Phemex

Launched in
2019
Headquartered in
Singapore
Trust Score
7/10  (world's #64 CEX)
Proof of Reserves
Published
Identity verification
Not mandatory
24H Trading Volume
1,167
Altcoins listed
400+

Phemex exchange is primarily focused on derivatives trading. But its excellent user interface and tons of features make it a great small-sized alternative for both experienced traders and beginner investors.

New user experience is in fact top notch on Phemex, and everyone will quickly figure out how to use the exchange and execute trades. Altcoin selection is average, and trading volumes tend to be low. Nevertheless, only the most demanding traders will find issues with liquidity.

Fees are average to low depending on your volume or use of native token. Large welcome bonuses are available by using our referral code during signup, which can significantly offset your trading fee costs.

Phemex Features Overview:

  • Deposits: Cryptocurrency Bank cardsBank transfers
  • Beginner trading: Beginner-friendly interfaceSpot tradingDemo tradingMobile appCopytradingQuick convert
  • Advanced trading: MarginFutures & leverageOptionsTraditional marketsTrading bots
  • Financial services: Fiat withdrawalsDebit ATM cardsCrypto loansP2P tradingStaking & Earn
  • Other features: Optional KYCSignup bonusesSubaccounts

Phemex Fees:

 Fiat Deposit & Withdraw
 Crypto Trading
 Bonuses & Fee Discounts

Phemex supports both direct fiat deposits (cheaper fees) and third-party payment providers.

Direct deposits:

Payment MethodDeposit FeeWithdrawal FeeProcessing Time
Credit/Debit CardsCredit/Debit Cards0.8% - 3.5%1.8% to 3.3%Instant
ACH Transfers (US/USD)ACH Transfers (US/USD)0.08% to 2%0.08% to 2% + $301-3 Business Days
SEPA Transfers (EU/EUR)SEPA Transfers (EU/EUR)0.08% to 2%0.08% to 2% + €21-2 Business Days
SWIFT Transfers (International)SWIFT Transfers (International)0.08% to 2%0.08% to 2% + $303-5 Business Days
Faster Payments (UK/GBP)Faster Payments (UK/GBP)0.08% to 2%0.08% to 2% + £21-3 Business Days
PIX (BR/BRL)PIX (BR/BRL)1.49% Not availableInstant

Integrated fiat gateways:

Payment MethodDeposit FeeWithdrawal Fee
Visa/Mastercard Visa/Mastercard5% (min. 10 USD)3.5% (min. 10 USD)
ACH Transfers (US/USD) ACH Transfers (US/USD)3.5% (min. 10 USD) Not available
SEPA Transfers (EU/EUR) SEPA Transfers (EU/EUR)3.5% (min. 10 EUR)3.5% (min. 10 USD)
Google Pay Google Pay5% (min. 10 USD) Not available
Apple Pay Apple Pay5% (min. 10 USD) Not available

More about Simplex

Payment MethodDeposit FeeWithdrawal Fee
Visa/Mastercard Visa/Mastercard4.5%4.5%
SEPA Transfers (EU/EUR) SEPA Transfers (EU/EUR)1%1%
Google Pay Google Pay4.5%4.5%
Apple Pay Apple Pay4.5%4.5%
PayPal PayPal4.5%3.4%

More about MoonPay

Payment MethodDeposit FeeWithdrawal Fee
Visa/Mastercard Visa/Mastercard3.95%3.95% (min. €4)
SEPA Transfers (EU/EUR) SEPA Transfers (EU/EUR)3.95% Not available
Other Bank Transfers Other Bank Transfers3.95% Not available
Google Pay Google Pay3.95% Not available
Apple Pay Apple Pay3.95% Not available
Revolut Pay Revolut Pay3.95% Not available

Mercuryo may charge an additional 1% currency spread. This price spread is typically included with fees in the table above.

More about Mercuryo

Supported fiat currencies: Bank transfer: USD, EUR, CHF, AUD, GBP, JPY. Cards: EUR, USD, GBP, CAD, CHF, AUD, JPY, BRL, TWD, HKD, COP, CZK, DKK, DOP, EGP, IDR, ILS, JOD, KES, KWD, LKR, MAD, MXN, MYR, NGN, NOK, NZD, OMR, PEN, PKR, PLN, RON, SEK, THB, TRY, VND, ZAR.

Fiat tutorials on Phemex's help center:

All cryptocurrency deposits to Phemex are free of deposit fees.

View fiat deposit fees on Phemex website

Crypto to crypto trading fees (default):

Market  Minimum fee (Maker)  Maximum fee (Taker) 
Spot0.1%0.1%
Futures0.01%0.06%
Low fees
Average fees
High fees
 Compare fees on all exchanges

 Native token discount available: Yes ( 20% on Spot / 10% on Futures )

Spot trading fees:

  • Maker: 0.1%
  • Taker: 0.1%
  • Additional 20% fee discount when using PT, Phemex native token

Derivatives trading fees:

  • Maker: 0.01%
  • Taker: 0.06%
  • Additional 10% discount when paying fees with native token

Phemex also offers further fee discounts for high volume traders (VIP), starting at 8 million derivatives or $800,000 spot trading volume over 30 days. Alternatively, VIP1 starts if your assets balances are over $50,000 in 30 days.

