On this page 16
Our verdict
CEX.IO is a long-running, well-documented exchange with US state licences, UK FCA registration and no reported loss of customer funds. It has no AI features at all and is not yet MiCA-authorised, so it suits buying and holding more than automated trading.
Best for: Buying, holding and simple spot trading on a licensed venue, with AI research done in separate tools.
Key takeaways
- Operating since 2013, founded by Oleksandr Lutskevych. The company claims 15M+ registered users in 185+ countries.
- US: FinCEN-registered MSB with money transmitter licences for 39 states plus DC (NMLS 1804170). UK: FCA-registered, FRN 1007192. EU: MiCA application pending with Spain's CNMV, not yet authorised.
- No publicly reported hack of customer funds found as of October 2026. PCI DSS Level 1 (2026), 2FA, multi-sig and cold storage; no proof of reserves.
- No AI features, bots or copy trading. A documented Spot Trading API lets you connect your own tools with Read and Trade keys.
- Not available in Canada, Japan, India, Singapore and about 26 other countries and territories.
Most exchanges on this site are here because of their AI tools. CEX.IO is here for the opposite reason. It has none, and it does not pretend otherwise. What it offers instead is something many AI-heavy platforms lack: a long operating history, licences you can look up, and a clean record on customer funds.
This CEX.IO review checks those claims against the company's legal pages, regulator registers and independent sources, all dated October 2026. We also cover what it lacks, because a credible review has to: no MiCA authorisation yet, no proof of reserves, and a fee schedule that is harder to pin down than it should be. Finally, we show how to pair CEX.IO with the AI research tools covered elsewhere on this site.
CEX.IO at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official site | cex.io ↗ |
| Founded | 2013; founder and CEO Oleksandr "Alex" Lutskevych |
| US | CEX.IO Corp: FinCEN MSB, money transmitter licences in 39 states + DC, NMLS 1804170 |
| UK | CEX.IO Markets UK Ltd: FCA-registered cryptoasset business (MLRs), FRN 1007192 |
| EU | CEX.IO Europe, S.L. (Madrid): MiCA application with CNMV under review |
| Other | CEX OVRS LLC (Nevis) for eligible customers elsewhere; no regulator named |
| Security | PCI DSS Level 1 (2026), 2FA, multi-sig wallets, cold storage |
| Products | Instant Buy, Spot Trading (300+ markets), Margin (up to 20x), Earn, Pay, Prime, Wallet, Convert |
| AI features | None (no assistant, bots or copy trading) |
| API | Yes, Spot Trading REST API with permission-scoped keys |
| Apps | Web, iOS and Android |
Who CEX.IO suits, and who should look elsewhere
CEX.IO is a good fit if you want to buy crypto with a card, hold it on a platform with real registrations, and trade spot now and then. It is especially relevant in the US, where its state licence list is long, and in the UK, where it is FCA-registered and its financial promotions are approved.
It is a poor fit if you want an AI assistant inside the app, built-in grid or DCA bots, or copy trading. For those, see our matrix of exchanges with AI tools or the independent bots in our ranking of the best AI crypto trading bots. It is also not the right choice yet if you need a MiCA-authorised provider in the EU, or if you live in Canada, where CEX.IO does not operate.
Company and history
CEX.IO was founded in 2013 by Oleksandr "Alex" Lutskevych, who remains CEO. That makes it one of the longest-running crypto exchanges still operating. Early on it was also known for GHash.IO, a Bitcoin mining pool. CEX.IO's About page says it retired that legacy pool in 2015, framing the move as support for decentralisation.
Its regulatory build-out has been steady. CEX.IO registered with FinCEN in the US in 2015, won its first state money transmitter licences in 2019, and opened a US office the same year. It received a DLT provider licence in Gibraltar in 2019, though Gibraltar no longer appears on its current legal page, so treat that as history. In 2023 it announced a Lithuanian entity with a dedicated MLRO. The company says it holds 30+ licences and registrations worldwide and claims 15M+ registered users; those are its own figures.
Licences and registrations by region
| Entity | Where | Status | How to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEX.IO Corp | United States | FinCEN MSB; money transmitter licences listed for 39 states + DC (not NY or CA) | NMLS 1804170 ↗ |
| CEX.IO Markets UK Ltd | United Kingdom | FCA-registered cryptoasset business under the MLRs, FRN 1007192 | FCA register, FRN 1007192 |
| CEX.IO Europe, S.L. | Spain / EEA | MiCA application under review with CNMV | cex.io/legal/es ↗ |
| CEX OVRS LLC | Nevis | Serves eligible customers in other jurisdictions; no regulator named | cex.io/legal/ovrs ↗ |
United States
The US setup is the strongest part of the CEX.IO story. Its legal page lists licence numbers state by state, from Alabama to West Virginia, plus the District of Columbia. New York and California are not on the list, so residents there should confirm availability before signing up. Colorado appears only in a customer notice, and we could not confirm its licence status.
