With hundreds of crypto exchanges on the market, selecting the best one for your trading needs can be challenging. Over time, we’ve seen various popular choices among traders, including MEXC and Gate.io. In this article, we’ll compare MEXC vs Gate.io, two leading centralized exchanges, to help you decide which one best fits your trading goals.
MEXC vs Gate.io: Overview Comparison
| Criteria | MEXC | Gate.io |
| Best For | Experienced traders seeking a large token list and advanced trading options. | Advanced Traders who need access to pro trading tools and the web3 ecosystem. |
| Launch Year | 2018 | 2013 |
| Key Features | DEX+, Zero-fee pairs, MEXC launchpad/launchpool, demo trading, and copy trading. | Gus web3, Gate card, trading bots, copy trading, and institutional services. |
| Trading Options | Spot trading and futures/perpetual contracts. | Spot, futures, and leveraged tokens (ETFs) |
| Supported Cryptocurrencies | 3,000+ | 3,500+ |
| Trading Fees (maker and taker) | Spot: 0.00% and 0.05%
Futures: 0.08% and 0.10% |
Spot: 0.090% maker/taker
Futures: 0.020% maker fees and 0.050% taker fees. |
| Security Measures | Cold storage, 2FA, insurance fund, and multi-signature wallet. | Cold storage, 2FA, regular audits, and insurance coverage. |
| Native Token | MX Token (MX) | Gate Token (GT) |
| NFT Marketplace | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile App | iOS and Android | iOS and Android |
What is MEXC?
MEXC Global is a cryptocurrency exchange that allows users to buy, sell, trade, and stake a wide range of digital assets. It was founded in 2018 and is known for offering low trading fees, high liquidity, access to decentralized protocols via its DEX aggregator, DEX+, and early access to many new or emerging tokens before they appear on larger platforms.
MEXC provides a comprehensive suite of trading services, including spot trading, futures, leveraged ETFs, staking, and launchpad participation for early-stage crypto projects, making it suitable for both newbies and advanced derivatives traders. The platform is popular among active crypto traders and is currently ranked as the second-largest exchange by trading volume on CoinGecko.
Pros & Cons of MEXC
| Pros | Cons |
| MEXC offers a wide selection of crypto assets (3,000+), including access to newly listed projects. | The interface can feel overwhelming, especially for new traders, due to too many in-app campaigns and reminders. |
| Lowest trading fees in the industry, starting at 0%. | MEXC is unavailable in some regions, including the United States, due to regulatory restrictions. |
| High leverage options of up to 500x for futures trading | Mandatory KYC for new users |
| Frequent token listings, campaigns, and promotional campaigns |
MEXC is Best for:
- Investors who want early access to new listings, token sales, and community votes through MEXC’s Launchpad and Kickstarter programs.
- Investors who want access to a wide variety of cryptocurrencies, including major coins and lesser-known altcoins.
- Active and professional traders who want to maximize profits through frequent trading with up to 500x leverage on futures for major pairs.
What is Gate.io?
Gate.io is a leading centralized cryptocurrency exchange established in 2013. The platform was originally founded in China by Lin Han under the name Bter.com. However, it rebranded to Gate.io in 2017 due to regulatory changes, and to Gate in 2025.
Today, it serves over 22 million users across 165+ countries, offering access to 3,500+ cryptocurrencies and 1,000+ trading pairs. Gate.io ranks as the third-largest exchange by volume on CoinGecko. It provides a comprehensive suite of services, including spot trading, futures (supporting both perpetual and delivery futures contracts), margin trading, and wealth management products.
Pros & Cons of Gate io
| Pros | Cons |
| Gate.io supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies (over 2000) | The interface can feel complex and overwhelming for beginners. |
| Advanced trading features, including Pilot trading, futures, staking, token launches, and trading bots. | The platform is not regulated in some major markets and holds limited formal oversight. Traders in these regions either have limited access or are blocked from accessing the platform’s products/services. |
| Competitive trading fees (especially for spot/futures) and fee discounts via native token (GT) usage. | |
| Quick onboarding process and user-friendly interface on both desktop and mobile applications. |
Gate.io is Best for:
- With features like futures, margin trading, spot trading, and liquidity mining, Gate is suitable for active traders who want to explore multiple trading strategies on a single platform.
