Gate.io review
Gate.io is a centralized cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2013 by Lin Han, originally launched as Bter.com before rebranding to Gate.io in 2017 and relaunching under the shorter Gate/Gate.com brand in 2025. It is one of the larger exchanges globally by reported spot volume, known for listing an unusually broad range of altcoins alongside spot, margin, futures and staking products. The main operating entity is registered in the Cayman Islands rather than a single onshore jurisdiction, and Gate.io does not accept US residents on its main platform (a separate, more limited Gate US entity serves some states). It has been building regional licenses piecemeal, including a 2025 Dubai VARA license, while withdrawing a 2024 Hong Kong application it intends to resubmit.
Gate.io key facts
- Website: www.gate.com
- Category: Centralized cryptocurrency exchange (CEX)
- Founded: 2013, by Lin Han (as Bter.com; rebranded Gate.io 2017, Gate/Gate.com 2025)
- Headquarters: Cayman Islands-registered; no single confirmed physical HQ
- Regulatory status: Not available to US residents on the main platform; separate Gate US entity for some states; Dubai VARA license (April 2025); withdrew Hong Kong VASP application (May 2024)
- Products: Spot, margin and futures trading with leverage; staking/earn products
- Trading fees: 0.10% standard spot maker/taker, tiered VIP0-VIP16 discounts by 30-day volume
- Supported assets: 1,500+ cryptocurrencies across roughly 1,750 trading pairs
- Notable history: Predecessor Bter.com hacked for $1.8M in bitcoin, February 2015
- CEO: Lin Han
- FYI Score: 76.6/100 (ranked #31 of the 48 crypto exchanges we track)
Trading fees
- Standard spot trading fee of 0.10% for both maker and taker orders
- Tiered VIP program from VIP0 to VIP16, with lower fees at higher 30-day trading volume
- Separate fee schedule for margin and futures trading
Supported assets
- 1,500+ cryptocurrencies listed across roughly 1,750 trading pairs (CoinGecko)
- One of the broadest altcoin selections of any major exchange, including many smaller-cap tokens not listed on Binance or Coinbase
- BTC/USDT is the most actively traded pair
Products
- Spot trading with a large altcoin selection
- Margin and futures trading with leverage
- Staking and other yield-generating ('earn') products
Security & regulation
- No single primary financial regulator; main entity registered in the Cayman Islands
- Dubai VARA full operational license obtained April 2025 through Gate Technology FZE
- Withdrew its Hong Kong SFC virtual-asset trading platform license application in May 2024; reported to be preparing to reapply
- Publishes proof-of-reserves data; CoinGecko recorded reserves of roughly $8.2 billion (about a 115% reserve ratio) as of June 2026
Markets
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Who Gate.io is for
Gate.io suits traders who specifically want access to a very wide range of altcoins and are comfortable using an offshore exchange with no single primary onshore regulator that blocks US residents on its main platform.
Pros
- One of the larger exchanges globally by reported spot trading volume and liquidity
- Exceptionally broad altcoin selection, useful for accessing smaller-cap tokens not listed on larger exchanges
- Publishes proof-of-reserves data, with CoinGecko recording a reserve ratio above 100%
- Has begun building onshore licenses (e.g., Dubai VARA) rather than operating purely offshore
Cons
- Registered in the Cayman Islands with no single primary financial regulator overseeing the main platform
- Not available to US residents on the main Gate.io/Gate.com platform; a separate, more limited Gate US entity serves only some states
- Withdrew its Hong Kong virtual-asset trading platform license application in May 2024 and remained unlicensed there as of the most recent reporting
- Predecessor entity Bter.com was hacked for roughly $1.8 million in bitcoin in February 2015
- The very large number of listed tokens includes many low-liquidity, smaller-cap assets, which raises listing-quality and scam-token risk relative to more selective exchanges
Gate.io FAQ
Is Gate.io regulated?
Gate.io does not have a single primary financial regulator overseeing its main exchange. The operating entity is registered in the Cayman Islands. The group has been adding jurisdiction-specific licenses, including a full operational license from Dubai's VARA in April 2025, while it withdrew a Hong Kong virtual-asset trading platform license application in May 2024 and has said it intends to reapply.
Is Gate.io available in the United States?
Not on the main Gate.io/Gate.com platform, which blocks US residents. A separate, more limited entity, Gate US, serves some American users but excludes residents of New York, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
What are Gate.io's trading fees?
The standard spot trading fee is 0.10% for both maker and taker orders. Fees decrease at higher tiers under a VIP program (VIP0 through VIP16) based on 30-day trading volume, and margin and futures trading use a separate fee schedule.
Has Gate.io ever been hacked?
Its predecessor, Bter.com, was hacked for approximately $1.8 million in bitcoin in February 2015 due to an access-control vulnerability. CoinGecko's trust-score data shows no major incident recorded for the exchange since then, and Gate.io publishes proof-of-reserves data.
Compare Gate.io with other crypto exchanges
See all crypto exchanges ranked by FYI →
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