CEX.IO Review

Want to start trading cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dash, or Stellar, but don't know which exchange to use? That's only natural since you have so many options, including Binance, Kraken, and Bybit, among others. In this CEX.IO review, however, I'll talk about one of the oldest yet still prominent crypto exchanges.

I'll cover it all – what is CEX.IO, how it came to be, is CEX.IO safe, what are the advantages and disadvantages of the platform, which digital currencies you can buy, sell and trade on it, its security features, CEX.IO fees, and much more.

By the end of my CEX.IO review, you should be able to decide if CEX.IO is the right cryptocurrency exchange for you. With so much to cover, we should probably begin! Let’s see what this popular exchange has to offer.

Verdict at a glance: CEX.IO is a solid choice for beginners due to its user-friendly interface, strong security measures, and broad support for both cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies. Besides, CEX.IO is a regulated crypto exchange. While it may lack some advanced trading features, it offers a decent range of services, including spot trading, a crypto wallet, earning features, and even a crypto debit card.

Carlos Diaz

PhD Researcher in Business Innovation at RMIT University

What are the key differences between centralized and decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges?

CEX acts as a third-party intermediary between buyers and sellers, while DEX runs on code, which allows buyers and sellers to meet directly into the platform and exchange via smart contracting without the need for a third party. Nowadays, however, CEX provides more liquidity and less costly transaction fees than DEX.

What is CEX.IO?

Let's start this CEX.IO review from the basics. CEX.IO is a cryptocurrency exchange platform. It accepts multiple deposit types and supports a variety of digital assets. It's great for both advanced users and beginners getting started with buying and selling cryptocurrencies.

CEX.IO was founded in London, UK, in 2013. Originally, it was a cloud mining provider that owned the GHash.io mining pool. Back in 2014, GHash.io was one of the largest mining pools around.

By the way, cloud mining is a process of mining a cryptocurrency in a group or a pool. Users share processing power in the cloud, meaning they don’t need to own their own hardware. They are paid out a share of every block reward the pool earns.

In early 2015, the decision was made by CEX.IO to stop providing cloud mining services. This was based on the low Bitcoin price at the time, as well as the fact that the company didn’t own any mining hardware. The GHash.io mining pool ceased operation.

However, CEX.IO lived on, functioning as a cryptocurrency exchange platform up to this day. The platform is collectively managed by CEX.IO Corp. (which serves United States residents), CEX.IO EU VASP, UAB (which serves Lithuanian residents), and CEX OVRS LLC (which serves customers all over the world).

Now that we've got the basics down, let's see if this cryptocurrency exchange is worth your attention.

CEX.IO Review: PROS

What is the best way to decide if a platform is worth it? Well, I'd say it's by looking into everything it does well and also what it lacks. So, let me provide you with the pros and cons of the CEX.IO cryptocurrency exchange (I'll start with the pros).

Secure and Regulated

If you were wondering, "Is CEX.IO legit?" or "Is CEX.IO safe?", the answer is: it seems that it is. The site is certainly legit, as CEX.IO Corp. (the entity that serves traders in the United States) is registered as a Money Service Business with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The exchange has also expanded its services within the US, with MTL licenses that allow it to serve 35 different states.

Moreover, CEX.IO EU VASP, UAB, is registered as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in Lithuania.

Besides, CEX.IO provides users with protection under the PCI DSS certificate. This means it has proven itself to have a sufficient level of security to store, process, and transmit payment card data.

When it comes to the security aspect of CEX.IO, it must also be mentioned that the exchange supports measures such as double 2FA (two-factor authentication). This means that you can authenticate logins to your account both via your phone and an authenticator app. This really does add extra security to the platform!

That said, when trying to answer the question "Is CEX.IO safe?", never forget that it is still a cryptocurrency exchange, and no such platform is invincible. Even though, as of May 2024, CEX.IO has never been hacked, the fact that it stores vast amounts of different currencies still makes it a big target for hackers.

The history of the digital currency world is full of examples of exchanges being hacked^[1], and we cannot be sure that the future will be different. This is why you should never store large amounts of cryptocurrencies on an exchange! Instead, you should consider using a secure wallet (preferably a hardware wallet), such as Ledger Nano X, for example.

