The Complete Guide to the CEX.IO Exchange

• History
• Founder
• Registering on CEX.IO Exchange
• ID Verification
• Funding and Withdrawing
• Trading
• Trading and Commission Fee
• Legal and Security
• Accessing CEX.IO through APIs
• Mobility through CEX.IO Apps
• Listing Tokens
• Customer Service
• Conclusion

CEX.IO is among the world's top-70 crypto exchanges, with a daily trade volume of over $20 million and serves over 3 million users from all over the world. The exchange allows users to choose to directly deposit cryptocurrencies and start trading and lowers the entry barrier for first-time crypto traders by offering several fiat payment methods that include Visa, Mastercard, and even bank transfer (both international and domestic).

While the exchange is officially registered in the UK, the company has received Money Services Business status in FinCEN, and it complies with the legal requirements of all countries where it operates. To secure its users’ funds, CEX uses Two-Factor Authentication, and has implemented anti-hacker protection and stores the funds in multi-signature wallets, which make it an exchange that can be trusted by customers worldwide.

History

CEX.IO was originally established in 2013 and started operations as a Bitcoin mining pool which also offered cloud mining services and even a platform where users could trade mining power. Today, the exchange has morphed into a conglomerate with a group of companies running a multi-functional cryptocurrency exchange which is trusted by over 3 million users.

The crypto exchange platform offers traders a number of different access points, including on the website mobile apps and through API. This gives traders access to and the ability to execute trades quickly for the top currency trading pairs on the market. Instant Bitcoin buying and selling is available to users via a simplified interface.

The exchange takes an individual approach to each customer, tailoring the offering for Bitcoin beginners to the most advanced traders and institutions. With worldwide access, easy payment options accompanied by round-the-clock support makes CEX one of the top exchanges on which to trade. The platform has a history of stability and security that guarantees the safety of customer assets and data.

CEX.IO was one of the first platforms to make fiat-to-crypto transactions accessible by offering card payments and bank transfers to their users. The exchange has made a great effort in maintaining relationships with reputable banks.

The CEX.IO exchange has many basic and advanced trading tools available to users to trade BTC, BCH, ETH, XRP, XLM, LTC, and other crypto assets. Users can trade these cryptocurrencies against USD, EUR, and GBP.

As the exchange has grown, so has its team. CEX.IO employs over 250 professionals, working in different offices around the world, from the UK, to the US, the Ukraine, Cyprus, and Gibraltar. CEX.IO’s geographical expansion to new markets is backed by its substantial regulatory accomplishments, compliance with local laws and regulations and the development of new services targeted to specific audiences.

CEX.IO LTD is also a founding member of CryptoUK, an association whose goal is to support cooperation between major cryptocurrency companies and the regulatory authorities in the UK.

The Founder

CEX.IO was founded by Oleksandr Lutskevych, who has over 15 years of experience in the IT industry. This IT specialist started his career as a software developer, eventually using his expertise to launch CEX.IO. Oleksandr holds two Masters level degrees, one in cybernetics and another in finance, banking and insurance. Both degrees are from Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University.

Professional Experience

• Freelancing: In the initial years of his career (2000 to 2003), Oleksandr was not attached with any company as such and preferred to work independently as an outsource party for different software projects.
• Digital Arts Game: Co-Founder of the game developer studio, Oleksandr ran the organisation for four years (2003 to 2007). The company was involved in different games such as Steel Squall: The Blaze of Eastern Front.
• Entrepreneur: Missing his times as a person who took chances in life to be at the forefront of technology and business, Oleksandr started to dabble in different markets for five years (2008 to 2011) to find his ultimate life calling.
• CEX.IO: As CEO, Oleksandr established the firm as a Bitcoin cloud mining operation, offering cloud mining power. CEX.IO today has become a group of firms, with CEX.IO morphing as a powerful crypto exchange, CEX Markets as a Cyprus-based ForEx, Securities and derivatives trading exchange and Gibraltar- registered CEX.IO Limited as a market and broker for digital assets.

Registering on CEX.IO Exchange

As a safe and convenient marketplace to trade cryptocurrencies, CEX.IO allows users from all over the world to visit and trade. For trading, however, a proper registration is required. Users and traders who are interested in buying and selling on the platform can head over to the CEX.IO official website. They will find a Create Account on the top right of the page which they can click and start the registration process.

