How We Test Crypto Exchanges
Transparency matters. Here we explain how our ratings work — from the criteria to the testing process and updates.
Our 6 Rating Criteria
Every exchange is rated across 6 categories. The weighting reflects what matters most to crypto investors.
Fees
- Spot fees (Maker & Taker)
- Futures fees (Maker & Taker)
- Hidden costs (spread, withdrawal fees)
- Fee discounts (token, VIP, referral)
Security
- Regulation & licenses (national, regional, international)
- Insurance fund (size & transparency)
- Security features (2FA, anti-phishing, whitelist)
- Track record (hacks, outages, incidents)
Usability
- Onboarding (registration, KYC process)
- Desktop interface (clarity, navigation)
- Mobile app (features, performance)
- Language support
Coin Selection
- Number of trading pairs (spot & futures)
- New listings (speed of listing new coins)
- Niche coins & altcoin depth
- Staking options
Support
- Availability (24/7 live chat, email, phone)
- Response time (how quickly they reply)
- Multilingual support
- Help center & FAQ quality
Bonus & Extras
- Welcome bonus (amount & conditions)
- VIP programs & fee discounts
- Trading bots (Grid Bot, DCA, Copy Trading)
- Earn products & staking yields
Our Testing Process
We don't rate from a distance. Every exchange is tested with a real account — from registration to withdrawal.
1. Registration & KYC
We create a real account on every exchange and go through the complete registration process. How long does KYC take? What documents are required? How user-friendly is the onboarding?
2. Deposit & Withdrawal
We test bank transfers, credit cards and crypto deposits. How quickly are funds available? Are there hidden fees? Does the withdrawal work smoothly?
3. Trading Test
We execute real trades — spot and futures. What is the execution speed? Do the listed fees match? How does the platform behave during volatility?
4. Contact Support
We ask customer service specific questions. How fast is the response? Is the live chat really 24/7? How competent are the agents?
5. Rating & Updates
From all results we calculate the overall rating based on our weighting. Data is updated monthly — for important changes (fees, regulation, security incidents) immediately.
Updates
Monthly: All fees, trading pairs, features and bonus promotions are reviewed and updated.
Immediately on changes: Fee changes, new regulations, security incidents or exchange closures trigger immediate updates.
Last updated: March 2026
Affiliate Transparency
Yes, we earn through affiliate links. When you sign up at an exchange through one of our links, we receive a commission. You incur no additional costs — on the contrary: through our links you often receive exclusive bonuses and fee reimbursements that are not available without our link.
No, this does not influence our ratings. The rating criteria and weights are identical for all 15 exchanges. Exchanges without an affiliate link (e.g. Kraken, Bybit) are rated by the exact same standards. Exchanges with restrictions (Gate.io, KuCoin) are transparently labeled — we deliberately forgo affiliate commissions there.
Why we disclose this: Trust is the foundation of a comparison portal. We believe that transparency about our revenue sources strengthens that trust — not weakens it.