CEX.IO Review: Established Regulated Cryptocurrency Exchange
Platform Overview
CEX.IO is one of the oldest and most established cryptocurrency exchanges in the industry, founded in 2013 in London, UK. The platform has built a reputation as a regulated and compliant exchange, operating under licenses from multiple jurisdictions including the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and various US state regulators. CEX.IO focuses on providing a secure, user-friendly platform for both beginners and experienced traders, with strong emphasis on regulatory compliance, security, and customer support.
Trading Fees
Spot Trading Fees
- Maker Fee: 0.16%
- Taker Fee: 0.25%
- Minimum Fee: $0.00
Volume-Based Fee Structure
- Level 1 (0-10 BTC): 0.16% / 0.25%
- Level 2 (10-50 BTC): 0.14% / 0.23%
- Level 3 (50-100 BTC): 0.12% / 0.21%
- Level 4 (100-500 BTC): 0.10% / 0.19%
- Level 5 (500+ BTC): 0.08% / 0.17%
Other Fees
- Deposit Fees:
- Cryptocurrency: Network fees apply
- Credit/Debit Card: 3.5% + $0.25
- Bank Transfer: Free (varies by region)
- Withdrawal Fees:
- Cryptocurrency: Varies by asset
- Fiat: Varies by currency and method
- Instant Buy/Sell: 7% spread
Supported Cryptocurrencies
CEX.IO offers a curated selection of major cryptocurrencies:
Major Cryptocurrencies
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
- Litecoin (LTC)
- Ripple (XRP)
- Stellar (XLM)
- Cardano (ADA)
- Polkadot (DOT)
- Chainlink (LINK)
- Uniswap (UNI)
Stablecoins
- Tether (USDT)
- USD Coin (USDC)
- TrueUSD (TUSD)
Fiat Currencies
- US Dollar (USD)
- Euro (EUR)
- British Pound (GBP)
- Russian Ruble (RUB)
- Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH)
- Polish ZΕoty (PLN)
Regulatory Compliance & Security
Regulatory Licenses
- UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) registered
- US FinCEN Money Services Business (MSB)
- Multiple US state licenses (BitLicense in NY)
- Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)
- Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC)
Security Measures
- 98% of funds stored in cold storage
- Multi-signature wallet technology
- Two-factor authentication (2FA)
- Advanced encryption protocols
- Regular security audits by third parties
- DDoS protection
- Insurance coverage for digital assets
- PCI DSS Level 1 compliance
Pros and Cons Analysis
Advantages
- β
Highly regulated and compliant
- β
Strong security track record
- β
Credit card purchases available
- β
Multiple fiat currency support
- β
User-friendly interface
- β
Established reputation (10+ years)
- β
Insurance coverage
- β
24/7 customer support
- β
Mobile app available
- β
Educational resources
Disadvantages
- β Higher fees compared to competitors
- β Limited cryptocurrency selection
- β High credit card fees
- β No margin trading
- β Limited advanced trading features
- β Slower verification process
Getting Started
Account Requirements
- Valid email address
- Government-issued photo ID
- Proof of address (utility bill, bank statement)
- Phone number verification
- Age requirement: 18 years or older
- Compliance with local regulations
Verification Levels
- Basic Verification: Email and phone verification
- Enhanced Verification: ID document upload
- Full Verification: Proof of address required
- Corporate Account: Additional business documentation
Account Setup Process
- Registration: Create account with email
- Email Verification: Confirm email address
- Phone Verification: Verify phone number
- Identity Verification: Upload government ID
- Address Verification: Upload proof of address
- Account Approval: Wait for verification (1-5 days)
- Start Trading: Deposit funds and begin trading
Trading Features
Trading Options
- Spot trading
- Instant buy/sell
- Recurring purchases
- Cross-platform trading
- Mobile trading
Order Types
- Market orders
- Limit orders
- Stop orders
- Advanced order types (limited)
Trading Tools
- Basic charting tools
- Technical indicators
- Price alerts
- Portfolio tracking
- Trading history
- Tax reporting tools
Payment Methods
- Credit/Debit cards (Visa, Mastercard)
- Bank transfers (SEPA, ACH, Wire)
- SWIFT transfers
- Cryptocurrency deposits
- Apple Pay (in some regions)
Security & Asset Protection
Asset Protection
- 98% cold storage
- Multi-signature security
- Insurance coverage for digital assets
- Segregated customer funds
- Regular security audits
- Compliance with banking standards
Account Security
- Two-factor authentication (2FA)
- Email notifications
- Login history tracking
- Device management
- Withdrawal confirmations
- Anti-phishing measures
Customer Support
Support Channels
- 24/7 live chat
- Email support
- Phone support (premium users)
- Comprehensive help center
- Video tutorials
- Community forums
Support Quality
- Response time: 1-4 hours
- Multi-language support
- Knowledgeable support team
- Detailed documentation
- Educational content
Mobile Application
Features
- Full trading functionality
- Instant buy/sell
- Portfolio management
- Price alerts and notifications
- Secure biometric login
- Real-time market data
- Easy fund transfers
Availability
- iOS App Store
- Google Play Store
- Regular updates
- High user ratings
- Intuitive design
Educational Resources
Learning Materials
- CEX.IO University
- Cryptocurrency guides
- Trading tutorials
- Market analysis
- Investment strategies
- Security best practices
Tools and Calculators
- Profit/loss calculator
- Mining profitability calculator
- Currency converter
- Fee calculator
- Tax reporting tools
Regulatory Environment
Current Compliance
- FCA registration in UK
- FinCEN MSB license in US
- Multiple state licenses
- GDPR compliance
- AML/KYC procedures
- Regular regulatory reporting
Geographic Restrictions
- Available in 99+ countries
- Restricted in some US states
- Compliance with local regulations
- Ongoing expansion efforts
Technology Platform
Infrastructure
- High-performance trading engine
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
- Scalable cloud architecture
- Global server distribution
- Real-time processing
- API availability
API Features
- REST API
- WebSocket connections
- Real-time market data
- Order management
- Account information
- Third-party integrations
Future Development
Roadmap
- Expanded cryptocurrency offerings
- Enhanced trading features
- DeFi integration
- Institutional services
- Geographic expansion
Recent Updates
- Improved mobile app
- Enhanced security features
- New payment methods
- Additional trading pairs
- Regulatory compliance updates
Summary
CEX.IO stands out as one of the most regulated and established cryptocurrency exchanges in the industry. With over a decade of operation and licenses from multiple respected financial authorities, the platform offers a high level of trust and security that appeals to conservative investors and institutions. The exchange's strong focus on compliance, security, and customer protection makes it an excellent choice for beginners and those prioritizing safety over advanced features.
However, this regulatory compliance and security focus comes at a cost. CEX.IO's fees are higher than many competitors, particularly for credit card purchases and instant transactions. The platform also offers a more limited selection of cryptocurrencies compared to newer exchanges, and lacks advanced trading features like margin trading or sophisticated order types.
The platform excels in user experience, offering intuitive interfaces, comprehensive educational resources, and excellent customer support. The ability to purchase cryptocurrencies with credit cards and support for multiple fiat currencies makes it particularly accessible to newcomers to the cryptocurrency space.
For users prioritizing security, regulatory compliance, and ease of use over low fees and extensive cryptocurrency selection, CEX.IO represents an excellent choice. The platform is particularly well-suited for beginners, conservative investors, and those in regions where regulatory compliance is a priority.
Rating: 4.0/5 - A highly regulated and secure platform with excellent user experience, though with higher fees and limited advanced features.
