Beginner’s Guide to CEX.IO: Complete Review

CEX.IO was launched in 2013 in London and initially operated both as a Bitcoin exchange and cloud mining service.

At one stage its mining pool, known as Ghash.io, was one of the largest on the Bitcoin network, holding 42% of total mining power of the Bitcoin network.

However, in January 2015 the website closed its mining services which means that it now operates solely as a cryptocurrency exchange, allowing users to purchase and sell Bitcoin and a variety of other cryptocurrencies with credit or debit cards instantly.

The CEX platform offers cross-platform trading via website, mobile app (which is available on Android and iOS), WebSocket and Rest API.

CEX is one of the most popular cryptocurrency exchanges currently operating. One of the primary reasons its popularity is that its website provides users with a very easy to use interface, making it ideal for beginners.

It also provides a multi-level account system that is customizable and suitable for both Bitcoin beginners and institutional traders.

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How to Register on CEX

CEX is incorporated as a private limited company in the UK and is registered with the ICO in the UK and with FINCEN in the US.

It applies KYC (know your customer) and AML (anti-money laundering) policies, which requires users to verify their identity with CEX upon registration.

This verification involves providing CEX with an email address, telephone number, setting up a password and then verifying both the telephone number and the email address before going to upload supporting ID documents.

CEX provides for a two-factor authentication system, using either SMS, automated phone call or through the Google Authenticator app.

How to Purchase

CEX accepts VISA, MasterCard or virtual credit cards. Once registered and having verified their identity with CEX, users can buy Bitcoin or Ethereum using a credit or debit card, a wire transfer or, if they are in the EU, a SEPA transfer.

It is then simple for you to add your credit card or debit card to your account. Credit and debit card verification can take up to 48 hours but, once completed, you can purchase Bitcoin and Ethereum instantly through your CEX account.

Card verification requires users to take a selfie with their credit card, with the photo including a clear image of the user’s face and the relevant credit / debit card.

This photo should be in colour, of high resolution, and the file size should be no more than 15MB. Users should beware that if the quality of the selfie isn’t good enough for the CEX compliance officer, another selfie may be requested.

CEX does not disclose which external agencies they use to verify users’ identification.

However, they do state that user ID’s and credit card details are stored for at least five years after accounts are deleted. Once credit cards details are submitted, CEX submit a small verification charge to the credit or debit card.

In order to verify the card, users are required to enter the exact amount of this charge in USD. This charge is automatically refunded to users after verification is complete.

Users can also transfer funds by bank transfer. CEX currently accepts US dollars, Euros and Rubles. Fees for bank transfers in USD / EUR are a flat rate of $/€ 10.

CEX.IO clearly explains how its service works, with the below providing a summary of how to purchase cryptocurrency through the platform:

• Once a trade is entered, CEX calculates the price of the trade and freezes that price for two minutes. Users then input how much (in fiat currency) Bitcoin or Ethereum they want to purchase at that price and are shown how much cryptocurrency they will receive.
• Once users have pressed the Buy / Sell button, the CEX system will check the user’s account to ensure that they have sufficient funds to complete the transaction.
• Once this process has been completed, CEX will complete the transaction, provided that the order can be fulfilled on conditions not worse than those agreed on.
• Therefore, if the market has gone down, the trade will continue at the more favourable rate.
• However, if the exchange rate has spiked in the intervening period since the trade is entered, the transaction will not be executed and the user will be notified.

How to Trade

Alongside easy purchasing of crypto, CEX also offers a more advanced trading screen for people who prefer to buy or sell that way.

It’s not advanced as some other exchanges but it’s easy to use and lets’ you trade in and out of crypto using fiat currencies: USD, EUR, GBP.

CEX Fees

CEX charges 3.5% plus $0.25 / £0.20 fees for credit card deposits to user’s accounts. Credit card purchases should be processed instantly once the card is verified. Some users have complained that these additional fees amount to ‘hidden charges’.

However, CEX states that the reason for this premium is to ensure that they will always be able to fulfil their orders, as they operate on a different premise to most exchanges in that they will fulfil orders at the offered rate with no exceptions (otherwise referred to as Fill-or-Kill orders).

The advantage of this format is that users are guaranteed that they will receive whatever has been agreed immediately and in full. However, other exchanges such as Bitstamp for example, require users to wait until a seller is willing to sell Bitcoin to the purchaser at the requested price. The upside is of CEX is therefore the guarantees and instant nature of the transaction, but these guarantees are subject to a premium price.

In addition, CEX charges a 7% service charge, which is included in the price of the cryptocurrency being offered on the exchange. However, this service charge is only applicable when users are purchasing directly from CEX. If a user is availing of the trading services, different fees are applicable.

Trading Fees

The basic fees for trades made on the CEX platform start at just 0.25%. However, higher fees are applicable if using credit or debit cards or making withdrawals to bank accounts.

They use the Taker / Maker model for trades on the platform, with the fees decreasing on volume as follows:

Commentators have estimated the CEX’s exchange rates are within the mid-market rate, and is reasonable compared with other cryptocurrency exchanges (aside from the service charges).

