Binance Review: Features, Pros And Cons

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Published: May 7, 2024, 3:07pm

Johanna Leggatt
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Editorial note: Forbes Advisor Australia may earn revenue from this story in the manner disclosed here. Read our advice disclaimer here.

Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has established itself as a dominant player in the industry. Offering more than 500 cryptocurrencies, opportunities to earn passive income and advanced trading tools, Binance caters to a wide range of investors and traders. The platform’s user base of nearly 190 million across more than 180 countries is a testament to its popularity.

For Australian investors, Binance offers a comprehensive trading experience, complete with a suite of advanced trading tools, in-depth research, educational resources and even an NFT marketplace. The exchange is registered with Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), providing users with a degree of regulatory assurance. The exchange also has a $US1 billion private “SAFU” insurance fund, which stands for “Secure Asset Fund for Users”, offering additional protection for assets held on the exchange.

However, potential investors should be aware of Binance’s past challenges. The exchange has previously faced regulatory issues in Australia, resulting in the cancellation of its AFSL licence for complex derivative products and a temporary disruption in AUD deposits and withdrawals. Binance’s global operations have also been subject to legal difficulties, with the company pleading guilty to criminal charges and agreeing to substantial fines in the US.

Pros

  • An extensive range of cryptocurrencies available to trade
  • Instant and free deposit methods available for AUD
  • $US 1 billion insurance fund for assets on the platform
  • Competitive trading fees
  • Mobile app with both advanced and lite mode
  • Extensive education centre

Cons

  • No email or phone support available
  • Doesn’t offer a crypto credit card
  • No derivatives trading in Australia
Binance
4.7
Our ratings take into account the card’s rewards, fees, rates along with the card’s category. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Coins
500+
Fees
0.1% Maker Fee, 0.1% Taker Fee

Who Is Binance Good For?

Binance is versatile in that it caters to a wide range of users, from beginners to advanced traders. However, the platform’s extensive features and somewhat busy interface may suit investors with prior investing or crypto trading experience.

For intermediate to advanced traders, Binance offers a comprehensive suite of trading tools and features. The exchange provides various order types, charting tools, and automated trading bots, which can help experienced investors execute more complex trading strategies. The vast array of cryptocurrencies on Binance is a key attractor for many investors looking to diversify their portfolio.

Binance’s earning opportunities, such as ETH staking, BNB vault and simple earn accounts available for over 180 coins, can be attractive to investors looking to generate passive income. The platform’s research and educational resources allow users to explore and expand their knowledge. There is a mobile app for iOS and Android devices, available in both advanced and lite modes, making it convenient for users to trade on the go.

Overall, Binance is an excellent choice for intermediate to advanced traders looking for a feature-rich exchange with a wide selection of coins, earning opportunities, and advanced trading tools. However, complete beginners may find the platform’s interface and numerous features overwhelming, and they might benefit from starting with a more straightforward exchange before transitioning to Binance as their knowledge and experience grow.

What Makes Binance a Good Choice

Binance has established itself as a leading exchange, offering a comprehensive suite of features and benefits that make it an attractive choice for many traders:

  • Extensive cryptocurrency selection: Binance offers one of the largest ranges of cryptocurrencies available for trading, with over 500 cryptocurrencies listed.
  • Earning opportunities: The platform provides users with multiple ways to earn passive income, including staking, BNB vault and earning accounts for over 180 coins.
  • Advanced trading tools: Binance caters to experienced traders by offering a suite of advanced trading features, such as various order types, charting tools, and automated trading options.
  • Convenient AUD deposits: Australian users can enjoy instant and fee-free AUD deposit methods, making it easy to fund their accounts and start trading quickly.
  • Robust asset protection: In addition to typical security features like two-factor authentication (2FA) and whitelisted withdrawal addresses, Binance’s $US 1 billion insurance fund provides additional protection for users’ assets on the platform, offering peace of mind and demonstrating the exchange’s commitment to security.
  • Competitive trading fees: With trading fees starting as low as 0.1%, Binance offers competitive rates compared to other exchanges. Users can further reduce fees by holding BNB or increasing their trading volume.
  • Mobile app with advanced and lite modes: Binance’s mobile app, available for iOS and Android devices, allows users to trade on the go. The app offers both advanced and lite modes, so the interface isn’t as crowded on the smaller screen.
  • Comprehensive educational resources: The exchange features an extensive education centre, providing users with a wealth of information and resources to expand their knowledge of cryptocurrencies and trading strategies.