The users will be taken to the registration page where they’ll be presented with a form where specific information on the users will be required. The first is the email address that the traders will be using. CEX.IO will bind the entered address as not only the username, but also for all communications with the trader. Users will then need to enter a password of their choice. Though users can enter any password they wish for their CEX.IO trading account, there are a few requirements by the platform:

• Passwords should be at least eight characters long
• Should contain at least one uppercase and lowercase character
• Contain one number and one special character

The third field is a drop-down menu where people must enter their country of residence. This is very important as becoming a larger-volume trader requires verification of documents and selecting the wrong country can restrict the ability of the user to expand his or her trading options and can even lead to being banned.

The user is then presented with two options below. The first is an agreement on being sent promotional material and updates on the email address entered above. This is optional and the user can opt out of it. Doing so means that the exchange won’t be sending any news that might help the user in gaining opportunities for trading and making profits. The second one is the user’s declaration of accepting the Terms Of Service and the Privacy Policy of the exchange. This is mandatory and without selecting it, users can’t proceed to create their accounts.

Confirming Registration

After users have filled the relevant data on the registration page, they can click the Create Account button at the bottom. An email will be generated by the exchange and sent to the address used by the trader when filling the registration form. Users must go to their inbox and view the email sent by CEX.IO. The email will contain information regarding the registration and a clickable Confirm Email button that will confirm the exchange that the user had entered the right email address.

On pressing the button, the users will be taken to their CEX.IO account, where they will be required to give their personal details such as first name, last name and their date of birth.

When the above information is entered, the user’s account is active and they can deposit or buy their cryptocurrencies and start trading.

Two-Factor Authentication

Although not mandatory, CEX.IO does recommend that all its users should have Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) activated. This is a security feature that binds the user’s mobile to their account and any major change in the account or activity will require the user to confirm their identity by entering the code generated by 2FA, on their mobile.

To enable 2FA, users must login to their account first and then head over to their profile settings on the top right of the page. In the Account Settings page, they’ll see different tabs, with the third tab labeled Security. Users will then need to press the Enable 2FA option. The account holder will be presented with two different methods to enable the 2FA:

Smartphone App

CEX.IO uses Google Authenticator app for its app-based 2FA. The user needs to download and install the app on their mobile from either Google Play or Apple App Store for this. Once installed, the app asks for a code that CEX.IO will provide. When that code is entered in the mobile app, the app and the mobile itself are bound to the user account. Alternatively, users can also scan a QR code provided with the code.

From that moment onwards, everytime the exchange asks for a 2FA verification, the trader will need to enter a six-digit code generated by the Google app. The codes are generated on a rolling basis and last for only 15 seconds before expiring. When the code is expired, a new one is automatically entered. The user has to enter the code in time for any action on the exchange to proceed.

SMS/Phone Request

If the users haven’t already bound their mobile number to their account, enabling this 2FA option will require them to enter their country and their mobile number first. The exchange will then ask if the users prefer to receive their 2FA code through SMS or a voice call. The 2FA enabled code will be sent to the user by the preferred method. Once that code is entered in the field presented at the bottom, their exchange will bind the number to the user account.

ID Verification

Although new users on CEX.IO can start trading immediately, they are limited to only $100 USD worth of deposits and withdrawals per day. Unverified users can’t use their credit or debit cards to purchase cryptocurrencies either. To have higher limits and access to instant buying of crypto, the users need to pass CEX.IO’s KYC and AML regulations.

Passing the ID Verification allows the exchange’s users access to the following:

• No limit on the withdrawal and deposits of cryptocurrencies
• Instant buying of crypto from debit cards
• Deposits of up to $3,000 USD and withdrawals of $10,000 daily using debit or credit cards

The ID verification can be started by a user by going to the relevant page. Before the process can be started, the user must have either his or her government ID card, passport or driver’s license in hand, with a scanned JPG or JPEG copy available for uploading to the system for verification.

The first part of the ID verification is where the user enters information such as the country of residence and their mobile number. This is to ensure that the documentation in the next part is inline with the data provided here.

