Phemex Exchange Review | This Is A Seriously Underrated Exchange

Phemex Review Image
Jack Moreau
Feb 2024
9 min read
Fact checked

Phemex Review: Are you interested in knowing if Phemex stands out in a crowded cryptocurrency market? Our comprehensive review of Phemex provides you with all the essential facts about the exchange's products and services, KYC requirements, trading fees, deposit methods and much more! 

Phemex

pros & cons

Pros

250 Cryptos & 0.1% Spot Fees
Spot, Margin, Perps, Bots
Fiat Deposits/Withdrawals
100X Leverage & No KYC

Cons

N/a in US, UK, CA, HK,

Phemex

vs alternatives

Phemex
OKX
Uphold
Founded
2019
2017
2013
Users
5M
20M
10M
Cryptos
250
+350
+300
Spot Fees
0.1%
0.08%
0.9-1.2%
KYC
No
Yes
Yes
Countries N/A
UK, UK, CA, HK, CH, BM, SC
US, CA
DE, NL, RU, TR, IN
Best for
Great All Around
Spot & Futures trading
Beginner Crypto Investors
Rating
Signup
Phemex
Your Capital is at risk.
OKX
Uphold

What is Phemex?

Phemex is a relatively new trading platform that has quickly gained a reputation for its advanced trading features and exceptional customer support.

Founded in 2019 by Jack Tao and registered in the British Virgin Islands, the exchange is headquartered in Singapore and has over 200 employees. The platform is available in 200 countries, with only a few restrictions on certain locations such as the United States, Canada, Hong Kong and China.

Phemex Exchange
Phemex Exchange

Phemex offers an impressive selection of over 320 cryptocurrencies and over 75 perpetual contracts for trading. Their contract trading pairs are margined in USDT, with leverage of up to 100x available, and support Hedge Mode.

In addition, the platform provides access to more than 300 popular spot trading pairs, making it an ideal choice for traders of all levels.

Phemex has already amassed over 5 million users and earned over 1 million downloads of their app, with an impressive 4.5-star rating based on 13,000 reviews.

Buy crypto with Phemex App
Buy crypto with Phemex App

But what sets Phemex apart from other exchanges is its strong emphasis on customer support. With 24/7 support available through multiple channels including chat, phone, and email, customers can rest assured that they will always receive prompt and reliable assistance.

Additionally, Phemex offers a range of educational resources such as learn and earn, user guides and trading academy to help traders improve their skills.

Phemex KYC Requirements

Phemex provides its users with the option to trade without the need for KYC verification. This means that users without KYC can deposit and trade cryptocurrencies without any restrictions.

However, for users who want to access more features, they will need to complete the KYC verification process. The signup process on Phemex is quick and easy taking only 30 seconds to complete.

Phemex signup and KYC
Phemex signup and KYC

Once signed up, users can deposit cryptocurrencies and start trading. For those who want to complete KYC verification, they will need to upload their ID and a photo of themselves.

The verification process is relatively quick and can be completed in a few minutes. Overall, Phemex offers a streamlined and convenient way for users to trade cryptocurrencies without the need for KYC verification.

Phemex Products & Services

Phemex has done a great job of providing a respectable range of crypto products to satisfy the needs of both new and experienced traders.

Trading on Phemex
Trading on Phemex

Some of the trading services include spot trading for over 250 cryptocurrencies, plus 150 perpetual contracts, margin trading, copy trading, and additional trading bots.

Phemex Perpetual Contracts
Phemex Perpetual Contracts

Additionally, Phemex offers a launchpad for new token sales, making it easy for users to invest in up-and-coming projects. The exchange also offers plenty of opportunities for their users to earn yield on their assets via earn, savings and staking products.

Phemex Earn
Phemex Earn

One of the standout features of Phemex is its user experience. The platform is user-friendly and easy to navigate making it accessible for everyone.

Phemex Copy Trading
Phemex Copy Trading

KYC is not required for basic trading which is a plus for those who prioritise privacy. The experience of using their product is smooth and seamless, making it a great option for beginners.

