Bitfinex review: score, licensing and risks
70/100SCORE · BMixed record
Grade B, very good
Bitfinex is a long running exchange with genuinely deep liquidity and professional trading tools. It lost around 120,000 BTC in 2016, socialised the loss and later repaid holders in full, which is more than most failed exchanges managed. Its relationship with Tether attracts continued regulatory attention.
The facts
- FOUNDED
- 2012
- HEADQUARTERS
- British Virgin Islands
- CUSTODY
- Custodial.
- MiCA / EEA
- Not authorised across the EEA. Check your own country before depositing.
- US ACCESS
- No.
- PROOF OF RESERVES
- Publishes reserve attestations.
- FEES
- Around 0.10 percent maker and 0.20 percent taker at entry tier.
- ASSETS
- 170 plus
How the score breaks down
Each dimension is explained on the methodology page.
Where it is strong and where it is not
✓ Strengths
- Deep liquidity on major pairs
- Advanced order types and margin
- Long survival record
- Repaid customers after 2016
✗ Weaknesses
- The 2016 hack was one of the largest ever
- Close ties to Tether draw persistent scrutiny
- No MiCA licence
- Not available in the US
Incident history
2016
Around 120,000 BTC was stolen. Bitfinex socialised the loss across all customers via a token, and later repaid it. A large portion of the coins was recovered by US authorities in 2022.
Our read
Technically excellent and permanently shadowed by 2016 and by its Tether links. Repaying customers in full counts for a lot. The regulatory position does not.
COMPARE
RISK WARNING
Crypto assets are highly volatile and largely unregulated. You can lose everything you put in.
Nothing on this page is financial, investment or tax advice, and nothing here is a recommendation
to buy or sell any asset. Do your own research and never commit money you cannot afford to lose.