Bitexen Exchange Review 2025: Fees, Security, and Limits

Bitexen Exchange Review 2025: Fees, Security, and Limits
Jan, 15 2025

Bitexen Trading Fee Calculator

Calculate Your Trading Fees

See how much you'll pay in fees when trading on Bitexen and compare with other platforms.

Comparison

Thinking about trading on a Turkey‑focused platform? This review breaks down what Bitexen actually offers, how much you’ll pay, how safe your funds are, and whether the exchange fits your needs.

Quick Takeaways

  • Founded in 2018, headquartered in Istanbul, serves only users with Turkish phone numbers.
  • Supports 28 cryptocurrencies, but only Turkish Lira (TRY) for fiat deposits/withdrawals.
  • Maker fee 0.15 %, taker fee 0.25 % - lower than many regional rivals.
  • Two‑factor authentication (2FA) and cold‑wallet storage are in place, yet no government regulation and a 3.78/10 overall risk score.
  • Mobile apps for iOS and Android let you trade on the go, but limited language support (mostly Turkish).

What is Bitexen?

Bitexen is a cryptocurrency exchange launched in 2018 that primarily serves Turkish traders. The platform markets itself as a simple way for locals to buy, sell, and swap digital assets using the Turkish Lira (TRY).

Who Can Sign Up?

If you live in Turkey and have a local phone number, you’re good to go. The onboarding process checks your identity against Turkish regulations, which means non‑Turkish residents are blocked at the verification step. This restriction keeps the user base tightly inside Turkey, unlike global exchanges that accept users from 170+ countries.

Supported Cryptocurrencies and Trading Pairs

Bitexen lists 28 coins, ranging from Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) to newer tokens like Solana (SOL) and Cardano (ADA). All pairs are quoted against TRY - there are no direct BTC/USDT or ETH/EUR markets. For Turkish investors, that simplifies tax reporting but limits arbitrage opportunities.

Maker and taker characters with fee tags, a vault, 2FA code, and distant Kraken and OKX silhouettes.

Fee Structure Explained

Fees are a major factor when you trade a lot. Bitexen charges a 0.15 % maker fee and a 0.25 % taker fee. In practice, if you add liquidity to the order book you pay the lower maker rate; if you take liquidity, you pay the higher taker rate.

Compared to regional peers, those rates are competitive. For example, the Turkish exchange BtcTurk charges around 0.25 % for both maker and taker, while international platforms like Kraken often sit at 0.16 % maker and 0.26 % taker for high‑volume traders.

Security Measures

Bitexen implements two‑factor authentication (Two‑factor authentication requiring a second code from an authenticator app or SMS

Funds are stored in cold‑wallets (Cold wallet offline storage that keeps private keys away from internet threats), and the platform reports zero successful hacks to date.

Despite those basics, the exchange lacks any tier‑1 regulatory oversight. Traders Union gave Bitexen a security score of 5.25/10 and an overall risk rating of 3.78/10, mainly because no government authority monitors its operations.

Mobile Apps

The iOS app (iOS app) and Android counterpart (Android app) let you place orders, view balances, and receive push notifications. Both apps mirror the web UI, so you won’t miss any features when you’re away from a computer.

Traffic & Popularity

According to FxVerify, Bitexen draws about 117,000 organic monthly visits with a bounce rate of just 17 %. Users stay on the site for roughly 13 minutes and view an average of 12 pages per session. That engagement suggests a dedicated local audience, even if the overall ranking (227/580) is modest compared with global giants.

Turkish trader on a balcony using the Bitexen app, split view showing benefits and risk warnings.

How Does Bitexen Stack Up Against Kraken and OKX?

Feature comparison: Bitexen vs. Kraken vs. OKX
Feature Bitexen Kraken OKX
Regulation None (Turkish‑only) Tier‑1 regulated in multiple jurisdictions Government‑regulated (no tier‑1)
Fiat support Turkish Lira (TRY) only USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, etc. USD, EUR, USDT, etc.
Crypto count 28 200+ 300+
Maker fee 0.15 % 0.16 % (high volume) 0.10 % (high volume)
Taker fee 0.25 % 0.26 % (high volume) 0.15 % (high volume)
Security score (Traders Union) 5.25/10 8.5/10 7.8/10

In short, Bitexen is cheaper than Kraken for low‑volume traders, but it can’t match Kraken’s regulatory shield or OKX’s broader token list.

Pros and Cons

  • Pros
    • Low fees for both makers and takers.
    • Strong local support for Turkish users.
    • Mobile apps are fast and easy to use.
    • Cold‑wallet storage keeps most funds offline.
  • Cons
    • Only Turkish phone numbers allowed - no international access.
    • No official regulation; higher risk rating.
    • Limited fiat options - just TRY.
    • Token list smaller than global competitors.

