The verdict
Best for: Lowest feesChoose OKX 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 need a feature this exchange doesn't offer — check the feature list first.
Not financial advice. Opening an account through this link supports our testing at no cost to you.
How OKX scores
How we scored OKXshow the math ↓
Fees — 10.0/10 × 20%
- ·Spot taker fee of 0.1% is category-leading (≤0.10%).
- ·Low maker fee (0.08%) rewards limit orders.
Security — 8.5/10 × 25%
- ·Publishes proof-of-reserves (+2.5).
- ·Majority cold storage (+2).
- ·2FA / hardware-key support (+1.5).
- ·Third-party audits / bug bounty (+1.5).
- ·No unresolved loss-of-funds incident (+1).
Regulation & Trust — 6.0/10 × 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).
- ·Past, resolved fine/settlement (−1).
Assets & Features — 9.0/10 × 15%
- ·~350 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).
Scores come only from verifiable data and this published rubric — never from commissions. Full methodology →
Pros & cons
Pros
- Among the lowest base spot fees (0.08% maker / 0.10% taker)
- Full EU MiCA license via Malta
- Frequent zk-STARK proof-of-reserves showing >100% backing
- Very broad product suite including an integrated Web3 wallet
Cons (the real ones)
- $505M US DOJ settlement in 2025 over unlicensed money transmission
- US availability only re-emerging post-settlement
- Large, complex product range can overwhelm new users
- Offshore core operations (Seychelles)
Fees
| Spot maker | 0.08% |
| Spot taker | 0.1% |
| Fiat on-ramps | credit/debit card, bank transfer, p2p, third-party providers |
Fees change often — verified August 2026. Always check the live schedule.
Security
- 2FA (TOTP/hardware key)
- cold/semi-offline storage
- monthly proof-of-reserves using zk-STARK and Merkle tree verification (reserves >100% for major assets)
- no known exchange-level fund hack
Regulation & track record
Holds a full EU MiCA license via Malta's MFSA (passportable across the EEA), plus UAE (Dubai) licensing and other regional registrations. In Feb 2025 OKX's affiliated entity settled with the US DOJ for ~$505M over operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business and began a compliant US re-entry.
Who should NOT use OKX
- You need a feature this exchange doesn't offer — check the feature list first.
How we make money from this review
Public affiliate program advertising up to 50% commission (paid in USDT) on referred users' fees, plus additional referral rewards; terms vary by tier. This never changes OKX's score — our rubric is public and ranking follows score order, not commission. See our full disclosure.
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