Cryptocurrency exchanges are crucial to the buying and selling of digital assets, and choosing the right one can be a daunting task. Among the many exchanges available, Kucoin and Gate.io are two popular options. In this blog post, we will compare and contrast these two exchanges to help you make an informed decision about which one is best for you.
Kucoin is a Singapore-based exchange that was founded in 2017. It has quickly gained popularity among cryptocurrency enthusiasts due to its user-friendly interface, low fees, and wide range of cryptocurrencies available for trading. Gate.io is a Chinese exchange founded in 2013. It has a long-standing reputation in the industry and offers a comprehensive range of features for traders.
In this comparison, we will look closer at the features, fees, security, and user experience offered by both exchanges. We will examine the pros and cons of each platform to help you determine which one is best suited for your needs.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the Kucoin vs Gate.io crypto exchange comparison.
Kucoin is the Winner due to its High Volume, High Liquidity, Low Fees, and Overall Customer Satisfaction.
Kucoin and Gate.io Overview
- Trading Platform Features: Spot and Futures, Margin Trading, Leveraged Token, Copy Trading, Cloud Mining
- Trading Fees: 0.09% maker, 0.1% Taker Fees
- Number of cryptocurrencies supported: 812
- Security Features: Two-factor authentication, withdrawal address whitelist, anti-phishing code, IP whitelist, and security detection for withdrawals.
- Fiat Supported: USD, AED, ARS, and +45 more
Pros
- User-friendly interface
- Low fees
- Wide range of cryptocurrencies
- High liquidity
- Cloud Mining and Grid bots
- Fractional NFTs
Cons
- Limited payment options
- Less regulatory compliance
- History of security breaches.
- Trading Platform Features: Spot and Futures, Margin Trading, Leveraged Token, Dual Investment, Copy Trading, Lend & Earn,
- Trading Fees: 0.2% maker, 0.2% Taker Fees
- Number of cryptocurrencies supported: 1628
- Security Features: Two-factor authentication, cold wallet storage, IP whitelist, withdrawal address whitelist, and anti-phishing code.
- Fiat Supported: KRW, EUR
Pros
- Wide range of trading pairs
- high APR Clod mining services
- Variety of trading types
- Easy-to-use trading platform and mobile app
Cons
- Limited Fiat support
- High Fees
- No Market Order for Spot Traders.
Kucoin vs Gate.io: Differences and Similarities
| Key Points | Kucoin | Gate.io |
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2017 | 2013 |
| Country | Seychelles | Cayman Islands |
| Number of Coins | 800+ | 1600+ |
| Trading Pairs | 1,400+ | 2500+ |
| Fiat Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, and 40+ more | KRW, EUR |
| Trading Fees | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Deposit Fees | Free | Free |
| Mobile App | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Margin Trading | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Futures Trading | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Spot Trading | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Security Features | 2FA, SSL, Cold Wallets, Anti-phishing Code, Fund password | 2FA, SSL, Cold Wallets |
| Customer Support | Email, Live Chat, FAQ | Email, Live Chat, FAQ |
| Referral Program | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| User Interface | User-friendly | Bugs and Glitches |
| Review | Read Kucoin Review | Read Gate.io Review |
Kucoin vs Gate.io: Trading Features
Given the differences in the target audience, the feature sets of each platform exhibit notable distinctions. Nevertheless, each platform offers a mobile app that enables live price tracking and Favourites. Despite this commonality, the similarities between the two platforms won’t end here.
- Margin Trading: Both KuCoin and Gate.io allow users to trade on margin with up to 10x leverage.
- Futures and Perpetual Contracts: KuCoin offers futures trading with up to 100x leverage on certain pairs, while Gate.io offers perpetual contracts with up to 100x leverage on certain pairs.
- Spot Trading: Both platforms allow users to trade a variety of cryptocurrencies on their spot trading platform.
- Stop Loss Orders: Traders on both KuCoin and Gate.io can place stop loss orders to help limit their potential losses. Gate.io does not offer Market orders.
- Mobile Trading: Both platforms have mobile trading apps that enable users to trade on the go and also offer live price tracking and watch lists.
Kucoin vs Gate.io: Fees
When it comes to fees, Kucoin stands out as having some of the most competitive rates in the industry. Meanwhile, Gate.io has higher fees for low-volume traders.
Trading Fees
Kucoin has a unique fee structure that follows the maker-taker model, with equal charges for both makers and takers. While their fee chart can be difficult for beginners to understand, it offers significantly lower fees, particularly for those who engage in high-volume trading.
Furthermore, Kucoin users can reduce their fees even further by purchasing KCS tokens, which provide a 20% discount on fees. And for high-volume traders, VIP discounts are also available to help reduce costs.