- It suits users looking for advanced features such as trading bots, copy trading, leveraged tokens, and staking opportunities.
- Similar to MEXC, Gate is one of the few exchanges that list new and emerging tokens early, making it ideal for users looking to discover and trade the next big crypto project before it gains mainstream traction.
MEXC vs Gate.io: Trading Features
| Feature | MEXC | Gate io |
| Trading Options | Spot and perpetuals/futures contracts | Spot, futures, and leveraged tokens |
| Leverage (futures/perpetuals) | Yes, 500x on major coins/pairs. | Yes, 100x |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Trading Bots | Yes | Yes |
| Staking | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Demo Trading | Yes | Yes |
| P2P Trading | Yes | Yes |
| OTC Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Token Launch Platform | Yes | Yes |
MEXC vs Gate.io: Platform Products and Services
What MEXC Offers:
- DEX+: MEXC’s DEX+ bridges centralized and decentralized trading by giving users access to over 10,000 on-chain assets directly through the MEXC interface. It is a DEX aggregator that connects multiple blockchain networks, allowing wallet integration for seamless trading without switching platforms.
- MEXC Launchpad, Launchpool, and Kickstarter: MEXC’s Launchpad offers users early access to new crypto projects via subscriptions using MX or USDT. Meanwhile, the Launchpool lets users stake tokens to earn rewardsfrom upcoming listings, while Kickstarter rewards MX holders through snapshot-based airdrops for supporting new projects.
- MEXC Earn: MEXC Earn enables users to generate passive income from their idle crypto assets. It offers flexible and fixed savings options, staking, and on-chain earning opportunities.
What Gate.io Offers:
- Trading Bots and Copy Trading: The Trading Bots feature allows users to automate their trading strategies. You can choose from a range of pre-set strategies like grid, futures grid, or DCA bots, or create your own to suit your trading goals. Meanwhile, the copy trading feature allows users to automatically mirror the trades of professional or experienced traders on the platform.
- Gate Earn: Gate Earn is Gate.io’s hub for earning passive income on your crypto assets. It offers multiple ways to grow holdings through staking, lending, and participation in events.
- Staking Options: You can stake or lock tokens to earn rewards. Gate.io supports both flexible and fixed staking, allowing users to either withdraw funds anytime or commit them for a set period for higher yields.
- Airdrops: Gate.io frequently rewards users through airdrop campaigns such as CandyDrops, where participants complete simple tasks or hold specific tokens to earn free rewards.
- Launchpad/Launchpool: Through its Startup and Launchpool programs, users can invest early in new blockchain projects or stake assets like GT or USDT to receive allocations and reward tokens before they officially list.
- Crypto Loans: Gate.io offers a lending and borrowing feature, allowing users to lend crypto for interest or borrow against existing assets for liquidity without selling.
- Gate Web3: Gate Web3 is a non-custodial, multi-chain crypto wallet that supports over a hundred blockchains and thousands of tokens. Users can store, send, and receive assets, interact with dApps, and manage NFTs all from a single interface. The wallet connects with Gate’s centralized ecosystem, letting users switch between CEX and DeFi experiences easily.
MEXC vs Gate.io: Fee Structures
| Fee | MEXC | Gate.io |
| Spot (maker/taker) | 0.0000% and 0.0500% | 0.090% |
| Futures (maker/taker) | 0.000% and 0.020% | 0.02% and 0.05% |
| Trading Fee Discounts | 50% discount available for MX token holders. | Discounts for VIP traders. |
| Deposit Fees | Free | Free |
| Withdrawal Fees | Withdrawal fees vary depending on the token and network
|
Varies depending on the token and chain. |
| Zero Fee Pairs | Yes | No |
Gate.io follows a tiered fee structure divided into three plans. The platform offers discounts based on users’ 30 and 14-day volume. This means traders with large volumes or high GT Token balances pay less than those with lower 30/14-day volumes.