Zero downsides, only benefits. Simply use this link or the following code during signup on Phemex:

EPXXT5

Up to $8,800 welcome rewards with referral link.

Signup bonuses amount: $8,800.00

  • Referral, signup, or invitation code must be used during signup/registration process. These codes are also automatically added to exchange signup links on our site.
  • There are never any downsides to using referral codes. Benefits can include fee discounts, deposit bonuses, cash rewards, access to exclusive events or trading competitions, or other advantages.
  • The referral codes allow exchanges to properly attribute users and distribute rewards, bonuses, or fee discounts based on disclosed affiliate relationships. No personal data is ever shared with us.

Phemex Available & Restricted Countries:

 Available Countries
 Restrictions

Phemex is available in 194 countries and territories.

Phemex is not available in 40 countries:

Afghanistan, Angola, Belarus, Belgium, Burundi, Central African Republic, China, Congo - Kinshasa, Côte D’ivoire, Cuba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, Nicaragua, North Korea, Palestinian Territories, Russia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Türkiye, United States, Venezuela, Western Sahara, Yemen, Zimbabwe.

Additional territory restrictions: Crimea, Sevastopol, and Canadian provinces Ontario, Québec, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Additionally, Phemex permits USD wire transfers from anywhere in the US, therefore it may be available to some United States users.

Phemex does not enforce KYC (know-your-customer) policies on accounts, so trading with VPNs in unsupported countries may be possible. We always recommend using CEXs legally available in your jurisdiction.

See our list of countries to find exchanges available in your territory, or view all exchanges without KYC policy enforcement.

Pros

  • Up to $8,800 in welcome rewards and bonuses.
  • Has low-fee fiat deposits through direct bank transfers and debit and credit cards, and 3rd party fiat deposits with more than 50 payment options.
  • Has fiat withdrawals through wire transfers.
  • P2P marketplace where you can buy crypto with PayPal, Advcash, and many other payment methods.
  • KYC identity verification is optional.

Cons

  • Only about a dozen assets for staking, and with low yields.
  • Dark color scheme only available on trading screen.
  • Low spot volume (exchange mainly focuses on derivatives traders).

About Phemex:

Over the past few years, Phemex emerged as a beacon of innovation and accessibility. Launched in 2019, this Singapore-based platform, spearheaded by former Morgan Stanley executives, has swiftly ascended to the forefront of the industry. With a global user base exceeding 5 million individuals across 200 countries, Phemex has become synonymous with efficiency, reliability, and cutting-edge technology.

Phemex stands as a premier cryptocurrency and derivatives trading platform, renowned for its comprehensive suite of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of traders worldwide. Boasting support for over 400 trading pairs and offering leverage of up to 100x, Phemex provides a dynamic environment for both novice enthusiasts and seasoned professionals to engage in the digital asset markets.

Noteworthy Features:

  1. Derivatives Trading: At its core, Phemex is a crypto derivatives trading exchange, offering a robust framework for users to engage in spot, contract, and margin trading with ease and precision.
  2. User-Friendly Interface: The platform prides itself on its intuitive charting and wallet interface, designed to streamline the trading experience for users of all proficiency levels.
  3. Low Fees and Deep Liquidity: Phemex sets itself apart with competitive fee structures and deep liquidity pools, ensuring optimal trading conditions for its diverse clientele.
  4. No-KYC Policy: Upholding the ethos of decentralization, Phemex operates with a strict no-KYC (Know Your Customer) policy, prioritizing user privacy and security.
  5. Educational Resources: Recognizing the importance of financial literacy, Phemex offers an extensive educational portal replete with guides, charts, and expert advice to empower traders on their journey to success.

Fiat Deposit and Withdrawal Fees

Bank Cards

Phemex has fiat deposits and withdrawals through credit and debit cards, starting at a 0.8% fee within EEA (European Economic Area). Outside EEA, fees are 2.8%. In UK and US, card deposit fees are 3.5%. With all fees included, in our test we received $957 when spending $1000 (4.3% fee). When withdrawing 1,000 USDT as USD to a card, we received $967 (3.3% fee).

Bank Transfers

A cheaper alternative is to deposit fiat through bank transfers. Phemex supports bank deposits via SWIFT, ACH, SEPA and FPS. Fees will depend on the amount you purchase as follows:

Purchase amountBuy feeFiat Withdraw Fee
$50 – $4992%2% + $30 SWIFT / €2 SEPA /£2 FPS
$500 – $9,9991.5%1.5% + $30 SWIFT / €2 SEPA /£2 FPS
$10,000 – $49,9991%1% + $30 SWIFT / €2 SEPA /£2 FPS
$50,000 – $99,9990.5%0.5%
$100,000 – $499,9990.1%0.1%
$500,000 – $100,000,0000.08%0.08%
Bank transfer deposit and withdrawal fees on Phemex.

Needless to say, fiat deposits and withdrawals will require KYC completion. You can deposit and trade crypto without identity verification, but fiat services will require submitting your ID card.