Next, the user will be asked to decide the type of document that will be uploaded. Selecting the type will trigger the exchange to ask for the image of the relevant document. In case of a driver’s license or a national ID card, users will need to upload the backside of the document too. To make sure that the document is not doctored, the exchange will then need a selfie of the user holding the document in one hand. In the selfie, the user is to make sure that:

• Document is written in Latin-based characters
• User signature is clearly visible
• User is looking into the camera
• There is adequate lighting
• No accessories that can block the facial features, such as sunglasses and caps are being worn
• Image should be high quality

Once the selfie is uploaded, the user will need to enter personal information such as gender, first name, last name, nationality and place of birth. The last section will see the CEX.IO exchange asking for details of the identification documentation submitted. This includes the identification number, date of issuance, expiration date and country of issuance.

If all the documentation and data are correct, the application will be forwarded to a verification officer at the exchange who will scrutinise the information. CEX.IO claims that the verification and validation takes an hour on an average. In case there is something wrong with the data, the user will be informed and the exchange may ask for a clarification if needed.

Address Verification

A step above the ID Verification, the Address Verification gives enhanced limits to the user as they pass more strict KYC and AML checks. This level gives the user increased daily deposits of $10,000 USD and withdrawals of $50,000 and the ability to use bank transfers for the deposits and withdrawals.

The user will need to go to the verification page again to start the process. This time CEX.IO will ask the user to upload any document that shows proof of residence of the user. This can be an electricity bill or any other utility bill that has the address printed on it. For the document to be accepted, CEX.IO asks that it should be in Latin characters, contain the credentials of the company (logo, for example), the name of the user and the address.

When the user is ready to submit the document, the exchange will first ask for residential information, such as the nationality, ZIP code, the province or state, street address etc. After this information is given, the user will need to identify the type of document and then later on upload a scanned copy of it.

CEX.IO also asks for the user to supply their social media profile links. Although users have the option to skip this, the social media profile data can help the exchange speed up the verification process, so it can be worth supplying them with the extra information for anyone in a hurry to get set up on the exchange.

Funding and Withdrawing

After users have registered their accounts, they must deposit funds. Without funds in their CEX.IO trading accounts, they cannot perform and trade. There are three major ways in which users can make deposits to begin trading.

Cryptocurrency Deposits and Withdrawals

Users can start depositing their cryptocurrencies to their CEX.IO account as soon as they complete the signup procedure and start trading. The first step is to login to the account and then go to the Finance Page. The user will be shown a complete overview of the fiat and crypto balances of the account, with the fiat options on the top and crypto at the bottom.

In the crypto section, users must select their preferred crypto. Next to each crypto row, users are presented with basic information such as the balance of the currency, how much is placed in open orders and the total amount. Next to this information is the Deposit button. Clicking that button will give the user their account wallet address for that specific cryptocurrency. Users can copy this information and use it to transfer their crypto funds from any other wallet to CEX.IO.

Withdrawing cryptocurrency is as easy as depositing on the exchange. The same Finance Page is used to withdraw. Users this time must click the Withdraw button instead of Deposit. Once the Withdraw button is clicked, traders will be presented with a page that has two fields, the amount of the cryptocurrency to be withdrawn and the address to where it is to be sent. After users press the Withdraw button again, CEX.IO will send an email to the registered address of the user to confirm under 2FA. Once the user confirms it, the transaction will be processed.

As a precaution, there is a 48-hour limit for new accounts before these are able to withdraw cryptos.

Buying and Cashing Out with Cards

For users who have verified their ID documents, they have access to depositing fiat through using their credit card. On the Finance Page, users can select the type of currency they wish to deposit and then click the relevant button. Users who have cleared the ID verification will only find the Payment Card option active. CEX.IO supports both VISA and MasterCard networks, so if the user has a card on any of the two networks, they can deposit fiat in their accounts. One thing that the users have to ensure is that the card they’ll be using has to be activated for international and online purchases by their banks. Otherwise, the card won’t be accepted by the exchange.

When users have clicked the card button, they’ll be presented with a menu where they will first need to select either Visa or Mastercard. Then they will select the fiat they will be using to deposit in their CEX.IO account. The supported currencies are USD, EUR, GBP, JPY and RUB. CEX.IO users who aren’t from these countries or their cards and banks use other currencies can also opt to deposit in any of the supported currencies. The card’s issuer will charge the user in their local fiat and transfer the correct currency to CEX.IO.

