Bithumb vs Upbit
- Comparing
- two exchanges
- Decided by
- Editorial rating
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-23
Korea's second exchange and its cheapest, at 0.04 percent, paired with KB Kookmin Bank for the mandatory real-name account.
South Korea's dominant exchange, KoFIU-registered and paired with K-Bank, charging 0.05 percent on won markets.
Verdict: Upbit
Upbit rates higher on our rubric: 4.4 against 4.3 for Bithumb.
- Criterion
- Editorial rating
- Bithumb
- 4.3
- Upbit
- 4.4
Bithumb and Upbit, fact by fact
Every row is from the two reviews as of their review dates, with sources on each. A check marks the side a decidable criterion favours; rows without one are information, not a score.
| Fact | Bithumb | Upbit |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial rating | 4.3 | 4.4 (favoured on this row) |
| Published fees | 0.04%, Korea's lowest | 0.05% on won markets |
| Maker fee | 0.04 percent | 0.05 percent on won markets, 0.25 percent on BTC and USDT pairs |
| Taker fee | 0.04 percent | 0.05 percent on won markets, 0.25 percent on BTC and USDT pairs |
| Identity verification | Required | Required |
| Bitcoin-only | No | No |
| Payment rails supported | 1 | 1 |
| Countries ranked in | 1 | 1 |
| Ranks first in | 0 | 1 |
| Countries shared | 1 | 1 |
| Security record | No record on file | No record on file |
| Founded | 2014 | 2017 |
| Headquarters | Seoul, South Korea | Seoul, South Korea |
| Last reviewed | 2026-08-23 | 2026-08-23 |
Where both Bithumb and Upbit are ranked
Each country guide ranks its own roster on published fees, security record and local payment support, so the two can sit in a different order from one country to the next.
| Country | Status | Bithumb ranks | Upbit ranks | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | Legal | #2 | #1 |
South KoreaFrequently asked questions
Is Bithumb or Upbit better?
Upbit rates higher on our rubric: 4.4 against 4.3 for Bithumb. The rating weighs published fees, security record and local payment support; the table above sets each beside the other so you can check the score against the facts.
Which is cheaper, Bithumb or Upbit?
Bithumb: 0.04%, Korea's lowest. Upbit: 0.05% on won markets. Those are each platform's published headline rates; card purchases and instant-buy widgets cost more than the order book on both, and each review carries the full schedule.
Where can I use both Bithumb and Upbit?
Both are ranked in our guides for South Korea. Bithumb is ranked in 1 countries in all and Upbit in 1; each country guide ranks its own roster, so the two can sit in a different order from one country to the next.
Has Bithumb or Upbit had a security incident?
Bithumb carries no dated security record on our review yet, a gap in our records rather than a clean bill. Upbit carries no dated security record on our review yet, a gap in our records rather than a clean bill. Both reviews list every event with its source.
Do Bithumb and Upbit require ID verification?
Bithumb: required. Upbit: required.
The full reviews: Bithumb and Upbit, each with its sources, and every exchange we review.
More comparisons
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