3rd Party Payments

In addition to direct deposits and withdrawals as mentioned above, Phemex also integrated multiple third-party payment providers for fiat services: Mercuryo, MoonPay, Paybit, Simplex, and Transak. Each of these services has different fees, supported currencies, countries, and payment options. Using 3rd party gateways lets you buy crypto with Skrill, Neteller, Astropay, and other digital wallets or payment methods.

Phemex History

Phemex embarked on its transformative journey in November 2019 under the stewardship of Phemex Financial Pte. Ltd., marking the dawn of a new era in cryptocurrency trading. Headquartered in Singapore and registered in the British Virgin Islands, Phemex embodies the spirit of global collaboration and technological advancement.

At the helm of Phemex is Jack Tao, a visionary leader with a wealth of experience in both traditional finance and algorithmic trading. As the CEO and founder, Tao’s expertise, honed over a decade in the industry, has been instrumental in shaping Phemex into a formidable force within the crypto space.

As Phemex continues to redefine the boundaries of possibility in the realm of cryptocurrency derivatives trading, its commitment to excellence remains unwavering. With a relentless focus on user experience, innovation, and inclusivity, Phemex stands poised to shape the future of finance for generations to come.

Is Phemex a Good Exchange?

Overall, Phemex is a solid medium-sized exchange catering to both beginner investors and experienced traders. Cheap and convenient fiat deposits with a simple but powerful trading interface makes this platform excellent for first time buyers. Experienced traders will find solid liquidity and volume on Futures market, plus a plethora of tools such as trading bots, margin trading and more.

Features Score: 60 / 100
3.2
Total Rating: Good

When we compare all features and aspects, it’s obvious that Phemex is quickly growing and catching up to larger exchanges in the market compared. Phemex is a great choice for traders who need a privacy-focused exchange with optional KYC but powerful trading features.

Review Score Breakdowns:

User Friendly
 

Bank transfer deposits

VISA/Mastercard deposits

Fiat withdraw

P2P market

Mobile App

No KYC

Demo trading

Decentralized wallet

Features
 

Spot trading

Futures trading

Margin trading

Options trading

Trading Bots

Copytrading

Staking & savings

Crypto loans

Airdrops & Launchpools

Fees
 

Trading fees:

  • Spot Maker Fee: 0.1%
  • Spot Taker Fee: 0.1%
  • Futures Maker Fee: 0.01%
  • Futures Taker Fee: 0.06%

Additional $8,800 signup bonus when using our referral signup link.


Fiat deposit fees:

  • Visa/Mastercard: 0.8% - 3.5%
  • USD: 0.08% to 2%
  • EUR: 0.08% to 2%
  • GBP: 0.08% to 2%
  • SWIFT: 0.08% to 2%

View all deposit & withdraw fees 

Safety
 

 Exchange launched in 2019

Proof of Reserves

Volume & Altcoins
 

 Number of altcoin pairs: 400

 Last 24h trade volume (in BTC): 1,167

Features Score: 60 / 100
3.2
Total Rating: Good
Toggle feature descriptions
Beginner friendly buying
Beginner features such as fiat deposits and withdrawals, quick convert, recurring buys, demo trading.
Ease of buying and trading
How easy was it to deposit, convert fiat to crypto, and execute trades on spot market.
Interface and user experience
Usability, design and intuitivness of the interface and light and dark color schemes.
Advanced trading options
Derivatives, options, stocks, margin, trading bots and other advanced trading features.
Staking and savings
Number of available staking assets and overall yields.
Airdrops & Launchpools
Frequency, value and ease of joining various airdrops and launchpool events.
Extra financial services
Crypto debit cards, fiat withdrawals, loans, P2P marketplace.
Trading fees
Competitiveness of trading fees compared to other exchanges, including discounted rates with our referral bonuses.
Volume and liquidity
Overall volume, liquidity and spreads on spot and derivatives markets.
Altcoins selection
Number and selection of listed altcoin trading pairs.
Regulatory compliance
Regulatory approvals, licenses, certificates and compliance with various agencies and institutions.
Reputation and reliability
Overall reputation of the exchange, user feedback and reviews, social media sentiment, trust and transparency.
Asset safety and trust
Use of cold wallet storage and multi-signature, user protection funds, proof of reserves, security audits, and other safety and insurance measures.
Account security
Availability of various account security features such as 2FA, anti-phishing codes, hardware keys, withdrawal or trading passwords.
Other products & services
NFT marketplaces, copytrading, subaccounts, gift cards, trading competitions and other features.
Mobile App
Usability, update freqency, platforms, design and ease of trading via the mobile app.
Decentralized Wallet
Decentralized self-custody wallet usability, operating systems, number of assets and blockchain networks supported, DeFi options and more.
Education and learning
Learning and news resources on the website, including instructional videos, articles, knowledge bases, FAQs and help center.
Customer support
Availability and responsiveness of customer support through different channels such as email, live chat, social media, and others.
Referral and signup bonuses
Benefits obtained through the use of our referral codes, including discounted fees, cash bonuses and other rewards.