The surge in crypto exchanges has been astonishing, considering governments dire need to sanction cryptocurrencies. However, even so, it seems crypto adoption is inevitable, and the number of crypto exchanges will continue to grow.

Currently, on coinmarketcap, there are up to 314 exchanges. All these exchanges have different features, transaction fees, and support different coins. But which exchanges can you trust? We’ve all read the news of the many hack incidents that have happened in the crypto space.

Well, put OKex on top of the list of exchanges you should consider. OKEx exchange is among the largest and most popular fiat-to-crypto and crypto-to-crypto exchanges globally, with over 20 million customers spread across 100 countries.

According to the Exchange Review March 2020 research by CryptoCompare, Okex topped the derivatives market in March 2020, becoming the world’s largest cryptocurrency spot and derivatives exchange.

Find out all about OKEx’s exchange fees, payment methods, range of tradable assets, types of trading, and more in this comprehensive review.

OKEx Overview

OKEx is a Malta-based crypto exchange that enables users to securely buy, sell and trade cryptocurrencies such as BTC, ETH, LTC and other cryptos. The exchange was initially founded in Hong Kong in 2016 but moved to Valetta, Malta, in 2018 following harsh crypto law and regulation in China.

Star XU – a Chinese businessman founded OKEx. The current CEO is JayHao – a tech veteran and seasoned industry leader. He focused on developing blockchain-driven applications for live video streaming and mobile gaming before joining OKEx as the CEO.

OKEx is part of OK Group– a reputed blockchain technology company established in 2013 to focus on the research and development of the technology and its all-scenario applications.

OKEx sets itself apart from other exchanges with its user-friendly interface complemented by the support of over 400 trading pairs and reasonable trading fees and several purchase options. The exchange is ideal for beginners, IEO Participants, OTC as well as professional traders.

OKEx Trading Platform

OKEx, an exchange trading platform, is available both in-browser and in the form of downloadable desktop client software. In fact, OKEx is among the few crypto exchange platforms across the globe that offers a downloadable, stand-alone desktop platform.

A downloadable software comes in handy to avert the risk of a browser experiencing memory or processing difficulties and possibly freezing while trading -a major inconvenience. The stand-alone desktop platform is ideal for traders seeking multiple-monitor support to duplicate the entire layout multiple times or seamlessly move to another monitor.

The UI is well designed, resembling high-end forex and stocks trading platforms. For the proprietary features, OKEx features a charting package that is developed by parent company and sister exchange – OKCoin. You will appreciate the charts as they are much better than those provided by other crypto exchange platforms. The exchange is also available as a mobile app (iOS and Android smartphones)

OKEx Trading Conditions

Tradable Assets

OKEx exchange supports the standard crypto-to-crypto trading, fiat to crypto trading, as well as spot and derivatives trading, i.e., BTC, ETH and EOS future contracts. The platform supports over 150 digital tokens with over 400 BTC and USDT tradable pairs. The supported tokens also include OKB – a utility token issued OK Blockchain Foundation.

OKEx supports more than 30 fiat currencies, including USD, EUR, GPW, KRW, JPY etc. The exchange also supports stablecoins, including Tether, Paxos Standard, TrueUSD, USD Coin and Gemini Dollar.

OKEx Fees

OKEx trading fees are based on maker-taker type of fee schedule to enhance liquidity and promote order placement. The Maker fee is payable when the trade order isn’t matched with an existing order on the order book. On the contrary, the taker fee is payable when the trade order is paired with an existing order on the order book.

The maker and taker fees usually start from 0.10% to 0.15%, respectively. The Maker fee is generally lower than the taker fee. Most crypto traders are market takers since becoming a market maker requires substantial investment in securities and trading volume.

Trading Fees

OKEx charges market takers a maximum of 0.15% for spot trading. This is below the crypto market average, which stands at 0.25%. The trading fees also vary based on the trader’s trading fees. However, VIP traders are usually given commissions on trading fees. Market takers are charged anywhere between 0,03% to 0.05% for futures and options trading.

Below is a table showing OKEx trading fees.

Tier Monthly Volume Requirement Maker Taker Maker Discount Level 1 $1.00 + OKB Balance = 0.00 0.10% 0.15% 0.00% Level 2 $10,000,000.00 + OKB Balance = 0.00 0.06% 0.08% 0.00%

Deposit and Withdrawal Fees

OKEx doesn’t charge users deposit fees. However, traders must pay a withdrawal fee depending on the token. The withdrawal fees are also quite low compared to other crypto exchanges. Here is a table indicating the withdrawal fees. You can find the complete list here.

Asset Withdrawal Fees Minimum Withdrawal Bitcoin (BTC) 0.0005 0.0005 Ethereum (ETH) 0.01 0.01 XRP(XRP) 0.15 0.15 Tether (USDT) 2 2

Margin Interest Rate Fees

In margin trading, crypto exchanges charge you a certain amount of fees for taking leveraged and holding a trading position overnight or for a couple of days as you wait for a price movement. OKEx charges a margin interest rate using an hourly interest rate system. You can find their rates Here.

Methods of Payments

OKEx supports several payment options depending on the geographical location of a user. Notable payment options include Alipay, Bank transfer, credit and debit cards, WeChat payment network, Alipay, crypto-transfers and Paxful-supported payment methods such as PayPal.

Is OKEx Safe in 2020?

In terms of security, OKEx implements a functional cybersecurity architecture with two-factor authentication on the users’ side. To ensure the utmost security of users’ funds, even in the event of hacking, OKEx employs distributed storage. The exchange constitutes various cold storage locations placed across the world to minimize asset exposure during hacking. Also, hot wallets are integrated into the exchange via private keys to enhance security.

OKEx was hacked in August 2017 with one user claiming to have lost 200 BTC. However, OKEx refuted the hacking claims stating that it could be due to the account holder’s failure to secure their accounts through passwords and not the vulnerability of the exchange.

Nonetheless, the platform has since enhanced accounts security via 2-factor authentication, mobile verification code for changing security settings and withdrawals, email verification codes and anti-phishing codes in every OKEx email.

All in all, the platform appears to be safe and has gained rave security reviews from different security agencies. It’s also registered in Malta and Hong Kong and complies with the Virtual Financial Asset Act (“VFAA”), which is part of the Malta Financial Services Authority.

OKEx Pros and Cons

Pros

Above-average liquidity

Widespread trading options

Advance exchange features, including margin trading, derivatives markets etc.

Low trading and withdrawal fees

No deposit fees

Fiat deposit support

24/7, live chat customer support.

Cons

Deposits are not insured

Poorly developed mobile app

The platform has withdrawal transfer limitations

It has lower listing standards compared to other top cryptocurrency exchanges

Not available to US Citizens

The Bottom Line

It’s no surprise that OKEx is among the top global crypto-crypto and fiat-to-crypto cryptocurrency exchanges. The exchange boasts great liquidity, a wide range of supported assets, superb, user-friendly features, below market average trading fees and supports several trading options. Above all, OKEx is safe and features both cold and hot wallets technology. You can always rely on this platform for all your crypto trading needs.

Source: Crypto Adventure