Supports a Variety of Crypto and Fiat Currencies

There are quite a few different digital assets that you can buy using either Bitcoin or fiat currencies on the exchange. To be more precise, CEX.IO offers users over 200 different cryptocurrencies, which equates to more than double the amount of trading pairs.

Those numbers are nothing to scoff at! CEX.IO lists most of the better-known coins and tokens, and allows users to both exchange them with one another or use fiat money for their crypto acquisition wants and needs. This is a point boasted in many CEX.IO reviews.

Speaking of fiat currencies, the fact that it accepts them is one of the best things about CEX.IO. This makes it useful for people from many different countries. However, do note that the list of fiat currencies that are supported by CEX.IO is not the longest; as of writing, it supports United States dollars (USD), Euros (EUR), and Pound Sterlings (GBP).

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Trade, Earn, and Learn in One Platform

Speaking of buying crypto with fiat, you can do that via the Instant Buy feature on CEX.IO. The best part is that CEX.IO accepts various payment methods, including:

• Visa
• MasterCard
• Google / Apple Pay
• SWIFT
• ACH
• Faster Payments
• SEPA
• Open Banking
• NETELLER
• PayPal
• Epay
• Skrill

This variety of payment methods makes everything super simple for new users. CEX IO EU Limited also provides card processing services to clients from the European Economic Area (EEA). However, note that the availability of card payments depends on the country you reside in.

Of course, crypto purchasing is not the only feature offered by the exchange. It wouldn't be a proper exchange without crypto trading, right? Well, CEX.IO provides users with spot trading. What I've noticed is that the trading interface, while having all the necessary bells and whistles, actually looks less scary than those on some other exchanges. That's great news for beginners, for sure!

Plus, note that CEX.IO does provide users with trading API, which might be a handy feature for more advanced traders. Also, when talking about advanced trading, I must mention CEX.IO Prime, which is an institutional-grade crypto-fiat service provider for businesses. To use this feature, though, you would have to create a business account.

Apart from trading, CEX.IO is also all about convenient crypto storage, which is why it provides users with the CEX.IO Wallet. You can access it via the web or a mobile app (both on iOS and Android devices). Besides, you can also buy crypto with fiat using the wallet, as well as instantly change one crypto for another inside it.

Is that all there is to CEX.IO features? Nope. Another feature favored in many user CEX.IO reviews is its earning program. CEX.IO Earn consists of two mechanisms: savings and staking.

The savings feature is exactly what it sounds like – you transfer your crypto into a savings account and keep it there to generate rewards. It's a low-risk earning mechanism that can yield up to 5% rewards.

Initially, there was only flexible savings available, which allows to withdraw your funds at any time. However, CEX.IO has also introduced locked savings, which yields even higher returns, but it does require you to keep your funds locked for a certain time period (30-90 days).

The staking feature works pretty much like locked savings. You simply stake your coins (aka, lock them up in your account) and generate rewards. However, by staking your tokens, you contribute to transaction processing and new block creation in the Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism of the asset in question. Thus, staking is a higher-risk earning method, but it also yields higher rewards on CEX.IO, up to 30% to be exact.

If all I'm talking about seems a bit intimidating, don't worry, the exchange also provides learning materials via the CEX.IO University. There, you can find beginner, intermediate, and advanced level lessons about various crypto topics.

By the way, if you want to learn about crypto and Web3 in a gamified and exciting way, and win some amazing prizes at the same time, make sure to check out BitDegree Missions.

Now, the best part about all of the aforementioned features is that they are very simple to navigate. Thus, browsing the CEX.IO website is very easy, even for a complete beginner. If you do face any issues, though, CEX.IO has pretty good customer support, which can be accessed via email or live chat.

CEX.IO Crypto Debit Card

There's one more feature I must mention in this CEX.IO review – its crypto debit card, which was launched in May 2024. The CEX.IO crypto debit card makes it easier than ever to spend your crypto like cash. Available for free to EEA residents (it might become available for others in the future, too), this MasterCard-powered card is accepted by over 30 million merchants in more than 150 countries, ensuring you can use it virtually anywhere.