United Kingdom
CEX.IO paused UK services voluntarily in October 2023 when the FCA's financial-promotion rules took effect, then resumed on 12 September 2024 through an FCA-authorised approver. CEX.IO Markets UK Ltd is now registered with the FCA as a cryptoasset business under the Money Laundering Regulations (FRN 1007192), and the About page says a UK financial promotion was approved on 3 August 2026. FCA registration covers anti-money-laundering supervision; it is not the same as FSCS protection for your crypto.
European Union
Here we want to be plain: CEX.IO is not yet MiCA-authorised. Its Spanish entity has applied to the CNMV and the application remains under review, according to CEX.IO's own legal page. Spain's MiCA transitional period ended on 1 July 2026. We could not confirm how CEX.IO currently serves EU customers since then, so check what is offered in your country, and the CNMV register, before you open an account.
Is CEX.IO safe?
On the evidence we found, CEX.IO is one of the safer long-running exchanges, with clear caveats. Here is what supports that and what is missing.
| Control | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| PCI DSS Level 1 | Yes | Card-payment security standard; 2026 certificate published |
| 2FA | Yes | Use an authenticator app rather than SMS |
| Multi-sig wallets and cold storage | Yes | Hot/cold split not disclosed |
| DDoS mitigation, encrypted transactions | Yes | Listed on the homepage |
| Proof of reserves | Not published | No Merkle tree or attestation found |
| SOC 2 / ISO 27001 | Not found | No certificate published |
| Customer-fund hacks | None reported | As of October 2026, in our searches |
The absence of a reported hack over 13 years is the most meaningful line in that table. Bybit, KuCoin, Binance, HTX and Crypto.com have all lost customer or exchange funds at some point, as our exchange incident table shows. That does not make CEX.IO immune, and absence of a report is not proof, but it is a record few peers can match.
The biggest gap is proof of reserves. Exchanges like OKX, KuCoin and Gate publish monthly reserve proofs; CEX.IO does not. That means you rely on its licensing, audits for card payments and track record rather than on a cryptographic check of balances. For many buyers that is acceptable. For large balances, the usual advice applies: move long-term holdings to a wallet you control.
Products and features
CEX.IO covers the usual exchange products. None of them uses AI.
Instant Buy and Convert
Buy crypto with a card in a few taps, or swap one coin for another. The simplest route for beginners.
Spot Trading
A full order-book exchange with 300+ markets, market and limit orders. Formerly called Exchange Plus, and available to US users.
Margin Trading
Leverage up to 20x, the successor to CEX.IO Broker. High risk: leverage magnifies losses as fast as gains.
Earn, Pay, Prime, Wallet
Earn covers staking and savings, CEX.IO Pay handles crypto payments, Prime offers enterprise liquidity, and the Wallet holds your balances. Price alerts are built into the app.
We could not confirm a recurring-buy or auto-invest feature on CEX.IO's own help pages, so if automated DCA matters to you, read our DCA bots guide or do the maths in the DCA calculator and place the buys yourself.
Fees and limits
Opening a CEX.IO account is free. Spot trading uses a maker-taker model with tiers that fall as your 30-day volume grows; the Spot Trading API documentation confirms that your current fee is calculated from your 30-day volume, and also references the day of the week. We found different headline figures on different CEX.IO pages and conflicting numbers on review sites, so we do not quote a rate here. Check the official limits and commissions page before you trade, and look at the fee shown on the order screen.
| Item | What we confirmed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Account | Free to open | cex.io |
| Spot trading fees | Maker-taker, tiered by 30-day volume; check the official page | Spot Trading API docs |
| New-customer limits | $1,000 per day and $3,000 per month for the first 3 months after verification | cex.io/fee-schedule |
| US residents | Minimum daily deposit/withdrawal limit of $5,000 | cex.io/fee-schedule |
| External withdrawal fees | Returned per currency by the API's processing-info call | Spot Trading API docs |
If you trade through the API, two private endpoints answer the fee question exactly for your account: one returns your current fee and another returns the full fee strategy, meaning every tier that could apply. That is more precise than any review table. Instant Buy card purchases may carry separate processing costs, so check the total on the checkout screen before you confirm.
AI features: none, and how to pair CEX.IO with AI tools
To be completely clear: CEX.IO has no AI assistant, no trading bots and no copy trading. We checked its homepage, About page and product list in October 2026 and found none. It has published research about AI (a 2024 industry report on generative AI and crypto), but that is content, not a product. Treat any site claiming a "CEX.IO AI trading bot" as a likely scam.
