Binance scores 7.0/10 on our security pillar. It publishes proof-of-reserves. 2019 hack: ~7,000 BTC (~$40M) stolen, covered by SAFU with no user losses As with any exchange, holding large amounts long-term is safer in a hardware wallet.

What are Binance's fees?

Binance's base spot fees are 0.1% maker / 0.1% taker. Withdrawal and fiat on-ramp costs vary — always check the live fee schedule, as fees change. Our data was last verified in October 2026.

Is Binance available in my country?

Not available to new EU users since 1 July 2026 (no MiCA licence; existing users can withdraw). Banned/restricted for the main platform in the US (US users routed to separate Binance.US); has faced restrictions or withdrawals in the UK, Canada, Netherlands, and other markets. Availability of specific products (e.g. derivatives, card) varies by country. Availability and specific products change by jurisdiction — verify on the official site before signing up.

Binance Review (October 2026) — Fees, Safety & Verdict

The verdict

Best for: Advanced traders

Choose Binance if…

You trade spot often and want low fees (0.1% taker).
You want an exchange that publishes proof-of-reserves.
You trade derivatives, futures or with margin.

Skip it if…

You live in the EU — it has no MiCA licence and can't onboard EU residents since July 2026.
You want heavy regulatory oversight above all else.

Proof-of-reservesSpot taker 0.1%~400 assetsKYC required

No link: no MiCA licence, EU sign-ups suspended since July 2026

We publish this review without any link to the platform. Not financial advice.

How Binance scores

Fees (20%)10.0

Security (25%)7.0

Regulation & Trust (25%)4.0

Assets & Features (15%)9.0

UX & Support (15%)10.0

How we scored Binanceshow the math ↓

Fees — 10.0/10 × 20%

·Spot taker fee of 0.1% is category-leading (≤0.10%).
·Low maker fee (0.1%) rewards limit orders.

Security — 7.0/10 × 25%

·Publishes proof-of-reserves (+2.5).
·Majority cold storage (+2).
·2FA / hardware-key support (+1.5).
·Third-party audits / bug bounty (+1.5).
·Insurance / user-protection fund (+1).
·Suffered a fund hack but fully reimbursed users — still a mark against it (−1.5).

Regulation & Trust — 4.0/10 × 25%

·Licensed/registered in a recognised jurisdiction (+2.5).
·Registered across multiple markets (+1.5).
·Transparent operating entity / HQ disclosed (+1.5).
·Operating 9 years (+1.5).
·Pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed business (−3).

Assets & Features — 9.0/10 × 15%

·~400 assets — broad (+4).
·10 product features (spot, derivatives, staking, etc.) (+5).

UX & Support — 10.0/10 × 15%

·Multiple fiat on-ramps — easy funding (+2).
·Consumer-grade products (card / app / Web3) (+2).
·Built-in earn/staking (+1).
·Full KYC — compliant onboarding (+1).

Overall = Fees×0.20 + Security×0.25 + Regulation×0.25 + Assets×0.15 + UX×0.15 = 7.6/10 (Good)

Scores come only from verifiable data and this published rubric — never from commissions. Full methodology →

Pros & cons

Pros

Deepest liquidity and largest spot trading volume globally
Low 0.10% base spot fee with additional 25% discount when paying fees in BNB
Very broad product suite (spot, futures, earn, launchpad, etc.)
Publishes proof-of-reserves

Cons (the real ones)

Significant regulatory history including a $4.3B US settlement and guilty plea by its founder
No MiCA licence: closed to new EU users since July 2026, and unavailable to US retail
Proof-of-reserves are attestations, not full financial audits
Complex interface can overwhelm beginners

Fees

Spot maker	0.1%
Spot taker	0.1%
Fiat on-ramps	bank transfer (SEPA/wire), credit/debit card, p2p, third-party providers

Fees change often — verified October 2026. Always check the live schedule.

Trading on Binance? Every trade can be a taxable event. A crypto-tax tool like Koinly auto-imports your history and generates a compliant tax report. Disclosed affiliate link — we only point to tools we'd actually use.

Security

2FA (TOTP/hardware key)
cold storage majority of funds
SAFU insurance fund (user protection reserve)
proof-of-reserves via zk-SNARK (Merkle tree)
2019 hack: ~7,000 BTC (~$40M) stolen, covered by SAFU with no user losses

Regulation & track record

Licensed by Dubai's VARA. No MiCA authorisation: Binance withdrew its EU application in Greece on 24 June 2026, and since 1 July 2026 new sign-ups, deposits, spot orders and Earn are suspended for EU residents (withdrawals remain open). In Nov 2023 Binance pleaded guilty in the US (Bank Secrecy Act, unlicensed money transmission, sanctions) and paid ~$4.3B to the DOJ, FinCEN, OFAC and CFTC; founder CZ pleaded guilty to a BSA violation and stepped down as CEO. Runs a separate, restricted US entity (Binance.US).

Who should NOT use Binance

You live in the EU — it has no MiCA licence and can't onboard EU residents since July 2026.
You want heavy regulatory oversight above all else.

Not trading today?

Whatever exchange you pick, two things matter more than its fees.

Coins you aren't trading are safer in a hardware wallet whose keys only you hold, and every trade can be a taxable event that you'll need to report. These are the two tools we point readers to.

Ledger hardware wallet Koinly crypto tax

Affiliate links · products, not financial services · disclosure

How we make money from this review

Public referral/affiliate program advertising up to 50% commission share on spot trading fees (and lower rates on futures) generated by referred users; terms and rates vary by tier and region. This never changes Binance's score — our rubric is public and ranking follows score order, not commission. See our full disclosure.

No link: no MiCA licence, EU sign-ups suspended since July 2026Compare all exchanges

Crypto is volatile; you can lose some or all of your money. Not financial advice.

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