Centralized Exchanges · Review
ActiveCEX.IO Review 2026: Long-Running Exchange With KYC
CEX.IO is a centralized crypto exchange founded in 2013 and registered in the UK, offering spot and margin trading, card purchases, staking and a crypto card. It suits users who want a regulated-style on-ramp, but fees are not published in the material reviewed.
By the DappsAtlas editorial team · Updated
DappsAtlas score
7.4/10
Good
Our verdict on CEX.IO
7.4/10CEX.IO suits beginners and mid-level traders who want a custodial exchange with card purchases, spot and margin trading, and staking in one place. Its strengths are its history since 2013, wide funding options and the compliance claims it makes, including FinCEN MSB registration. The main caveat is that fees are not published in the material reviewed, and as a custodial service it carries counterparty risk. Confirm fees and availability in your country before depositing.
Score breakdown
How CEX.IO scores
- Security
- 6.5/10
- Ease of use
- 8.0/10
- Fees
- n/a
- Features
- 8.0/10
Scores run from 0 to 10 and are based only on facts we could verify. Where information was missing we mark the score n/a rather than guess.
What is CEX.IO?
CEX.IO is a centralized cryptocurrency exchange that says it was established in 2013 and is registered in the UK. It offers spot and margin trading, card purchases, staking, a crypto card and an institutional service called CEX.IO Prime.
The homepage claims over 15 million users, $7.5 billion in deposits and operations across 185+ countries. These are company figures and are not independently verified here. It also cites FinCEN MSB registration in the US and PCI DSS Level 1 audits.
DefiLlama lists it under centralized exchanges across 13 chains, with about $930K in tracked TVL and no audits listed. As a centralized exchange, most of its activity sits off-chain, so those figures say little about its size.
How CEX.IO works
CEX.IO is a centralized exchange. Users create an account, pass identity checks, and deposit fiat or crypto into balances held by the platform. Trades match on an internal order book (spot and margin), or through instant services such as card purchases and the converter.
Because balances are held by the exchange, users do not control private keys for funds on the platform. Withdrawals go out to an external wallet or bank, depending on the asset and region.
The homepage also describes staking and savings products, a crypto card, and an institutional arm called CEX.IO Prime. DefiLlama tracks the exchange under its CEX category, covering assets on chains such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Tron and others.
7 features
Key features
01
Spot and margin trading
Spot trading plus margin trading with up to 20x leverage, aimed at both beginners and more advanced traders.
02
Instant Buy by card
Buy BTC, ETH, XRP, LTC and 300+ other assets with Visa, Mastercard or e-wallets once verified. The homepage lists over 100 fiat-to-crypto pairs.
03
Crypto Converter and swaps
A no-order-book converter lets eligible users exchange assets instantly without placing an order.
04
Staking and Savings
Flexible Staking and Savings with up to 12% advertised, excluded in the US and EEA.
05
Wallet and internal transfers
A free wallet to store, convert and withdraw to fiat, with zero-fee transfers between CEX.IO accounts.
06
CEX.IO Prime for institutions
CEX.IO Prime offers enterprise-level liquidity for institutional clients, alongside retail tools.
07
Mobile app and crypto card
iOS and Android apps for trading, price alerts and portfolio tracking, plus a crypto card payment option mentioned in the DefiLlama description.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Operating since 2013, a long history for a crypto exchange.
- Company says it is a FinCEN-registered MSB and has passed PCI DSS Level 1 audits.
- Card, bank transfer and e-wallet funding, including SEPA, SWIFT and Faster Payments.
- Instant Buy covers 300+ assets, with over 100 fiat pairs listed.
- Spot, margin, converter, staking and a wallet in one platform.
- Services for both retail users and institutions through CEX.IO Prime.
Watch out for
- Fees for spot, margin, Instant Buy and withdrawals are not given in the material reviewed, so costs cannot be compared up front.
- Identity verification (KYC) is required before buying or depositing, which rules out anonymous use.
- Staking and Savings (up to 12%) are not available in the US and EEA.
- It is a custodial exchange, so users depend on the company to hold and return their funds.
- DefiLlama lists no audits and only about $930K in tracked TVL, with a 33.9% drop over seven days, so on-chain data is thin.
- Margin trading with up to 20x leverage can magnify losses quickly.
CEX.IO fees
Fee schedules are not published in the material reviewed. The homepage mentions transparent fees for margin trading, zero-fee transfers between CEX.IO accounts, and a promotion of up to 1,000 USDC to cover spot trading fees after a first trade.
Spot, margin, Instant Buy card, conversion and withdrawal fees would be shown on the exchange's own fee page and at checkout before you confirm. Card purchases on exchanges commonly cost more than order-book trades, so compare the total before buying.
Is CEX.IO safe?
CEX.IO is custodial, so the main risk is counterparty risk: you rely on the exchange to safeguard and return your assets. The homepage cites FinCEN MSB registration and PCI DSS Level 1 certification. MSB registration is not the same as full regulatory approval for every service, and these claims come from the company itself. DefiLlama lists no audits for the platform.
The material reviewed does not describe any incidents, proof-of-reserves details or insurance. Check current regulatory status for your country, turn on two-factor authentication, and avoid keeping more on the exchange than you need. Margin trading carries a high risk of loss.
6 steps
How to get started with CEX.IO
- 1
Check that CEX.IO supports your country and that the services you want are available there.
- 2
Create an account on the website or app.
- 3
Complete identity verification, which the homepage says takes under five minutes.
- 4
Deposit crypto or buy with a card, bank transfer or e-wallet, and review the fees shown at checkout.