Binance's Disadvantages

Despite its numerous advantages, Binance has faced some challenges and has certain aspects that may not suit every trader’s preferences:

  • Volatile past and regulatory issues: Binance has encountered regulatory hurdles in Australia and globally. The exchange had to cancel its AFSL licence for complex derivative products in Australia due to an ASIC investigation that found they had miscategorised investors. Globally, Binance pleaded guilty to criminal charges in the US and agreed to pay $US4.3 billion in fines. The exchange’s founder and previous CEO, Changpeng Zhao or “CZ”, was recently sentenced to 4 months in prison for violating US anti-money laundering rules. Additionally, Binance was intertwined exposing the shaky foundations of the FTX exchange, which ultimately lead to its collapse. While Binance has always been able to fulfil withdrawals and now has a proof of funds auditing process, these past issues may raise concerns for some users.
  • Complex interface for beginners: Binance’s interface is feature-rich and can be overwhelming for novice investors. The sheer number of options and tools available on the platform takes some getting used to, which could deter some beginners who prefer a more straightforward experience.
  • Limited features in Australia: Due to regulatory issues, some of Binance’s features are restricted in Australia. While this may be frustrating for some users, it is a positive sign that the exchange is working to comply with the rules set forth by Australian regulatory bodies. However, this limitation may still disadvantage traders who require access to a full suite of features.

While these disadvantages may not be significant for all users, potential traders must consider Binance’s past challenges and current limitations when deciding whether the platform is suitable for their needs. Despite these drawbacks, Binance remains popular among many cryptocurrency traders due to its extensive offerings, competitive fees, and strong security measures.

Binance Features

As one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges, Binance offers an extensive array of features designed to cater to the needs of both novice and experienced traders:

  • Advanced Trading Tools: Binance provides a comprehensive suite of trading tools, including advanced charting features with various indicators and drawing tools, multiple order types (e.g., limit, market, stop-limit, and OCO orders), and trading bots that allow users to automate their trading strategies.
  • AUD Deposit and Withdrawals: Binance supports several methods for depositing and withdrawing Australian dollars (AUD), including PayID, bank transfer, and credit/debit cards.
  • Competitive Fees: Binance offers some of the most competitive trading fees, starting as low as 0.1% for spot trades. Users can further reduce their trading fees by holding BNB or increasing their trading volume.
  • NFT Trading: Binance has its own NFT marketplace where users can buy, sell, and create non-fungible tokens. The platform supports various NFT categories, including art, collectibles, gaming items, and more.
  • Earning Opportunities: Binance offers several ways for users to earn passive income on their cryptocurrency holdings. These include ETH staking (bETH), where users can stake their Ethereum and receive staking rewards, and the Simple Earn program, which allows users to earn interest on their crypto assets. The BNB Vault, a yield aggregator for BNB, enables users to maximise their earnings by automatically allocating their tokens across various earning opportunities.
  • Auto-Invest Plan: Binance’s Auto-Invest feature allows users to create customised investment plans, enabling them to invest a predetermined amount in their chosen coins regularly.
  • Comprehensive Resources & Customer Support: Binance provides multiple channels for customer support, including an extensive resource centre and 24/7 live chat.

Opening a Binance Account

Opening a Binance account is a straightforward process that can be completed in a few simple steps:

  1. Visit the Binance website and sign up.
  2. Enter your email address or phone number and create a strong password.
  3. Provide the required personal information, such as your name, date of birth, and address, and verify your identity by submitting the necessary documents, such as a government-issued ID and proof of address. This step is essential to comply with Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations.
  4. Once your account is verified, you can secure it further by setting up 2FA using an authenticator app or SMS.
  5. Fund your account by navigating to the “Deposit” section and selecting your preferred payment method, such as bank transfer, credit/debit card, or other supported cryptocurrencies.

After completing these steps, your Binance account will be ready for trading. To protect your funds and personal data, it is important to keep your account information and login details secure at all times.

