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Poloniex review

Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

Poloniex suits active traders who want a long coin list and low spot costs. Taker fees of 0.025% to 0.09% sit at the lower end of this group, and 145 listed coins keep the range broad, with card and bank deposits and proof of reserves published.

Key facts

Best for
Low-cost spot trading across a long tail of coins.
Taker fee
0.025% to 0.09%↗
Coins listed
145↗
Fiat deposit methods
Card, Bank↗
Maker fee
0% to 0.09%↗
Proof of reserves
Yes↗
Derivatives
Yes↗
Exchange type
Cex↗
Headquarters
Seychelles↗
Founded
2014↗
Features
Custodial, Staking
Official website
poloniex.com

Facts checked September 26, 2026, 2 sources

Apps and profiles

Elsewhere
WikidataWikipediaXLinkedIn

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Taker fees of 0.025% to 0.09% sit below bunq at 0.25% to 1.99% and eToro at 1%.
  • Maker fees of 0% to 0.09% reward posting orders rather than taking them.
  • A coin list of 145 places it at 72 of 176 brands on listings.
  • Deposits run by card and bank, and proof of reserves is published.

Cons

  • Custody is custodial per custodial and staking, so balances sit on the exchange rather than in a wallet the holder controls.
  • The 145 listed coins fall short of the 392 upper quartile in this group, so the longest lists sit elsewhere.

Ready to try Poloniex?

Scored 9.5 / 10 by SumCue.

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Who it suits

  • Traders who post orders often, since maker fees of 0% to 0.09% are the cheaper side of the spread.
  • Anyone after a long tail of tokens, with 145 coins listed.
  • Holders who want staking alongside a custodial balance, both named in custodial and staking.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Self-custody seekers. Poloniex holds balances on its own books as custodial and staking shows, so bunq or Vivid Plus are worth checking on custody, accepting crypto costs of 0.25% to 1.99% or 2.25%.
  • Traders who need the longest coin lists. At 145 coins it sits below the 392 upper quartile here, so compare eToro at 1% before settling.

Fees and FX

Trading fees are the main cost here. Taker fees of 0.025% to 0.09% apply when a spot order is filled immediately against the order book, and maker fees of 0% to 0.09% apply when the order is added to the book and waits. Because maker fees run lower across the range, active traders who post orders rather than take them pay the smaller side of the spread on every trade.

The company behind it

Poloniex has been trading since 2014, so the platform has been through several full crypto cycles rather than a single run. The company sits in Seychelles, so the legal framework over the account is not a UK or European one. For readers who care where an exchange is domiciled, that shapes the risk picture as much as the fee list does.

How Poloniex compares

Frequently asked questions

What does it cost to trade on Poloniex?+

Trading fees depend on how your order is filled. Taker fees of 0.025% to 0.09% apply when a spot order is taken straight from the book, and maker fees of 0% to 0.09% apply when it is posted and waits. Placing orders rather than taking them keeps you on the cheaper side of the spread on each trade.

Is the money on the account protected?+

Poloniex is a central exchange, so your balance is held on the exchange's books rather than registered in your name. It publishes proof of reserves, which is the standard check that customer balances match the assets held. That custody model is the norm across this group, not the exception.

How do I add money to the account?+

Fiat deposits run by card and bank, so a card and a bank transfer both fund the balance from a normal bank account without a separate wallet in between. Both land in the same custodial balance, so the same ownership point applies to cash as it does to coins.

How many coins can I trade?+

There are 145 coins listed on Poloniex, which puts it in the middle of the field rather than at either end. The upper quartile in this ranking reaches 392, so the longest lists sit elsewhere if chasing a new launch matters more than the trading fees.

Can I earn on the coins I hold?+

Staking is listed among Poloniex's features, so balances can work for the holder instead of sitting flat. The arrangement is custodial, as custodial and staking shows, so the earning sits with the exchange holding the coins. Anyone wanting to manage staking themselves would need a wallet outside the platform.

What are the risks of trading here?+

A median of 70.15% of retail money is lost on platforms of this kind, within a range of 40.3% to 88%. Derivatives are available, which adds leverage on top of the price swings already in the market. Custody adds a second layer, since balances sit with the operator.

How do the fees compare with other apps?+

Poloniex is the cheapest of the three to trade crypto on. Its taker fee of 0.025% to 0.09% compares with bunq at 0.25% to 1.99% and eToro at 1%, while Vivid Plus charges 2.25% on crypto earn. The gap widens for anyone trading often, since these are per-trade costs rather than a one-off.

Sources

  • coingecko.com/en/exchanges/poloniex checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Coins listed, Founded, Exchange type, Fiat deposit methods, Headquarters, Maker fee, Taker fee

    “id=poloniex; coins=145; pairs=166”

  • defillama.com/cex/poloniex checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Proof of reserves, Derivatives, Features

    “slug=poloniex; category=CEX; tvl=1674868585.3461013”

Compiled from 2 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Regulators.

Poloniex

Low-cost spot trading across a long tail of coins.

9.5/10See alternatives