Deposit / Withdrawal Fees

Fees for deposits and withdrawals are dependent on your chosen method and break down as follows:

CEX Limits

CEX offers users a range of different accounts, each of which provide different transaction limits. Upgrades can be a long process, but subsequent purchases with verified accounts are much quicker. The range of accounts available are as follows:

• Identity Tier: per 1 transaction: min $ 20.00 / max $ 1,000.00 / daily up to $ 1,000.00 / monthly $ 3,000.00
• Address Tier: per 1 transaction: min $ 20.00 / max $ 3,000.00 / daily up to $ 3,000.00 / monthly $ 30,000.00
• Enhanced Tier: per 1 transaction: min $ 20.00 / max $ 10,000.00 / daily up to $ 10,000.00/ monthly $ 100,000.00
• Corporate Tier:  per 1 transaction: min $ 20.00 / max $ 10,000.00 / daily up to $ 10,000.00 / monthly $ 100,000.00

In terms of withdrawals, CEX is one of the few exchanges that allow users to withdraw funds onto a credit or debit card. Their limits break down as follows:

Regarding withdrawals, here are there limits for each type:

Withdrawal Limits
1 Service charge: up to 3% + $ 1.20 Commission: up to $ 3.80	Recommended limits per 1 transaction: min $ 20.00 max $ 1,000.00 daily up to $ 1,000.00 monthly $ 3,000.00	Recommended limits per 1 transaction: min $ 20.00 max $ 3,000.00 daily up to $ 5,000.00 monthly $ 30,000.00	Recommended limits per 1 transaction: min $ 20.00 max $ 5,000.00 daily up to $ 10,000.00 monthly $ 50,000.00	Recommended limits per 1 transaction: min $ 20.00 max $ 5,000.00 daily up to $ 10,000.00 monthly $ 50,000.00
2 Service charge: up to 1.8% + $ 1.20 Commission: up to 1.2% + $ 3.80	Recommended limits per 1 transaction: min $ 20.00 max $ 1,000.00 daily up to $ 1,000.00 monthly $ 3,000.00	Recommended limits per 1 transaction: min $ 20.00 max $ 3,000.00 daily up to $ 5,000.00 monthly $ 30,000.00	Recommended limits per 1 transaction: min $ 20.00 max $ 5,000.00 daily up to $ 10,000.00 monthly $ 50,000.00	Recommended limits per 1 transaction: min $ 20.00 max $ 5,000.00 daily up to $ 10,000.00 monthly $ 50,000.00
3 Commission: 0.3% + $ 25.00		Recommended limits per 1 transaction: min $ 300.00 max $ 50,000.00 daily $ 50,000.00 monthly $ 300,000.00	Recommended limits per 1 transaction: min $ 300.00 max $ 200,000.00 daily $ 200,000.00 monthly $ 1,000,000.00	Recommended limits per 1 transaction: min $ 300.00 max $ 200,000.00 daily $ 200,000.00 monthly $ 1,000,000.00
4		Recommended limits per 1 transaction: min $ 20.00 max $ 200,000.00 daily $ 200,000.00 monthly $ 500,000.00	Recommended limits per 1 transaction: min $ 20.00 max unlimited daily unlimited monthly unlimited	Recommended limits per 1 transaction: min $ 20.00 max unlimited daily unlimited monthly unlimited

Is CEX Safe?

CEX claims to use offline cold storage to store users’ funds, although it does not provide additional detail on where or how it undergoes this process. As stated previously, the platform offers two-factor authentication to ensure account protection which, although troublesome for some users, does ensure that accounts are secure.

CEX has suffered at least one hacking incident, although this occurred in 2013 when the exchange was in its infancy. The vulnerability was patched at that time, and there have been no reported security incidents since that time.

Supported Countries & States

CEX operates in most countries worldwide, other than those stated below:

• The following countries are restricted for credit card purchases: Iceland, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.
• The following countries are restricted from buying with bank transfer: Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.

CEX is registered in 24 US States, but is NOT supported in the following States: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Virginia, Washington.

CEX Customer Support

CEX is generally well-regarded for its customer support, which is not a traditional strongpoint of cryptocurrency exchanges.

It offers customer support through email as well as an extensive FAQ section.

Although many complaints can be found online about CEX’s customer support, it would appear from a number of tests we carried out that they are relatively responsive and do take the time to respond to criticism online.

Conclusion

In the past, CEX has had a mixed reputation within the cryptocurrency community, with it often being the target of bad publicity and poor reviews. Most of these negative comments result from complaints about perceived hidden fees in the service, the difficulties that some users have with verifying their identity or customer support issues.

Since we have updated this guide in 2020, their reputation has only increased with lots more favorable reviews online.

CEX is a well trusted exchange in our eyes, we have used them for years now with no problems and they are also well regulated – with the FCA in the UK and FINCEN in the US which should provide reassurance for people wishing to use them.

It’s user-friendly interface is ideal for beginners and it provides a quick and easy entrance into the world of cryptocurrency. It’s cross-platform application makes it easy to keep track of your account on the go.

CEX have continued to innovate with the addition of new cryptocurrencies, a more advanced trading platform and they are soon looking to add margin trading to the platform.

The account verification process can be a little cumbersome, but that is true with all top tier exchanges these days as regulations and laws around the world have tightened. This should also be seen as a plus point as you can be sure that they are abiding by the laws as any top exchange should do.

Although the main downside to CEX are the higher fees, it does remain a reliable exchange for purchasing and selling Bitcoin, Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies.

They are one of a few exchanges that provide credit / debit card and fiat withdrawal options so if you are looking for this functionality you should definitely take a look at CEX.

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