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Updated September 29, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team

ActivTrades vs Gemini

ActivTrades scores 9.7 and Gemini 9.0 out of 10. Compare their differences and shared features below.
ActivTrades

ActivTrades

Higher score in this comparison

9.7/10
Visit
Gemini

Gemini

9.0/10
Visit

What sets them apart

ActivTrades vs Gemini
CompareActivTradesActivTradesReviewVisitVisitGeminiGeminiReviewVisitVisit
Taker fee0%Lower0.8%
Coins listed976Higher
Fiat deposit methodsCard, BankCard, Bank, ACHCovers more
Maker fee0%Lower0.4%
RegulatorsNot confirmedNMLS (US state money transmitter licensing), Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA)
Proof of reservesNot confirmedYes
Withdrawal feeNot confirmedCrypto withdrawal fees are dynamic and correspond to current network/gas fees; USD wire transfer out $252; Custody to Exchange crypto withdrawal $125

Same on both: Derivatives (Yes), Exchange type (Cex).

We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.

Key differences

  • ActivTrades scores higher overall: 9.7 vs 9.0.
  • Founded is lower at ActivTrades: 2001 vs 2014.
  • Gemini is available in 62 more countries.
  • Taker fee is lower at ActivTrades: 0% vs 0.8%.
  • Maker fee is lower at ActivTrades: 0% vs 0.4%.
  • Coins listed is higher at Gemini: 76 vs 9.
  • Fiat deposit methods: only Gemini offers ACH.
  • Features: only Gemini offers Self custody, Staking.

Our verdict on each

ActivTrades

ActivTrades is a low cost exchange for traders who care more about the trading fee than the coin list. Taker and maker fees both sit at 0%, which puts it at rank 1 of 118 brands on taker fee against a site median of 0.2%.

Read the full ActivTrades review

Gemini

Gemini carries US and Malta licences and a regulated central exchange setup with card, bank and ACH funding. It suits buyers who want derivatives alongside spot and who can settle for a coin list of 76 rather than the widest range on HodlCue.

Read the full Gemini review

Score breakdown

ActivTrades vs Gemini
AreaActivTradesGemini
Cost9.8HigherTaker fee 0% and maker fee 0% match the site minimum 0%, well under the site median 0.2%.8.3Taker fees of 0.8% and maker fees of 0.4% on ActiveTrader run above the 0.2% median for tracked exchanges.
Offer9.09.4HigherThe platform combines custodial, self custody and staking accounts with derivatives trading on the same venue.
Trust10.0Higher9.3

Cost in a real example

Buy 1,000 of crypto and sell it again

ActivTrades

0

0% of 2,000

Gemini

16

0.8% of 2,000

ActivTrades comes out 16 lower in this example.

Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.

How they place

ActivTrades vs Gemini
RankingActivTradesGemini
Crypto futures exchanges1 of 784 of 78

Feature by feature

ActivTrades vs Gemini
Fiat deposit methodsActivTradesGemini
CardYesYes
BankYesYes
ACHNoYes

Every fact side by side

ActivTrades vs Gemini
FactActivTradesGemini
FeaturesCustodialCustodial, Self custody, StakingCovers more
Legal entityNot confirmedGemini Intergalactic EU Ltd
HeadquartersNot confirmedMalta
Founded2001Lower2014
Support channelsNot confirmedEmail, Help centre, Community

Where each stands against the rest

ActivTrades vs Gemini
FactActivTradesGeminiMedian
Taker fee0%lowest quarter0.8%highest quarter0.15%
Coins listed9lowest quarter76at the median76
Maker fee0%below the median0.4%highest quarter0.1%

Median across 219 listed providers.

Pros and cons

ActivTrades

Pros

  • Taker fee of 0% and maker fee of 0% mean no commission on either side of the book.
  • Taker fee of 0% ranks 1 of 118 brands, well under the 0.2% exchange median.
  • Founded in 2001, so the brand has been in the market far longer than most of the 848 brands tracked here.

Cons

  • Only 9 coins are listed, against an exchange median of 74.5 and from 650 at Bitpanda.
  • Funding is limited to card and bank, a shorter set of routes than most exchanges in this ranking accept.
  • Custodial custody means your coins sit with the exchange, which is the minority model at 13.1% of exchanges.

Gemini

Pros

  • Regulated in the US and Malta, with NMLS (2403509) and MFSA (MiCA CASP 2138002QAMX8PPKSO715) references that can be checked.
  • Fiat deposits accept card, bank and ach, covering the card, bank and ACH routes most buyers use.
  • Proof of reserves is published, a practice shared by 79.4% of the exchanges tracked here.

Cons

  • Taker fees of 0.8% on ActiveTrader sit above the 0.2% median for tracked exchanges, and Gemini ranks 97 of 118 on that measure.
  • A coin list of 76 trails the 344.5 upper quartile across tracked exchanges, so deep long-tail trading stays limited.
  • Support runs on email, help centre and community only, and phone support is offered on just 44.7% of the brands tracked here.

Who each suits

ActivTrades

Who it suits

  • Active traders who place many orders and want the trading fee kept at 0%.
  • Long standing clients who value a brand founded in 2001 over a long coin list.
  • Derivatives users, since the exchange does offer derivatives.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Anyone chasing breadth, because 9 coins is a short list next to Bitpanda at from 650.
  • Users who prefer holding their own keys, since custody here is custodial.
  • People who want a simple buy and sell only service with no derivatives, such as Bitpanda.

Gemini

Who it suits

  • US and Malta residents who want a licensed custodian rather than a self-custody-only setup.
  • Traders who want staking and derivatives next to spot trading on the same platform.
  • Buyers who fund by card, bank or ACH and read a proof of reserves disclosure.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Bitpanda, which lists from 650 coins and suits buyers chasing a longer coin list.
  • bunq, which charges 0.25% to 1.99% as a taker fee and suits cost-first traders.

Country by country

ActivTrades vs Gemini
CountryActivTradesGemini
AustraliaNoYes
AustriaNoYes
BahamasNoYes
BermudaNoYes
BhutanNoYes
BrazilNoYes
BulgariaNoYes
Cayman IslandsNoYes

8 of 65 countries where either is available.

Questions about each

ActivTrades

What does ActivTrades charge to trade?+

The taker fee is 0% and the maker fee is 0%, so the same number applies on both sides of a trade. That puts ActivTrades at rank 1 of 118 brands on taker fee, against a site median of 0.2%.

How many coins can I buy on ActivTrades?+

The exchange lists 9 coins, a short list compared with the 74.5 median across exchanges. Bitpanda lists from 650, so ActivTrades suits traders focused on major assets rather than long tail tokens.

Gemini

What does Gemini charge to trade?+

ActiveTrader pricing puts the taker fee at 0.8% and the maker fee at 0.4%. The taker rate sits above the 0.2% median for the exchanges tracked here, and Gemini ranks 97 of 118 on taker fee. Regular traders feel that more than occasional buyers.

Is Gemini regulated, and can the licences be checked?+

Yes. Gemini lists NMLS (US state money transmitter licensing) and Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) as its regulators. The US money transmitter licence is 2403509 and the Malta Financial Services Authority licence is MiCA CASP 2138002QAMX8PPKSO715, held by Gemini Intergalactic EU Ltd. The listed headquarters country is MT.

Other options to compare

ActivTrades

Visit

Gemini

Visit