That does not stop you using AI with it. The practical approach is to split the jobs: use independent AI tools for research and planning, and use CEX.IO for execution and custody.
Research with independent AI
Use Claude with data connectors such as Santiment or Nansen, Perplexity Finance for live prices, or Grok for crypto-Twitter sentiment. Our AI model comparison explains which is best for what.
Turn ideas into a written plan
Entry, size, stop and reason. The prompt library has templates for this.
Execute on CEX.IO manually
Place limit orders on Spot Trading. Manual execution is a useful brake on impulsive AI-driven trades.
Or automate with your own code
Create a Spot Trading API key with Read and Trade only and connect a script you wrote and tested. Our build an AI bot guide shows the structure.
What the CEX.IO API offers
The Spot Trading API reference documents public market-data calls and private account and trading calls, signed with HMAC-SHA256. Keys are created in the web terminal (up to five by default) and carry four permission types: Read, Trade, Funds Internal (transfers between your main account and sub-accounts) and Funds Wallet (transfers between Spot Trading and your CEX.IO Wallet). Rate limits are 100 points per minute for public calls per IP and 200 points per minute for private calls per key. An older Exchange API is documented separately at docs.cex.io.
Supported and unsupported countries
CEX.IO says it serves 185+ countries. Its help centre lists 30 unsupported countries and territories (updated 10 September 2026). The ones readers ask about most:
| Country or region | Status |
|---|---|
| United States | Supported in 39 states + DC with listed licences; NY and CA not listed |
| United Kingdom | Supported (FCA-registered entity) |
| European Union | Check your country; MiCA application pending |
| Canada | Not supported |
| Japan, India, Singapore | Not supported |
| Russia, Belarus, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba, Venezuela | Not supported |
| Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam | Not supported |
The full list also includes Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, the DRC, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Mali, Nicaragua and the Palestinian Territory. Some coins are also unavailable to customers in the US, China and South Korea.
Incidents and complaints
We found no publicly reported hack of customer funds at CEX.IO as of October 2026. The most notable operational issue we found was a trading outage on 10 October 2025, which a third-party status tracker recorded as lasting about 9.5 hours and attributed to increased load. Outages under heavy load hit many exchanges, but a long one is worth knowing about if you trade actively.
The usual friction points at regulated exchanges are identity verification and starting limits. At CEX.IO, new customers are capped at $1,000 a day and $3,000 a month for the first three months, which is worth knowing before you plan a large first purchase. We did not record a Trustpilot score for this review; if you check one, read recent reviews and look for patterns rather than single stories.
Licensed, long-running and refreshingly free of AI hype
If you have read this far, you know what CEX.IO is and is not: operating since 2013, FinCEN-registered with money transmitter licences for 39 US states plus DC, FCA-registered in the UK, with no AI features to oversell. A free account takes a few minutes; verification unlocks higher limits.
Registrations checked October 2026 on the company's legal pages. Availability depends on your country; crypto is high-risk.
- Since 2013One of the longest-running crypto exchanges still operating
source - 39 US states + DCFinCEN-registered MSB with state money transmitter licences (NMLS 1804170)
source - FCA-registeredUK cryptoasset business under the MLRs, FRN 1007192
source - PCI DSS Level 1Card-payment security standard, 2026 certificate published
source
Pros and cons
What works
- Operating since 2013 with no publicly reported hack of customer funds
- Public licence numbers: 39 US states + DC (NMLS 1804170) and FCA FRN 1007192
- PCI DSS Level 1, 2FA, multi-sig wallets and cold storage
- Broad product set: Instant Buy, 300+ spot markets, margin, Earn, Prime, Wallet
- Documented Spot Trading API with permission-scoped keys
Watch out for
- No AI assistant, bots or copy trading
- Not yet MiCA-authorised; CNMV application pending
- No proof of reserves, SOC 2 or ISO 27001
- Fee figures are hard to pin down across pages
- Not available in Canada, Japan, India, Singapore and others
Alternatives to CEX.IO
| If you want… | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| AI agents on a US-regulated exchange | Coinbase | Coinbase for Agents lets Claude or ChatGPT trade with limits; MiCA-licensed |
| An AI assistant plus bots in the EU | Bybit | TradeGPT, full bot suite, MiCA licence from Austria |
| An in-app AI agent and AI copy trading | Bitget GetAgent | 50+ tools, six AI personas; not in the US or several EU states |
| Deep liquidity and an AI agent beta | Binance AI | AI Pro with a no-withdraw sub-account; EU services restricted |
| Free built-in grid bots | Pionex | 16+ bots, low fees; licensing hard to verify |
Getting started on CEX.IO safely
Check your country and state
Confirm you are not on the unsupported list, and in the US that your state is among the 39 licensed plus DC.