With no annual, maintenance, or foreign exchange fees, the CEX.IO card offers a commission-free experience for all your transactions. You can effortlessly top up your card using commission-free bank transfers and open banking transactions. Additionally, the card supports Apple Pay and Google Pay, allowing you to pay for goods and services with your preferred crypto in just a few taps.

Any crypto asset supported by the CEX.IO exchange can be used with this crypto debit card. By the way, you can also deposit Euros into your CEX.IO card and use them to pay for goods, too. Just note that there are some limits – you can pay up to €3,000 daily, and €10,000 monthly.

Such a type of card might just be the future of payment card systems, solving several issues that exist today^[2].

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CEX.IO Review: CONS

Now that we've discussed all the pros in this CEX.IO review, let's flip the coin and discuss its cons. Honestly, though, there's not that much to point out.

Lack of Advanced Trading Features

The main con of CEX.IO can also be a pro for some – it doesn't have that many features for advanced users. For example, the only type of trading it offers is spot trading. There's no futures, margin, or other types of trading.

It did offer margin trade options (trading using borrowed money) via the CEX.IO Broker in the past, but it doesn't seem to be an option anymore.

Also, if you're looking for any other innovative features, like copy trading, trading bots, advanced earning tools, and whatnot, you won't find them on CEX.IO either (the closest to that you can find is the API trading feature). Overall, the platform keeps it simple, which is great for beginners!

If you are after more advanced features, though, make sure to check out Binance or Bybit. These exchanges provide a huge variety of features for both beginners and seasoned crypto enthusiasts.

CEX.IO Fees

Another important part of any CEX.IO review is discussing its fees. After all, it can be a make-it-or-break-it aspect for many.

So, trading fee-wise, CEX.IO fees for market makers start at 0.15% and end at 0%, while market taker fees start at 0.25% and go all the way down to 0.01%. The fees depend on your 30-day trading volume (the value of the traded crypto assets).

All things considered, these are some of the better fees out there, even if you're going to trade crypto in small sums!

When it comes to CEX.IO fees for deposits and withdrawals, fiat deposits differ based on the payment method. For example, Visa, MasterCard, and Google / Apple Pay deposit fees are 2.99% – 3.99% + service charge (varies by provider and country). Fiat withdrawals differ based on the payment method, too. Visa withdrawals, for instance, have an up to 3% + $1.20 service charge and up to $3.80 commission.

Speaking of CEX.IO fees for crypto deposits and withdrawals – deposits are free, while withdrawals differ based on the asset in question. For instance, the Bitcoin withdrawal fee is 0.0005 BTC, while the Ethereum withdrawal fee is 0.006 ETH.

You can find full information about CEX.IO withdrawal and deposit fees on their official website.

How to Sign Up on CEX.IO?

If you've read my CEX.IO review and decided that it is an exchange for you, here's a guide on how to sign up on it:

Step 1: Go to the CEX.IO homepage, click the [Register] button at the top right corner of the screen, and then click [Create your account].

By the way, apart from a personal account, there is the possibility of creating a business account, too, but I'll focus on the former.

Step 2: Fill in the required information, which includes your country of residence, email, and the password you plan to use.

You must also confirm that you're at least 18 years old and that you have read CEX.IO's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy (make sure to actually read them, though).

Step 3: The next thing you'll need to do is confirm your email address. You can do this by typing in the verification code you've received in your email or clicking the verification button you'll find there.

Step 4: The last step is your identity verification. I'll discuss it further in the next chapter.

After you complete the verification, you'll be all set up to start using CEX.IO!

CEX.IO Account Verification

Account verification is an important and sometimes confusing process. So, I want to discuss it in more detail in my CEX.IO review.

Let's start with the fact that your account can be either basic or verified. However, trust me, you'll want to reach the “verified” account tier.

You see, the basic account on CEX.IO is the default account that you will create as soon as you sign up for CEX.IO. In the past, it allowed you to make fiat deposits using a Visa or MasterCard. Now, though, it doesn't allow even that. You can only explore CEX.IO a bit, but even that will not be the most pleasant experience, as a window asking you to verify your identity or log out will keep popping up.

