Bitfinex review
Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Bitfinex suits active traders who want to pay nothing per trade on a custodial exchange with card and bank deposits. Trading costs are the draw: the taker fee sits at 0% and the maker fee at 0%. The coin list of 63 is thinner than the category average.
Key facts
- Best for
- Traders who want free trading fees and a long-running exchange.
- Taker fee
- 0%↗
- Coins listed
- 63↗
- Regulators
- Digital Assets Service Provider - El Salvador↗
- Fiat deposit methods
- Card, Bank↗
- Maker fee
- 0%↗
- Proof of reserves
- Yes↗
- Withdrawal fee
- Bank wire 0.1% (min 100 USD/Euro)↗
- Derivatives
- Yes↗
- Exchange type
- Cex↗
- Legal entity
- iFinex Inc.↗
- Headquarters
- Virgin Islands, British↗
- Founded
- 2012↗
- Support channels
- Chat, Help-centre, Community↗
- Features
- Custodial, Staking
- Official website
- bitfinex.com
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 6 sources
Pros and cons
Pros
- Taker fee of 0% and maker fee of 0% make trading costless
- Proof of reserves is published, so holdings can be checked
- Derivatives and staking are both available
- Fiat deposits run by card and bank transfer through card and bank
Cons
- A coin list of 63 sits below the 71.5 median for exchanges
- Regulator is Digital Assets Service Provider El Salvador, with no UK or European authorisation listed
- Support runs on chat, help centre and community only, so there is no phone line or email
Who it suits
- Traders chasing the lowest trading cost on a long-established venue
- Anyone already holding crypto who wants to stake or trade derivatives
Who should look elsewhere
- People wanting the widest coin selection, where the list of 63 is limited
- UK or European buyers who want a locally authorised provider, since the licence is Digital Assets Service Provider El Salvador
- Anyone who needs phone support, as help runs on chat, help centre and community only
Fees and currency costs
Trading itself is free: the taker fee is 0% and the maker fee is 0%, against a 0.25% to 1.99% taker fee at bunq and 1% at eToro. Moving fiat out is not free, since the withdrawal fee reads Bank wire 0.1% (min 100 USD/Euro). A bank wire at that rate suits larger transfers, while smaller amounts carry a higher effective cost. No monthly or account charge appears in the listed charges.
Who runs it
Bitfinex runs as iFinex Inc., registered in Virgin Islands, British and trading since 2012, which makes it one of the longest-standing venues in the category. Help is available through chat, help centre and community, so questions are handled in the platform rather than by phone. Its licence is a Digital Assets Service Provider registration in El Salvador, not a UK or European authorisation.
How Bitfinex compares
9.4 vs 9.5
9.4 vs 9.3
9.4 vs 9.4
9.4 vs 9.4
9.4 vs 8.5
9.4 vs 9.4
9.4 vs 8.7
9.4 vs 9.2A taker fee of 1% suits broader investors rather than cost-focused active traders.
9.4 vs 9.4
9.4 vs 8.7
9.4 vs 9.3
9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 9.2
9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 8.6
9.4 vs 8.3
9.4 vs 9.4
9.4 vs 9.4
9.4 vs 9.3
9.4 vs 9.3
9.4 vs 9.3
9.4 vs 9.3
9.4 vs 9.3
9.4 vs 9.2
9.4 vs 9.2
9.4 vs 9.2
9.4 vs 9.2
9.4 vs 9.1
9.4 vs 9.1
9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 8.9
9.4 vs 8.5
9.4 vs 8.4- 9.4 vs 8.0
Where Bitfinex is available
- Licence in El Salvador
- Digital Assets Service Provider - El Salvador, checked September 26, 2026
Frequently asked questions
What does it cost to trade on Bitfinex?+
Trading is charged at 0% for taker trades and 0% for maker trades, so orders carry no trading fee. Compared with the 0.25% median taker fee across the category, this is the cheapest end of the market.
What does it charge to withdraw money?+
The withdrawal fee reads Bank wire 0.1% (min 100 USD/Euro), which is a percentage charge with a floor rather than a flat cost. Anyone cashing out small amounts will pay a higher effective rate, while larger transfers suit the percentage structure better.
How many coins can I trade?+
The exchange lists 63 coins, which is fewer than the 74.5 median for exchanges in this ranking. Traders who only hold the larger names are well covered, while those hunting obscure tokens will look elsewhere.
Is Bitfinex regulated?+
Bitfinex holds a Digital Assets Service Provider licence in El Salvador, listed under Digital Assets Service Provider El Salvador. No UK or European authorisation appears, so buyers in those markets should treat the regulatory protections as limited.
How can I fund my account with cash?+
Fiat deposits run by card and bank, covering card and bank transfer. That gives a direct route from a UK or European bank without needing a separate on-ramp, and the same methods cover withdrawals.
Does Bitfinex show proof of reserves?+
Proof of reserves is published, which is a plus in a category where only 79.7% of exchanges do the same. It lets account holders check that reported balances match assets held.
Can I earn yield or trade derivatives on Bitfinex?+
Yes. Derivatives are supported, and custodial and staking lists staking alongside custodial custody, so idle balances can work for holders. Because custody is custodial, the platform holds the assets rather than the user.
How do I get help if something goes wrong?+
Support is available through chat, help centre and community, which covers chat, a help centre and community channels. There is no phone line or email in the listed channels, so urgent issues have to go through chat.
Sources
- coingecko.com/en/exchanges/bitfinex checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Coins listed, Founded, Exchange type, Headquarters, Legal entity, Regulators, Licences
“id=bitfinex; coins=63; pairs=138”
- defillama.com/cex/bitfinex checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Proof of reserves
“slug=bitfinex; category=CEX; tvl=19976966778.68185”
- support.bitfinex.com/hc/en-us/articles/360036965234-The-B... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Support channels
“Chat support Need help? Our support team is available 24/7 to assist you with any issues.”
- bitfinex.com/about checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Features
“Spot trading Margin trading Borrow Staking”
- bitfinex.com/deposits-withdrawals checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Fiat deposit methods
“You can use a bank card, make a wire transfer or use a stablecoin - you decide.”
- bitfinex.com/features checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Derivatives
“Take a view on future price movements with Bitfinex Derivatives. Trade perpetual contracts”
- bitfinex.com/fees checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Maker fee, Taker fee, Withdrawal fee
“Spot and Margin trades ... Maker fees Zero”
Compiled from 7 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.