Bitso review

Bitso is the largest cryptocurrency exchange and fintech platform regulated in Mexico, holding a licence from the Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores (CNBV) and operating under oversight of Banco de México. The platform serves as the primary institutional and retail on/off ramp for Mexican and wider Latin American users, offering spot trading, fiat deposit and withdrawal services, and custody solutions. Bitso was founded in 2014 and has grown to become the dominant licensed crypto venue in the region, handling a substantial proportion of Mexico's institutional and retail crypto trading volume. In recent months, Bitso has expanded its offering beyond its regulated exchange entity by introducing Bitso Onchain, a self-custodial, decentralised trading interface that allows users to trade directly from their own cryptocurrency wallets without holding assets on the Bitso platform's servers. Bitso's core exchange operates as a centralised matching engine with maker and taker fees both set at 0.20%, lower than many global competitors and designed to attract institutional volume. Withdrawal fees vary by asset and are displayed in real time on the platform; deposit and withdrawal are available in Mexican pesos (MXN), Brazilian reals (BRL), Argentine pesos (ARS), and Colombian pesos (COP) depending on jurisdiction. The platform supports approximately 150 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Ripple, and a broad range of altcoins, though liquidity is substantially higher for major pairs (BTC/MXN, ETH/MXN) than for smaller-cap assets. KYC is mandatory for all users; Bitso operates under a tiered system whereby initial deposits are subject to limits unless full identity verification is completed. Regulation and custody are material strengths. Bitso holds a full Money Transmitter and Cryptocurrency Services Provider licence in Mexico, subject to anti-money-laundering and customer-due-diligence requirements equivalent to those imposed on traditional banks. Custody of user assets is held in segregated wallets; for fiat deposits, funds are held in segregated bank accounts under Bitso's name as trustee. The company has not experienced a major security breach or insolvency in its operational history. However, regulatory approval in Mexico does not automatically extend to other Latin American countries; Bitso must separately comply with local regulations in Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia, creating jurisdictional fragmentation. Bitso's strategic position is as the incumbent regulated exchange in the largest Latin American crypto market by institutional adoption and banking relationships. Its recent launch of Bitso Onchain signals an effort to compete with decentralised and self-custodial platforms whilst maintaining the compliance infrastructure of a licensed entity. However, Bitso's liquidity remains constrained relative to global tier-one exchanges; traders seeking high-volume altcoin trading or lower latency should use Binance, Kraken, or Bybit. Bitso's advantage is geographic monopoly and regulatory certainty in Mexico and Brazil; its limitation is restricted international scope and liquidity.

Bitso is regulated in one or more jurisdictions. No major custody breach on record. As with any platform, use strong security and only hold what you need on it.

Yes — identity verification (KYC) is required for most features.

Bitso fees: maker 0.20%, taker 0.20%; withdrawals: Variable by asset. Always confirm current fees on the official site, as crypto fees change often.

No / restricted.

Latin American users seeking a regulated, KYC-compliant on/off ramp with local fiat currency support and institutional-grade infrastructure..

Avoid Bitso if: You reside outside Latin America or require access to a diverse range of altcoins with high liquidity; US, European, or Asian users should use alternative platforms..

Pros: Primary licensed cryptocurrency exchange in Mexico with regulatory approval from CNBV, serving as the largest institutional on/off ramp for Latin America; Expanded regional reach across Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia with fiat on/off ramps in local currencies; Recently introduced Bitso Onchain, a decentralised and self-custodial trading interface, extending access beyond regulated entity structure. Cons: Geographic restrictions exclude major markets including United States, Europe, and Asia; primarily focused on Latin American user base; Regulatory approval in Mexico does not extend automatically to other Latin American jurisdictions, requiring separate compliance in each market; Limited liquidity and order-book depth compared to global tier-one exchanges, particularly for altcoins and low-volume pairs.

Yes. CNBV (Mexico); Banco de Mexico

This review was last verified on 2026-08-05 against the official site.