If you want to do anything on the platform, you will have to verify your identity. Don’t worry, though, it's pretty easy (I'll explain the process a bit further in my CEX.IO review). Users with verified accounts can use various payment methods for deposits and withdrawals, as well as use any other features provided by CEX.IO.

Though, there are several levels of account verification on CEX.IO: Identity, Address, and Enhanced.

With each level come different advantages. These include additional payment options as well as higher limits on transactions and withdrawals. The fiat and crypto deposit limits go from $3,000 worth of assets per day to an unlimited amount, while withdrawal limits begin at $10,000 worth of assets but end at an unlimited amount, too.

However, note that total account limits can also be associated with different payment methods. I will not list them out, but you can find them next to deposit and withdrawal fee information on CEX.IO.

There's also a different verification for business accounts, but I won’t be going into too much detail about them.

That said, let's move further in this CEX.IO review and go over the account verification process.

How to Get Your CEX.IO Account Verified?

You'll need to submit some personal information and documents to verify your account on CEX.IO. It’s all standard stuff, though. The information is needed to make sure the company complies with anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) regulations. By the way, if you're wondering, "Is CEX.IO legit?", this is one of the reasons why it is.

Follow the steps below carefully. If you don’t submit your documents in the way the company wants it, they will reject your request to upgrade your account and you’ll have to start again. By the way, in this CEX.IO review, I'll go over the verification steps for all KYC levels.

Step 1: First, you must fill in your address information. This includes country, ZIP code, province / state, street address, city, and apartment / suite info.

In the past, users needed to include their residential address (where they were living at the time of signing up to CEX.IO) and their permanent address. If the two were the same, there was an option to click the box labeled “same as residential”, which was next to the “permanent address” fields. However, you don't need to do this anymore.

Step 2: You'll also need to fill in the information about the source of your funds. Just pick the answers from the dropdown menu next to each question.

Step 3: Type in your phone number.

Step 4: Do the liveness check. You'll just have to move your face in the directions the camera asks you to. This is done to prove you're a human.

Step 5: Now, choose the type of identity document you'll use (this could be your passport or ID card). Once you do that, you'll have to submit a scan or photograph of your identity document. You can do that using your device's camera or by uploading the images after taking them with another device.

You must meet the following requirements, though:

• Copies of both sides of the document must be submitted;
• Scanned images must be in full color and in a high resolution;
• Documents must be in either .jpg, .gif, .png, .tiff, or .pdf format;
• The file must be no larger than 15MB.

If you'll use your device camera, you'll only need to consider the first two points.

Step 6: Then, you'll have to fill in the form with your personal information (it might be imported automatically from the document you provided earlier). This includes nationality, gender, first name, middle name (optional), last name, and date of birth. In the past, you also had to provide a place of birth and a link to your social media account, but it doesn't seem to be the case anymore.

Step 7: Lastly, you'll have to submit a selfie of yourself holding the document and a proof of address. The identity document must be issued by the government and must be the same as you used to fill in the above form. Just to remind you, accepted identity documents are national IDs and passports.

The selfie holding the identity document must include the owner of the document (you) holding the document. There are quite a few guidelines, and it can be difficult to get a clear enough shot. For this reason, it might be better to get a friend or relative to help you take a “selfie”. The photograph must meet the following criteria:

• You must be looking straight at the camera;
• The background must be light or a neutral color;
• The selfie itself must be in full color;
• No “red-eye”;
• Nothing obscuring the view of your face (sunglasses, hats, headbands, bandanas, etc.);
• The information on the document must be clearly visible.

The proof of residency document must also be a photograph or scan. It must include your address (the one stated in the verification form), the issue date of the document must be in the future (the document must be valid on the day it is submitted), and it must be no older than 3 months. Plus, the document must be written using the Latin alphabet (a, b, c, d…).

The following documents can be accepted as proof of residency documents: utility bill (not a mobile phone, TV contract, or printed internet bill), electricity bill, bank statement, tax return or council tax bill.

