If you want the best crypto exchanges for trading and investing, Gate.io might be on your radar. Launched in 2013, this platform has become a prominent player in the crypto market, known for its extensive selection of over 2,500 altcoins. This Gate.io review dives into its trading features, fee structure, user experience, and security measures to help you determine if it’s the right fit for your needs.
Key Takeaways:
- Gate.io is a cryptocurrency exchange that offers advanced trading features such as margin trading, 125x leverage trading, P2P trading, copy trading, and automated trading bots.
- Gate.io charges a base trading fee of 0.1% maker/taker for the spot market and 0.02% maker and 0.05% taker for futures contracts.
- The Gate.io app is available on both Android and iOS and supports trading in over 2,500 cryptocurrencies, making it a versatile tool for traders on the go.
Gate.io Review: At a Glance
Founded | 2013 |
Headquarters | Cayman Islands |
Supported Cryptos | 2,500+ |
Trading Fees | 0.1% maker/taker for spot trading, 0.02% maker and 0.05% taker for futures trading |
Withdrawal Fees | Varies by crypto (gas fees only) |
Security Features | 2FA, cold storage, PoR, multi-sig wallets, security audits, and more |
Mobile App | Yes (iOS & Android) |
Customer Support | 24/7 live chat, email |
KYC Requirement | Yes |
Leverage | Up to 125x for perpetual futures contracts |
Staking Options | Flexible and fixed |
Advanced Trading Features | Copy trading, trading bots, API trading, P2P trading, and margin trading |
Insurance Fund | $100 million SAFU |
Global Availability | 100+ countries (not U.S.) |
Our Overall Rating | 4.3/5 |
What is Gate.io?
Gate.io is one of the best crypto exchanges that launched in 2013. It offers you a platform to buy, sell, and trade digital assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and many others. Over the years, Gate.io has grown significantly and now serves 17 million users globally.
In terms of market presence, Gate.io consistently ranks among the top 10 cryptocurrency exchanges by trading volume. It recorded a daily trading volume of over $4.95 billion, reflecting its strong liquidity and active user base. The platform operates under Gate Technology Inc. and is headquartered in the Cayman Islands.
Gate.io is also committed to transparency, offering Proof of Reserves (PoR) to reassure users that their assets are fully backed. In addition, it has launched its own token, GateToken (GT), which provides users with benefits such as reduced trading fees. The platform also has an insurance fund called Gate.io SAFU, which is worth over $100 million currently.
The Gate.io exchange supports over 2,500 cryptocurrencies, making it one of the exchanges with the widest selection of altcoins. It also provides advanced trading features, such as margin trading, futures contracts, and staking services. Hence, we can say that Gate.io’s trading platform is designed for both beginner and advanced users, with a user-friendly interface and robust tools for technical analysis.
Pros
- Access to over 2,500 digital currencies, allowing diverse trading options
- It supports unique products like startup token sales and quantitative trading strategies
- Multiple staking options for passive income, including flexible and locked staking
- Advanced order types of high-volume traders
- User-friendly mobile app for Android and iOS devices
Cons
- Does not allow fiat currency withdrawals, making it difficult to cash out directly
- Not available in regions like the USA due to regulatory restrictions
- Mainly unregulated crypto trading compared to other exchanges like Binance and OKX
Gate.io Fees Review
Trading Fees
Gate.io has a tiered fee structure based on users’ 30-day trading volume and their VIP level. The base trading fee for spot trading is 0.1% for both makers (those who provide liquidity) and takers (those who remove liquidity). This rate can be reduced by holding GateToken (GT) or by participating in the platform’s VIP program.