After users have selected their preferred fiat, they can enter the amount they wish to deposit. The system will calculate any fee charged by CEX.IO and then show the total amount that’ll be charged to the user. It is important for users to understand that these charges are separate from any fees involved on their bank’s end. To know how much they’ll be charged at the local end, users are advised to contact their bank. If the user has already linked their card with CEX.IO, they will only need to enter their CVV or CVC code.

Next, the users need to accept certain conditions set with the fiat deposit through their cards as outlined in the Terms of Use, Payment Conditions, Refund Policy and the Cardholder’s Agreement. Once the user acknowledges the above, he or she only needs to press the Deposit button. Modern banking systems have created another layer of security, much akin to a 2FA, where they generate a 3DS or a One-Time Password (OTP) and send it to the user. This is only generated after the user clicks the deposit button, so this password can only be entered after the deposit action.

CEX.IO will confirm the transaction by sending an email to the registered address. When the deposit is made, the user is free to trade on the platform with the fiat.

To withdraw, users need to again head to their Finance Page and select the fiat they wish to transfer to their cards. Pressing the relevant Withdraw button on the desired fiat will take the users to the withdrawal options, after which they must select the Payment Card option. On the interface that’ll open up, users must enter the amount they wish to withdraw from their wallet on the top right side of the screen. CEX.IO will calculate the fee involved and display the actual amount that’ll be sent to the card.

The user will need to enter the 2FA code that’ll be generated through either an SMS or Google Authenticator app, depending on what was set up when creating the CEX.IO account. The user will be sent an email for confirmation and when the user agrees, the required money will be sent to the card. Not all cards are supported and it’s up to the user to contact the card issuer to know if their card will accept deposits made this way.

Linking Your Card

Traders who try to deposit fiat using their cards for the first time will need to link their card to the platform before they can proceed further from the point where they select the card network (Visa or Mastercard). The process is fairly simple as CEX.IO only asks for information about the card, such as the card number and the expiry date. Upon clicking the Proceed button, the information is submitted to CEX.IO which checks that the card is issued in the user’s name against their records. Sometimes, there can be hiccups in verification. In that case, a Compliance Officer from the exchange will get in touch to resolve the issue. Once the card is verified, users can start depositing fiat in their account.

Although CEX.IO caters for nearly every country when it comes to trading, it does have limitations on which county it supports for card deposits. As such, users of the following countries will be unable to link their card in the first place: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Guam, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United States Virgin Islands, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe.

Depositing and Withdrawing Fiat using Banking Channels

As users climb the verification ladder, more deposit options open up. The Document Verification stage allows not only for higher levels of deposits and withdrawals of fiat, but also allows the traders to make deposits directly from their bank accounts. CEX.IO supports both international and domestic fiat transfers through:

• SWIFT (for USD, EUR and GBP transfers only)
• SEPA (for EUR within the EU)
• ACH (within the US, for USD only)
• Faster Payments (within the UK for GBP)

To initiate a bank deposit, users can go to the same deposit page they use for crypto or cards and just like a card deposit, the relevant fiat is selected by pressing its corresponding Deposit button. Next to the Card Payment option, users will find two more. These are direct bank deposit ones: International Bank Transfer and Domestic Bank Transfer. If residing within the UK, US or EU in general, users should select the domestic option and the international option should be selected by users of other regions.

CEX.IO will ask users for the type of fiat they wish to deposit, the amount they wish to transfer and the country of their bank. Upon clicking the Proceed button, users will be presented with payment details, such as the bank account and name where they should transfer the money, SWIFT/SEPA/ACH/Faster Payments code etc. The user can either go to their local bank branch or use online banking to transfer the funds to the given details.

The transfer usually takes two to three days to process and reflect in the trader’s account. CEX.IO can also fast track the deposit on a trust basis if the user sends proof of transfer to their dedicated email: wire@cex.io. The exchange only accepts payments from bank accounts that have the same beneficiary as the name registered on their platform for the trading account. For example, Mr. X, who has a trading account is the only person who can fund his CEX.IO account if the bank account is in his name. If any one else tries to deposit fiat, the transfer will be rejected by CEX.IO. This also holds true for corporate accounts. Only a bank account with the same corporation name as the one registered on the platform will be accepted by CEX.IO.