The CEX.IO support document does state that other proof of residency documents might be accepted, but you might want to contact customer support to find out which exactly.

Is CEX.IO for You?

Now that we've discussed all the pros and cons in this CEX.IO review, you might be wondering whether this platform is for you. Well, let me tell you one thing – CEX.IO is probably best for beginners, but some advanced users can also benefit from it (especially those who prefer simplicity).

Why CEX.IO is good for beginners? There are a few reasons for that:

• Very user-friendly interface. If you have no experience using a cryptocurrency exchange platform, CEX.IO will still be super easy to figure out. Even the advanced trading windows are clean and clutter-free.
• Great customer support. It can be a bit scary to buy digital currencies or participate in other crypto-related activities for the first time. Don't worry, though, the support section of the website has many FAQs. If that isn’t enough, contacting CEX.IO is easy, thanks to the email request form and the live chat.
• Not overcrowded with features. While CEX.IO does provide plenty of cool features, it's not overcrowded with advanced ones. This makes the initial platform navigation less scary.

Now, why is CEX.IO good for advanced users? Here's the answer:

• Various payment methods. It offers all the buying options you’d expect from an advanced platform. They’re presented on a clean and easy-to-navigate platform.
• API trading. CEX.IO provides free crypto API channels for advanced crypto traders, including WebSocket (WS) and REST.
• No limits for verified users. If you’re a master trader who has passed the enhanced KYC level on CEX.IO, you’ll be able to spin up huge profits and withdraw them with no trouble using a variety of different deposit and withdrawal methods.

At the end of the day, whether CEX.IO is a great choice for you or not, depends on your personal needs. If it's not, let's discuss a few alternatives.

CEX.IO Alternatives

I'll quickly go over a few great alternatives I've already mentioned before in my CEX.IO review.

Binance

Binance is one of the biggest global crypto exchanges, known for its extensive selection of digital assets (over 500) and advanced trading features. Catering to both novice and seasoned traders, Binance offers a user-friendly interface, competitive trading fees (starting at 0.1% for spot trading), and a wide array of tools for market analysis.

One of Binance's standout features is its robust security measures and an insurance fund to protect user assets. Additionally, Binance offers basically any innovative trading or earning tool there is. The platform also provides educational resources through Binance Academy, helping users stay informed about the latest in crypto.

Binance definitely stands as a strong alternative to CEX.IO, offering a versatile and secure trading environment.

Kraken

Kraken is a well-established crypto exchange known for its strong security protocols and comprehensive range of services (including various earning options and even an NFT marketplace). Founded in 2011, Kraken has built a reputation for reliability and transparency, making it a favorite among crypto enthusiasts. The platform offers a variety of trading pairs in its spot market, as well as advanced trading features such as margin trading and futures.

Even though it has plenty of features, the exchange is still very easy to navigate. For those looking for an alternative to CEX.IO, Kraken offers a secure and extensive platform with a strong focus on user-friendliness.

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Conclusions

So, that’s my CEX.IO review about one of the world’s most popular fiat-to-crypto exchanges. Now that you’ve finished reading this review, you should have a better idea of what the CEX.IO platform is, whether it's right for you, and is CEX.IO legit, in the first place.

With its numerous deposit options, multiple digital assets, and user-friendly design, it’s obvious why CEX.IO has been successful for so many years. However, while it's a great option for beginners or those who prefer simplicity, it does lack some advanced and innovative features other leading exchanges have.

If you think that CEX.IO doesn't offer enough for you, you might want to check out Binance, Kraken, or Bybit.

The content published on this website is not aimed to give any kind of financial, investment, trading, or any other form of advice. BitDegree.org does not endorse or suggest you to buy, sell or hold any kind of cryptocurrency. Before making financial investment decisions, do consult your financial advisor.

Scientific References

1. K.Q. Nguyen, T.J. Putniņš: 'Stealing Digital Assets: Evidence From Cryptocurrency Exchange Hacks';

2. D. Godfrey-Welch, R. Lagrois, J. Law, et al.: 'Blockchain in Payment Card Systems'.