VIP Level | 30-Day Trading Volume (USD) | GT Rate (Maker / Taker) | VIP Rate (Maker / Taker) |
VIP 0 | 0 USD | 0.09% / 0.09% | 0.1% / 0.1% |
VIP 1 | 60,000 USD | 0.089% / 0.089% | 0.099% / 0.099% |
VIP 2 | 120,000 USD | 0.088% / 0.088% | 0.098% / 0.098% |
VIP 3 | 240,000 USD | 0.087% / 0.087% | 0.097% / 0.097% |
VIP 4 | 500,000 USD | 0.086% / 0.086% | 0.095% / 0.096% |
VIP 5 | 1,000,000 USD | 0.081% / 0.085% | 0.09% / 0.095% |
For futures trading, the taker fee starts at 0.05%, while the maker fee begins at 0.02%. Like spot trading, these fees are also reduced for VIP users. Plus, Gate.io offers a point system where 1 point equals 1 USDT in trading fee reduction. Points can be used in various trading scenarios, which significantly lower trading costs.
Deposit and Withdrawal Fees
Gate.io does not charge any deposit fees for cryptocurrencies, making it easier to fund your account. However, withdrawal fees differ based on the cryptocurrency being withdrawn.
For example, withdrawing Bitcoin (BTC network) has a fee of 0.0001 BTC, while Ethereum (ERC-20) withdrawals are charged 0.002 ETH. These fees are regularly adjusted based on network conditions.
You can check out the full details of the Gate.io fee structure here.
Gate.io Key Features
Perpetual Futures Trading
Gate.io offers perpetual futures trading, a type of derivative contract that does not have an expiration date. This means you can hold a position indefinitely, unlike traditional futures contracts.
- USDT-Margined Contracts: These contracts use USDT (Tether) as the base currency for both margins and profits. Traders who prefer stablecoins will find this type easier to manage since the margin and profit are calculated in a stable, fiat-like cryptocurrency. Examples include BTC/USDT or ETH/USDT contracts, which are great for users who want to avoid using crypto for margin or profits.
- Inverse Contracts: Here, cryptocurrencies are used as both the margin and the unit for calculating profits or losses. For instance, in a BTC/USD contract, BTC is required to open a position, and profits are also paid out in BTC. This is ideal for those who already hold crypto and want to trade without converting their assets into a stablecoin.
In addition, leverage plays a big role in perpetual futures on Gate.io. Traders can borrow more than they deposit, allowing them to take larger positions. Gate.io currently supports 125x leverage for BTC and ETH contracts and 100x for lower-cap stablecoins.
Also, since perpetual contracts have no expiry, Gate.io uses funding rates to keep the contract price in line with the real market. Traders pay or receive this funding fee every 8 hours, depending on whether they hold a long or short position.
Advanced Order Types
Here’s a breakdown of the advanced order types offered by Gate.io:
- TP/SL (Take Profit/Stop Loss): With a Take Profit order, you can lock in your gains once the price hits your desired target. Meanwhile, a Stop Loss helps limit your losses by automatically selling if the price falls to a set level. This combination is perfect for traders who want to reduce risk without having to constantly watch the market.
- Iceberg Order: If you’re trading a large amount but don’t want to reveal the full size of your order, an Iceberg order breaks it down into smaller chunks. Only a small part of the order is visible to others at a time in the orderbook.
- Reduce-only: This order type is all about minimizing risk. When you place a reduce-only order, it will only lower the size of your existing position. It won’t let you accidentally increase your exposure. So, if you’re in a trade and want to gradually exit, you can use reduce-only to make sure you don’t end up holding more than you intend to.
- TWAP (Time-Weighted Average Price): TWAP is ideal when you want to spread out a large order over time, rather than executing it all at once. It helps you get an average price over a specific period, which can prevent your large order from causing sudden market swings.
- Trailing Reversal Order: A trailing reversal order is like having an automatic strategy for catching market reversals. It follows the price as it moves, and if the market swings the other way by a set percentage, the order triggers.
Earn and Staking
Gate.io offers two types of staking options. With flexible staking, you can deposit your crypto and earn rewards, but you have the freedom to withdraw your funds at any time. This is ideal if you want to keep your funds accessible.