The bank withdrawal mirrors the deposit in many ways. This time the user has to select either International Bank Transfer or Domestic Bank Transfer after clicking on the withdraw option. The user will need to enter the amount of fiat and then the bank details that include:

• Bank name
• The country of the bank and the bank address
• The SWIFT or other network-related number
• Bank account number or IBAN

After accepting the Terms of Use, Payment Conditions and the Refund Policy, the user must click the Withdraw button and the payment transfer will start.

Trading on CEX.IO

When a user has deposited fiat or crypto into their CEX.IO trading account, they can start trading immediately. The trading interface is designed intuitively to have all the information a trader needs, without being overwhelming. The trading interface is distributed in three major areas: Trading Pairs, Trading Graph, and Orders. Let’s take a look at each individually.

Trading Pairs

All trading pairs are listed on the extreme left side of the trading dashboard. Trading pairs are the instruments that users can buy and sell. The trading pairs are in two parts. The first is the quote currency, which is the one being bought or sold in a trade. The second is called the base currency and the first currency is quoted in its value of equivalent base currency. For example, in a BTC/LTC trading pair, the quoted currency is BTC and the base is LTC. BTC value will be in LTC equivalent.

The user has the option to select from an ever-increasing list of trading pairs. The search option on top of the list allows the users to quickly go to their preferred trading pair by either finding the quoted currency or the base currency. When the trading pair of choice is found and clicked, the whole interface adjusts to show data pertinent to that pair.

For users, it’s important to know that if they wish to buy a crypto in a trade, they must have the base cryptocurrency in their account. Similarly, if they wish to sell the quoted crypto, they should have it too in their wallets.

Trading Graph

The most important area in the interface is the trading graph. The graph shows the progression of the cryptocurrency against its base. As normal with crypto exchanges, the graph shown by default is a Japanese-style candlestick graph. Standard colours of green for increase in value and red for decrease in value of the asset are used to make the graph easy to understand. Users have the option to customise the graphical display according to their needs, such as zooming in or out and even adjusting the time interval represented by each candlestick. The graph can be further customised by pressing the Chart button on the top right side of the trading interface. This gives the user access to advanced settings through which they can fine-tune it whole to their preference.

Above the graph, CEX.IO gives the user basic information on the trading of the quoted asset. This includes the last price, daily change in value and how much has been traded in the last 24 hours. The data also includes the value of the opening price. This is a bit confusing since unlike traditional securities and fiat exchanges, which are physically bound to a region and have opening and closing times, crypto exchanges continue non-stop, around the clock. With no defined closing time, there can’t be an opening time either.

Orders

Below the trading graph, users are presented with the order section The section is divided into two halves, with the Buy option on the left and the Sell option on the right. Here, users can place their buy and sell orders. CEX.IO offers two types of orders:

• Market Order: The most plain type of order in any exchange, this lets the trader buy or sell assets at the available market price. CEX.IO traders are presented with one single information field where they can only enter the amount they wish to buy or sell. The available market price, presented on the top of the trading graph as last price, is a reference. The trade is executed immediately.
• Limit Order: In case where a trader is unwilling to buy or sell at the current market rate, but wants to set his own terms of asset value in a trade, they always have the option to use the Limit Order. In this, the user has two data fields to enter. The first one, like the Market Order, is the amount that is to be bought or sold. The second one is the price that the user desires for the asset. Once the order is executed, the trading engine seeks a matching buyer (in case of a sell order) or a seller (in case of a buy order). If so, the trade is executed. If not, the order is placed in the order books, adding to the liquidity.

Margin Trading

Apart from spot trading, CEX.IO also offers advanced margin trading for users who'd like to partake in increased profit generation through leveraging. CEX.IO offers users the following benefits:

• Different Leverages: With multiple leveraging, users can select the best strategy that suits them.
• Multi Currency: Users can use both fiat and Bitcoin as collateral for all margin trades.
• Advanced Order Types: Apart from the Limit and Market type orders, users can also deploy Stop Orders and OCO (Once Cancels the Other).
• Deep Analysis: Using advanced analytical instruments, users can take advantage to determine patterns in buying and selling to predict price movements.