- 5
Start with a small spot trade or purchase before trying margin or staking.
- 6
Turn on security options such as two-factor authentication and review withdrawal settings.
Who CEX.IO is for
CEX.IO is for people who want a regulated-style, KYC-based exchange to buy crypto with a card or bank transfer, trade spot, and optionally try margin or staking. It also targets institutions through CEX.IO Prime. It is less suitable for users who want self-custody or anonymous access.
CEX.IO FAQs
Is CEX.IO legit?
CEX.IO describes itself as established in 2013 and registered in the UK. Its homepage says it is a licensed Money Services Business registered with FinCEN in the US and has passed PCI DSS Level 1 audits. Those are the company's own claims, so check the regulatory status for your region.
Does CEX.IO require KYC?
Yes. The homepage says users complete identity verification, which it describes as taking under five minutes, before they can buy or deposit crypto. Requirements can vary by region.
How can I buy crypto on CEX.IO?
The homepage mentions credit and debit cards (Visa and Mastercard), bank transfers and e-wallets. It also lists SEPA, SWIFT and Faster Payments for fiat on- and off-ramps in the US and EU. Availability depends on your country.
Does CEX.IO offer margin trading?
The homepage states margin trading with up to 20x leverage. Leverage raises both gains and losses, so it suits experienced traders who understand liquidation risk.
Can I earn interest or staking rewards on CEX.IO?
The homepage advertises up to 12% from flexible Staking and Savings, but says it is not available in the US and EEA. Actual rates depend on the asset and can change, so check the current terms in the app.
What promotions does CEX.IO run?
The homepage offers up to 1,000 USDC to cover spot trading fees after a first spot trade, and a referral program paying 30% of friends' activity. Terms and eligibility are not detailed in the material reviewed, so read the conditions before relying on them.
Compare
CEX.IO alternatives
OKX is a major centralized crypto exchange for spot and derivatives trading, earn products and a Web3 wallet, with its own OKB token.
Robinhood is a US brokerage app offering commission-free stocks, options, futures and custodial crypto trading for retail investors.
Gate is a centralized crypto exchange founded in 2013 offering spot, futures, stocks and earn products for traders who want one multi-asset account.
Bitget is a centralized exchange for crypto spot and futures that also offers tokenized stocks, commodities and forex in one account, for active traders.
Deribit is a centralized crypto derivatives exchange known for Bitcoin and Ethereum options, plus futures, perpetuals and spot, aimed at active and institutiona
Backpack is a crypto exchange, US stock broker and self-custody wallet offering perps, lending yield and cross-collateral margin in one app.
Same category
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Bitvavo is an Amsterdam-based, MiCA-authorized crypto exchange offering 400+ assets, euro deposits, staking and leverage trading for European users.
Crypto.com is a centralized crypto exchange and app for buying, trading and spending 400+ coins, with a Visa card, staking and a separate self-custody wallet.
Coinsquare is a CIRO-registered Canadian crypto exchange with 60+ coins, staking and a wealth service, now described as part of Robinhood.
SwissBorg is a MiCA-regulated European crypto app that aggregates exchanges for trading, with Auto-Invest, Earn and a BORG loyalty token.
Phemex is a centralized crypto exchange offering spot, futures up to 150X, copy trading, bots and earn products for retail and active traders.
NBX is a Norwegian, MiCA-authorized centralized crypto exchange listed on Euronext Growth Oslo, built for Nordic users trading in kroner.
Same chain
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Aave V3 is a non-custodial DeFi lending protocol on 21 chains where users earn interest on deposits or borrow against collateral.
Uniswap V4 is the latest Uniswap DEX version with hooks and concentrated liquidity, running on 22 chains for self-custody token swaps and liquidity provision.
Uniswap V3 is a non-custodial decentralized exchange protocol for token swaps and concentrated liquidity provision across 40+ chains.
DeFi Saver is a non-custodial tool for managing and automating leveraged lending positions across major DeFi protocols on Ethereum and layer-2 networks.
LayerZero V2 is a cross-chain messaging protocol and bridge infrastructure for developers and asset issuers, connecting dozens of blockchains.
Guides
Guides that mention CEX.IO
Blockchain
Aptos Blockchain Guide: How It Works, APT, Move and StakingAptos is a proof-of-stake layer-1 built around the Move language and parallel transaction execution. This guide covers how it works, what APT does, how to use wallets, staking and bridges, and where to check live data.
DeFi
How to Earn Passive Income by Staking on Crypto.comStaking on Crypto.com lets you lock supported coins to earn rewards without running a validator. This guide covers how to start, what shapes your returns, and what can go wrong.
DeFi
How to Stake Crypto and Earn Passive Income in 2026: A GuideStaking pays you in the same token you lock up, but the return comes with market, technical and custody risk. This guide covers how it works, the four main ways to stake, how to compare yields, and what to check before you commit funds.
Blockchain
What Is Cosmos? The Internet of Blockchains Explained (2026)Cosmos is a network of independent, interoperable blockchains built with shared open-source tools and linked by the IBC protocol. This guide explains how it works, what ATOM does, how staking and transfers work, and the risks to understand first.
DeFi
What Is Crypto Staking and How Does It Benefit You?Staking lets holders of proof-of-stake coins lock tokens to help secure a network and earn rewards in return. Here is how it works, where the rewards come from, the main ways to stake, and the risks to weigh first.
DeFi
What Is Crypto Staking? A Plain-English Guide for 2026Staking lets holders of proof-of-stake coins earn rewards by locking tokens to help secure a network. This guide covers how it works, where rewards come from, the main ways to stake and the risks to weigh first.
How we checked
Sources
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