On the other hand, fixed staking locks up your assets for a specific period (like 7, 14, or 30 days) in exchange for higher rewards. In flexible staking, you earn only 10-15% APY, whereas flexible staking offers over 100% APY.
It also offers other crypto-earn products such as:
- Dual Investment: It allows you to earn based on two different currencies, usually a crypto asset and a stablecoin (like BTC and USDT). Depending on the market’s movement, your payout will be in one of the two currencies.
- Quant Fund: The Quant Fund is an automated trading tool that uses algorithms to manage your investments. This feature allows you to invest in strategies that are automatically adjusted based on market conditions. Quant funds can be designed to trade based on technical indicators or other market factors.
- Crypto Loan: Gate.io’s crypto loan service allows users to borrow crypto by using their existing assets as collateral. If you own crypto but don’t want to sell it, you can take out a loan in stablecoins or other crypto assets, using your holdings to secure the loan. Once you repay the loan, you get your collateral back. This option is useful for those who need liquidity without wanting to sell their long-term investments.
Gate.io also offers an “Auto-Invest” feature. This is perfect for users who want to follow a dollar-cost averaging (DCA) strategy, where you invest small amounts over time instead of making large, one-time purchases. It’s a hands-off way to build your portfolio steadily.
Trading Bots
Here are the different types of crypto trading bots offered by the Gate.io exchange:
- Spot and Futures Grid: These bots use a grid trading strategy. They place buy and sell orders at preset price intervals. The idea is to profit from market fluctuations by automatically buying low and selling high. The spot grid is suitable for long-only strategies, while the futures grid can be used in both rising and falling markets.
- Smart Rebalance: This helps you manage a portfolio by adjusting asset ratios when prices fluctuate. You set a target allocation (e.g., 40% BTC, 60% ETH), and the bot automatically buys or sells to restore this balance. It’s perfect for those aiming to increase their holdings of specific coins rather than focusing on short-term gains.
- Spot Martingale: This bot works well during downturns. It buys in increasing amounts as the price drops, which lowers the average purchase price. When the market rebounds, the bot sells all at once to make a profit. It’s useful for traders who believe prices will recover after a fall.
- Spot-Futures Arbitrage: This strategy aims to profit from the price difference between spot and futures markets. The bot buys in the spot market and sells in the futures market, or vice versa.
Note: You can also create your own trading bot or copy other bots based on your trading strategy.
Copy Trading
Gate.io offers a copy trading service that allows users, especially beginners, to follow the trading strategies of more experienced traders. This feature is simple to use and beneficial for those who want to trade without extensive market knowledge.
You can select a professional trader based on their past performance, such as their return on investment (ROI) or trading style. Once you choose a trader, the platform automatically replicates their trades in your account.
This method is time-efficient since you don’t need to actively monitor the market. You simply copy the trades of a successful trader. Gate.io’s copy trading platform tracks over $1.95 billion in value and highlights the top-performing traders on its leaderboard, making it easier to decide which trader to follow.
Gate.io Security: Is it Safe & Legit?
Gate.io is considered a secure and legitimate cryptocurrency exchange. It uses advanced security features like multi-signature wallets, where asset transfers require multiple authorizations, which adds an extra layer of protection. It also uses cold storage for user fund storage.
For withdrawals, users must pass two levels of security checks (Google 2FA and SMS-based OTP), and any password changes lock withdrawals for 24 hours to prevent unauthorized access.
Gate.io also emphasizes transparency with its Proof of Reserves audit, ensuring users’ funds are fully backed and verifiable through third-party audits like those conducted by Armanino LLP. With these security measures in place, Gate.io has gained trust over its many years of operation since 2013.
Gate.io Supported Cryptocurrencies
Gate.io offers one of the largest selections of cryptocurrencies on any exchange. You can trade over 2,500 different digital assets, including popular coins like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and altcoins such as Dogecoin (DOGE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB). It also lists newly launched tokens and supports various niche and DeFi projects.
Is Gate.io App User-Friendly?
