KickEX Crypto Exchange Review: Fees, Features, and Red Flags in 2025

Is KickEX a legitimate crypto exchange or just another flashy platform with too many promises and not enough proof? If you're looking at KickEX in late 2025, you're not alone. But the more you dig, the more confusing it gets. One site says it has the lowest fees on the market. Another says its fees are above average. One claims you can buy crypto with a credit card. Another says you can’t deposit fiat at all. And then there’s the big one: KickEX says it lets U.S. users trade, but the SEC doesn’t allow most foreign exchanges to do that. So what’s real? Let’s cut through the noise.

What Is KickEX, Really?

KickEX launched in May 2020 and is registered in Estonia. It doesn’t just offer trading - it’s built as a full ecosystem. You’ve got KickWallet for storing crypto, KickID for one-click login across services, KickRef for earning rewards by referring others, KickPay for payments, KickICO for token launches, and KickAcademy for learning. Sounds impressive? Maybe. But here’s the catch: most of these services are only useful if you’re already deep inside the KickEX world. For new users, it’s overwhelming.

The platform supports 55 trading pairs, mostly against USDT, BTC, and ETH. It also lists three trading pairs for its own tokens: KICK and KEX. You can trade on the web, or use apps for iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook. The interface gets praised for being clean and modern - SourceForge users call it "sleek" with a "good UI." But they also mention occasional lags and minor glitches. Not deal-breakers, but not polished either.

Fees: Lowest on the Market? Or Higher Than Average?

This is where KickEX falls apart. CoinMarketCap claims it has "the lowest trading fees on the market." But Traders Union, a respected industry review platform, gave KickEX a 4.9 out of 10 for fees - meaning they consider them high. SourceForge adds another twist: they say trading fees can be negative, meaning you might get paid to trade. That sounds like a dream. But no other source confirms it. And if it were true, why wouldn’t every other exchange copy it?

Here’s what we know for sure: trading fees are not transparent. There’s no clear fee schedule on KickEX’s website. You don’t know what you’re paying until after you trade. Compare that to Binance or Kraken, where fees are listed upfront based on your 30-day trading volume. KickEX doesn’t do that. That lack of clarity is a red flag in crypto, where trust is everything.

Fiat On-Ramps: Can You Deposit Real Money?

This is the biggest contradiction. CoinMarketCap says you can buy crypto with Visa or Mastercard. Cryptowisser says the only way to deposit is with cryptocurrency - no fiat at all. Traders Union says you can deposit fiat through Mercuryo, but only after completing KYC, and only if you deposit at least $30. So which is it?

The truth? You can’t deposit directly. You have to go through Mercuryo, a third-party payment processor. That means extra steps, extra fees, and extra limits. And even then, you can’t withdraw fiat back to your bank account or card. That’s a huge problem. If you make a profit in crypto, you can’t easily turn it into cash. You’re stuck holding crypto, hoping it goes up. That’s not a feature - it’s a trap.

Withdrawals: Locked In, Not Locked Up

KickEX doesn’t let you withdraw to bank accounts or cards. Ever. Not even for KICK or KEX tokens. You can only send crypto to other wallets. That’s unusual. Even small exchanges like KuCoin or Gate.io let you cash out. KickEX doesn’t. Why? Because they don’t have the banking partnerships. Or maybe they don’t want you to leave. Either way, it limits your freedom. If you’re serious about trading, you need to be able to move money in and out. KickEX makes that hard.

US Users: Is It Legal?

Cryptowisser says U.S. investors are allowed to trade on KickEX. That’s surprising. The SEC has cracked down on dozens of foreign exchanges for serving American users without registration. Binance was fined $4 billion. Kraken settled for $30 million. So how is KickEX still open to U.S. traders? The answer? They might not be. Or they’re ignoring the law. Either way, if you’re in the U.S., you’re taking a risk. You’re trading on a platform that could be shut down tomorrow. And if something goes wrong - your funds frozen, your account banned - you have zero legal recourse.

Security and Support: Does It Hold Up?

KickEX says it offers 24/7 live support in seven languages via Telegram. That sounds great. But here’s the problem: Reviews.io shows a 2.5 out of 5 rating based on only two verified reviews. One user wrote: "Recoveringcoin [email protected] or WhatsApp +447556711557 was worth every penny." That’s not a review - that’s a scam recovery ad. Someone who lost money on KickEX (or thought they did) is now trying to sell you a fake recovery service. That’s a huge red flag. It suggests real users have been scammed - or at least, they believe they were.

Another review warns: "Stop online stuff you might end up losing your savings." And recommends "PAMELA EXPERTS" - another recovery service. This isn’t coincidence. When you see the same scammy phrases repeated across reviews, it means something’s wrong. Either the platform has serious problems, or it’s being targeted by fraudsters. Either way, it’s not a good sign.

Is KickEX a Scam?

Cryptolegal.uk included KickEX in their 2025 list of "fake crypto exchanges" and "fraudulent investment companies." That’s not a small claim. They don’t list every platform. Only the ones with clear patterns of deception. KickEX isn’t listed on the Better Business Bureau. It’s not regulated by any major financial authority. Its trading volume is "untracked" on CoinMarketCap - meaning they won’t verify it. That’s a huge deal. Volume manipulation is one of the biggest problems in crypto. If they can’t prove they have real trading, why should you trust them?

And yet, BTCC’s Info Hub says: "This is not an indication that KickEX is a scam." But they’re not saying it’s safe either. They’re just saying there’s no official proof. That’s not a vote of confidence. It’s a shrug.

Who Is KickEX For?

Honestly? Not many people. If you’re new to crypto, KickEX is too confusing. Too many services, unclear fees, no fiat withdrawals. If you’re experienced, you’re probably already on Binance, Kraken, or Bybit - platforms with real volume, clear rules, and proven security. KickEX offers nothing they don’t already have - and a lot they don’t want: uncertainty.

The only people who might benefit are those who already hold KICK or KEX tokens and want to trade them. But even then, the low liquidity on those pairs makes it risky. And if you’re hoping to earn from staking KICK or getting cashback with KEX - you’re betting on a token that no one else seems to trust.

Final Verdict: Avoid Unless You’re a Speculator

KickEX is not a scam in the classic sense - no one’s been arrested, no court case yet. But it’s not a trustworthy exchange either. The contradictions in its features, the lack of transparency, the unverified volume, the blocked withdrawals, the scammy reviews - it all adds up to one thing: too many warning signs.

If you’re looking for a reliable place to trade crypto, KickEX is not it. If you’re willing to gamble on a platform that might vanish tomorrow, then go ahead. But don’t expect help if things go wrong. Don’t expect your money back. And don’t expect anyone to answer your questions when the platform goes silent.

There are better options out there. Ones with real volume, clear fees, fiat deposits and withdrawals, and regulatory compliance. Why risk your savings on a platform that doesn’t even want you to know what you’re paying?

What Should You Do Next?

If you’re already on KickEX, don’t panic. But don’t deposit more. Withdraw your crypto to a personal wallet if you can. If you’re thinking about joining, walk away. There are dozens of exchanges with real volume, transparent fees, and clear regulatory status. You don’t need to gamble on a platform that hides its numbers and blocks your cash-outs.

Stick with platforms that have been around for years - Binance, Kraken, Coinbase, KuCoin. They’re not perfect, but they’re accountable. KickEX? It’s a mystery wrapped in marketing. And in crypto, mystery doesn’t pay - it costs you.