Gate.io Review 2025

Eric Huffman

Verified by Ilija Rankovic

Last updated

October 15, 2025 05:18 EDT

26min read

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Gate.io is an international crypto exchange with over 39 million users. It offers a significant range of markets, listing more than 3,500 cryptocurrencies across spot trading, futures, and options. This Gate.io review evaluates the trading platform in great depth.

The research team opened a Gate.io account to assess core metrics like KYC requirements, accepted payment methods, commissions, leverage limits, and platform safety. Our review findings help crypto investors make informed decisions.

What is Gate.io?

Founded in 2013, Gate.io is an online exchange that specializes in cryptocurrencies. It boasts over 39 million account holders and, according to exchange data, is one of the largest platforms globally in terms of daily trading volume.

Accessible on desktop browsers and a native mobile app, Gate.io offers over 3,500 digital asset markets. In addition to major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), exchange users can access new cryptocurrencies with smaller valuations.

The platform offers two core trading products: spot exchange and derivatives. The spot platform lets users buy cryptocurrencies with real ownership, while derivatives like futures and options support leverage.

Other popular features include decentralized finance (DeFi) products like simple yields, staking, and dual investments, as well as simulated markets, copy trading, and automated trading bots. The exchange also provides fiat services for instant crypto purchases, and accepted deposit methods include debit/credit cards and e-wallets.

Our Gate.io exchange review for 2025 confirms that the platform implements mandatory know-your-customer (KYC) procedures. Users must upload a government-issued ID before they deposit or withdraw funds.

Gate.io Exchange Overview

The table below outlines key exchange data, including Gate.io markets, commissions, and general availability:

Is Gate.io Safe and Trustworthy?

To evaluate safety, our Gate.io review explored several key areas, including licensing, account security measures, and client-fund custodianship.

The Gate.io exchange holds various licenses in more than a dozen countries. Each license permits certain functions, from general exchange trading and virtual wallets to fiat on-ramp and custody services.

Here are the jurisdictions that issue licenses to Gate.io:

• Australia
• Bahamas
• Cyprus
• Dubai
• Dubai DMCC
• Gibraltar
• Hong Kong
• Italy
• Japan
• Lithuania
• Malta

Gate.io’s strong licensing framework ensures it complies with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations. As such, all account users must provide personal information and a government-issued ID before they deposit funds.

Gate.io was one of the first major cryptocurrency exchanges to publish proof of reserves. It holds over $12 billion in digital assets, reflecting a total reserve rate of nearly 124%. The Merkle Tree system provides real-time updates, and users can verify their own account holdings at any time.

The exchange keeps the majority of user funds offline in cold wallets. These institutional-grade wallets rely on multi-signature and Multi-Party Computation (MPC) technologies to prevent unauthorized access. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning systems evaluate withdrawal requests in real-time. These technologies dynamically adjust withdrawal limits to maximize safety without impacting the user experience.

Regarding advanced security measures, the platform supports a wide range of login verification methods. Two-factor authentication is the most effective, and delivery channels include SMS, Google OTP, and email. Other security mechanisms include withdrawal whitelisting, anti-phishing codes, and IP address monitoring.

While Gate.io boasts a best-in-class safety structure, the exchange experienced a hack in 2018. North Korean hackers bypassed exchange security systems and stole over $234 million worth of cryptocurrencies. The security breach did not impact user assets, yet it should remind crypto investors that no centralized exchange is 100% safe.

Gate.io Supported Coins and Trading Pairs

With over 3,500 listed cryptocurrencies, research shows that Gate.io offers more trading markets than any other exchange. Besides BTC, the exchange supports all major altcoins, including Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and BNB (BNB), as well as Hyperledger (HYPE), Tron (TRX), and Cardano (ADA). The platform lists a huge selection of top meme coins, including Dogecoin (DOGE), Pepe (PEPE), OFFICIAL TRUMP (TRUMP), and Bonk (BONK).

To help users navigate thousands of markets, Gate.io provides multiple category filters. Crypto sectors, for instance, cover Base ecosystem tokens, AI, Layer 1 and 2, DeFi, GameFi, metaverse, and more. The platform also offers an alpha section that features new cryptocurrencies from Binance Alpha, Livestream, Pump.fun, and Bonk.fun.

Crypto-to-fiat pairs are another top feature. Users trade popular cryptocurrencies against dozens of local currencies, like USD, EUR, GBP, RUB, THB, and ZAR. These pairs enable users to invest in digital assets without facing currency conversion fees.

Platform traders also rate Gate.io’s market insights, which help them identify new trading opportunities. Key metrics include top performers over several timeframes, investment maps, and trending sectors. The Gate.io team also releases fundamental insights, including industry news and market trends.