Phemex Crypto Markets
Phemex Crypto Markets

In terms of leverage, Phemex offers up to 100X leverage on perpetual contracts and up to 5X leverage on margin trading.

This level of leverage is competitive and can be appealing to more experienced traders. However, it's important to note that high leverage can also increase risk, so it's important to trade responsibly.

Phemex has also launched their on Phemex Token (PT) that give its holders benefits such as lower trading fees and access to different features on the platform.

Phemex (PT) Token
Phemex (PT) Token

Overall, Phemex is a solid choice for anyone looking for a reliable and user-friendly cryptocurrency exchange. Its range of products and services, combined with its great user experience, make it a top contender in the cryptocurrency trading space.

Phemex

products vs alternatives

Phemex
OKX
Uphold
Spot
Yes
Yes
Yes
Futures
Yes
Yes
-
Leverage
100X
125X
-
Copy trade
Yes
Yes
-
Lend & Borrow
Yes
Yes
-
Staking
Yes
Yes
Yes
NFTs
-
Yes
-
Signup
Phemex
Your Capital is at risk.
OKX
Uphold

How To Buy Crypto On Phemex

Phemex also provides a solid range of different methods to buy cryptocurrencies. Obviously the platform provides spot trading services, allowing users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies at competitive rates.

In addition, Phemex also offers third-party payment providers such as Simplex, MoonPay, Banxa, Advcash, and Coinify, which allow users to buy crypto with a credit or debit card.

How to buy crypto on Phemex
How to buy crypto on Phemex

The fees for these services can vary depending on the fiat currency and provider used, ranging from 2-6% commissions.

For users looking to buy crypto with a bank transfer, Phemex also offers this option. The deposit fee for bank transfer is $0, and the trading fee ranges from 2% to 0.08%, depending on the size of the trade. This service is provided via Legend Trading.

Buy crypto with bank transfer on Phemex
Buy crypto with bank transfer on Phemex

Phemex also offers P2P trading services that lets users  buy and sell cryptocurrencies with zero fees. This provides users with an alternative to traditional trading methods and allows for greater flexibility in the purchasing process.

Overall, Phemex is a versatile platform that offers a great range of purchasing options for users looking to buy cryptocurrency.

Phemex

fees vs alternatives

Phemex
OKX
Uphold
Spot fee (mkr)
0.10%
0.08%
0.9-1.2%
Spot fee (tkr)
0.10%
0.10%
0.9-1.2%
Futures (mkr)
0.01%
0.02%
-
Futures (tkr)
0.06%
0.05%
-
Signup
Phemex
Your Capital is at risk.
OKX
Uphold

Phemex Trading Fees

Phemex is a top-tier cryptocurrency exchange with some of the most competitive trading fees in the market.

With a spot maker fee of just 0.1% and a spot taker fee of 0.10%, Phemex is definitely one of the most affordable options for traders looking to buy and sell cryptocurrencies.

Phemex Spot Fees
Phemex Spot Fees

When compared to other exchanges, Phemex stands out as one of the cheapest options for spot trading against many competitors such as Coinbase (0.40%-0.60%) and Gemini (0.20%-0.40%). Similarly, Gate.io charges a spot maker fee of 0.20% and a spot taker fee of 0.20%.

When it comes to futures trading, once again Phemex charges a very competitive 0.01% for makers and 0.06% for takers. These fees can further be lowered for VIP users who trade above $5 million during a 30-day period.

Phemex Futures Fees
Phemex Futures Fees

If you're looking for an exchange with low spot trading fees, Phemex is definitely worth checking out. With competitive rates and a user-friendly platform, it's a great option for both novice and experienced traders alike.

Phemex Deposit Methods

Phemex permits deposits in six fiat currencies: EUR, GBP, CHF, JPY, CAD, and AUD. All these currencies can be deposited via Wire Transfer without any fees.

The deposit duration differs for each currency, with GBP being the quickest (10 minutes to one working day) and JPY taking up to 2 working days.

