CoinUp.io Crypto Exchange Review: Features, Security, and Real-World Performance in 2025
Apr, 28 2025
Leverage Calculator for Crypto Trading
Calculate how leverage amplifies both gains and losses in crypto trading. Based on CoinUp.io's 100x leverage offerings.
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WARNING: Leverage trading involves substantial risk. At 100x leverage, a 1% price movement can wipe out your entire investment. CoinUp.io's 100x leverage is for experienced traders only - beginners should avoid this level of risk.
When you’re looking for a crypto exchange that feels fast, clean, and built for serious trading, CoinUp.io pops up in search results with big numbers: over $6.5 billion in daily volume, 300+ coins, and a slick app. But numbers don’t tell the whole story. Is CoinUp.io actually safe? Is it any good for everyday traders - or just for high-frequency pros? Let’s cut through the marketing and see what this platform really offers in late 2025.
What CoinUp.io Actually Does
CoinUp.io isn’t just another spot trading exchange. It’s built around derivatives trading - futures, perpetual contracts, leverage up to 100x. That means if you’re betting on price swings without owning the actual coin, this is your playground. You can trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Dogecoin, and even obscure tokens like PEPE or WorldCoin with margin. The interface is designed to feel like a pro trading terminal: real-time charts, one-click orders, and liquidation alerts that actually work.They also offer spot trading, but it’s not their main draw. If you just want to buy Bitcoin and hold it, Coinbase or Kraken might feel more straightforward. CoinUp.io is for people who want to trade aggressively, hedge positions, or scalp short-term moves. Their 0.04% maker fee and 0.08% taker fee are competitive - lower than Kraken and Gate.io, and close to Binance’s rates.
Trading Volume vs. Real User Base
CoinUp.io claims $6.5 billion in 24-hour volume. That’s bigger than Kraken and KuCoin. But here’s the catch: volume doesn’t equal users. High volume can come from bots, market makers, or wash trading - especially on newer platforms trying to look big. Unlike Binance or Coinbase, CoinUp.io doesn’t publish verified user counts. Their app says “trusted by millions,” but there’s no public audit or third-party verification. No user growth charts. No transparency reports.Compare that to Coinbase, which reports 110 million users with KYC-verified identities. Or Binance, which publishes quarterly reports on trading activity across regions. CoinUp.io doesn’t. That’s not necessarily a red flag - many derivatives exchanges operate with lower user transparency - but it’s a gap you should know about before depositing funds.
Security: Claims vs. Reality
CoinUp.io says it’s “one of the safest exchanges globally.” They mention 24/7 support, encrypted logins, and a “top-tier risk control system.” But where’s the proof? No public information on cold storage percentages. No mention of insurance fund size. No record of third-party security audits from firms like CertiK or SlowMist. That’s unusual. Even smaller exchanges like Bitrue or MEXC publish audit results. CoinUp.io doesn’t.They store 4,511 BTC - worth over $500 million - in their primary wallet. That’s a massive target. If they were hacked tomorrow, it would be one of the biggest breaches in crypto history. And yet, there’s zero public record of past incidents. That could mean they’re doing something right. Or it could mean they’re flying under the radar because they’re too new to have been tested.
For comparison: Binance had a $400 million hack in 2019 but built a Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU) afterward. Kraken is fully licensed in the U.S. and EU. CoinUp.io is registered in the Cayman Islands - a jurisdiction with no crypto-specific regulation. That’s not illegal, but it means you have zero legal recourse if something goes wrong.
The App and User Experience
The mobile app is where CoinUp.io shines. Available on both iOS and Android, it’s fast, responsive, and clean. The dashboard shows your portfolio, open positions, and market trends in one view. You can set price alerts, view liquidation risk in real time, and even participate in token airdrops directly from the app. The UI is intuitive enough for beginners, but packed with tools pros use - like depth charts, order book heatmaps, and trailing stop-losses.One user on Reddit said: “I switched from Binance to CoinUp.io for the futures trading. The execution is faster, and the fees are lower.” Another wrote: “The app crashes once a week during high volatility. Customer support replies in 4 hours.” That’s the split: great design, but inconsistent reliability under pressure.
Support is available via email ([email protected]), Telegram, and Discord. Response times vary. During major market moves - like when Bitcoin drops 10% in an hour - some users report delays. That’s normal for most exchanges, but on a platform that handles $6 billion in trades daily, you’d expect better infrastructure.
What Coins Can You Trade?
CoinUp.io lists over 300 cryptocurrencies. That’s less than Gate.io (1,400+) but more than Coinbase (250+). They cover all the majors: BTC, ETH, SOL, ADA, DOT, LINK. Also the memecoins: DOGE, SHIB, PEPE, WLD. Stablecoins? USDT, USDC, DAI - all there. You can trade pairs like BTC/USDT, ETH/USDC, or even DOGE/BTC.New coins get added regularly. In August 2025, they listed $WLD (WorldCoin) within 48 hours of its public launch - faster than most exchanges. That’s a sign they’re agile and responsive to market demand. But they’ve also listed a few low-liquidity tokens that vanished within weeks. Always check volume before trading anything new.
