Gemini or Bitfinex – which is better for UK traders 2025? Compare Gemini and Bitfinex in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.
Gemini, established in 2014 by the Winklevoss brothers, is a prominent cryptocurrency exchange. It ranks among the top 20 globally, recognised for the founders' early ties to Facebook. Traders on Gemini have access to over 110 cryptocurrencies for trading and staking. In certain areas, derivatives trading is also available. The platform offers advanced proprietary tools and features, including an NFT marketplace.
Founded in 2012, Bitfinex, headquartered in Hong Kong, is a significant force in the cryptocurrency market. It offers a robust proprietary platform with access to 180 cryptocurrencies and over 430 market pairs for spot and perpetual swaps trading. With recent additions such as new payment options, reduced entry barriers, and innovative products like crypto futures, Bitfinex is drawing an even broader spectrum of active traders.
Pros
The trading app boasts a modern, user-friendly design with an intuitive interface. It offers a superb selection of charting tools for traders.
The TradingView integration offers excellent tools, such as backtesting and algorithmic trading features.
The exchange mandates two-factor authentication for all crypto investors, ensuring robust security measures.
Crypto perpetual futures can be accessed in numerous regions, offering leverage of up to 1:100.
A good selection of educational guides and tutorials is available for novice traders.
While initially challenging, the Bitfinex platform excels for experienced traders. It offers an extensive charting suite with 12 timeframes, along with margin trading and a range of order types.
Bitfinex offers superb liquidity across its cryptocurrency trading pairs, minimising slippage and ensuring efficient order execution. This reliability makes it a trustworthy choice for traders, especially when handling large volumes.
Following an expansion of its offerings, Bitfinex now provides access to more than 180 cryptocurrencies. This includes major coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as volatile altcoins that might attract traders.
Bitfinex is ideal for algorithmic traders, offering automated trading via its Honey terminal and API. This setup allows traders to efficiently programme their strategies.
Cons
The exchange's history includes troubling incidents, such as the failure of its Earn programme and a phishing attack.
The mobile app's 'convenience fee' appears arbitrary, reducing the feature's efficiency for traders.
Certain funding methods incur substantial fees, such as a 3.49% charge for card transactions.
Certain major cryptocurrencies by market capitalisation are unavailable for purchase on Gemini.
There is no practice or demo account available for prospective traders.
Although Bitfinex has improved security by implementing two-factor authentication, it remains haunted by a persistent history of significant security breaches and regulatory penalties.
Bitfinex, similar to numerous crypto exchanges, functions within a regulatory grey area, potentially increasing risks for traders. This contrasts with more reputable trading platforms such as eToro.
Bitfinex no longer requires a $10,000 minimum deposit, thus becoming more accessible to new traders. However, its fee structure is complex. Fees depend on factors like trading volume and token holdings, which may cause confusion.
Testing indicates insufficient support, particularly for active traders. Email response times are sluggish, taking up to 12 hours. The user experience is also disappointing due to the lack of integrated live chat within the trading platform.
For traders and investors seeking a straightforward approach, platforms such as eToro, Gemini, and Kraken offer excellent choices.
Awards
Best Cryptocurrency Exchange 2019 - Markets Choice Awards
Bitfinex offers a mobile app replicating its web platform's full features, enabling smooth trading on the go. It has a Lite Mode for a simplified experience, providing a user-friendly interface for trading, staking, and lending cryptocurrencies with just a few taps. Available on both Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store, user ratings indicate a better experience on iOS devices.
iOS App Rating
4.8
4
Android App Rating
4.6
3.5
Margin Trading
No
Yes
MetaTrader 4
No
No
MetaTrader 5
No
No
cTrader
No
No
AlgoTrader
Yes
No
OmniTrader
No
No
TradingView
Yes
No
Autochartist
No
No
eSignal
No
No
Trading Central
No
No
STP Account
No
No
ECN Account
No
No
DMA Account
No
No
MAM Account
No
No
PAMM Account
No
No
LAMM Account
No
No
Demat Account
No
No
AI / Machine Learning
No
No
Robo Advisor
No
No
Negative Balance Protection
No
No
Market Maker
No
No
P2P Trading
No
Yes
Spot Trading
No
Yes
Auto Trading
Yes
Copy Trading
No
No
Social Trading
No
No
VPS Hosting
No
No
Tournaments
No
No
Demo Competitions
No
No
Ethical Investing
No
No
Custodial Account
No
No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No
No
Inactivity Fee
$5
Islamic Account
No
No
Account Currencies
USD
EUR
GBP
CAD
AUD
HKD
SGD
USD
EUR
GBP
JPY
TRY
Cryptocurrency
Gemini provides access to over 110 cryptocurrencies on its platform, supported by its own Gemini Dollar stablecoin and perpetual swap derivatives. The robust ActiveTrader system is tailored for online trading, offering numerous technical indicators across seven time frames.
Bitfinex offers a wide range of crypto assets, featuring more than 180 tokens. Besides spot trading, the platform allows perpetual swaps, enabling traders to use up to 1:10 leverage on crypto assets. With tokens regularly added and removed, Bitfinex presents varied opportunities for active participation in the evolving cryptocurrency market.
