Bitfinex lists United States as a restricted location (source, checked 2026-09-04)
OKX is the highest-scored exchange we have not seen restricted in United States.
Bitfinex Review
cexThe Original Bitcoin Exchange - Now with zero trading fees
- Taker fee
- 0.00%
- KYC
- Required
- Founded
- 2012
- HQ
- Taiwan
Not available in United States.
See a verified alternative →Verdict
Bitfinex requires KYC verification before you can trade and charges around 0.00% on its taker fee. It scores 61.7/100 on the CompareCEX Score (86% of criteria verified), which suits more experienced users who've already weighed the trade-offs, rather than first-time beginners. As a custodial platform, it holds your funds until you withdraw, so its security track record and regulation below matter as much as its fees. Check the fee table, KYC and country availability, and security sections below before you decide — exchange terms change without notice and we re-verify data periodically rather than in real time, so always confirm against the source links.
CompareCEX Score breakdown
61.7/100 overall, based on the 86% of criteria below with verified data. Criteria without data are excluded from the average, not scored as zero.
| Criterion | Weight | Score | How it's calculated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading fees | 25% | 100.0 | Average of maker and taker fee: 0.000%. |
| KYC ease for beginners | 15% | 60.0 | KYC required |
| Geo availability (not restricted) | 15% | 0.0 | Not restricted in 0/3 countries checked. |
| Security track record | 10% | 60.0 | base 70; -10 (1 incident(s) before 2020). Total: 60. |
| Regulation / licensing | 8% | 75.0 | 2 license(s): FSA Astana (KZ), CNBS (SV). |
| Payment methods | 8% | Not verified | Not enough verified data in Knowledge Graph for this criterion yet. |
| Features | 8% | 44.4 | 4/9 standard cex features available: spot, futures, margin, staking. |
| Customer support | 6% | Not verified | Not enough verified data in Knowledge Graph for this criterion yet. |
| Mobile app quality | 5% | 70.0 | iOS + Android app. |
Fees: what a $1,000 and $10,000 trade actually costs
| Maker fee | 0.00% Source (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-09-04 |
|---|---|
| Taker fee | 0.00% Source (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-09-04 |
- Bitfinex taker fee (0.00%): a $1,000 trade costs $0.00, and a $10,000 trade costs $0.00 (checked 2026-09-04). source
Availability & KYC
KYC: Required.
| Country | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Restricted | Source · checked 2026-09-04 |
| United Kingdom | Unclear | Not independently verified yet |
| Canada | Unclear | Not independently verified yet |
| Australia | Unclear | Not independently verified yet |
"Unclear" means we have not independently verified this yet — check the exchange's own terms before signing up.
Security & regulation
| Security track record | Proof of reserves: not verified · Incidents — 2016: Hacking attack resulted in loss of 119,756 BTC Source (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-09-04 |
|---|---|
| Regulation / licenses | FSA Astana (KZ), CNBS (SV) Source (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-09-04 |
Not yet verified: custody model.
Products & features
| Features | Spot, Margin, Futures, Options, Perpetuals, Staking, Lending Source (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-09-04 |
|---|---|
| Mobile app | iOS · Android Source (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-09-04 |
Not yet verified: payment methods, customer support, coins listed, supported chains, languages supported.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Low trading fees (Average of maker and taker fee: 0.000%.)
- Licensed in 2 jurisdictions (FSA Astana (KZ), CNBS (SV)).
- Mobile app available on both iOS and Android.
Cons
- KYC verification required before trading.
- Restricted in several of the countries we've checked (Not restricted in 0/3 countries checked.)
- Security incident in 2016: Hacking attack resulted in loss of 119,756 BTC.
Alternatives to Bitfinex
Top-scoring exchanges of the same type, ranked by the CompareCEX Score.
Related guides
- Is There a Crypto Exchange With No Fees? The Honest AnswerNo exchange is truly fee-free. Learn where hidden costs like spreads and withdrawal fees hide, plus a 5-step way to check real costs.
- Crypto Exchanges by Fees: How to Compare Costs the Right WayHow do you compare crypto exchanges by fees? A step-by-step method, worked examples, and the mistakes that quietly cost traders the most.
- Crypto Exchange Fees Comparison: How to Compare Trading CostsA plain-English guide to comparing crypto exchange fees: maker/taker rates, withdrawal costs, and how to calculate your real trading cost.
Questions people ask about Bitfinex
- What are Bitfinex's fees?
- Bitfinex's taker fee is 0.00%, per our verified data — see the fee table above for the exact source and check date. Read the full answer →
- What is Bitfinex's deposit fee?
- We haven't verified Bitfinex's deposits process or fees yet. Read the full answer →
- Is Bitfinex safe to use?
- We don't have verified proof-of-reserves or audit data for Bitfinex yet — see the security section above for what is confirmed. Read the full answer →
- Does Bitfinex require KYC?
- Bitfinex requires KYC verification before you can trade, per our verified data. Read the full answer →
- Is Bitfinex available in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia?
- Based on our data, it's restricted in 3 of the 3 countries we've checked (US, IR, KP). See the availability table above for each country and its source. Read the full answer →
Crypto assets are volatile and unregulated in many jurisdictions. Not financial advice.