Gate.io Features

Gate.io offers a substantial portfolio of trading products and services. Alongside spot exchange trading and instant fiat purchases, users access derivative markets across margin accounts, futures trading, and options.

This section of our Gate.io exchange review explores available platform features in more detail.

Gate Spot and Margin Trading

Gate.io’s spot exchange works like any other crypto trading platform. Users buy and sell crypto pairs like BTC/USDT and SOL/USDT via the order book system. The platform executes spot trades once other market participants match the target price. Once users choose their preferred pair, the platform displays real-time pricing charts and access to built-in analysis tools.

The spot exchange also offers a separate alpha trading feature. It connects users with decentralized exchanges from four major blockchain ecosystems: Ethereum, Solana, BNB Chain, and Base. The one-click process helps beginners access decentralized markets without directly engaging with cold wallet storage and smart contracts.

While traditional spot trading requires users to cover the full purchase amount upfront, Gate.io’s margin accounts provide loan facilities. The exchange offers leverage of between 3x and 20x, with the highest limits available on BTC and other major markets. Margin facilities attract interest, since users borrow funds from the exchange. Interest rates vary from 5.4% to 18% depending on the VIP tier.

Futures

Gate.io lists hundreds of perpetual futures markets, from large-cap cryptocurrencies like BTC to speculative meme coins such as Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT) and dogwifhat (WIF). The futures exchange lists linear contracts on all perpetual markets and inverse settlement on BTC/USDT exclusively. Inverse futures enable traders to provide margin in BTC and settle profits and losses in the same coin.

Gate.io also rivals the best crypto futures trading platforms for delivery contracts. While competitors typically support BTC and ETH only, Gate.io delivers futures supporting DOGE, SOL, Litecoin (LTC), Avalanche (AVAX), and more. Expiration dates vary by market and range from bi-weekly to quarterly.

In terms of margin availability, the platform offers a maximum leverage multiplier of 125x. It lowers leverage limits as the asset’s market capitalization declines. SOL and XRP (XRP) offer 100x and 75x, respectively, while traders receive just 50x on less popular markets, such as Across Protocol (ACX).

A major drawback of trading futures on Gate.io is that funding rates apply every four hours, rather than the industry standard of eight hours. These fees are in addition to standard trading commissions, which the exchange charges on entry and exit orders.

Gate.io Options

We found that Gate.io ranks as one of the best crypto options trading platforms in the market. It provides extensive options chains for eight cryptocurrencies: BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, DOGE, LTC, ADA, and Toncoin (TON).

Traders choose from a huge selection of contract expiration dates and strike prices, and chain metrics feature Vega, Theta, Gamma, open interest, and distance-to-strike.

Gate.io options remain a popular alternative to perpetual and delivery futures, since traders eliminate liquidation risks. They receive high leverage multipliers by paying a small upfront premium, which resembles the maximum downside.

Staking

Exchange users deposit account assets into various staking pools to earn passive rewards. APYs are competitive, yet the platform places limits on the top-level yields. Ethereum staking pools, for example, offer a 7% yield on the first 0.1 ETH, and 5% on the next 100 ETH. The platform reduces the yield to just 1% thereafter.

Those who prefer staking stablecoins to avoid market volatility earn 4.4% on GUSD, the platform’s native token. The highest-paying staking tokens are Berachain and Flare (FLR), which yield over 56% and 20%, respectively.

P2P Trading

The peer-to-peer (P2P) feature allows traders to buy cryptocurrencies from domestic sellers. The major benefit is that P2P sellers accept local currencies and payment methods, so buyers avoid foreign exchange fees and, unlike debit/credit card payments, high transaction charges.

On Gate.io, P2P users may purchase five cryptocurrencies: BTC, ETH, DOGE, USDT, and USDC (USDC). Once buyers input the crypto asset, local currency, and preferred payment option, Gate.io lists available sellers by the exchange rate.

As one of the best P2P crypto exchanges, Gate.io protects buyers against scams through the escrow system. Sellers must deposit the exact purchase amount into the exchange’s wallet before buyers make payment. Gate.io releases the cryptocurrencies when sellers confirm they’ve received the funds.

While both parties avoid Gate.io commissions, exchange rates may be higher or lower than the global spot price. Since individual sellers determine these rates, buyers must evaluate prices before they proceed.

Gate.io Earn

Gate.io Earn provides access to multiple DeFi initiatives. Each product allows users to maximize their crypto holdings through Web3 concepts like savings accounts, dual investments, and auto invest.