Next Read: Check out our comprehensive MEXC review to learn more about the exchange’s products and services and find out how to get exclusive discounts on trading fees.
MEXC vs Gate.io: Coins Supported, Liquidity & Volume
| Criteria | MEXC | Gate io |
| Available Cryptocurrencies | 3,000+
|
3,500+ |
| Trading Pairs | 3,000+ pairs (spot and derivatives combined)
|
2,800+ tradeable pairs |
| Market Liquidity | Deep | Deep |
| 24-hour Spot Trading Volume (CMC) | $3.5 billion (Approx.)
|
$3.4 billion (Approx.) |
Note: Trading volumes and liquidity may change due to cryptocurrency market conditions and trading activities on the exchange. Please confirm the latest figures on the platform or trusted crypto tracking tools before trading.
MEXC vs Gate.io: Security Comparison
MEXC Security Measures
- Account Security: MEXC encourages users to activate key security measures, including two-factor authentication (2FA), withdrawal whitelists, and anti-phishing codes, to prevent unauthorized access and phishing attacks. MEXC also maintains a proactive 24/7 security monitoring and incident response system using advanced algorithms and behavioral analytics to detect and block fraudulent activities.
- Cold Wallet Storage: MEXC Exchange stores about 95% of user funds in cold wallets. This offline storage method prevents unauthorized access and protects assets against hacking attempts.
- Insurance Fund: In the event of major security breaches or other unforeseen circumstances, MEXC maintains a $100 million “Guardian Fund” to compensate users whose balances are impacted by such breaches. The trading platform also has a futures insurance fund that is used to cover losses when a user’s liquidation exceeds their margin.
Gate.io Security Measures
- Dual Asset Protection (Cold and Hot Storage): The exchange employs a dual-layer asset protection strategy, storing over 98% of user funds in offline cold wallets. These cold wallets incorporate multi-signature authentication, off-site backups, and bank-grade custody. Meanwhile, the hot wallets, which hold funds online for daily trading on the exchange, are protected with multi-signature technology, Trusted Execution Environment (TEE), Multi-Party Computation (MPC), and threshold signatures.
- Account Security: For user account security, Gate.io enforces mandatory two-factor authentication (2FA), anti-phishing codes, withdrawal whitelisting, and suspicious activity detection.
- Insurance Fund: Gate.io maintains an insurance fund to protect traders from excessive losses caused by contract liquidations. Additionally, the company implements strict internal controls, including employee access limitations and regular security training, to prevent insider threats.
MEXC vs Gate.io: Affiliate & Referral Programs
| Criteria | MEXC | Gate.io |
| Referral Bonus (Sign up) | Up to 10,000 USDT | Up to 10,000 USDT |
| Trading Fee Rebate | 50% | 30% |
| Affiliate Commissions | 70% on your referrals’ trading fees | Up to 100% on spots and 60% on futures fees. |
| Additional Perks for Affiliates | 10% commission for sub-affiliates, with custom rates available for top affiliates. | Monthly base salary for top performance. |
| Payout Frequency for Affiliates | Daily | Weekly |
| Current Referral Code | mexc-NFTP | VLEWAV0NVQ |
| Mandatory KYC Requirement | Yes | Yes |
Both MEXC and Gate.io offer multiple rewards for new traders who use valid promo codes to join. Get the best MEXC referral code and Gate.io referral code to activate monetary rewards and exclusive discounts on trading costs.
MEXC vs Gate.io: User Experience
Aside from the smooth onboarding, the platform offers research tools, educational material, and a demo/trial trading environment, which can help newer users feel less intimidated. Additionally, placing spot orders, viewing markets, and switching between the exchange and DEX aggregator are straightforward processes.
