Poloniex review
Updated September 28, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Poloniex suits active traders who want a broad coin list, derivatives and staking inside a custodial account, and it is based in Seychelles with 145 coins listed. Proof of reserves is published and deposits run by card and bank, so breadth and a solvency check carry the case.
Key facts
- Best for
- A long coin list with spot, derivatives and staking on the same custodial account.
- Taker fee
- 0.025% to 0.09%↗
- Coins listed
- 145↗
- Fiat deposit methods
- Card, Bank↗
- Maker fee
- 0% to 0.09%↗
- Proof of reserves
- Yes↗
- Derivatives
- Yes↗
- Exchange type
- Cex↗
- Headquarters
- Seychelles↗
- Founded
- 2014↗
- Features
- Custodial, Staking
- Official website
- poloniex.com
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 2 sources
Pros and cons
Pros
- Custodial accounts with published proof of reserves, so the platform shows it holds customer assets: custodial and staking.
- Derivatives trading sits alongside spot, so leveraged positions need no second venue.
- Staking is part of the account, custodial and staking, so idle balances can earn in place.
- Fiat deposits by card and bank, card and bank, cover the usual funding routes.
Cons
- Custody is custodial, not self custody, so coins depend on the exchange: custodial and staking.
- The coin list is shorter than Bitpanda's, which lists from 650 against Poloniex 145.
- ActiveTrades charges a taker fee of 0% against Poloniex taker fees of 0.025% to 0.09%, which is the trade off for keeping coins on platform.
Ready to try Poloniex?
Scored 9.4 / 10 by HodlCue.
Who it suits
- Traders who want spot and derivatives in the same account, since Poloniex offers derivatives.
- Anyone who wants a broad but not exhaustive list, with 145 coins listed.
- Holders who want staking on balances left with the platform, since custodial and staking includes staking.
Who should look elsewhere
- ActiveTrades if the lowest trading fee matters most, since its taker fee is 0%.
- Bitpanda if the coin list length matters most, with from 650 listed coins.
- bunq if you prefer the higher fee level, where trading fees run 0.25% to 1.99% against Poloniex 0.025% to 0.09%.
Fees
Trading fees sit at the cheap end of the schedule. Taker fees run 0.025% to 0.09% and maker fees sit at 0% to 0.09%, so a maker order costs less than the cheapest taker trade. Both rates are quoted as a range rather than a single number, and the spread between the cheapest maker and dearest taker trade is small, which suits traders who place frequent orders.
How Poloniex compares
9.4 vs 9.5- 9.4 vs 9.3
9.4 vs 9.2
9.4 vs 9.7Trading costs 0% there, so nothing is charged per trade.
9.4 vs 9.4
9.4 vs 9.6
9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 8.9
9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 8.2
9.4 vs 8.2
9.4 vs 9.7
9.4 vs 9.4
9.4 vs 9.3
9.4 vs 9.2
9.4 vs 9.2
9.4 vs 9.1
9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 8.7
9.4 vs 8.6
Frequently asked questions
What does it cost to trade on Poloniex?+
Taker fees run 0.025% to 0.09% and maker fees sit at 0% to 0.09%, so the maker rate is the cheaper side of the schedule. The top of the taker range stays under the listed exchange median 0.2%. Costs are quoted as a spread of rates rather than a single headline percentage.
How many coins can I trade?+
Poloniex lists 145 coins against a listed exchange median 74.5. That is a solid mid to upper range rather than the deepest book on the site, and it covers the majors alongside a long tail of smaller assets.
How do I deposit money?+
Fiat deposits run through card and bank, so cards and bank transfers are the routes on offer. Cards suit small, quick top ups and bank transfers suit larger sums, which makes the account work for a first buy as well as regular funding runs.
Who holds my coins?+
Poloniex does: custodial and staking lists a custodial account, so assets sit with the platform rather than in a wallet you control. That also means staking can be done in place. Anyone wanting self custody would need a different kind of venue.
Does Poloniex offer derivatives?+
Derivatives trading is offered alongside spot, so leveraged positions do not need a second venue. The account is custodial, custodial and staking, so the same balance can cover both leverage and staking on a single platform. Traders who only need spot can leave that side alone.
Does Poloniex publish proof of reserves?+
Proof of reserves is published, which lets you check the claim that customer balances are backed by assets on the platform. It sits alongside a custodial model, custodial and staking, so the exchange holds the assets rather than you. It is a solvency signal, not a guarantee of what any single withdrawal will do.
Can I earn on coins I hold?+
Staking is included in custodial and staking, so balances can earn without moving to another platform. That suits holders who want to keep idle coins working while everything stays in a single custodial account. The account is a trading account first, so staking sits alongside spot and derivatives rather than replacing them.
Where is Poloniex based and how old is it?+
Founded 2014 and headquartered in Seychelles, Poloniex is a long running exchange rather than a recent launch. It is a centralised exchange, cex, which is the standard shape for venues of this kind and explains why assets sit with the platform.
Sources
- coingecko.com/en/exchanges/poloniex checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Coins listed, Founded, Exchange type, Fiat deposit methods, Headquarters, Maker fee, Taker fee
“id=poloniex; coins=145; pairs=166”
- defillama.com/cex/poloniex checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Proof of reserves, Derivatives, Features
“slug=poloniex; category=CEX; tvl=1674868585.3461013”
Compiled from 2 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Regulators.
Related by the facts
Poloniex
A long coin list with spot, derivatives and staking on the same custodial account.