According to our Gate.io review, here are the most notable earning features:

• Simple Earn: Similar to traditional savings accounts, users deposit assets and earn variable APYs. The APY varies by the crypto, investment size, and whether users choose a flexible or fixed term.
• Dual Investments: One of the highest-risk DeFi products on Gate.io, users choose an investment coin and whether they believe the price will settle higher or lower on a future date. APYs range from 1.02% to 553% depending on the market and prediction.
• Auto Invest: A dollar-cost averaging feature, auto invest lets users make regular crypto investments at their preferred amount and frequency. A simple example is buying $100 worth of DOGE weekly.
• Crypto Loans: To access crypto lending and financing without credit checks and application procedures, users deposit crypto collateral into Gate.io. They typically receive a loan-to-value (LTV) of up to 70%, with funds released immediately.
• Launchpool: Users stake popular cryptocurrencies like BTC and USDT to earn passive rewards, paid in brand-new tokens. Gate.io vets projects extensively to ensure legitimacy. As investors receive up-and-coming assets, yields are typically high.
• Quant Fund: Gate.io partners with world-class trading teams to offer professionally managed funds. Advanced algorithms execute neutral arbitrage strategies, so the feature appeals to traders with a low appetite for risk.

Note that each Gate.io Earn product carries varying risk levels. Understanding the risks and potential rewards before depositing funds is essential.

Gate Card Review

Issued by Visa, Gate Card is a crypto-backed debit card that allows exchange users to spend their balances in the real world. On the surface, it works like any other debit card; users make online or in-store purchases, and the merchant processes the payment instantly.

At the point of payment, Gate.io converts the user’s default digital asset into the respective fiat currency.

One of the card’s best features is the cashback rewards available. Users earn cashback of up to 3% on eligible purchases, and reward assets include BTC, ETH, and USDT. This framework enables users to earn free cryptocurrencies without investing personal funds.

Fees vary depending on the connected fiat currency. EUR cards charge a 0.2% transaction fee when used in Europe and 2% for all other regions. USD cards have a flat 0.4% charge in all locations. Cardholders also incur a 0.9% crypto conversion fee for each purchase.

Note: Most tax authorities view crypto purchases as an asset disposal. Purchases may be considered capital gains if the digital asset is worth more than its cost basis at the point of sale.

Gate Web3 Wallet

Gate Wallet is a non-custodial wallet that operates independently from the Gate.io exchange. It enables users to store digital assets in a decentralized environment, since they manage encrypted private keys without counterparty risks. With over 100 supported blockchains and Layer 2 networks, wallet users may store thousands of cryptocurrencies in one safe place.

The decentralized wallet is available as a free mobile app and browser extension, and it unlocks seamless access to decentralized applications (dApps) like Pump.fun, Uniswap, and Jito. Additional features include a built-in staking tool, NFT trading, and regular airdrop campaigns.

Gate.io Fees

Read on to explore Gate.io commissions across core trading markets, as well as account fees for deposits and withdrawals.

Spot Trading Fees

Gate.io uses various metrics to determine spot trading fees. The maximum trading commission is 0.1% per side, which means users pay fees to enter and exit positions. The commission reduces to 0.09% when users hold GateToken (GT), the exchange’s native ERC-20 and SPL-20 token.

The exchange has 16 VIP tiers based on 30-day trading volumes, 14-day average GT holdings, or the total account balance value. From VIP 4 upwards, the platform implements dual pricing for makers and takers. Once makers achieve VIP 10 status, they secure 0% commissions.

The lowest commission for takers is 0.02%, which requires 30-day trading volumes of $3 billion or a $100 million account balance.

Unlike the lowest-fee crypto exchanges, Gate.io does not offer rebates for the top VIP spot traders.

Margin Trading Fees

Traders pay standard spot trading commissions (based on their tier) when buying cryptocurrencies with margin, as well as interest.

Non-VIP users pay the highest interest rate at 18%. VIP 16 users receive a 70% discount, which lowers the rate to just 5.4%.

Derivative Trading Fees

Derivative traders pay varying commissions depending on the product.

The most popular market, perpetual futures, incurs a 0.02% and 0.075% commission for makers and takers. Bitcoin inverse contracts are slightly more competitive at 0.015% and 0.075%. When trading delivery futures, makers receive a 0.015% rebate regardless of VIP tier, while takers pay 0.016%.

BTC and ETH options are 0.03% for makers and takers, with no discounts for VIPs or GT holders. Other options markets charge makers and takers 0.02% and 0.05%.

Non-Trading Fees

Our Gate.io review confirms that the exchange processes crypto deposits and P2P purchases without fees.

