Updated October 17, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team
Binance vs Bitfinex
Binance
Bitfinex
Higher score in this comparison
Where Binance and Bitfinex differ
| Compare | BinanceReviewVisitVisit | BitfinexReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 0.1% | 0%Lower |
| Coins listed | 490Higher | 63 |
| Regulators | Autorite des marches financiers (AMF), Commissione Nazionale per le Societa e la Borsa (CONSOB), Banco de Espana, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Thailand Ministry of Finance | Digital Assets Service Provider El Salvador |
| Maker fee | 0.1% | 0%Lower |
| Fiat deposit methods | Not confirmed | Card, Bank |
| Withdrawal fee | Not confirmed | Bank wire 0.1% (min 100 USD/Euro) |
Same on both: Proof of reserves (Yes), Derivatives (Yes), Exchange type (Cex).
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Key differences
- Bitfinex scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.5.
- Regulators: only Binance offers Autorite des marches financiers (AMF), Commissione Nazionale per le Societa e la Borsa (CONSOB), Banco de Espana.
- Regulators: only Bitfinex offers Digital Assets Service Provider El Salvador.
- Founded is lower at Bitfinex: 2012 vs 2017.
- Taker fee is lower at Bitfinex: 0% vs 0.1%.
- Maker fee is lower at Bitfinex: 0% vs 0.1%.
- Coins listed is higher at Binance: 490 vs 63.
- Features: only Bitfinex offers Custodial.
Our verdict on each
Binance
Binance operates as a centralized exchange with derivatives activity and published proof of reserves for custody clarity. Traders who prefer centralized custody with derivatives access in one venue may find its combined structure aligns with their approach to managing activity.
Bitfinex
Bitfinex is a custodial exchange built for active traders and long-term holders who want a low cost on every fill rather than a very long coin list. It scores 7.3 overall on HodlCue, trading 63 coins, publishing proof of reserves and adding staking on the same account.
Score breakdown
| Area | Binance | Bitfinex |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 9.8Spot taker fee of 0% and maker fee of 0%, so trading costs sit at the floor. |
| Offer | Not confirmed | 9.2Derivatives and staking with a yield of 3% to 6%, but a coin list of only 63. |
| Trust | 8.5 | 9.2Higher |
Choosing between them
Pick Binance if coins listed matter most.
Pick Bitfinex if taker fee and maker fee matter most.
The bill, worked out
Buy 1,000 of crypto and sell it again
Binance
2
0.1% of 2,000
Bitfinex
0
0% of 2,000
Bitfinex comes out 2 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
| Ranking | Binance | Bitfinex |
|---|---|---|
| Crypto exchanges | 26 of 297 | 37 of 297 |
| Crypto futures exchanges | 16 of 78 | 21 of 78 |
| Crypto staking and earn | 14 of 179 | 22 of 179 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Binance | Bitfinex |
|---|---|---|
| El Salvador | Not confirmed |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Binance | Bitfinex |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Staking | Custodial, StakingCovers more |
| Legal entity | Binance Holdings Ltd. | iFinex Inc. |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Virgin Islands, British |
| Founded | 2017 | 2012Lower |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Chat, Help centre, Community |
Crypto earn
| Fact | Binance | Bitfinex |
|---|---|---|
| Yield | Not confirmed | 3% to 6% |
| Supported assets | Not confirmed | TRX, SOL, ADA, DOT, ETH |
| Lock-up terms | Not confirmed | Soft staking, no lock except ETH2 which needs unstaking (weeks to months) |
| Custody | Custodial | Custodial |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Binance | Bitfinex | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 0.1%below the median | 0%lowest quarter | 0.15% |
| Coins listed | 490highest quarter | 63below the median | 76 |
| Maker fee | 0.1%at the median | 0%below the median | 0.1% |
Median across 219 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Binance
Pros
- Centralized exchange venue with derivatives activity under one roof
- Published proof of reserves gives clarity around held balances
Bitfinex
Pros
- Proof of reserves is published, which gives you something concrete to check before you deposit.
- Card and bank fiat deposits are both supported, and help runs on chat, help centre and community when something goes wrong.
- Staking is soft, so coins are not locked, except the ether position, which has to be unstaked first over weeks to months.
Cons
- A list of 63 coins puts it at 89 of the 172 brands we track, below the 344.5 the widest lists reach.
- Custody is custodial, so the exchange holds your coins rather than a wallet you control.
- Support runs on chat, help centre and community only, with no email or phone line for urgent cases.
Who each suits
Binance
Who it suits
- Traders seeking centralized custody and derivatives access
- Holders who value published proof of reserves
Bitfinex
Who it suits
- Traders who trade often enough for the taker fee to matter more than the coin list.
- Holders who want a staking yield without locking up access to most of their coins.
- Traders who want spot and derivatives handled from a single account and one fee schedule.
Who should look elsewhere
- Bitpanda, if the coin list matters most to you: it lists from 650 coins against 63 on Bitfinex.
- bunq, if you would rather see a stated taker fee of 0.25% to 1.99% than trade at 0%.
- ActivTrades, if a short list of 9 coins covers everything you want to trade.
Questions about each
Binance
What does Binance cover as an exchange?+
Binance operates as a centralized exchange with derivatives activity under the same structure. Custody and order matching rest with the venue rather than self managed wallets. Published proof of reserves provides an extra custody signal for review.
How do derivatives fit within this service?+
Derivatives activity sits alongside spot style trading within the centralized venue. Positions and balances remain under venue custody throughout the process. Those interested should review structure and custody before deciding on use.
Bitfinex
What are the trading fees on Bitfinex?+
Spot trading is charged at 0% for takers and 0% for makers, so both sides of the book sit at the same figure. That places Bitfinex at 1 on taker fee among the 118 brands we compare, while the site median sits at 0.2%.
How much does it cost to withdraw?+
A bank wire withdrawal costs Bank wire 0.1% (min 100 USD/Euro), and that is the figure published in the exchange's fee table. Because the charge includes a stated minimum, a small transfer can cost more to move than the rate alone suggests, so fewer larger withdrawals usually make more sense than a run of small ones.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Binance
Bitfinex