Interactive Brokers and MEXC clash on regulation, asset depth, and fee structures. This matchup tests safety, scope, and cost in a real-world crypto setting.
Find out which crypto exchange best suits your trading profile.
Choose if…
Choose Interactive Brokers if you value real crypto ownership and strong regulation.
Choose if…
Choose MEXC if you want the broadest coin selection and low-cost trading.
Which exchange wins for each type of crypto trader, based on security, fees, coin selection, and editorial scoring.
| Criteria | ||
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 4.0/ 5 | 3.6/ 5 |
| Min Deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
| Spreads From | 0.2 pips | N/A |
| Taker Fee | 2.00% | 0.10%▼ lower |
A closer look at the specific criteria each exchange meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Interactive Brokers | MEXC |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Pass |
| DeFi integration | Fail | Fail |
| NFT trading | Fail | Fail |
| 500+ coins listed | Fail | Pass |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
The scores are close: Interactive Brokers rates 4/5 and MEXC rates 3.6/5. Interactive Brokers 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.
Interactive Brokers lists a spread from 0.2. Current spread data is not available for MEXC. Check both exchanges' full fee schedules, including maker/taker rates, for up-to-date pricing.
Neither Interactive Brokers nor MEXC requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Interactive Brokers holds top-tier regulation (ASIC, JFSA, AMF), providing stronger investor protections. MEXC 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, Interactive Brokers 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.
Interactive Brokers offers up to 1:1 on perpetual or margin products, versus MEXC's 200:1 cap. Margin and futures trading carry higher risk than spot crypto; confirm product availability and jurisdiction-specific limits on each exchange's website.
MEXC charges $0.1 per trade, lower than Interactive Brokers's $2 per trade. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day. 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.
Interactive Brokers supports Trader Workstation (TWS), Proprietary Web/Mobile, while MEXC supports MEXC. Interactive Brokers has exclusive access to Trader Workstation (TWS) and Proprietary Web/Mobile. MEXC has exclusive access to MEXC.
MEXC offers staking while Interactive Brokers does not according to our data. Staking lets you earn passive yield on your crypto holdings directly through the exchange. Check MEXC's supported coins, lock-up terms, and estimated yields before committing.
MEXC lists 500+ coins while Interactive Brokers does not meet this threshold in our data. For traders who want access to many altcoins, MEXC has the broader selection. Confirm specific coin availability for your region on each exchange's website.
Interactive Brokers wins for security with SEC, FINRA, FCA oversight and a regulated framework.
MEXC edges on fees with 0% maker and 0.10% taker fees, cheaper than IBKR's 0.12–0.18%.
MEXC offers the broadest coin selection with 2000+ listed assets.
MEXC wins for beginners due to user-friendly app, 24/5 live chat, and broad coin access.
MEXC offers staking and yield-earning options while Interactive Brokers does not, making MEXC the better choice for holders who want to earn passive income on their crypto.
Equally matched; neither offers DeFi or Web3 features.
| 0.4 pips |
| N/A |
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferACH | CryptoP2PCredit cardDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferACH | CryptoP2P |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | First withdrawal/month free | Network fee only |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC JFSA AMF CMVM FCA SFC IIROC DFSA MFSA CNB CBI SEBI CMF NFA SEC CNV FSC FINRA | — |
|---|
| Cold Storage | No | Yes |
|---|
| Proof of Reserves | No | No |
|---|
| Staking | No | Yes |
|---|
| DeFi Integration | No | No |
|---|
| NFT Trading | No | No |
|---|
| 500+ Coins | No | Yes |
|---|
| P2P Trading | No | Yes |
|---|
| Crypto Earn / Savings | No | Yes |
|---|
| Token Launchpad | No | Yes |
|---|
| Active bonuses | None | 2 offers |
|---|
Interactive Brokers wins overall, driven by stronger regulatory oversight and real crypto ownership; MEXC lacks segregated funds and publicly audited proof of reserves.
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Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.6 / 5
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