Cryptocurrencies Available on Binance

Binance is known for its extensive selection of cryptocurrencies, offering traders access to over 500 cryptocurrencies. This wide range of available coins allows users to diversify their portfolios and take advantage of various trading opportunities in the crypto market.

Top 10 Cryptocurrencies Traded on Binance

  1. BNB (BNB)
  2. Bitcoin (BTC)
  3. Ethereum (ETH)
  4. Pepe (PEPE)
  5. Solana (SOL)
  6. Polkadot (DOT)
  7. Cosmos (ATOM)
  8. Dogwifhat (WIF)
  9. Voyager Token (VGX)
  10. Wormhole (W)

*Accurate as of May 2, 2024

Our Methodology

Our methodology involved a comprehensive analysis of nearly 25 international and Australian cryptocurrency exchanges, crypto trading apps, and brokerage platforms that offer crypto trading options.

The trading fees we analysed were based on the lowest trade volume and the most basic version of the platform for each brokerage or crypto exchange.

We assessed each platform using 11 key variables to determine their overall quality:

  1. Basic Trading Features: We evaluated the number of cryptocurrencies available to trade, the number of fiat currencies accepted, the exchange’s overall liquidity, and trading fees.
  2. Advanced Trading Features: We examined the availability of complex trading features such as advanced order types and volume discounts for frequent trading.
  3. Margin Trading: We assessed margin trading rates, if applicable.
  4. Platform Availability: We analysed the degree of accessibility to different features by country.
  5. Customer Service: We evaluated customer support options.
  6. Educational Resources: We assessed the educational content offered by each platform.
  7. Crypto Rewards Credit Card: We noted if any platforms offer crypto rewards credit cards.
  8. Security and Storage: We evaluated the types of storage options, security and insurance available, and any large-scale hacks of each exchange over its lifetime.
  9. Staking and Rewards: We evaluated whether some platforms allow users to stake selected cryptos and earn interest payments.
  10. Crypto Lending: We evaluated whether some crypto exchanges allow users to lend their cryptocurrency.
  11. Registration: We ensured that the exchanges we surveyed were registered with the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) to provide digital asset exchange services to Australians legally.

We then used a weighted average of these variables to calculate each platform’s overall score. Our methodology benchmarks the features and options across the crypto exchanges and brokerages we surveyed.

This article is not an endorsement of any particular cryptocurrency, broker or exchange nor does it constitute a recommendation of cryptocurrency or CFDs as an investment class.  Cryptocurrency is unregulated in Australia and your capital is at risk. Trading in contracts for difference (CFDs) is riskier than conventional share trading, not suitable for the majority of investors, and includes the potential for partial or total loss of capital. You should always consider whether you can afford to lose your money before deciding to trade in CFDs or cryptocurrency, and seek advice from an authorised financial advisor.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Binance still trustworthy?

While Binance has faced some regulatory challenges and its founder was recently sentenced to prison, the exchange has always been able to fulfil user withdrawals and now has a proof of funds auditing process. Despite its volatile past, Binance remains a popular choice among crypto traders due to its extensive offerings, competitive fees, and strong security measures. You can transfer funds off the exchange into a personal hardware wallet for additional security after you are done trading. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide whether you feel Binance is trustworthy enough for you to sign up and use the exchange.

Is Binance 100% safe?

No cryptocurrency exchange can guarantee 100% safety, but Binance has implemented several measures to protect users’ assets, such as a $1 billion insurance fund, comprehensive account security and asset audits. However, users should always do due diligence when deciding to open an account on any crypto platform. You can always decide to transfer your funds off Binance into a personal hardware wallet for additional security if you don’t want to risk leaving your valuable assets on the exchange.

What are the disadvantages of Binance?

Some of the main disadvantages of Binance include its complex interface, which may be overwhelming for beginners, and its history of regulatory issues in various jurisdictions. Additionally, some features may be limited in certain countries, such as Australia, due to compliance with local regulations. Binance’s history of “Bank runs” that ensued after the FTX collapse may concern some users despite always being able to fulfil user withdrawal requests.

Is Binance okay to use?

Binance is generally considered a reputable and reliable cryptocurrency exchange. However, potential users should carefully consider their individual needs and risk toleance before deciding to use the platform. It is essential to research and compare different exchanges, as well as to stay informed about any regulatory developments or security incidents in the crypto industry.

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