PancakeSwap review
Updated September 28, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
PancakeSwap is a decentralised exchange where you keep your own keys, so it suits traders who want self-custody and staking on their own terms. It lists 716 coins, and support runs through help centre and community, so help comes from documentation and the community rather than an agent.
Key facts
Pros and cons
Pros
- Custody is non custodial, so coins never sit in a platform account
- Staking and self-custody are both built in: self custody and staking
- Buying is open to card, bank and sepa
- Derivatives are offered, widening the range beyond spot swaps
Cons
- Support is limited to help centre and community, with no staffed desk behind it
- Staking covers CAKE only, so the earn side is narrower than the trading side
- Auto CAKE takes an early unstaking charge inside a short window, while standard Syrup Pools have no lockup
Who it suits
- Traders who want to hold their own keys instead of a platform balance
- Holders of CAKE who want to stake as well as swap
- Anyone entering with card, bank and sepa
Who should look elsewhere
- Bitpanda: it lists from 650 coins, so buyers who judge a venue on token breadth alone should weigh it there
- bunq: it lists from 350 coins, a mid-sized catalogue for readers who want to trade away from a decentralised pool
- ActivTrades: it lists 9 coins, a short list for anyone trading a broad spread of pairs
The company behind it
PancakeSwap dates from 2023, so it is a younger name than the long-established venues in this comparison. Support comes through help centre and community, which is documentation and community channels rather than a staffed desk. Anyone who needs a person on the phone should weigh that before signing up, since the protocol documentation does the explaining instead.
How PancakeSwap compares
8.6 vs 9.5- 8.6 vs 9.3
8.6 vs 9.2
8.6 vs 9.7It lists 9 coins, a narrow catalogue for anyone trading many pairs.
8.6 vs 9.4
8.6 vs 9.6
8.6 vs 9.0
8.6 vs 9.0
8.6 vs 9.0
8.6 vs 9.0
8.6 vs 8.9
8.6 vs 9.0
8.6 vs 8.2
8.6 vs 8.2
8.6 vs 9.7
8.6 vs 9.4
8.6 vs 9.3
8.6 vs 9.2
8.6 vs 9.2
8.6 vs 9.1
8.6 vs 9.0
8.6 vs 8.7
8.6 vs 8.6
Frequently asked questions
What is PancakeSwap and who is it for?+
PancakeSwap is a decentralised exchange, dex by type, and custody is non custodial. You hold the keys to the wallet yourself and trade against pools rather than a company balance. It suits active traders who are comfortable with wallets and want to keep hold of their assets at all times.
What does it cost to trade here?+
Cost comes from the trade itself and the network fee on the transaction rather than a subscription, and Auto CAKE adds an early unstaking charge inside a short window. For context, the median taker fee across decentralised exchanges in this comparison is 0.05%, against a site-wide median of 0.2%.
Who holds my money and what does that mean for risk?+
Custody is non custodial, so assets sit in a wallet you control and no platform balance is exposed if the venue has trouble. The trade-off is that key management sits with you, and support runs through help centre and community, so a lost key is a matter for you and the community.
What can I stake?+
Staking is a core feature, self custody and staking, and the pools cover CAKE. Standard Syrup Pools have no lockup, while Auto CAKE carries a small fee if you unstake early inside a short window. The supported asset list is narrow, so the staking side is thinner than the trading side.
How do I buy crypto with money?+
The buy route covers card, bank and sepa, so you can fund a purchase with common payment methods and swap on the exchange. It is a practical shortcut for readers who want to hold their own wallet but would rather start from money in a bank account or on a card.
Does PancakeSwap offer derivatives?+
Derivatives are offered, so the venue covers more than spot swaps and suits traders who want exposure beyond holding coins outright. Set against 716 coins listed and staking on CAKE, it is a broad, self-directed setup with several ways to earn a return on the same wallet.
How many coins can I trade?+
The exchange lists 716 coins, which places it at 16 among the 172 brands compared on token count. Breadth on the trading side is far wider than on the staking side, where CAKE is the supported asset.
Sources
- coingecko.com/en/exchanges/pancakeswap-v3-bsc checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Coins listed, Founded
“id=pancakeswap-v3-bsc; coins=716; pairs=1127”
- docs.pancakeswap.finance checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Exchange type, Features
“PancakeSwap is a leading decentralized exchange ... Trade directly from your wallet app”
- docs.pancakeswap.finance/earn/cake-staking/syrup-pool/syr... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Supported assets, Lock-up terms
“unlike the Farms, you only need to stake one token to start earning: usually CAKE”
- docs.pancakeswap.finance/llms.txt checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Derivatives, Support channels
“Perpetual Trading ... Perpetuals Trading [NEW] ... Perpetual Trading FAQ”
- docs.pancakeswap.finance/trade/buy-crypto checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Fiat deposit methods
“purchase your favourite tokens using a credit card, debit card or bank transfer ... 3.95% for Bank Transfers/SEPA (EU) ... 3.5%-5.5% for Debit/Credit/Apple Pay/Google Pay”
- docs.pancakeswap.finance/welcome-to-pancakeswap/readme.md checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Custody
“PancakeSwap doesn't hold your funds when you trade: you have 100% ownership of your own crypto”
Compiled from 6 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Taker fee, Regulators.