Our Commitment
- Same rules for everyone: Every platform is scored by the same published rules
- No pay-for-play: Companies cannot pay for higher ratings or favorable coverage
- Dated: Every review shows when it was last updated
- Every point is sourced: Each review links the public evidence behind its score
How It Works
Every score on Blocklr is calculated, not chosen. Automated research agents collect public facts about each platform: its published fee schedule, licenses, proof-of-reserves reports, security features, audits, and any hacks or enforcement actions since 2019. Each fact is stored with the source it came from. A fixed set of rules then turns those facts into points, and the points into a score out of 5.
The same rules apply to every platform, and they are published in full below, so you can recompute any score yourself. Each review lists the points earned on every rule and links the source behind it. We do not claim hands-on account testing, and we do not publish under individual reviewers.
The Score
Each category is scored from 0 to 5 from the points its rules award. The overall score is the weighted average of the categories, rounded to one decimal. A fact we could not confirm from a public source scores as the lowest tier for that rule, which can make a score lower than the platform deserves; tell us if you have the source.
Exchange rules
Exchange scores are calculated for a reader in the United States, so US availability and US or EU licensing carry weight.
Security and trust (40% of the score)
| What we check | Points | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Reserve assurance | 3 | 3 points for reserves attested by an independent third party, or for a publicly listed company whose audited financial statements cover the customer assets it holds. 2 for a self-published proof of reserves. 0 for neither. |
| Incident record since 2019 | 4 | Starts at 4. A hack that took funds from the platform costs 1.5 if customers were made whole, 3 if they were partly reimbursed, 4 if not at all. A withdrawal freeze costs 2 and an insolvency 4. Each customer-data breach costs 1, at most 2 in total. |
| Regulatory record since 2019 | 4 | Starts at 4. A criminal guilty plea costs 3, a ban or a revoked license costs 2, each fine or civil settlement costs 1 (at most 2 in total). Regulator warnings, pending cases and dismissed lawsuits are listed on the review but cost nothing. |
| Licensing | 3 | 3 points for US state licenses, a New York BitLicense or trust charter, or an EU MiCA authorization. 1.5 for licenses in other jurisdictions only. 0 for none found. |
| Account protection | 3 | 1 point each for authenticator-app two-factor login, passkeys or hardware security keys, and a withdrawal address allowlist. |
Category score = points earned ÷ 17 × 5.
Fees (20% of the score)
| What we check | Points | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Spot taker fee (base tier) | 4 | 4 points at 0.10% or less, 3 up to 0.20%, 2 up to 0.40%, 1 up to 0.60%, 0 above that. |
| Spot maker fee (base tier) | 3 | 3 points at 0.10% or less, 2 up to 0.20%, 1 up to 0.40%, 0 above that. |
| Free bank deposits | 1 | 1 point if ACH or SEPA deposits are free. |
Category score = points earned ÷ 8 × 5.
Features (15% of the score)
| What we check | Points | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Coins listed | 3 | 3 points for 500 or more, 2 for 250 or more, 1 for 100 or more, 0 below that. |
| Products | 4 | 1 point each for staking, futures or perpetuals, margin trading, and a public trading API. |
Category score = points earned ÷ 7 × 5.
Access (15% of the score)
| What we check | Points | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| US availability | 3 | 3 points if available in all or nearly all US states, 1.5 if only through a reduced US product or with several states excluded, 0 if US residents are barred. |
| Mobile apps | 1 | 1 point for both iOS and Android apps. |
Category score = points earned ÷ 4 × 5.
Support (10% of the score)
| What we check | Points | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Support channels | 3 | 1 point each for live chat, phone support, and 24/7 coverage. |
Category score = points earned ÷ 3 × 5.
Wallet rules
Hardware and software wallets are scored with the same rules, so a score reflects how the wallet protects keys, not only how convenient it is.
Security (40% of the score)
| What we check | Points | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Open source | 3 | 3 points if the firmware or app source is fully published, 1.5 if some components are closed, 0 if closed. |
| Key protection | 3 | Hardware: 1 point for keeping keys on an offline device, 1 for a certified secure element, 1 for air-gapped signing. Software: 2 points if it can sign with a hardware wallet, 1 if it uses multi-party computation so no single seed phrase exists. |
| Published independent audits | 2 | 2 points for two or more published third-party audits or certifications, 1 for one, 0 for none. |
| Incident record since 2019 | 4 | Starts at 4. An exploit, supply-chain attack or device compromise that lost user funds costs 1.5 if users were fully reimbursed, 3 if partly, 4 if not at all; one with no funds lost costs 1. Each customer-data breach costs 1, at most 2 in total. |
Category score = points earned ÷ 12 × 5.
Features (20% of the score)
| What we check | Points | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Networks | 3 | 1 point each for Bitcoin, Ethereum and EVM chains, and Solana. |
| Capabilities | 5 | 1 point each for staking, in-app swaps between coins, NFT support, connecting to apps (WalletConnect or a built-in browser), and multisig. |
Category score = points earned ÷ 8 × 5.
Backup and recovery (15% of the score)
| What we check | Points | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery options | 3 | 1 point for a documented recovery method (BIP39, SLIP39, the wallet's own published seed format, or keyless MPC recovery), 1 for Shamir or social recovery, 1 for passphrase support. |
Category score = points earned ÷ 3 × 5.
Usability (15% of the score)
| What we check | Points | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | 3 | 0.75 points each for iOS, Android, desktop, and a browser extension. |
| Support | 1 | 1 point for live chat, 0.5 for email or ticket support only. |
Category score = points earned ÷ 4 × 5.
Cost (10% of the score)
| What we check | Points | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Price or swap fee | 3 | Hardware: 3 points at $80 or less, 2 up to $150, 1 up to $250, 0 above. Software: 3 points if free with no in-app swaps or a swap fee of 0.5% or less, 2 up to 0.9%, 1 above that or if the fee is not published. |
Category score = points earned ÷ 3 × 5.
Review Update Process
Cryptocurrency platforms change quickly. Reviews are revised when something material changes, such as a fee update, a security incident, a major feature launch, or a regulatory action. Each review shows its last updated date so you know how current it is.
Limits of This Method
Rules measure what can be checked from public sources. They do not measure things that need personal judgment, such as how pleasant an app is to use, and they cannot see problems a company has not disclosed. A high score is a reason to look closer, not a guarantee. Check the facts that matter to you on the platform's own site before you deposit money.
Editorial Independence
Blocklr takes no payment from the platforms it reviews. No company can pay for a higher rating, and we will always disclose any material relationships that could affect our coverage.
No Affiliate Links
Blocklr has no affiliate agreements with the exchanges and wallets we review and earns nothing when you sign up. Links on review pages go straight to each platform's official site. See our disclosure and Editorial Guidelines for full details.
Feedback & Corrections
We welcome feedback from both platforms and readers. If you believe a review contains an error or outdated information, please contact us. We look into all feedback and correct the review when it is warranted.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often are reviews updated?
Reviews are revised when something material changes, such as fee adjustments, security incidents, or major feature releases. Each review shows its last updated date.
Can companies pay for better ratings?
No. Companies cannot purchase higher ratings or favorable coverage, and Blocklr has no affiliate or sponsorship deals with the platforms it scores.
How do you evaluate platforms?
Fixed rules turn public evidence into points: fee schedules, licenses, proof-of-reserves reports, security features, audits, and incident history. Each review shows the points and the sources.
What if I disagree with a review?
We welcome all feedback. Contact us with specific concerns and we will investigate. If an error is found, we correct the review.