Sign up on the official site only
Type cex.io yourself. Ignore ads and messages offering "CEX.IO AI" products; there are none.
Turn on 2FA immediately
Use an authenticator app and set up any anti-phishing options offered in settings.
Verify your identity
Expect $1,000 daily and $3,000 monthly limits for the first three months after verification.
Start with a small purchase
Check the fee on the order screen, then decide whether Instant Buy or a limit order on Spot Trading is cheaper for your size.
Move long-term holdings off-exchange
With no proof of reserves, a self-custody wallet is the safest home for coins you do not plan to trade.
Final verdict of our CEX.IO review
CEX.IO earns a 4.2 out of 5. It scores low on AI, because there is none, and high on track record and licensing, which is what most people actually need from the place their crypto lives. If you want an exchange whose AI trades for you, this is not it. If you want a regulated, long-running account for buying and holding, with AI research done in tools built for that job, CEX.IO is a sensible choice, provided it serves your country.
Our CEX.IO review will be updated when the CNMV decides on its MiCA application or if it publishes proof of reserves. Crypto is high-risk and nothing here is financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is CEX.IO legit?
Yes. CEX.IO has operated since 2013. Its US entity, CEX.IO Corp, is registered with FinCEN as a money services business and lists money transmitter licences for 39 states plus DC (NMLS 1804170), and its UK entity is FCA-registered as a cryptoasset business (FRN 1007192). You can check both registrations yourself on the regulators' sites.
Is CEX.IO safe?
It has a good record. CEX.IO uses 2FA, multi-signature wallets and cold storage, holds a PCI DSS Level 1 certificate for card payments (2026), and we found no publicly reported hack of customer funds as of October 2026. It does not publish proof of reserves, so you are trusting the company on balances. Keep only what you need on any exchange.
Does CEX.IO have AI trading tools or bots?
No. CEX.IO has no AI assistant, no trading bots and no copy trading. It does have a documented Spot Trading API with Read and Trade key permissions, so you can connect your own scripts. For research, pair it with independent AI tools from our AI crypto tools directory.
Is CEX.IO available in the EU?
CEX.IO Europe, S.L. in Spain has applied to the CNMV for MiCA authorisation, and the application was still under review as of October 2026. It is not yet MiCA-authorised. If you live in the EU, check what CEX.IO currently offers in your country before opening an account.
Is CEX.IO available in Canada or the US?
Canada is on CEX.IO's list of unsupported countries. In the US, CEX.IO Corp lists licences for 39 states plus DC. New York and California are not on that list, so check whether your state is supported before you sign up.
What are CEX.IO's trading fees?
Spot trading uses maker and taker fees that fall as your 30-day trading volume rises. We saw different headline numbers on different pages, so we do not quote them; check the official fee page or, if you use the API, the fee-strategy endpoint, which returns the tiers that apply to your account.
Does CEX.IO have an API?
Yes. The Spot Trading API reference at trade.cex.io/docs documents public and private REST calls with HMAC-SHA256 signed requests and four key permissions: Read, Trade, Funds Internal and Funds Wallet. There is also an older Exchange API documented at docs.cex.io. For a bot, grant only Read and Trade.
Keep reading
Sources and fact-check dates
We link to primary sources wherever possible. Dates show when the page was published or when we last checked it.
- CEX.IO homepage (products, security, user and country claims) · checked 2026-10-21
- CEX.IO About page (history, founder, licences claim) · checked 2026-10-21
- CEX.IO legal and security: entity list · checked 2026-10-21
- CEX.IO Corp: US licences (39 states + DC, NMLS 1804170) · checked 2026-10-21
- CEX.IO Markets UK Ltd: FCA registration (FRN 1007192) · checked 2026-10-21
- CEX.IO Europe, S.L.: CNMV application under review · checked 2026-10-21
- CEX OVRS LLC (Nevis) · checked 2026-10-21
- CEX.IO PCI DSS certificate (2026) · created 2026-03-24
- CEX.IO Spot Trading API reference · checked 2026-10-21
- CEX.IO Exchange API (legacy) documentation · checked 2026-10-21
- CEX.IO fee schedule and limits page · checked 2026-10-21
- CEX.IO limits and commissions · checked 2026-10-21
- CEX.IO Help Center: unsupported countries · updated 2026-09-10
- The Block: CEX.IO resumes UK service with FCA-authorised approver · 2024-09-12
- Finance Magnates: CEX.IO secures US money transmitter licences · 2019
- Finance Magnates: CEX.IO secures DLT licence in Gibraltar · 2019
- Pingoru: CEX.IO incident record (October 2025 outage) · 2025-10-10
- NMLS Consumer Access: CEX.IO Corp · verify manually
