BTSE: licences, security, fees and reviews
Centralized exchange
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Key facts
- Type
- Centralized exchange
- Exchange launched
- 2018
- Country of registration
- Costa Rica
- Official site
- btse.com
Data: CoinGecko, 2026-10-27. Only exchanges that operate today with a CoinGecko trust score of 6/10 or higher are listed.
What is BTSE
BTSE is a centralised crypto exchange offering spot trading and futures with leverage, plus fiat deposits and card purchases for verified users. It does not hold an EU MiCA authorisation and restricts or blocks access from the US, Canada, the UK, the EU, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and sanctioned countries.
Services
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Spot trading | Spot trading with a maker-taker fee model. |
| Derivatives | Futures contracts, backed by an insurance fund and an auto-deleveraging mechanism. |
| Fiat deposits | Card purchases and bank transfers for users with Level 2 verification. |
Security and audits
- BTSE runs an insurance fund for futures that is used to improve liquidation prices and to compensate users in extraordinary events.
- BTSE published an asset transparency report with a wallet address and balance, snapshot dated 25 August 2023.
Fees
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Spot maker | 0.20% (general user) |
| Spot taker | 0.20% (general user) |
| Futures maker | 0.02% (general user) |
| Futures taker | 0.055% (general user) |
Who can use it
- Verification: From 16 October 2025, Level 1 verification (government-issued ID) is required for crypto deposits and trading, and Level 2 (proof of address) for fiat services.
- Not supported in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Russia, Myanmar, Belarus, Venezuela and other listed countries; fully or partly unavailable in the US, Canada, Taiwan, the UK, Malaysia, Singapore and, except by reverse solicitation, the EU.
History
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 25 August 2023 | BTSE publishes an asset transparency report snapshot. |
| 21 February 2025 | BTSE discontinues services for users in the United Kingdom. |
| 2025 | BTSE says an administrative matter with the Seychelles regulator concerning BTSE Holdings Limited, a former Seychelles entity, was resolved; users had been migrated to a new entity. |
| 16 October 2025 | Identity verification becomes mandatory for crypto deposits and trading. |
Risks and caveats
- BTSE holds no MiCA authorisation; EU residents may use it only on their own initiative and cannot use fiat on- and off-ramps.
- The Financial Services Authority of Seychelles issued a public notice about BTSE Holdings Limited; BTSE says the matter was administrative and resolved in 2025.
- Services are unavailable or restricted in the US, Canada, the UK, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore, and BTSE may change the list without notice.
About the company
- Formerly
- BTSE Holdings Limited, a previously Seychelles-registered entity, wound down its Seychelles operations; the platform is now operated by a separate entity
Official links
- Website: www.btse.com/en
- Fees: support.btse.com/en/support/solutions/articles/43000587197-spot-trading-fees
- Proof of reserves: support.btse.com/en/support/solutions/articles/43000711633-btse-asset-transparency-report
- Terms of use: www.btse.com/en/termsandconditions
Questions and answers
Is BTSE licensed in the EU?
No. BTSE does not hold a MiCA authorisation and does not market its services to EU residents.
What are BTSE's fees?
General users pay 0.20% maker and taker on spot, and 0.02% maker / 0.055% taker on futures.
Is BTSE available in the US or UK?
No. Services may be fully or partly unavailable in the US, and BTSE stopped serving UK users on 21 February 2025.
Sources
- CoinGecko — BTSE
- BTSE Support — Which jurisdictions are restricted and users prohibited?
- BTSE Support — Is BTSE licensed under MiCAR?
- BTSE Support — FSA Seychelles public notice
- BTSE Support — Spot trading fees
- BTSE Support — Futures trading fees
- BTSE Support — Identity verification (KYC)
- BTSE Support — Asset transparency report
- BTSE Support — Insurance fund
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