Trading and Commission Fee

CEX.IO has a standard fee and commission structure that it charges its users. These fees are primarily divided into three categories: Trading Fees, Deposit and Withdrawal Limits, Card and Banking Limits, Commissions.

Trading Fee

The trading fee is charged by the CEX.IO for each and every trade made on the platform. This fee is the primary income source for the platform. Like other exchanges, the platform has a trading fee structure that decreases with increased trading frequency by the users. The more they trade, the lower the exchange charges them. This high-volume model ensures that users are encouraged to trade more. To calculate which level of fee will be applied, the platform adds up the last 30 days of the user’s trades.

The fee uses the same maker-taker model employed by most other crypto exchanges. Maker is a trader who brings liquidity to the market, while a taker is a trader who accepts liquidity and buys or sells. The fee structure is as follows:

Deposit and Withdrawal Limits

CEX.IO has different limits for different users. The more users comply with the KYC and AML regulations of the platform, the higher the limits are for the users to withdraw and deposit. The limits are calculated in terms of US Dollars and are applied across the trading accounts for both fiat and crypto:

Card and Banking Limits, Commissions

Since CEX.IO also supports direct deposits and withdrawals though bank transfers, credit and debit cards, there are certain limitations and charges associated with these. The details are as follows in the graph below:

Similar to fiat, there are some minimum deposits and withdrawals for each cryptocurrency and associated withdrawal charges. To know what will be charged for their respective cryptocurrency, users can see the detailed list here.

Legal and Security

CEX.IO is a global crypto exchange and as such, serves users from all over the world. Although the exchange claims to be in line with different legislations and regulations around the globe, the platform is quite vague in terms of which countries it does and doesn’t serve. The website claims that it serves 99% of countries in the world, and 43 different states in the US. During the registration process, users have to select their country of residence in order to proceed. The drop-down list does indeed list a lot of countries. It even lists the ones where cryptocurrencies are banned. Surprisingly, even the most diplomatically and economically isolated country of North Korea is also an option.

CEX.IO Offices

In line with its global service, CEX.IO has offices around the world. The exchange’s LinkedIn profile claims it has offices in the UK, US, Ukraine, Gibraltar and Cyprus. However, the same profile only lists one address in its contact as the UK office: 24th Floor One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, London E14 5AB, Great Britain.

In its contact page on the website, however, CEX.IO lists two more addresses:

• 101 Hudson Street, 21st Floor, Jersey City, NJ 07302, US
• 57/63 Line Wall Road, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA

The other locations claimed by the platform in Ukraine and Cyprus remain unlisted.

CEX.IO Registrations

CEX.IO is a regulated exchange and is registered in different locations in line with the regulations and licensing requirements in order to serve its user base. In the three locations where CEX.IO claims to have offices, the exchange also lists its registrations in the jurisdictions:

• United Kingdom: The exchange is registered as CEX.IO LTD and declares its company registration number as 116846. The platform also publishes its VAT number GB 307261820. The platform has also applied as a Crypto Asset business with the Financial Conduct Authority.
• United States: CEX.IO Corp. is registered in the state of New Jersey in the US under FinCEn with MSB registration number 31000159574904.
• Gibraltar: Incidentally, the Gibraltar registration is the same as the UK's 116846 with a local license number FSC1345B. In this country, CEX.IO is registered under the name CEX.IO Limited.
• Singapore: CEX.IO is currently in the process of approving a license for a Digital Payment Token Service from the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
• Germany: CEX.IO has also applied for a Crypto Custody license under Federal Financial Supervisory Authority of Germany, commonly known as BaFin.
• Australia: An application as a Provider with respect to virtual currencies has also been submitted to the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC).

Accessing CEX.IO through APIs

CEX.IO allows its users to access their trading accounts through secure Application Program Interface (API) connections. APIs are programs that are designed to access databases in a secure environment. The CEX.IO-supported APIs do exactly that, allowing users to connect remotely with their trading account to view and perform trades. The APIs also allow CEX.IO users to integrate their accounts with other software, giving them enhanced trading experience, such as bots to automate buying and selling in an intelligent manner.

API Key Generation

Creation of two separate key strings that are independent of the user account name and password allow APIs access to CEX.IO accounts. The first key is known as the API Key itself, that is equivalent to a username of an account and the second one is the secret key that acts like a password.

