Bitrue: licences, security, fees and reviews
Centralized exchange
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Key facts
- Type
- Centralized exchange
- Exchange launched
- 2018
- Country of registration
- Costa Rica
- Operator
- straLink Innovations Technologies Limitada
- Official site
- bitrue.com
Key facts checked on 29 October 2026 against official sources and regulator registers.
What is Bitrue
Bitrue is a centralised cryptocurrency exchange launched in 2018. It offers spot trading on more than 1,000 pairs, futures, copy trading, staking and crypto-backed loans, and has its own platform token, BTR. Its terms of use name straLink Innovations Technologies Limitada, a company registered in Costa Rica, as the operator.
Good to know
- The contract is with straLink Innovations Technologies Limitada, registered in Costa Rica. The terms are governed by Costa Rican law and disputes go to the courts of Costa Rica. ↗
- Bitrue does not accept users located or resident in the European Economic Area. The terms link this to the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). ↗
- In October 2023 Bitrue announced Polish register entry RDWW-954. Its terms now exclude users in the European Economic Area. ↗
- In the Polish Register of Virtual Currency Activities (archived version as of 2 July 2026), RDWW-954 is held by PAI EXCHANGE TECHNOLOGY sp. z o.o., entered 26 September 2023, with no suspension or termination recorded; the name Bitrue does not appear in the register. ↗
- The Polish register states that an entry in it is not an authorisation to act as a crypto-asset service provider (CASP) or virtual asset service provider (VASP). ↗
- XRP pairs carry higher spot fees than BTC, ETH and USDT pairs: 0.196% on XRP/BTC, XRP/USDT and XRP/ETH, and 0.280% on other XRP pairs. ↗
- Bitrue may change the terms and its rules at any time without notifying users. ↗
- Users must be at least 18 and give their real name, ID type and ID number when registering. ↗
- In August 2025 Bitrue stated that it is not licensed or regulated in Singapore, has no operations or offices there and does not serve users located in Singapore. ↗
- When Bitrue is the counterparty to a futures trade, the terms entitle it to the gains from that trade. ↗
- Under the terms, Bitrue may pledge, re-hypothecate, invest or lend margin deposited by users, and pays no interest on that margin. ↗
- As of 29 October 2026, neither Bitrue nor straLink appears in ESMA's MiCA register (updated 22 October 2026), the Japan FSA register of crypto-asset exchange service providers or the Bank of Russia's crypto exchanger register. ↗
Services
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Spot trading | Spot trading on more than 1,000 pairs. |
| Derivatives | USDT-margined, coin-margined and USDC-margined futures. |
| Margin | Margin trading and margin borrowing, plus leveraged ETF tokens. |
| Copy trading | Copy trading with profit-sharing for lead traders. |
| Staking / Earn | Flexible staking, Launchpool and BTR lockups. |
| Loans | Crypto-backed loans: users pledge coins to borrow USDT, BTC, XRP or ETH. |
| Own token | Bitrue Coin (BTR), the platform token; paying spot trading fees in BTR gives a 20% discount. |
Status in the United States and the United Kingdom
- Bitrue’s terms of use, last amended on 15 June 2025, are a contract with straLink Innovations Technologies Limitada, a Costa Rican company, under Costa Rican law. The terms give the United States, Canada, mainland China, Hong Kong, India and Singapore as examples of excluded countries and reserve the right to refuse service elsewhere; the United Kingdom is not named. Bitrue terms of use
- FinCEN’s MSB Registrant Search (data updated 26 October 2026, checked 29 October 2026) contained no entry for straLink Innovations Technologies Limitada, the operator named in Bitrue’s terms. FinCEN MSB Registrant Search
- On 29 October 2026 the FCA website, which includes its Warning List, returned no results for “Bitrue” or “straLink”. FCA website search
- Under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017, cryptoasset businesses must register with the FCA before offering in-scope services in the course of business in the UK. FCA cryptoasset AML/CTF regime
Checked on 29 October 2026 against regulator registers and the text of the law.
Security and audits
- Two-factor authentication and multisignature cold wallets, as Bitrue describes them.
- Funds are held with a multi-level clustering structure and cold wallets, as Bitrue describes them.
- User assets are segregated from Bitrue's own by separate ledger entries; Bitrue is not obliged to keep them at separate blockchain addresses.
- On 14 April 2023 Bitrue reported an exploit of one hot wallet; attackers withdrew assets worth about USD 23 million, and Bitrue said affected users would be compensated in full.
Fees
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Spot maker / taker | 0.098% on BTC, ETH and USDT pairs (one general rate) |
| XRP pairs | 0.196% on XRP/BTC, XRP/USDT and XRP/ETH; 0.280% on other XRP pairs |
| Futures maker | 0.02% on most pairs, e.g. BTC-USDT |
| Futures taker | 0.06% on most pairs, e.g. BTC-USDT |
| BTR discount | 20% off spot trading fees when paid in BTR |
| Futures exceptions | Most futures pairs are 0.02% maker / 0.06% taker; MINA-USDT, XVS-USDT and KEY-USDT are 0.06% / 0.06%, and SUI-USDC is 0.06% maker / 0.02% taker (fee page last updated 19 December 2024) |
| VIP | Lower fees for members of the Bitrue VIP Program |
Who can use it
- Verification: Users must be 18 or older and provide their real name, ID type and ID number.
- Not available in the United States, Canada, mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, the European Economic Area, or OFAC-sanctioned countries and regions such as Iran, North Korea, Russia, Cuba and Syria.