Phemex Fiat Deposit
Phemex Fiat Deposit

Additionally, users can purchase cryptocurrencies using Visa or Mastercard through third-party providers like Simplex, Coinify, Advcash, MoonPay, Mercuryo, and Banxa. However, buying crypto via these third parties might be pricier than the free fiat deposits.

For those looking to deposit funds through crypto, Phemex supports a variety of over 250 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and Litecoin free of charge. This provides flexibility for users who already have different cryptocurrencies in their portfolio.

In addition, Phemex also offers the option to buy crypto through credit card or bank account. While this may come with a slightly higher fee compared to crypto deposits, it provides an added convenience for users who may not have a significant amount of cryptocurrency on hand.

How to withdraw from Phemex?

Phemex offers fiat withdrawals in six currencies: EUR, GBP, JPY, CAD, AUD, and CHF. Withdrawals are processed exclusively via Wire Transfer, and users can generally expect their funds to appear in their bank accounts within 1-2 working days.

Phemex Fiat Withdrawals
Phemex Fiat Withdrawals

Phemex also offer a variety of cryptocurrency withdrawal options with low withdrawal fees that vary depending on the specific blockchain.

Crypto withdrawals on Phemex
Crypto withdrawals on Phemex

For example, withdrawing Bitcoin comes with a low fee of 0.0001 BTC, while Ethereum and Solana withdrawals have fees of 0.001 ETH and 0.01 SOL respectively. If you want to withdraw USDT on Ethereum (ERC-20), that fee is set to 4 USDT.

Is Phemex Safe?

If you're looking for a secure and trusted cryptocurrency exchange, Phemex is definitely worth considering. Not only has the platform never been hacked, but it also offers proof of reserves which is an added level of transparency and security for users.

The exchange keeps 100% of user funds in reserve at all times, so all user assets are backed 1:1. Phemex has also released Merkle-tree Proof-of-Reserves to enable every user to check and verify where their funds are kept within the platform.

Phemex proof of reserves
Phemex proof of reserves

Phemex is also a fully registered Money Services Business with a Money Transmitter license, which means it has regulatory approval in multiple regions, including the United States, Canada, Turkey, and Lithuania.

When it comes to security features, Phemex deploys its system and secures its machines on the Amazon Web Service (AWS) Cloud.

The platform uses a two-factor authentication mechanism to protect all user accounts, and it maintains a 24/7 monitoring and alert program for risks and potential security breaches.

Overall, Phemex offers a secure and reliable trading environment with a focus on transparency and user protection. If you're looking for a feature-rich platform with top-notch security features, Phemex is definitely worth checking out.

Phemex

security vs alternatives

Phemex
OKX
Uphold
Hacked
No
No
No
Proof of reserves
Yes
Yes
Yes
Licenses
FinCEN (US), FINTRAC (CA)
VA in Dubai
FinCEN (US), FCA (UK)
Signup
Phemex
Your Capital is at risk.
OKX
Uphold

Phemex Conclusion

In conclusion, Phemex is an impressive cryptocurrency exchange that offers a wide range of trading options for both novice and experienced traders alike.

With over 250 cryptocurrencies and 150 perpetual contracts available for trading, users have access to a vast selection of assets to invest in.

Phemex's user experience is also top-notch with a user-friendly interface that makes it accessible to everyone.

The platform offers competitive trading fees (0.1%) making it a very affordable option for those looking to buy and sell cryptocurrencies.

While there are some limitations, such as the lack of fiat deposits and withdrawals, Phemex makes up for it as it does not force KYC on all it's users.

The platform has never been hacked and maintains a high level of transparency and user protection through proof of reserves and two-factor authentication.

With its range of products and services, competitive fees, and strong focus on user experience and security, it's no surprise that it has already amassed over 5 million users!

Phemex

250 Cryptos & 0.1% Spot Fees

Spot, Margin, Perps, Bots

Fiat Deposits/Withdrawals

100X Leverage & No KYC

Visit Phemex
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Author
Jack Moreau
Jack is a crypto writer and reviewer who has been active in the space since he caught the crypto bug in 2017. With a passion for trying out new shiny things, Jack is always eager to try the latest cryptocurrency exchanges, wallets or DeFi applications.

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