Compare the top centralized exchanges (CEX) for trading cryptocurrency. Find the best platform based on fees, features, leverage, and security.
Last Updated: November 13, 2025
Trading Fee: 0.10% maker/taker
Max Leverage: 125x on futures
Daily Volume: $50+ billion
Pros:
Cons:
Trading Fee: 0.08% maker / 0.1% taker
Max Leverage: 100x on futures
Daily Volume: $12+ billion
Pros:
Cons:
Trading Fee: 0.15% maker/taker
Max Leverage: 125x on futures
Daily Volume: $2-3 billion
Pros:
Cons:
Compare maker/taker fees across exchanges. For high-volume traders, even 0.02% difference can save thousands annually.
Higher liquidity = tighter spreads = better execution prices. Check daily volume on your preferred trading pairs.
If you trade futures, compare maximum leverage and margin requirements:
Essential security features to look for:
Check if the exchange operates in your country. Some exchanges have restrictions in USA, UK, or China.
OKX has the lowest trading fees at 0.08% maker/0.1% taker - 20% cheaper than Binance (0.10%). Both offer fee discounts when paying with native tokens (OKB, BNB).
Binance offers the best balance of features and ease of use. It has extensive educational resources, simple spot trading interface, and 24/7 customer support.
Gate.io lists 1,800+ cryptocurrencies - 5x more than Binance (350+) and 6x more than OKX (300+). It's ideal for finding new or small-cap altcoins before they hit major exchanges.
Binance and OKX require mandatory KYC (identity verification) for trading and withdrawals. Gate.io offers optional KYC - you can trade with 2 BTC daily withdrawal without verification. KYC typically involves uploading a government ID and completing facial verification.
Binance has the highest futures trading volume ($20B+ daily) and offers up to 125x leverage. OKX is second with 100x leverage and unique unified margin account features.
All three exchanges are well-established with strong security measures. Binance has a $1B SAFU insurance fund. However, always enable 2FA, use withdrawal whitelist, and never share your credentials. Consider keeping large holdings in cold storage.
Binance.US is available for US residents (separate from global Binance with fewer features). OKX and Gate.io are not available in the USA. US residents should use Coinbase, Kraken, or Binance.US instead.
Spot trading is buying/selling crypto at current market prices for immediate delivery. Futures trading involves contracts to buy/sell at a future date, allowing leverage and short positions.
Typically 5-15 minutes for instant automated verification. During high traffic periods, it may take up to 24 hours. Have your ID ready and ensure good lighting for the selfie.
Binance has the most feature-complete mobile app with full trading functionality, staking, and earning features. OKX's app is also excellent (4.5+ stars) with unified account management.