Gate.io also offers Fees Discount for GT Token holders.
| Maker/Taker | VIP Fees | |
|---|---|---|
| Kucoin | 0.09%/ 0.1% | 0.05%/0.08% |
| Gate.io | 0.2%/ 0.2% | 0.131% / 0.139% |
Note: For more information, visit Kucoin Fees and Gate.io Fees for various tiers.
Deposit and Withdrawal Fees
Kucoin does not charge any Deposit fees. Withdrawal Fees depend on various networks and network congestion. Similarly, Gate.io also does not have deposit Fees.
Here is the fixed fee structure of withdrawals on both Platforms.
| Currency | Kucoin | Gate.io |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | depends on network congestion | 0.00019 BTC |
| Ethereum (ERC-20) | (0.005 + Amount * 0%) ETH | 0.0021 ETH |
| USDT (TRC-20) | 1 USDT | 1 USDT |
| XRP Ripple | 0.5 XRP | 2.6 XRP |
Kucoin vs Gate.io: Supported Cryptocurrencies
Kucoin offers over 800 cryptocurrencies, including well-known coins such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, and Bitcoin Cash. It also supports lesser-known altcoins like Aave, Algorand, and Chainlink.
It also supports a range of stablecoins, including Tether, USD Coin, TrueUSD, and Paxos Standard. These stablecoins are pegged to the value of the US dollar and are often used as a means of storing value during periods of high volatility in the crypto market.
Gate.io has a slightly larger selection of supported cryptocurrencies, with around 1500+ coins available for trading.
In addition, Gate.io offers a range of popular altcoins like Dogecoin, Cardano, and Binance Coin. It also supports a variety of stablecoins, including Tether, USD Coin, and Dai.
Some Popular digital assets supported on both exchanges are:
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Binance Coin (BNB)
- Solana (SOL)
- Cardano (ADA)
- XRP (XRP)
- Polkadot (DOT)
- Dogecoin (DOGE)
- Avalanche (AVAX)
- Cosmos (ATOM)
Kucoin vs Gate.io: Security Measures
Kucoin and Gate.io are both cryptocurrency exchanges that prioritize security measures to ensure the safety of their users’ funds. Here is a detailed comparison of their security features:
Kucoin Funds Security
- Kucoin stores most of its digital assets in cold wallets that are not connected to the internet, providing an additional layer of security against potential hacks.
- The exchange employs multi-factor authentication for login and withdrawal processes, including Google Authenticator, SMS verification, and email verification.
- Kucoin has implemented a Risk Control System that detects and blocks suspicious login attempts, abnormal transactions, and unauthorized API access.
- The exchange performs regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and address potential security risks.
- Kucoin offers an optional security feature called KuCoin Security Reserve (KSR), which users can enable to protect their accounts against hacking attempts.
- In the event of a security breach, Kucoin offers an insurance fund that can cover any losses incurred by users.
Gate.io Funds Security
- Gate.io stores most of its digital assets in cold wallets that are air-gapped from the internet, making them nearly impossible to hack.
- The exchange offers users several security options, including Google Authenticator, SMS verification, email verification, and hardware wallets.
- Gate.io has implemented an AI-based risk management system that automatically detects and blocks suspicious activities, such as abnormal login attempts and large withdrawals.
- The exchange conducts regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and fix any vulnerabilities in its systems.
Kucoin vs Gate.io: Payment Methods
Kucoin accepts bank transfers, credit/debit cards, and cryptocurrency for deposits/withdrawals. Gate.io allows cryptocurrency and wire transfers, but credit/debit card purchases must go through third-party processors.
| Payment Methods | Kucoin | Gate.io |
|---|---|---|
| P2P | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Credit/ Debit Cards | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Bank Transfer | ✔️ | |
| Google Pay and Apple Pay | ✔️ |
Kucoin vs Gate.io: Staking & Earn
KuCoin offers staking services for a wide range of cryptocurrencies, including but not limited to:
- Cosmos (ATOM) – APY: up to 24%
- Tezos (XTZ) – APY: up to 8%
- Polkadot (DOT) – APY: up to 12%
- Kusama (KSM) – APY: up to 22%
- Ethereum 2.0 (ETH2) – APY: up to 7.5%
The staking APY offered by KuCoin varies depending on the specific cryptocurrency and the length of the staking period. In general, the longer the staking period, the higher the APY. For example, the APY for Cosmos (ATOM) staking on KuCoin ranges from 12% for a 14-day staking period to 24% for a 60-day staking period.
