The short version
- Score: 3.2/5, ranked 11 of 16 exchanges we rate
- Strongest: Fees (4.4/5)
- Weakest: Access (1.2/5)
- US users: not accepted
This review is generated from public evidence. Every point below links to the fee page, license, audit or report it came from, and the same rules score every exchange we cover. Evidence was last checked on Sep 30, 2026.
Blocklr score: 3.2/5
| Category | Score | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Security and trust | 3.1/5 | 40% |
| Fees | 4.4/5 | 20% |
| Features | 3.6/5 | 15% |
| Access | 1.2/5 | 15% |
| Support | 3.3/5 | 10% |
How Bitfinex earned its score
Security and trust: 3.1/5
| What we checked | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Reserve assurance | 0 / 3 | No proof of reserves and no audited public financial statements. source |
| Incident record since 2019 | 4 / 4 | No incidents found since 2019. |
| Regulatory record since 2019 | 2 / 4 | 2 fines, bans or pleas since 2019. |
| Licensing | 1.5 / 3 | Licensed outside the US and EU only: El Salvador Digital Asset Service Provider (DASP) licence - Bitfinex (announced May 2026), El Salvador DASP licence - Bitfinex Securities (April 2023), El Salvador DASP licence - Bitfinex Derivatives. source |
| Account protection | 3 / 3 | Offers authenticator 2FA, passkeys or security keys, withdrawal allowlist. source |
Fees: 4.4/5
| What we checked | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spot taker fee (base tier) | 4 / 4 | 0% taker fee at the base tier. source |
| Spot maker fee (base tier) | 3 / 3 | 0% maker fee at the base tier. source |
| Free bank deposits | 0 / 1 | Bank deposits carry a fee. source |
Features: 3.6/5
| What we checked | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Coins listed | 1 / 3 | About 200 coins listed. source |
| Products | 4 / 4 | Offers staking, futures, margin, trading API. source |
Access: 1.2/5
| What we checked | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| US availability | 0 / 3 | Not available to US residents. source |
| Mobile apps | 1 / 1 | iOS and Android apps. |
Support: 3.3/5
| What we checked | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Support channels | 2 / 3 | Offers live chat, 24/7 coverage. source |
Track record since 2019
We found no hacks, breaches or freezes affecting Bitfinex since 2019.
Regulators and courts
- 2021 · Fine or settlement (New York Attorney General): Bitfinex and Tether agreed to pay $18.5 million in penalties, end all trading activity with New Yorkers and submit regular compliance reports. The Attorney General found the companies had hidden the loss of access to approximately $850 million held by payment processor Crypto Capital. The penalty is joint with Tether. Amount: $18 million. source
- 2021 · Fine or settlement (CFTC): The CFTC ordered Bitfinex (iFinex Inc., BFXNA Inc., BFXWW Inc.) to pay a $1.5 million civil monetary penalty for illegal off-exchange retail commodity transactions with US persons, operating as an unregistered futures commission merchant, and violating a 2016 CFTC order. Amount: $2 million. source
Who Bitfinex fits
A good fit if
- You trade often: the base taker fee is 0%.
Think twice if
- You live in the US: Bitfinex does not accept US residents.
- You want proof of reserves: none was found.
Goes to the official site. Blocklr earns nothing from this link.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bitfinex available in the US?
No. Bitfinex does not accept US residents. Bitfinex's help center states that US citizens and US residents cannot use the platform and that no U.S. Person may open an account. A 2021 New York Attorney General agreement also requires Bitfinex to stop trading with New Yorkers.
What are Bitfinex's trading fees?
At the base tier, Bitfinex charges 0% for maker orders and 0% for taker orders on spot trades. Fees fall as your monthly volume rises.
Has Bitfinex been hacked?
We found no hacks of Bitfinex since 2019.
How is Bitfinex's score calculated?
Bitfinex scores 3.2/5. The score is calculated by fixed rules from public evidence, and the same rules apply to every exchange. No company can pay to change it.
About this review
Blocklr has no affiliate, advertising or sponsorship deal with Bitfinex or any other platform, so nothing here was paid for. Scores come from the rules in our review methodology. A fact we could not confirm scores as the lowest tier, which can make a score lower than it deserves. If something is wrong or out of date, tell us and we will check the source and correct it.