Coinone Review 2027 Fees, Features and Safety

This Coinone review for 2027 looks at the Seoul, South Korea-based crypto exchange, founded in 2014, and covers trading fees, security record and regulation, so you can decide whether it fits the way you trade.

Coinone in brief (2027)

Coinone is one of South Korea's licensed cryptocurrency exchanges. Cha Myung-hun, a well-known white-hat hacker, founded it in Seoul in 2014 while still in his twenties, and he continues to lead the company. Coinone is the third-largest exchange in Korea by trading volume, behind Upbit and Bithumb. It is one of only five platforms in the country permitted to offer trading against the Korean won.

Its market share is modest, in the low single digits, but membership of the small group of won-market exchanges gives it a secure place in one of the world's most active retail crypto markets.

What Coinone offers

Coinone is a spot exchange for Korean residents. It lists a few hundred cryptocurrencies against the won and has built a reputation for a clean, well-designed interface.

• KRW spot market with basic and professional chart views.
• Staking: Coinone was a pioneer of exchange staking in Korea, launching node-based reward services in 2018, and it supports daily rewards on several proof-of-stake assets.
• Recurring purchases for automatic investing.
• Coin lending and other supplementary services for eligible users.
• Open API for algorithmic traders.

There are no futures or leveraged products, in line with Korean rules for domestic exchanges.

Banking partner

Every Korean exchange customer must use a real-name account at a partner bank. In November 2022 Coinone moved from NH NongHyup Bank to KakaoBank, the country's most popular mobile-only bank. The switch made account opening much easier for younger users, who can link an existing KakaoBank account within minutes, and it brought a noticeable rise in new sign-ups.

Fees

Coinone's standard trading fee has been 0.2% per trade, which is higher than the effective rates at Upbit and Bithumb. The exchange offers lower fees to market makers and high-volume traders and runs periodic fee promotions and reward events to stay competitive. Won deposits through KakaoBank are free, withdrawals carry a small fixed charge, and crypto withdrawal fees are set per asset.

Ownership

The Korean game developer Com2uS Holdings became Coinone's second-largest shareholder through investments in 2021 and 2022, holding a stake of close to 40%. Founder Cha Myung-hun and his company remain the largest shareholder. The link to a listed gaming group reflects the strong connection between Korea's gaming and blockchain industries.

Security

Coinone has not reported a major theft of customer assets from its wallets, a notable record among long-running Korean exchanges, and its founder's background in security research is part of the company's identity. The platform holds Korea's ISMS information-security certification, stores most assets in cold wallets and complies with legal requirements for reserves and insurance.

Customers can secure accounts with two-factor authentication and device management, and withdrawals follow Korea's travel-rule procedures, which require identifying the receiving wallet or exchange.

The 2023 listing scandal

Coinone's reputation suffered in 2023 when Korean prosecutors charged former employees responsible for token listings with accepting bribes from brokers in exchange for adding certain coins. Courts convicted those involved and handed down prison sentences. Coinone itself was not charged. The company apologised, delisted or reviewed the affected tokens, and introduced stricter listing procedures and monitoring.

The case highlighted a structural problem across the industry, where a single listing decision can be worth millions to a token issuer. It is also a reminder for investors that an exchange listing is not a guarantee of quality.

Regulation

Coinone is a registered virtual asset service provider under Korea's Financial Intelligence Unit and is subject to the Virtual Asset User Protection Act, in force since July 2024. That law requires segregation of customer deposits, cold storage of most crypto, insurance or reserves against incidents, and surveillance for unfair trading. Regulators conduct regular inspections of all won-market exchanges.

Who is Coinone best for?

Coinone is a good option for Korean residents who already bank with KakaoBank, who value an attractive and uncluttered app, or who want easy staking. Some traders use it alongside the two larger exchanges to access coins listed only on Coinone. People outside Korea cannot use the won market.

Pros and cons

• Pros: licensed won-market exchange, KakaoBank integration, no major hack reported, early leader in staking, polished interface.
• Cons: higher standard fees than larger rivals, small market share and thinner liquidity, 2023 listing bribery case involving former staff, limited to Korean residents.

Getting started

Install the Coinone app, verify your identity with a Korean mobile number and ID, and connect a KakaoBank account. Deposit won and trade on the KRW market. Enable two-factor authentication from the security menu.

Coinone review: verdict for 2027

Coinone is the dependable third choice in Korea. It cannot match the liquidity of Upbit or the pricing of Bithumb, but it offers solid security, convenient banking and a pleasant user experience within a strictly regulated framework.

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