Users pay transaction fees when they buy digital assets with traditional payment methods like debit/credit cards and Apple/Google Pay. No fixed pricing structure exists, since partnered gateways include fees in the quoted exchange rate. As such, checking the provided quote before proceeding is crucial.

Gate.io charges reasonable crypto withdrawal fees, although they vary by coin or token. To withdraw Bitcoin, users pay just 0.00003 BTC, which is less than $3.50 at the time of writing. Tether withdrawals range from 0.05 USDT to 1.26 USDT, depending on the token standard.

You can view withdrawal fees for each digital asset in your Gate.io account dashboard.

Where Can Gate.io Exchange Improve?

In our view, Gate.io could improve in the following core areas:

• Delist Low Volume Markets: While Gate.io lists over 3,500 cryptocurrencies, some pairs attract minimal trading volumes. Teddy Doge V2 (TEDDY), Oxygen Protocol (OXY), and Uxlink (UXLINK), for instance, have seen less than $100 worth of volume in the past 24 hours. The exchange should consider delisting markets like these.
• Higher Leverage on Major Perpetual Markets: Gate.io limits leverage multipliers to 125x on major pairs like BTC/USDT. Several platforms offer much higher limits, with MEXC and CoinFutures offering 500x and 1000x.
• Lower Interest Rates on Margin Trades: Gate.io charges 18% interest rates on margin trading positions. Users must achieve VIP 1 just to reduce the rate to 17.1%. This VIP status requires $60,000 in 30-day spot trading volume or $2,000 in account funds.
• Limited Inverse Futures: The futures platform offers just one perpetual market with inverse settlement: BTC. Since all other markets settle in USDT, experienced traders cannot provide margin in other major cryptocurrencies, such as ETH and XRP.
• Reduce Futures Commissions for Low-Level Traders: Casual futures traders, who include both makers and takers, pay 0.075% commissions. This commission rate is considerably higher compared with many crypto derivative platforms. Traders must meet substantial volume or ownership requirements to secure more competitive fees.

Best Gate.io Alternatives

The following table compares Gate.io with other top exchanges across key areas, including supported markets, payment methods, and accessibility:

What Payment Methods Does Gate.io Support?

Gate.io accepts digital asset deposits from private wallets. It generates a unique wallet address for each account asset, and usually credits payments in seconds. The exceptions are BTC, LTC, and other first-generation blockchains, which require up to 10-15 minutes.

Users may also purchase cryptocurrencies with fiat money, which Gate.io adds to the account balance. The fastest but most expensive option is instant payment methods like Visa and MasterCard. Reputable gateways like BANXA and Onramper process payments.

Alternatively, the P2P exchange supports over 400 payment options in dozens of local currencies. Popular methods include local transfers, Payeer, Wise, and WebMoney. Some sellers offer exchange rates below the spot price, so users enjoy an immediate upside.

Is Gate.io User-Friendly?

Gate.io offers a user-friendly experience on desktop and mobile browsers. Users must complete the KYC process before trading cryptocurrencies, which takes between 30 minutes and 12 hours once submitted.

Once verified, users may fund their accounts with crypto or fiat, and access over 3,500 markets. Despite its huge asset offering, Gate.io offers search and filter tools to help users find their preferred market.

The trading dashboard resembles a standard platform layout. It contains a real-time order book, order form, and pricing chart. Users may adjust the chart timeframe, deploy drawing tools, and analyze trends via technical indicators.

One drawback for novice traders is the sheer number of products available. Retail-friendly exchanges like Coinbase and Gemini have separate platforms for beginner and advanced users, yet Gate.io packages everything into a single dashboard.

Does Gate.io Require KYC?

Gate.io has strengthened its regulatory status in recent years, which includes various exchange licenses from Dubai, Australia, Italy, and Malta, among other jurisdictions. The result is that Gate.io enforces strict KYC requirements for all account holders, even those who exclusively deposit and withdraw cryptocurrencies.

To complete KYC1, users provide basic personal information and a government-issued ID like a passport or driver’s license. The process also requires users to hold their ID next to their face.

KYC2, which increases withdrawal limits further, requires a recently issued proof of address. Accepted documents include bank/credit card statements and utility bills.

Traders wishing to avoid ID verification procedures may consider top no-KYC crypto exchanges. These platforms let users register, deposit, and trade digital assets anonymously, often with high withdrawal limits.

Gate.io Customer Support and User Reviews

Gate.io offers 24/7 customer service via live chat and email.

Users initially connect with an AI assistant, yet input “Live Chat” to speak with a real human. Even with its large customer base, the platform connected us to a live agent almost instantly. The agent helped us with several queries regarding payments, commissions, and margin requirements. Replies were friendly and professional.