Regulatory Status: The Big Unknown
This is the most important thing to understand. CoinUp.io is not licensed in the U.S., the EU, the UK, or any major jurisdiction. They don’t claim to be. They operate from the Cayman Islands and serve global users - which means they’re not subject to AML/KYC rules in most countries. If you live in the U.S., Canada, or the UK, using CoinUp.io means you’re trading on an unregulated platform.That’s not illegal for you as a user - but it changes your risk profile. If the exchange freezes withdrawals, there’s no government body to complain to. If your funds disappear, you won’t get compensation from a financial ombudsman. You’re on your own. That’s fine if you’re comfortable with that risk. But if you’re used to regulated platforms like Coinbase or Kraken, this will feel like a leap into the dark.
Who Is CoinUp.io For?
- Best for: Experienced traders who want low fees, high leverage, and fast execution on derivatives. Traders who don’t need regulatory protection and are comfortable with self-custody risks.
- Not for: Beginners who just want to buy Bitcoin. Investors who want insurance or legal recourse. Users in regulated countries who prefer licensed exchanges.
If you’re trading crypto as a side hustle and you know how to manage risk, CoinUp.io can be a powerful tool. The interface is better than many older exchanges. The fees are low. The selection is wide. But you’re trading on a platform with no public track record, no regulatory oversight, and no safety net.
Final Verdict: Worth Trying?
CoinUp.io isn’t a scam. The platform works. The app is polished. The volume is real. But it’s also a high-risk gamble. You’re trusting your money to a company that doesn’t publish audits, doesn’t disclose user numbers, and operates outside the global regulatory framework.Here’s what I’d do: if you’re curious, deposit $100. Trade a few small positions. Test the withdrawal process. See how fast support responds. Don’t put in more than you can afford to lose. If everything works smoothly after a month, you can consider increasing your exposure. But never treat this like a bank. Treat it like a high-stakes casino - with better odds, but no guarantees.
For now, CoinUp.io feels like a promising dark horse - fast, loud, and full of potential. But until they open up about security, regulation, and user verification, they remain an unknown quantity. In crypto, that’s not just risky. It’s dangerous.
Is CoinUp.io regulated?
No, CoinUp.io is not regulated by any major financial authority. It’s registered in the Cayman Islands, which has no specific crypto regulations. This means users have no legal protection if something goes wrong, unlike on platforms like Coinbase or Kraken that are licensed in the U.S. or EU.
Can I withdraw my crypto from CoinUp.io?
Yes, you can withdraw crypto from CoinUp.io. Users report successful withdrawals for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other major coins. However, withdrawal times vary - sometimes under 10 minutes, sometimes up to 24 hours during high network congestion. Always test with a small amount first.
Does CoinUp.io have a mobile app?
Yes, CoinUp.io has official mobile apps for iOS and Android. The app supports real-time trading, portfolio tracking, price alerts, and access to airdrops. It’s one of the most polished mobile interfaces in the derivatives space, though some users report occasional crashes during extreme market moves.
Is CoinUp.io safe for beginners?
Not really. While the interface is easy to use, CoinUp.io focuses on high-risk derivatives trading with leverage up to 100x. Beginners can lose money quickly without understanding margin, liquidation, and funding rates. Start with spot trading on regulated platforms like Coinbase or Kraken before moving to derivatives.
How does CoinUp.io compare to Binance?
CoinUp.io has lower fees and a more focused derivatives interface, but Binance offers more coins (350+ vs. 300+), verified user numbers (150M+), regulatory compliance in key markets, and a proven track record. Binance is safer and more reliable; CoinUp.io is faster and more aggressive. Choose based on your risk tolerance.
Are there fake CoinUp apps?
Yes. There’s a separate app called "CoinUp: Liquidation Chart, etc" by Softable Co. that provides market analysis tools - not trading. It has 5-star ratings and 10,000+ downloads, but it’s not the exchange. Only download CoinUp.io from their official website or verified links in their Telegram or Twitter accounts.
Hanna Kruizinga
November 3, 2025 AT 02:07Let me guess - they’re backed by some offshore shell company and the ‘team’ is just a bunch of guys in a basement in Belize. $6.5B volume? Yeah right. That’s all bots and wash trading. I’ve seen this movie before. They’ll vanish overnight with your ETH, and you’ll be left crying to a Cayman Islands ghost. 🤡
David James
November 4, 2025 AT 01:22i just tried coinup.io last week and wow the app is super smooth! i traded 0.05 btc and got out in 5 mins no problem. fees were real low too. i dont care if its not regulated im just trying to make a few bucks on the side. if it works its good enough for me 😊
Shaunn Graves
November 4, 2025 AT 06:50Who cares about the ‘safety claims’? This is crypto. If you need a hand-holding, regulated babysitter, go back to Coinbase. CoinUp.io is built for people who know what they’re doing. The 100x leverage isn’t a bug - it’s the feature. I’ve made 12% in 20 minutes on a single trade. That’s not luck. That’s execution. And yeah, the app crashed once during a flash crash - so what? I’ve seen Binance go down for 3 hours during the same event. At least this one’s fast when it works.
Kaela Coren
November 4, 2025 AT 15:24While the interface is undeniably polished and the fee structure competitive, the absence of any verifiable security audit, combined with the jurisdictional opacity of the Cayman Islands registration, presents a non-trivial risk profile. The lack of public disclosure regarding cold storage allocation or insurance fund reserves renders the platform’s safety claims empirically unfounded. One cannot assess risk without data - and data is absent. Therefore, while technically functional, the platform remains epistemologically unreliable.