The experience is similar to what you will find on many major exchanges. You can customize trades and track crypto price movements effectively using real-time order books, advanced charting tools, and multiple technical indicators.
Meanwhile, our comprehensive Gate.io review reveals a slightly more advanced user interface than MEXC, designed for professional and semi-professional traders. It offers a customizable trading terminal with advanced charting capabilities, a wide selection of order types, and in-depth market data.
It emphasizes trading tools such as margin trading, lending, borrowing, and futures, plus a broad array of altcoins and token launchpads. Its mobile app is feature-rich but may have a steeper learning curve than MEXC.
MEXC vs Gate.io: Customer Support
MEXC provides 24/7 customer support via live chat, email, ticket requests, and a detailed Help Center (consisting of FAQs, articles, and other educational resources). While many traders commend its quick live chat responses, reviews are mixed when it comes to resolving serious issues. This customer support issues are reflected in the platform’s low Trustpilot rating of 1.8/5 from over 1,000 reviews.
Similar to MEXC, Gate offers 24/7 customer support via live chat, email, and a ticketing system, complemented by an extensive Help Center that covers trading guides, and more. However, the actual user experience is also mixed. Many traders report that while simple queries are handled quickly, complex issues such as frozen accounts, withdrawal delays, or KYC verification problems can drag on for days or even weeks, leaving Gate.io’s rating low (1.3/5 on Trustpilot).
Conclusion
Both MEXC and Gate.io are solid choices for trading cryptocurrencies, but they cater to slightly different types of investors. MEXC is more suitable for active derivatives traders who would benefit from low-cost trading and strong liquidity on popular pairs. Gate.io, meanwhile, is suitable for users who want a richer ecosystem with Web3, NFT, and DeFi access.
FAQs
Is MEXC a trusted exchange?
Yes, MEXC is considered a trusted exchange due to its strong security measures, including cold storage, multi-sig withdrawals, and encrypted systems that protect users’ data. MEXC also maintains a “Guardian Fund” and has published proof-of-reserves that cover more than 100% of customer holdings.
What Exchange is Better than Gate io?
To determine which exchange is better than Gate io, it’s important to consider factors like security features, supported assets, trading fees, liquidity, user experience, and regulatory compliance. However, top Gate.io competitors and alternatives for crypto trading include MEXC, Binance, Bitget, OKX, KuCoin, and Coinbase.
Which Exchange has Lower Fees: MEXC vs Gate.io?
MEXC has lower trading fees than Gate io. Although both crypto exchanges offer competitive trading fees on spot and futures pairs, MEXC’s standard fees are much lower, starting at 0%
Which Exchange is More Beginner-friendly: MEXC or Gate.io?
MEXC is more beginner-friendly than Gate. The user interface features a clean dashboard and offers mobile/desktop access, making it suitable for newcomers. Meanwhile, Gate.io’s interface is cluttered and full of advanced features, which can overwhelm someone unfamiliar with centralized exchanges.
Which Exchange is More Secure: Gate.io vs MEXC?
Both MEXC and Gate io implement many stringent security measures to ensure the safety of users’ assets. Some of these measures include cold wallet storage, risk monitoring, 2FA, withdrawal address whitelisting, and robust insurance funds to reimburse users if they become victims of a security breach.
Which Exchange has More Trading Pairs and Higher Liquidity?
Both exchanges have over 3,000 pairs across spot and futures markets and high liquidity. MEXC lists around 2,900+ trading pairs and 1,200+ on futures markets, while Gate io lists over 3,800 tradeable pairs on spots and futures markets.
What are the Deposit and Withdrawal Options on MEXC and Gate.io?
MEXC supports crypto deposits and withdrawals. It also supports fiat purchases through Visa and MasterCard credit/debit cards, as well as third-party payment providers. In some European countries, SEPA bank transfers are also supported for fiat deposits and withdrawals.
Gate.io also supports extensive cryptocurrency deposit and withdrawal options. Fiat deposits and withdrawals are available via bank wire transfers, credit/debit cards, and third-party payment gateways, depending on the region.