Our Gate.io review also analyzed customer feedback and ratings from a variety of sources. We found that Trustpilot has suspended Gate.io’s public ratings due to a breach of guidelines. The platform cites fake reviews as the reason.

On the Google Play and App Store, Gate.io receives a 3.9/5 and 4.3/5 rating, respectively. These ratings are based on over 87,000 reviews, so they reflect strong validity. The exchange has a 4.4/5 rating with G2 users, yet this score covers less than 250 individual reviews.

How to Get Started With Gate.io

To trade cryptocurrencies on Gate.io, users must register an account, complete KYC verification, and deposit funds. This step-by-step guide helps beginners buy and sell digital assets on the exchange.

Step 1: Open a Gate.io Account

Visit the Gate.com website and click “Sign Up”. Input an email address or a telephone number, and enter the verification code to confirm the contact method.

Choose a strong password to complete the initial registration process.

Step 2: Complete KYC verification

Gate.io implements mandatory KYC verification. Clients may provide the required information on the Gate.io website or mobile app.

Enter your country of residence and citizenship, and select the government-issued ID to upload from a passport, driver’s license, or national ID card. Then input your first and last name, as well as your ID number.

Gate.io captures an ID photo via webcam or smartphone to take a photo of the government-issued ID. It also requires you to hold the ID next to your face, which is standard practice for KYC verification.

Once completed, Gate.io typically verifies the account in about 30 minutes, although in rare cases, it can take up to 12 hours.

Step 3: Activate Security Features

We recommend securing the Gate.io account before making a deposit. You may do this while the exchange verifies the KYC documents.

At a minimum, activate a supported two-factor authentication method. Options include email and SMS verification, Passkey, and Google Authenticator. The selected method generates a unique verification code for future login attempts, which protects your account from unauthorized access.

We also suggest users set up anti-phishing codes, wallet address whitelisting, and a separate password for fund withdrawals. The more security practices activated, the more secure the account.

Step 4: Deposit Funds

The exchange supports digital assets and real-world payment methods, with minimal account requirements.

Click the “Deposit” button followed by “On-Chain Deposit” to transfer cryptocurrencies from another wallet or exchange. Once you select the digital asset and network standard, the platform generates a deposit address. You can then complete the wallet transfer.

To buy cryptocurrencies with a traditional deposit type, hover over “Buy Crypto” and select “Buy & Sell”. Enter your preferred currency, crypto, and purchase amount. The minimum deposit requirement is $10 or the currency equivalent.

Select the box below “Pay With” to choose a payment method and gateway partner. This is an important step, since fees vary widely by financial partner. In our example, USD/USDT exchange rates range from 1.0197 to 1.0535, which reflects a 3.3% variance.

Click “Confirm” and enter your payment details when prompted. As the Gate.io account is already KYC verified, no additional personal information is needed.

Note: If you plan to trade on the Gate.io spot or derivative exchange, the best crypto to buy is USDT. The majority of pairs contain the stablecoin, so you can access thousands of markets seamlessly.

Step 5: Choose a Crypto Trading Market

Evaluate which Gate.io trading market aligns with your financial goals and risk tolerance. If you want to invest in cryptocurrencies and hold those assets in a private wallet, use the spot exchange. It lists over 3,500 coins and tokens with real ownership.

Traders with a higher risk-reward profile prefer Gate.io derivatives. Markets include everything from perpetual and delivery futures to options, leveraged tokens, and margin accounts.

If you’re unsure which cryptocurrencies to trade, click the “Markets” button. Gate.io provides comprehensive market data, including the top-performing and trending projects.

Step 6: Place a Crypto Trading Order

Select a crypto pair and find the order form on the right-hand side of the trading dashboard.

The platform selects limit orders by default, which enables traders to set the order execution price. To enter the market instantly at the next best available price, switch to a market order.

Then type in the position size in the base currency, which is usually USDT. You can also use the slider to invest a certain percentage of your asset balance.

Click “TP/SL” to enter stop-loss and take-profit orders. Gate.io also supports advanced order types like Iceberg Pro, trailing stop, and TWAP.

To place the entry order, click “Buy”.

Note: Since this example uses the spot exchange, the order process differs slightly when trading derivative products. Traders must input the initial margin for futures or purchase premiums when trading options.

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Eric Huffman

Eric Huffman's background includes a decade plus in business management as well as personal finance industry experience in insurance and lending. A strong understanding of consumer finance combined with a consumer advocate stance brought Eric to the crypto industry, where he writes articles and guides aimed at making crypto easier to understand.

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