Gate.io’s mobile app is designed to be user-friendly. It features a clean trading interface with easy navigation, allowing you to trade and manage your assets effortlessly.
The app supports a variety of functions, including live crypto market data, trading, staking, and more. Reviews highlight the app’s reliability and quick customer service, making it a convenient tool for managing cryptocurrency portfolios on the go. With support for iOS and Android devices, it ensures a smooth experience for traders worldwide.
Customer Service and User Satisfaction
Gate.io offers responsive customer service through various channels like live chat, email, and social media. Its support is available 24/7, and the platform is praised for its quick responses and helpful assistance.
Many users report high satisfaction with the overall customer service experience, finding it reliable when facing issues related to trading, withdrawals, or technical glitches. Additionally, Gate.io frequently runs interactive activities and offers guides to help you make the most of its features, which enhances the overall user experience.
Gate.io vs Other Cryptocurrency Exchanges
MEXC and Binance are two of the most popular alternatives to the Gate.io crypto exchange. Here is the quick Gate.io vs MEXC and Gate.io vs Binance comparison:
Features | Gate.io | MEXC | Binance |
Launched Date | 2013 | 2018 | 2017 |
Best for | Spot and Futures Trading | No-KYC altcoin trading | High volume and liquidity |
Solvent (PoR) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Maximum Leverage | 125X | 200x | 125x |
Web3 Ecosystem | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
Margin Trading | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
Options Trading | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
Supported Cryptos | 2500+ | 2800+ | 400+ |
Trading Charges | 0.% maker/taker | 0% maker and 0.1% taker | 0.1% maker/taker |
US Availability | ✗ | ✗ | Separate platform Binance US available |
Native Token | GT | MX | BNB |
Final Verdict
In conclusion, the Gate.io review highlights a reputable and versatile global cryptocurrency exchange. With its extensive range of features, low trading fees, and robust security measures, it stands out as a strong option for both new and experienced traders.
Whether you are interested in trading Bitcoin, Ethereum, or lesser-known altcoins, Gate.io provides a comprehensive platform to meet your needs. However, it is restricted in certain countries such as the U.S., Canada, and the UK.
FAQs: Gate.io Exchange Review
Is Gate.io trustworthy?
Yes, Gate.io is considered a trustworthy cryptocurrency exchange by many in the crypto community. It has been operating since 2013 and consistently ranks among the top exchanges based on trust scores from reputable sources like CoinGecko.
The platform emphasizes security, employing measures such as two-factor authentication and cold storage for most of its assets. Gate.io has also published its PoR data, which showcases its asset backing, reinforcing user confidence. However, it is not regulated by any major financial agency.
Does Gate.io require KYC?
Yes, Gate.io mandates users to complete a Know Your Customer (KYC) process to enhance security and comply with regulatory standards. The KYC procedure typically involves submitting identification documents, such as a government-issued ID, and verifying your identity.
Accounts that complete the KYC1 verification can withdraw a maximum of $2 million USDT per day, while those that successfully complete the KYC2 verification have an increased withdrawal limit of $5 million.
Is Gate.io available in the U.S.?
No, Gate.io is not available to users in the United States due to regulatory restrictions. However, you can still use its Web3 services in the U.S. For the U.S. traders, you can check out Coinbase or Kraken.
Which countries can use Gate.io?
Gate.io is available in 100+ countries, making it accessible to users worldwide. This exchange primarily targets regions with fewer regulatory restrictions. It is currently restricted to the United States of America, Mainland China, Canada, France, the UK, and more.
Can you transfer money from Gate.io to a bank account?
No, you cannot transfer money directly from Gate.io to a bank account. The platform does not support direct crypto-to-bank withdrawals. Instead, you are allowed to withdraw cryptocurrencies to an external wallet.
Once the crypto is in your wallet, you can convert it into fiat currency using third-party services like MoonPay or Banxa. These services enable you to sell your cryptocurrency for fiat currencies, which can then be deposited into your bank account.