A lot of exchange reviews online are adverts in disguise. We want each of ours to answer a more practical question: can you legally use this platform where you live, what does it really cost, and who do you turn to if something goes wrong?
Our seven exchange reviews and scores
Scores match our home page and the best crypto exchanges ranking. Tap "Read" to open the full review.
- Editor's pick
CEX.IOFounded 2013 · card purchases
One of the clearest sign-up and card-purchase flows among international platforms; FinCEN-registered in the US with money-transmitter licences in 30+ states and PCI DSS Level 1. No Asian licence; not for residents of Japan, Singapore or India.
- Spot 0.15% / 0.25%
- Card 0.49–4.99% + service charge
-
BinanceThe largest exchange
First for coins, liquidity and P2P reach. Licensing varies wildly by country, and the review spells out where it is licensed and where it is blocked.
- Spot 0.10% / 0.10%
- Local entities in JP · TH · Dubai
-
OKXExchange + Web3 wallet
A clean pro interface and a Web3 wallet popular with Chinese-speaking users. Withdrew its Hong Kong application; blocked in Thailand and the Philippines.
- Entities in SG · Dubai · JP
-
KrakenLongest clean security record
Never lost customer funds to a hack and has the longest-running audited proof of reserves. Few Asian fiat options; left Japan.
- Instant buy 1%
- Pro tier 1: 0.40% / 0.80%
-
CoinbaseUS-listed company
The friendliest interface for beginners, a MAS licence in Singapore and rupee rails in India. Simple buy is expensive.
- MAS licence in Singapore
-
BybitHeadquartered in Dubai
Covered a roughly $1.4 billion hack within 72 hours in 2025. Licensed in the UAE and Kazakhstan; unavailable in Japan, Thailand and the Philippines.
- Licensed in UAE · Kazakhstan
-
Crypto.comApp + Visa card
A polished app with card purchases at about 2.99%. Licensed in Singapore and Dubai; still only a "deemed-to-be-licensed" applicant in Hong Kong.
- Licensed in SG · Dubai
How each review is done
- Run the full flow
Register, verify ID, deposit and buy a small amount on desktop and phone, then withdraw to our own wallet.
- Check the licence
Only regulator websites count: the SFC list in Hong Kong, the FSA register in Japan, VARA's register in Dubai and so on.
- Add up the real cost
Trading fee, spread, card fee and withdrawal fee together, not the headline on the marketing page.
- Score six areas
Licensing and compliance, availability in Asia, costs, asset security, website and app experience, support and withdrawals.
The licence sources are listed at the foot of every review, for example the SFC's list of licensed platforms. The full scoring rules are on our methodology page, and exchange safety and licences shows how to check a licence yourself.
Finished reading and want to try it? Buy a small amount by card and the whole flow takes minutes.Visa · Mastercard · Apple Pay · Google Pay
Buy your first coinFAQ
How do you review crypto exchanges?
On desktop and mobile we complete the full flow: registration, ID verification, a deposit, a small purchase and a withdrawal to our own wallet. We then check licences on the regulators' own websites and score six areas out of 10: licensing and compliance, availability in Asia, real costs, asset security, website and app experience, and support and withdrawals.
Do exchanges pay for better scores?
No. Platforms cannot buy a ranking or a score. CEX.IO is the platform our main buttons point to; it is scored on the same six criteria, and its weak points are written up like anyone else's, including that it holds no licence from any Asian regulator and does not accept residents of Japan, Singapore or India.
How often are the reviews updated?
We re-check regulator lists and headline fees monthly, and update a review promptly after major events such as a hack, a licence being withdrawn or an exit from a country. Each review states when its data was last checked; the current round is October 2026.
Sources
- SFC — Lists of virtual asset trading platforms · checked Oct 2026
- Japan FSA — Registered crypto-asset exchange service providers (PDF) · as of 1 Sep 2026
Ready for your first coin?
Sign-up and ID checks take a few minutes; then you can buy Bitcoin, Ether or USDT with a card or Apple Pay.
International licensed platform · operating since 2013 · Visa / Mastercard / Apple Pay