To create API keys on CEX.IO, users must log in to their accounts and head over the API settings page in their profile. Before the keys can be generated, the user has to define a few access settings. The first is if the user wishes to bind the keys to a specific IP address. This is an optional security feature. If the user enters an IP address, the API keys will be granted access to the user’s CEX.IO account if the API software logs in from the mentioned IP address. This is to thwart any illegal attempt to enter the user account in case their keys are compromised.

The second setting the user has to define is what level of access the API will have to the trading account. There are a total of six options but for a trader, only the first four are usually required:

• Account Balance: The API can read the account balance in a view-only mode.
• Open Orders: Users will be able to view what orders they have placed that are still open and not executed or completed.
• Place Orders: Users will be able to place buy and sell orders of both, market and limit.
• Cancel Orders: If an order is still open and the user decides that he or she is no longer in need of it, they can cancel it.

Each option can be independently selected so a user can make any combination of permissions as they see fit. When the access options are selected, the user needs to simply click the Generate Key button.

Activating API Keys

Upon generation, users will be given API Keys, but the keys will not grant access unless they are activated first. After generation, users will be shown the API Key and the Secret Key. At this point, users must save the keys in a secure location. After activation, these keys will not be shown again. To activate, the user needs to click the Activate button shown next to the generated keys. CEX.IO will conduct a security check to make sure that the actual user is the one asking for the keys by verifying through the 2FA. Depending on how the user has set up the 2FA, the user will need to enter a code that is emailed or sent through SMS to the registered email/ mobile number, or else, enter a cyclic code that Google Authenticator generates.

A correct and timely entry of the 2FA code will activate the keys and the user can use any compatible API to operate the account from a remote location.

CEX.IO APIs

For many users, even with the extra security offered by API-based access, they may still find it uncomfortable since the APIs are third-party software and there is always a chance that the apps may leak the keys. Offering the comfort of knowing that the Keys and trading accounts are secure, CEX.IO offers three different APIs itself:

• REST API: A basic, entry-level API that offers simple access to the CEX.IO marketplace and automated trades.
• WebSocket API: Built for the professional trader, the WebSocket API offers advanced tools and bot integration.
• FIX API: Corporate and other institutional investors can get their hands on the extreme liquidity and trading solutions offered by CEX.IO.

Mobility through CEX.IO Apps

CEX.IO gives its users the ability to trade cryptocurrencies while they are on the move through mobile-based apps. This means that users can be anywhere in the world and can trade through their mobiles with ease, even while travelling. The mobile apps offer all the functionality of the web-based interface, complete with trading functionality and all the trading pairs featured on the web-based platform. To enable user trading on the go, CEX.IO offers apps on the two largest operating softwares, Android and iOS.

Android App

The Android version of the mobile app has been installed by more than half a million users since its launch. The app has a 4.1 rating from more than 4,000 users. With so many positive reviews, there are negative ones as well. Most of the negative reviews concern withdrawal issues, especially when using cards. CEX.IO has made it clear in its help centre that in many countries and jurisdictions, withdrawing to cards can’t be done due to banking or regulatory issues. So if users intend to withdraw, it would be prudent to check with the local bank or any authorities first.

The Android version is compatible with a wide range of Android-based devices and CEX.IO keeps regular updates to ensure increased compatibility and security. The Android app was last updated on 20th July, 2020.

iOS App

The CEX.IO iOS app carries a higher rating than its Android counterpart, a 4.6 out of 5. But this time, the number of reviews is half and down to 2,000 only. The app offers the same level of functionality that Android users have. The app has received a tonne of praise by its users in terms of ease of use, access to trading pairs and advanced margin trading, etc.. Negative reviews, however, are mostly concerned with the app’s inability to verify or conduct fiat-based deposits. The developers are very active in responding to issues and regularly push out updates to resolve bug issues.

Developed for only the iPhone in the iOS environment, the information is displayed on top of the app’s page. However, down below in the Information area, the compatibility is clearly given for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. This discrepancy has been observed in other exchanges’ iOS apps as well. The reasoning isn’t clear and should warrant some collaboration between the exchanges and Apple itself as the larger screens of iPad, for example, can offer a better viewing experience for CEX.IO’s mobile app users.

