CoinEx Review 2027 Fees, Features and Safety

This CoinEx review for 2027 looks at the Hong Kong-based crypto exchange, founded in 2017, and covers trading fees, security record, the CET token and regulation, so you can decide whether it fits the way you trade.

CoinEx in brief (2027)

CoinEx is a global cryptocurrency exchange that opened in December 2017. It was founded by Haipo Yang, who also created ViaBTC, one of the world's major Bitcoin mining pools, and the two businesses remain part of the same group. CoinEx is based in Hong Kong and says it serves more than ten million users in over 200 countries and regions.

The exchange describes its mission as making crypto trading easier. In practice that means a clean interface, a very large list of coins and fewer hurdles to opening an account than most competitors.

Markets and products

CoinEx lists well over a thousand cryptocurrencies. It adds new tokens steadily and has a reputation for supporting smaller proof-of-work coins and community projects that receive little attention elsewhere, a reflection of its mining heritage.

• Spot trading with USDT, USDC and BTC markets.
• Margin trading on selected pairs.
• Perpetual futures, both linear and inverse contracts.
• Automated Market Making, a feature that lets users add liquidity to spot markets and share in trading fee income, similar to a decentralised exchange pool.
• Financial account for earning flexible interest on idle balances.
• Swap for instant conversions, plus strategy tools such as spot grid and auto-invest.
• Copy trading on futures.

The design philosophy is minimalism. Screens are uncluttered, and the mobile app is easy to navigate even for a first-time user.

Account verification

CoinEx is one of the few sizeable centralised exchanges that still lets customers trade without mandatory identity verification. Unverified accounts can deposit, trade and withdraw up to a daily limit, which the exchange has set at around $10,000 in value, with a monthly cap. Verified accounts receive much higher limits. Rules can change, and the exchange may request documents if its risk system flags an account, so do not rely on anonymity as a guarantee.

CET token and fees

CoinEx Token (CET) is the platform's native asset. Holding CET lifts your VIP level, and using it to pay fees gives a discount. The exchange uses part of its income to buy back and burn CET.

The standard spot fee is 0.2% for makers and takers, which is higher than the 0.1% charged by many rivals, although the CET discount and VIP tiers narrow the gap. Futures fees are in the region of 0.03% for makers and 0.05% for takers. Deposits are free. Check withdrawal fees per coin, as they vary.

The September 2023 hack

On 12 September 2023 attackers compromised the private keys of several CoinEx hot wallets and withdrew assets across multiple blockchains. Total losses were estimated at about $70 million, and blockchain analysts linked the attack to North Korea's Lazarus Group. CoinEx suspended deposits and withdrawals, rebuilt its wallet system and resumed service in stages over the following weeks.

The exchange committed to covering every affected asset from its user protection fund and stated that no customer balance was lost. Since the incident it has published proof-of-reserves data with ratios above 100% for major assets and has added further safeguards to key management.

Regulation

CoinEx operates with a light regulatory footprint. It holds few formal licences, and in 2023 it settled with the New York Attorney General, agreeing to pay about $1.8 million and to stop serving the state after being accused of operating without registration. The exchange subsequently withdrew from the United States altogether. It is also unavailable in mainland China and certain other restricted jurisdictions.

Users elsewhere should understand that, in a dispute, they will mostly be relying on the exchange's own policies and reputation.

Who is CoinEx best for?

CoinEx appeals to privacy-conscious traders, to people in countries where passing verification on bigger exchanges is difficult, and to investors looking for obscure coins. The AMM feature is an interesting option for those who want to earn fees without using a decentralised protocol. Beginners will also find the interface welcoming.

Large traders may find liquidity too thin outside the main pairs, and the base fee is not the cheapest.

Pros and cons

• Pros: trading without mandatory verification within limits, huge coin list, simple interface, AMM liquidity pools, losses from the 2023 hack fully covered.
• Cons: higher base spot fee, $70 million hack in 2023, limited licensing, not available in the United States, modest liquidity on small pairs.

How to start

Register with an email address and set up two-factor authentication. Verification is optional for smaller accounts but recommended. Deposit crypto, or buy through one of the third-party card providers, and use limit orders on less liquid markets.

CoinEx review: verdict for 2027

CoinEx offers easy access to an enormous range of coins with minimal friction. That convenience comes with thin regulation and a serious hack on its record, although customers were repaid. It works best as a flexible secondary exchange for small to medium trades.

Compare this CoinEx review with all 40 crypto exchanges in our 2027 list, and confirm the latest terms on the official CoinEx website before you open an account.