/100. Bug bounty program? Active and paying out. Their cybersecurity score is high. But their fundamental score (55/100) is low-that’s mostly about lack of regulatory oversight.
Bottom line: They’ve fixed past mistakes and are now more transparent than most. But they’re still not regulated by the SEC, CySEC, or any major authority. That’s the trade-off.
KYC? Optional (For Now)
You don’t need to submit ID to trade on CoinEx. Not yet. You can deposit, withdraw, and trade without KYC-up to a limit. But if you want to move larger amounts or access all features, verification is required. It’s not forced, but it’s encouraged.
This is why CoinEx is popular in places where governments are cracking down on crypto. If you’re in Latin America, Southeast Asia, or parts of Eastern Europe, this flexibility matters. But if you’re in the U.S. or Canada? You’re locked out. The platform blocks those regions entirely.
What’s Missing
CoinEx isn’t perfect. Here’s where it falls short:
- No direct bank deposits. You can’t buy crypto with a credit card on CoinEx itself. You need third-party services like MoonPay or Mercuryo, which add fees and delays.
- Low liquidity on altcoins. Big coins like BTC and ETH trade with tight spreads. But for a token with 500 daily trades? Slippage can be 5% or more. Don’t try to move $10,000 in a random altcoin without testing the depth first.
- Customer support is hit-or-miss. Some users report quick help. Others get automated replies. No phone support. No live chat 24/7. You’re mostly on your own.
- No U.S. or Canadian access. If you’re in those countries, you can’t sign up. Period.
Who Is CoinEx For?
It’s not for everyone. But if you fit this profile, CoinEx could be your best exchange:
- You trade altcoins and want access to hundreds of obscure tokens.
- You’re tired of paying 0.5%+ fees on every trade.
- You want to earn interest, stake, and provide liquidity-all in one place.
- You’re comfortable with minimal regulation and no government oversight.
- You’re outside the U.S. and Canada.
If you’re looking for a simple, regulated, fiat-friendly exchange? Go to Kraken or Coinbase. If you want to push boundaries, trade rare coins, and keep fees low? CoinEx is one of the few exchanges that actually delivers.
Final Verdict
CoinEx is a specialist, not a generalist. It doesn’t have the brand name of Binance or the regulatory safety of Kraken. But it has something rarer: freedom. Freedom to trade hundreds of tokens. Freedom to earn passive income without jumping between apps. Freedom to avoid KYC if you want to.
It’s not without risk. The 2023 hack showed what can go wrong. But their response-full reimbursement, Proof of Reserves, and better security-shows they’re trying to earn trust. For traders who prioritize access, speed, and low fees over compliance, CoinEx is still one of the best options left.
Is CoinEx safe to use in 2026?
CoinEx has improved its security significantly since the 2023 hack. It now uses Proof of Reserves, has a working bug bounty program, and passed penetration tests with a perfect score. Its CertiK security rating is 76/100, which is above average for exchanges without regulatory oversight. However, it’s not regulated by the SEC, CySEC, or any major financial authority. That means if something goes wrong-like a hack or platform failure-there’s no government agency to step in. Use it, but don’t store large sums long-term.
Can I use CoinEx if I live in the United States?
No. CoinEx explicitly blocks users from the United States and Canada. Even if you try to use a VPN, the platform detects your location and prevents account creation or access. This is a legal restriction, not a technical limitation. If you’re in the U.S., you’ll need to use a different exchange like Kraken, Coinbase, or Bitstamp.
Does CoinEx charge fees for deposits?
No. CoinEx does not charge any fees for depositing cryptocurrencies. Whether you’re sending Bitcoin, Ethereum, or a BEP-20 token, the network fees you pay are the only cost. CoinEx itself takes nothing. This is one of its biggest advantages over exchanges like Coinbase or Kraken, which sometimes charge small deposit fees.
How does CoinEx make money if fees are so low?
CoinEx earns revenue through multiple streams. The main one is trading fees-though they’re low, the volume adds up. They also earn from interest on margin loans, fees from their AMM liquidity pools, and commissions on token launches. Plus, they profit from the CET token, which is used for fee discounts. The more you use the platform, the more they make-especially if you hold CET or trade frequently.
Can I withdraw fiat currency from CoinEx?
No. CoinEx doesn’t support direct fiat withdrawals to bank accounts. You can only withdraw cryptocurrencies. To turn your crypto into USD, EUR, or other fiat, you’ll need to send it to another exchange that supports bank withdrawals-like Kraken or Coinbase-and then cash out there. This is a major limitation for users who want a one-stop solution.
Is CoinEx better than KuCoin or Gate.io?
It depends on what you want. CoinEx has a cleaner interface and slightly lower fees than KuCoin. It also has more passive income options, especially in AMM and copy trading. Gate.io has more fiat options and better customer support. But CoinEx lists more obscure altcoins faster than either. If you hunt for rare tokens and want to earn interest on them, CoinEx edges out the competition. If you need easy fiat access or better support, KuCoin or Gate.io might be better.