Listing Tokens

CEX.IO has always taken a proactive approach when it comes to increasing the number of tokens listed on the exchange. As such, it has an in-depth policy on how to allow projects to list their tokens on the exchange.

Aspiring projects can apply for listing on the platform through raising a new general request on the platform. Where other exchanges have dedicated emails to encourage blockchain projects to contact them actively, the lack of a clear channel is counter intuitive. According to the policy, the exchange Committee will examine the application and if it falls within the criteria, the token can be listed on the exchange.

Listing Evaluation

The listing Committee, which evaluates potential tokens for listing on the exchange, has clearly defined standards that the project must meet, and questions that the white paper must answer.

General Information

• What sort of impact the token will have on the industry and the technology overall?
• Is the token and its platform bringing something innovative and new on the table?
• The whitepaper must be detailed in presenting the problem that the token and its platform aims to solve, along with how it will be tackled.
• A clear and locked roadmap for the project development and deployment is available.

The Team

• Founders must be experts in the area of work that the project is in, supported by a staff that is not only sufficient in strength, but has the technical and managerial experience to do so.
• A concrete strategic vision and clear business goals.
• Physical location of project office(s).

Technical

• The network coding should be available and thoroughly tested.
• An active community of developers should exist.
• The coding should be bug free and if any are found, the developers should be able to demonstrate how they’re mitigating its effects.
• An MVP or a prototype should be complete and operational.

Legal

• The token should not have characteristics of a financial security in any country and should not be in violation of financial laws.
• Regular audits by professionals should be in place.
• The token should be in line with CEX.IO’s AML and KYC regulations.
• In case the token has, or intends to, conduct an ICO or any of its variations, it should have its own internal AML and KYC for token holders.
• In case a token has some other owner rights, such as voting power, the exchange will not be exercising these rights on behalf of the trader when the tokens are deposited on the exchange and neither will it compulse the token owner to do so.

Availability

• The tokens should be listed in other exchanges and have diversified trading pairs.
• Have a global market capitalisation and a trading turnover in different exchanges.

Marketing

• Project team is in regular communication with its customers through different media channels, such as email, social media, etc.
• The project should be comfortable with a joint promotional event with CEX.IO.

Community

• There should be a significant presence of users in the different social media channels.
• Community should be active and interested enough to show that there is a demand for the token price, and it has a possibility of value increasing in the future.

Customer Service

CEX.IO prides itself on being an exchange that has good customer service. The exchange is active in resolving issues faced by its users. To help out the traders, the exchange has a well-versed help centre which has FAQs and guidelines grouped together in major sections. There is also a search bar that allows users to easily find what they are looking for. For issues that are not covered in the pre-made guides and help, the exchange also allows users to submit a request, and its team appears to be quick in answering the questions raised by users.

The exchange also carries a blog section that keeps users updated on the latest developments on the platform and in the crypto industry. There’s also a dedicated Press Release section to keep users abreast of all knowledge pertaining to the platform.

Furthermore, the exchange also has active communities in Twitter, Telegram, Facebook and LinkedIn to interact with the users. Even in the official stores of Android and Apple, where the mobile apps are available to download, if there’s a negative review or a user complains, the exchange’s team is quick to respond and resolve these issues.

Conclusion

At first glance, the CEX.IO exchange seems to be like any other crypto exchange in terms of service and trading functionality. The bold claims of having more than 3 million users and servicing 99% of the countries worldwide are not backed by any proper fact or data, but when registering for a new account, there appears to be barely a single country that the exchange doesn’t support. So the claims are justified to an extent.

The exchange also has a number of different registrations in different jurisdictions and is actively seeking out more to ensure that it complies with local laws and in turn this means users won’t have to face issues regarding trading or withdrawing assets.

The exchange doesn’t have the advanced trading order types other exchanges have in spot trading, but offers them in margin trading. This is one area perhaps the exchange should look into. The exchange is also swift in responding to queries by traders and has excellent customer support. In short, CEX.IO users are given an experience that is satisfactory.

Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile digital assets that have no physical backing. Trading should be done with extreme caution as the assets can lose value, resulting in loss of finances. Readers are advised to do their own research and due diligence before taking part in any trading activity of signing up on any crypto exchange.