We compared six CEX.IO alternatives on fees, US availability, licenses and coin choice, and noted where each one falls short of CEX.IO.
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CEX.IO serves US residents only through CEX.IO Corp. in states where it is licensed, and its Terms name New York as a restricted location. Below are six CEX.IO alternatives for US customers, compared on state coverage, spot fees, card costs and coin choice.
CEX.IO is a crypto exchange with instant buy, spot trading and staking. In the US it operates through CEX.IO Corp., a FinCEN-registered MSB (NMLS 1804170). Spot fees start at 0.25% for 30-day volume up to $10,000, and 83 assets are listed for US instant buy. See the full CEX.IO profile →
CEX.IO serves the US only in licensed states, and its Terms name New York as a restricted location.
Card purchases cost 0.49% to 4.99% plus a service charge.
83 assets are listed for US instant buy, sell and convert; Robinhood lists 140+ and Binance.US 200+.
| Name | Best for | US availability | Trading fees | Simple buy fee | Staking (US) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEX.IO ORIGINAL | Baseline | Licensed states only; New York restricted | 0.25% (30-day volume up to $10,000) | Service commission included in the Instant Buy amount shown before purchase | Not offered in the US (suspended since April 1, 2023) |
| Coinbase | Coverage in every state | Licensed in New York (BitLicense) and other states | Maker/taker tiers by 30-day volume, shown after sign-in | Coinbase fee plus spread, shown in order preview | Yes, 35% standard commission on rewards |
| Binance.US | Lowest fees, where available | Not in AK, CT, GA, ME, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, TX, VT, WA | 0% maker / 0.02% taker | Spread shown before purchase | Yes, 25+ assets |
| Kraken | Pro trading outside NY, ME | All states except NY and ME | 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker | 1% + spread | Yes, 17 assets; onchain staking only in 37 states plus DC and PR (not CA, NY, TX) |
| Gemini | Custody and staking | All 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico | 0.60% maker / 1.20% taker | Varies, shown before you confirm | Yes (ETH, SOL, MON), up to 35% fee on rewards |
| Robinhood Crypto | Stocks and crypto in one app | Most states; some coins limited in NY and TX | No commission (spread); 0.50% / 0.95% on Exchange Routing | No commission, spread in price | Yes, 25% commission on rewards |
| Crypto.com | Mobile app outside NY | All states except NY | 0.25% maker / 0.50% taker (under $10,000 30-day volume) | Varies, shown in trade preview | Yes, except NY, CA, MD, NJ, WI; service fee deducted from rewards |
US availability: States the exchange does not serve, from its own page. Trading fees: Lowest-volume tier on the advanced order book: maker / taker. Simple buy fee: Fee or spread on the one-click buy screen.
A US exchange with a simple buy screen and the Coinbase Advanced order book, serving all 50 states. Its entry-tier fees are 0.40% maker / 0.60% taker, and the simple-buy spread is not published.
A US exchange run by BAM Trading Services, separately from Binance.com, with 200+ assets and the lowest order-book fees here. It is not available in 12 states, including New York and Texas, and charges 3.99% on card buys.
A US-available exchange with an instant-buy app and the Kraken Pro order book (0.40% maker / 0.80% taker). It is not available in New York or Maine, and instant buys cost 1% plus a spread.
A US exchange and custodian supervised by NYDFS as a New York trust company, serving all 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico. Its entry-tier ActiveTrader fees are the highest here: 0.60% maker / 1.20% taker.
Crypto inside the Robinhood brokerage app. Default orders carry no commission, with the cost in the price, and 140+ coins are tradable. The spread on default routing is not published, and it keeps 25% of staking rewards.
A US app for buying, holding and staking crypto, available in every state except New York. It lists CFTC exchange and clearing licenses; app fees are shown in the trade preview, not published as a fixed rate.
For all 50 states and New York: Coinbase or Gemini. For lower fees and more coins where available: Binance.US.
CEX.IO works for US residents only in states where it is licensed, and not in New York. If you are in New York, Coinbase, Gemini and Robinhood are the options here. If the 0.25% entry fee is the issue, Binance.US charges 0% / 0.02% where it operates, while Coinbase and Kraken cost more per trade.
Educational content, not financial advice. Crypto assets are volatile; do your own research.
No. CEX.IO Corp. serves US residents only in states where it is licensed, and CEX.IO’s Terms name New York as a restricted location.
Coinbase or Gemini, which serve all 50 states, or Robinhood, which holds a New York BitLicense.
Binance.US charges 0% maker / 0.02% taker, versus CEX.IO’s 0.25% entry fee. Coinbase Advanced (0.40% / 0.60%) and Kraken Pro (0.40% / 0.80%) cost more.
Binance.US lists 200+ assets and Robinhood 140+, versus 83 on CEX.IO for US instant buy.
No. CEX.IO suspended staking and Automated Staking for US users on April 1, 2023, and says it is waiting for regulatory clarity.
No. CEX.IO’s US disclosures state that it carries no private crypto or cybersecurity insurance and that balances are not covered by FDIC, NCUA or SIPC.
Sources: CEX.IO: Terms of Use, CEX.IO: Limits and Commissions, CEX.IO: Supported currencies for U.S. customers. Data as of Oct 1, 2026.
Not affiliated with any project listed. Educational content, not financial advice.