Is Bitexen Right for You?

If you live in Turkey, already have a TRY bank account, and want a straightforward platform with modest fees, Bitexen can be a decent fit. However, if you need multi‑currency fiat, want the safety net of regulated exchanges, or plan to trade a wide variety of altcoins, you’ll probably feel restricted.

Final Verdict

Bitexen delivers a basic, low‑fee trading experience for Turkish residents. Its security basics are solid, but the lack of regulatory oversight and narrow market reach raise red flags for anyone thinking long‑term or needing global exposure.

Can I use Bitexen if I’m not a Turkish citizen?

No. Bitexen requires a Turkish phone number for registration, effectively limiting access to Turkish residents.

What fiat currencies does Bitexen support?

Only the Turkish Lira (TRY) is available for deposits and withdrawals.

How do Bitexen’s fees compare to other exchanges?

Bitexen charges 0.15 % maker and 0.25 % taker fees, which are lower than many regional peers but higher than some high‑volume tiers on Kraken or OKX.

Is my money safe on Bitexen?

The exchange uses 2FA and stores most assets in cold wallets, but without regulatory oversight the risk rating is only 3.78/10, so users should only keep what they need for active trading.

Does Bitexen offer a mobile app?

Yes, there are native iOS and Android apps that let you trade, monitor balances, and receive push notifications.

8 Comments

  • Prateek Kumar Mondal
    Prateek Kumar Mondal

    Bitexen is solid if you're in Turkey and want low fees

  • Kevin Johnston
    Kevin Johnston

    Low fees + mobile app = perfect for daily traders 🚀

  • Clarice Coelho Marlière Arruda
    Clarice Coelho Marlière Arruda

    i just tried signing up from the us and it blocked me instantly lol
    guess im not welcome here 😅
    kinda funny how some exchanges are so geo-locked these days

  • Cory Munoz
    Cory Munoz

    I get why they do it-regulatory compliance, tax tracking, local banking integration.
    But it’s also a reminder that crypto’s promise of openness still has very real borders.
    For Turkish users, this might be the most practical option.
    For everyone else? It’s like trying to join a private club with a secret handshake.
    Not malicious, just... very localized.
    Kinda beautiful in its own way, honestly.

  • Nick Cooney
    Nick Cooney

    0.15% maker fee? wow, someone actually undercuts kraken
    ...except they have zero regulation and no usd support
    so congrats, you’ve built a glorified p2p kiosk with a website
    and called it an exchange
    good luck when the turkish lira collapses again

  • Jasmine Neo
    Jasmine Neo

    ‘cold wallets’? lol. tell that to the 12 turkish users who got hacked last year when their phones got phished
    no regulation = no recourse
    no usd = no liquidity
    28 coins = barely a starter pack
    and you call this ‘competitive’?
    it’s a sandbox for locals who don’t know any better
    and frankly, it’s dangerous to recommend

  • Lena Novikova
    Lena Novikova

    you people act like bitexen is some scam
    it’s not kraken
    it’s not okx
    it’s a turkish exchange for turkish people
    if you need global liquidity go use kraken
    if you live in istanbul and want to buy btc with your salary
    bitexen is literally the only sane choice
    stop acting like every platform has to be global to be valid
    and yes the risk score is low
    but so is the volume
    you don’t need fbi oversight to trade 5000 try worth of eth

  • jummy santh
    jummy santh

    As a Nigerian trader who has explored multiple regional platforms, I find Bitexen’s operational model both fascinating and instructive.
    Its hyper-localization, while exclusionary to outsiders, reflects a strategic alignment with domestic economic realities-especially in nations where currency volatility and capital controls are structural challenges.
    By anchoring exclusively to TRY, Bitexen sidesteps the regulatory minefield of cross-border fiat rails, reducing compliance overhead significantly.
    Moreover, the fee structure, though modest in absolute terms, represents a meaningful advantage over local competitors like BtcTurk, particularly for retail traders operating on thin margins.
    The absence of tier-one regulation is indeed a liability, yet in contexts where state oversight is inconsistent or unreliable, decentralized trust mechanisms-such as cold storage and 2FA-can serve as pragmatic substitutes.
    Mobile app performance, with its 17% bounce rate and 13-minute session duration, suggests not merely usability, but habitual engagement-a rare metric in emerging market fintech.
    One might argue that global exchanges offer breadth, but Bitexen delivers depth within its niche.
    It is not a replacement for Kraken; it is a complement to it-for those who live within its jurisdiction.
    Perhaps the future of crypto isn’t universal platforms, but hyper-contextual ones, tailored to the rhythms of local economies.
    Bitexen, for all its limitations, is a case study in localized digital sovereignty.

Write a comment