History
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Bitrue exchange launches. |
| 17 August 2022 | South Korea's Financial Intelligence Unit referred Bitrue to investigators as an unreported virtual asset service provider. |
| 12 November 2022 | Bitrue said it was working with partners on an audited proof-of-reserves and committed to doing so annually. |
| 14 April 2023 | Bitrue reported an exploit of one hot wallet; attackers withdrew assets worth about USD 23 million, and Bitrue said affected users would be compensated in full. |
| 6 October 2023 | Bitrue announced a registration in Poland as a virtual asset service provider, authorisation number RDWW-954. |
| 15 June 2025 | Terms of use amended; they name straLink Innovations Technologies Limitada, a Costa Rica company, as the operator. |
| 8 August 2025 | Bitrue stated that it is not licensed in Singapore and does not serve users there. |
| 2026 | Bitrue marks its 8th anniversary. |
| 7 October 2026 | At the FIU's request, South Korea's media regulator decided on 6–7 October 2026 to block access to Bitrue's website in Korea. |
Risks and caveats
- Bitrue is not in ESMA's MiCA register or Japan's FSA register as of 29 October 2026. The Polish register entry RDWW-954 that Bitrue announced in 2023 is held by PAI EXCHANGE TECHNOLOGY sp. z o.o.; the register states that an entry is not a CASP/VASP authorisation.
- Bitrue is not liable for loss of margin caused by the failure of a third party where the margin is held.
- The terms state that trading digital assets may lead to partial or total loss of capital.
- Not available in the US, Canada, the EEA and several other countries.
- South Korea's FIU referred Bitrue to investigators in 2022 as an unreported operator, and access to its website in Korea was blocked by decision of 6–7 October 2026.
- The terms let Bitrue liquidate trades at any time and freeze or close accounts at its sole discretion without prior notice.
- On 14 April 2023 Bitrue reported an exploit of one hot wallet; attackers withdrew assets worth about USD 23 million, and Bitrue said affected users would be compensated in full.
About the company
- Legal entity
- straLink Innovations Technologies Limitada (Costa Rica), operator of Bitrue
- Founded
- Exchange launched in 2018; founding date of the operating company not disclosed
- Own token
- Bitrue Coin (BTR)
Official links
- Website: www.bitrue.com
- Fees: support.bitrue.com/hc/en-001/articles/360045151354-Trading-Fees-on-Bitrue
- Terms of use: support.bitrue.com/hc/en-001/articles/4405473110681-Bitrue-Terms-of-Use
- Blog: www.bitrue.com/blog
- About: www.bitrue.com/about-us
Questions and answers
Is Bitrue regulated?
In October 2023 Bitrue announced Polish register entry RDWW-954. In the Polish Register of Virtual Currency Activities (archived version as of 2 July 2026), RDWW-954 is held by PAI EXCHANGE TECHNOLOGY sp. z o.o., entered 26 September 2023, with no suspension or termination recorded; the register states that an entry is not a CASP/VASP authorisation. Bitrue's terms exclude EEA users. As of 29 October 2026 it is not in ESMA's MiCA register or Japan's FSA register.
Does Bitrue publish proof of reserves?
No. Bitrue's website has no proof-of-reserves report. In November 2022 Bitrue said it was working with partners on an audited proof-of-reserves and committed to doing so annually; no such report is published on its website as of 29 October 2026.
What are Bitrue's fees?
Spot trading on BTC, ETH and USDT pairs costs 0.098%. XRP/BTC, XRP/USDT and XRP/ETH cost 0.196%, and other XRP pairs cost 0.280%. Futures on most pairs cost 0.02% maker and 0.06% taker (fee page last updated 19 December 2024). Paying spot fees in BTR gives a 20% discount.
Who owns Bitrue?
The terms name straLink Innovations Technologies Limitada, a limited liability company registered in Costa Rica, as the operator. Owners are not disclosed.
Is Bitrue available in the US or EU?
No. The terms exclude the United States, Canada and all countries of the European Economic Area.
Is Bitrue available in South Korea?
South Korea's FIU referred Bitrue to investigators in 2022 as an unreported operator, and access to its website in Korea was blocked by decision of 6–7 October 2026.
Does Bitrue operate in Singapore?
No. In August 2025 Bitrue stated that it is not licensed in Singapore, has no offices there and does not serve users located in Singapore.
Are customer assets segregated on Bitrue?
The terms say user assets are segregated from Bitrue's own by separate ledger entries, not necessarily separate blockchain addresses. Margin may be re-hypothecated or lent by Bitrue.
Sources
- Bitrue — Terms of Use, amended 15 June 2025 (page updated 21 August 2026; checked 29 October 2026)
- Bitrue — Trading Fees on Bitrue (page updated 19 December 2024; checked 29 October 2026)
- Bitrue — Bitrue's Statement on Transparency (12 November 2022)
- Bitrue — Update on Bitrue's Security Breach (14 April 2023)
- Bitrue — About us
- Bitrue — Homepage
- Bitrue — 8th anniversary page
- Bitrue — Bitrue Eyes Greater European Presence With New License Confirmation (6 October 2023)
- Bitrue — A Message On Our Regulatory Stance At Bitrue (8 August 2025)
- Financial Services Commission / FIU (Korea) — press release of 13 October 2026, attachment
- ESMA — MiCA interim register (last update 22 October 2026)
- FSA Japan — 暗号資産交換業者登録一覧 (30 September 2026)
- Bank of Russia — register of crypto exchangers (29 October 2026)
- Tax Administration Chamber in Katowice (Poland) — Register of Virtual Currency Activities (checked 29 October 2026)
- Register of Virtual Currency Activities — archived version as of 2 July 2026 (PDF)
- FinCEN MSB Registrant Search
- FCA website search
- FCA cryptoasset AML/CTF regime
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