The APR for staking on Gate.io varies depending on the cryptocurrency being staked. As of March 2023, some of the cryptocurrencies with the highest APYs on Gate.io include:
- USDT – APY up to 8.58%
- DOT – APY up to 18.61%
- ATOM – APY up to 36.73%
- KSM – APY up to 22.96%
- SOL – APY up to 9.33%
- FIL – APY up to 29.57%
- ADA – APY up to 5.64%
- XTZ – APY up to 5.92%
- ZIL – APY up to 7.33%
- BNB – APY up to 21.03%
Kucoin vs Gate.io: User Experience
Kucoin and Gate.io offer a high-quality user experience, with competitive trading fees, user-friendly interfaces, and robust security features
Registration Process
Both Kucoin and Gate.io have relatively simple registration processes, which require users to provide basic personal information such as name, email address, and password.
Kucoin also requires users to complete a verification process, which involves providing a government-issued ID and a selfie, while Gate.io does not require this step for its basic version.
User Interface
Both Kucoin and Gate.io have user-friendly interfaces, with clear and intuitive menus and easy-to-use trading tools. However, Kucoin’s interface is more visually appealing and customizable than Gate.io’s, offering users the ability to choose between different themes and layouts.
Customer Support
Kucoin and Gate.io both offer customer support through a range of channels, including email, live chat, and a help center. However, Kucoin’s customer support is generally considered to be more responsive and helpful than Gate.io’s, with faster response times and more knowledgeable staff.
Volume and Liquidity
According to CoinMarketCap data as of March 10th, 2023, KuCoin has a daily trading volume of around $3.7 billion, while Gate.io has a daily trading volume of around $2.6 billion. However, it’s worth noting that trading volume can vary widely depending on the day and market conditions, so these numbers are subject to change.
In terms of liquidity, both KuCoin and Gate.io have a solid reputation for providing a reliable and fast trading experience.
Supported Countries
KuCoin and Gate.io have a global presence and cater to clients in over 200 countries. However, their derivative trading platforms and stringent regulatory requirements prevent them from operating in the United States. Despite this, these exchanges have a significant customer base, with KuCoin serving over 20 million customers and Gate.io providing services to more than 10 million customers.
In terms of user count, KuCoin appears to have an edge over Gate.io, and it allows non-KYC users from any location to access its services.
Is Kucoin and Gate.io Solvent and Safe?
According to Kucoin’s latest data, the exchange’s total assets amount to $2.51 billion, with Ethereum being the largest asset by on-chain, accounting for $1.69 billion. The exchange also has significant holdings in Tron, Bitcoin, Algorand, EOS, Optimism, Arbitrum, and KCC.
Kucoin has a robust security system, which includes a multi-layer architecture, strict risk control, and continuous monitoring, ensuring that its customers’ assets are safe. In 2020, Kucoin suffered a hack that resulted in the loss of over $280 million worth of cryptocurrencies. However, the exchange was quick to respond, securing its platform and reimbursing affected customers.
Based on Kucoin’s total assets and its security measures, it’s safe to say that Kucoin is solvent.
According to Defillama, Gate.io’s total assets amount to $1.74 billion, with Ethereum being the largest asset by chain, accounting for $1.13 billion. The exchange also has significant holdings in Bitcoin, BSC, Tron, Polygon, Optimism, Arbitrum, Ripple, Cardano, Avalanche, Solana, Fantom, USD, and ETH.
The exchange has not suffered any significant security breaches, which is a testament to its security measures.
Final Thoughts
After comparing KuCoin and Gate.io, it is clear that both platforms have their strengths and weaknesses. Gate.io offers a wider selection of cryptocurrencies and trading pairs, as well as more Trading Features. On the other hand, Kucoin provides higher trading volume and lower fees, as well as User-Friendly Interface.
Disclaimer: It is important to note that cryptocurrency trading is a highly volatile and risky activity. The information provided in the comparison between KuCoin and Gate.io is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment or trading advice. You should always conduct your own research and analysis before making any investment decisions.
FAQs
Is Kucoin Cheaper than Gate.io Exchange?
Kucoin generally has lower trading fees compared to Gate.io. Kucoin charges a flat 0.1% trading fee for both makers and takers, whereas Gate.io charges 0.2% for makers and 0.2% for takers. However, Gate.io does offer lower fees for high-volume traders, with fees dropping to as low as 0.075% for makers and 0.075% for takers for those who trade over 20 BTC per month. Kucoin also offers a loyalty program that rewards users with lower trading fees based on their trading volume and KCS holdings.
Which is better KuCoin or gate io?
Kucoin offers a user-friendly platform and a wide range of cryptocurrencies, including many small-cap and niche altcoins that are not available on other exchanges. Gate.io offers advanced trading features such as margin trading, futures trading, and perpetual contracts. The exchange also has higher fees for low-volume traders and provides more trading pairs compared to Kucoin.
Is Kucoin Safer than Gate.io Exchange?
Kucoin and Gate.io have implemented various security measures to protect their users’ funds, including two-factor authentication, SSL encryption, and cold storage for the majority of their funds. However, like all exchanges, there is always a risk of hacking or other security breaches.
