ActivTrades operates as an FCA-regulated CFD broker with crypto CFDs. Pionex is a MAS-licensed native crypto exchange offering built-in bots.
Find out which crypto exchange best suits your trading profile.
Choose if…
ActivTrades for strong FCA regulation with FSCS protection and negative balance protection. You also get 24/5 live chat and dedicated phone lines. Pionex if you want a native exchange with built-in automation. You get MAS licensing, 16 free trading bots including grid and DCA strategies, 300 coins to trade, and flat 0.05% maker taker fees, all without staking.
Choose if…
ActivTrades for strong FCA regulation with FSCS protection and negative balance protection. You also get 24/5 live chat and dedicated phone lines. Pionex if you want a native exchange with built-in automation. You get MAS licensing, 16 free trading bots including grid and DCA strategies, 300 coins to trade, and flat 0.05% maker taker fees, all without staking.
Which exchange wins for each type of crypto trader, based on security, fees, coin selection, and editorial scoring.
| Criteria | ||
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 3.7/ 5 | 4.0/ 5 |
| Min Deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
| Spreads From | 0.5 pips | N/A |
| Taker Fee | N/A | 0.05% |
A closer look at the specific criteria each exchange meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | ActivTrades | Pionex |
|---|---|---|
| Security | ||
| Cold storage for assets | Fail | Pass |
| Proof of reserves published | Fail | Fail |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Fail |
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, etc.) | Pass | Fail |
| Fees | ||
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Staking available | Fail | Fail |
| DeFi integration | Fail | Fail |
| NFT trading | Fail | Fail |
| 500+ coins listed | Fail | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
The scores are close: ActivTrades rates 3.7/5 and Pionex rates 4/5. Pionex has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
ActivTrades lists a spread from 0.5. Current spread data is not available for Pionex. Check both exchanges' full fee schedules, including maker/taker rates, for up-to-date pricing.
Neither ActivTrades nor Pionex requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
ActivTrades holds top-tier regulation (CMVM, FCA, SCB), providing stronger investor protections. Pionex may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Verify regulatory status on each regulator's public register before depositing funds.
For beginners, ActivTrades provides negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each exchange's site before deciding.
ActivTrades offers up to 2:1 on perpetual or margin products, versus Pionex's 5:1 cap. Margin and futures trading carry higher risk than spot crypto; confirm product availability and jurisdiction-specific limits on each exchange's website.
Pionex charges $0.05 per trade on commission-based accounts. Commission details for ActivTrades are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing. Crypto fees are typically quoted as maker/taker rates rather than fixed per-trade commissions; check each exchange's fee schedule for volume-based discounts.
ActivTrades supports ActivTrader, MetaTrader 4, while Pionex supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. ActivTrades has exclusive access to ActivTrader and MetaTrader 4. Pionex has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile.
ActivTrades wins for security thanks to FCA oversight and FSCS coverage.
Pionex wins for beginners due to built-in bots and simple pricing.
Equally matched; neither offers DeFi access.
| N/A |
| N/A |
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPal | CryptoBank transferCredit cardDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | CryptoBank transfer |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Network fee only |
|---|
| Regulators | CMVM FCA SCB | MAS |
|---|
| Cold Storage | No | Yes |
|---|
| Proof of Reserves | No | No |
|---|
| Staking | No | No |
|---|
| DeFi Integration | No | No |
|---|
| NFT Trading | No | No |
|---|
| 500+ Coins | No | No |
|---|
| P2P Trading | No | No |
|---|
| Crypto Earn / Savings | No | No |
|---|
| Token Launchpad | No | No |
|---|
| Active bonuses | None | 2 offers |
|---|
Pionex is the overall winner on editorial score, 0.3 points higher, driven mainly by stronger Fees & Spreads.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.7 / 5
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