Comparison of Phemex vs Valr [ 2024 ]

The crypto exchanges compared by their commissions, cryptos, security and much more. Here is the Phemex vs Valr comparison!

Your expert: Alejandro Borja

Phemex

Your expert: Xavier Tarrasó

Valr

Main points

Fees

0,10%

Earns

Customer service

3/5

-0,01%/0,10%

Fees

Earns

4/5

Customer service

Recommended for

Beginners

Trading

Yes

Passive income

Buy and hold

Yes

Beginners

Yes

Trading

Passive income

Yes

Buy and hold

Comparison of fees

Rating

4.1 – Low fees with a focus on derivatives trading.

4.0 – Competitive fees with strong local support in South Africa.

Level

0,10%

-0,01%/0,10%

Brief explanation

Phemex implements a transparent and competitive commission structure, which is one of its standout features. The platform offers zero-fee spot trading for premium members, a unique model that encourages active trading and enhances affordability. For non-premium users, the fees remain competitive with the industry average. The fees for futures trading are also attractively low, with maker and taker fees structured to incentivize liquidity provision on the platform. This setup allows traders to manage their costs effectively, which is especially beneficial in a market where margins can be tight.

VALR’s commission structure is designed to be competitive and attractive to both novice and experienced traders. The exchange employs a tiered fee system where the trading fees decrease as the user’s monthly trading volume increases. This incentivizes higher trading volumes while maintaining affordability for smaller traders. Fees for typical trades start relatively low, with further reductions possible depending on the trade volume and currency pairs being traded. Additionally, VALR occasionally runs promotions that temporarily reduce fees or offer rebates, enhancing the trading experience.

Phemex

Robust Security Measures: Phemex employs comprehensive security protocols, including cold wallet storage, two-factor authentication, and advanced encryption technology to protect user assets and data.
High Trading Volume and Liquidity: With significant daily trading volumes, Phemex offers high liquidity, facilitating quick and efficient execution of trades without significant price slippage.
Transparent Withdrawal and Deposit Policies: Phemex provides clear and concise policies regarding withdrawals and deposits, ensuring users understand the terms of service and any associated fees clearly.
Strong Reputation and Positive Reviews: Since its launch, Phemex has built a strong reputation in the cryptocurrency community, supported by positive user reviews that praise its reliability, customer service, and platform stability.
Effective Customer Service: Phemex offers responsive and helpful customer support, ensuring that users' queries and issues are addressed promptly, which is crucial for maintaining trust and user satisfaction.

Valr

Strong Security Measures: VALR employs robust security protocols including cold storage of assets, two-factor authentication, and secure encryption technologies to ensure user funds are protected against unauthorized access.
Compliance with Local Regulations: As a South African exchange, VALR adheres to local financial regulations and guidelines, which bolsters its credibility and reliability as a trustworthy platform in the eyes of both users and regulators.
High Trading Volume and Liquidity: VALR supports a high trading volume and offers substantial liquidity, making it easier for users to enter and exit positions, which is especially beneficial for traders looking to execute large volume trades.
Reputation and Reviews: Since its launch, VALR has built a solid reputation within the cryptocurrency community. Positive user reviews often highlight its user-friendly interface, range of supported cryptocurrencies, and responsive customer support.
Year Founded: Established in 2018, VALR has rapidly grown to become one of the leading exchanges in South Africa, demonstrating strong market resilience and continuous adaptation to user needs and technological advancements.

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Account Minimum

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Direct link to the website

Product selection

Native token

Earns

NFT marketplace

Cripto/debit card

Full name

Phemex Financial Pte. Ltd.

VALR Pty Ltd.

Regulation

Not regulated

Regulated in Sudáfrica

Year founded

2019

Founder

Jack Tao

Farzam Ehsani

Payment methods

Transfers

Yes

Mastercard

Yes

Wire transfer

Yes

Card

Yes

Comparative table

Phemex	FEATURES	Valr
Phemex allows trading with relatively low minimums, making it accessible for beginners who wish to start small.	Minimum Trade	VALR allows relatively low minimum trades, making it accessible for beginners to start trading without requiring large initial investments.
Offers competitive fees with several fee-free options for premium members, though slightly higher for regular users.	Trading and Transaction Fees	One of VALR’s strongest features is its competitive fee structure, which ranks among the lowest in the industry, benefiting all types of traders.
Supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies, providing ample trading opportunities for users.	Number of Cryptocurrencies	The exchange offers a wide selection of cryptocurrencies, providing ample opportunities for diversification.
Extensive selection of trading pairs, allowing users to diversify their trading strategies.	Crypto-to-Crypto Trading Pairs	VALR supports a broad range of trading pairs, allowing users to trade directly between various cryptocurrencies without needing to convert to fiat.
The website provides essential information, although some users may find details on fees and terms could be clearer.	Website Transparency	While VALR generally provides clear information, some users might find details regarding certain policies and operational procedures could be better highlighted.
Phemex does not provide an exchange card for in-store purchases. It focuses on trading features and derivatives.	Credit/Debit Card	The VALR card integrates seamlessly with the exchange, providing convenient access to funds and attractive rewards, enhancing the overall utility of the platform for everyday transactions.
Offers secure cold storage options, enhancing safety for user funds against potential cyber threats.	Storage Offering	VALR offers secure storage options including cold storage, ensuring high security for stored digital assets.
Provides staking options with competitive rewards, though options are more limited compared to specialized staking platforms.	Staking and Rewards	The platform provides competitive staking options and rewards, making it attractive for users looking to earn passive income.
Both the mobile app and desktop platform are highly user-friendly and robust, suitable for trading on the go.	Mobile App and Desktop	VALR offers both mobile and desktop platforms that are user-friendly and feature-rich, facilitating trading on-the-go as well as from a desktop setup.
Generally responsive customer service with multiple channels available, but some reports of delayed responses during peak times.	Customer Service	While available, customer service response times can be slow, which might frustrate users, especially those needing urgent support.
Offers multiple deposit and withdrawal methods, but some users have experienced delays and higher fees for certain methods.	Deposit and Withdraw	Deposits and withdrawals are facilitated smoothly, but improvements can be made in terms of speed and the variety of supported currencies and methods.

Key features

Analysis tools

Advanced charting tools, technical analysis

Basic charting tools

Mobile APP

Security

High 4,9/5

High 4,6/5

Additional features

Margin trading, futures trading, staking, Phemex Earn

Staking, fiat on/off ramps, VALR Earn, institutional services

Anonymity

Yes

Key points

Available cryptocurrencies

Primarily derivatives, few direct cryptocurrencies

50+

User-friendliness

Phemex provides a user-friendly platform that is easy to navigate, making it suitable for beginners. The interface is designed to facilitate a smooth trading experience with all necessary features easily accessible.

VALR offers a user-friendly platform that is easy to navigate, making it suitable for beginners. The interface is designed to facilitate a smooth trading experience with all necessary features easily accessible.

Value for money

Offers good value for money with competitive fees and advanced trading features, suitable for both retail and institutional traders.

Offers good value for money with competitive fees and strong local support in South Africa, making it a good choice for regional users.

Countries of operation

Global, including United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany

South Africa

Best for

Suitable for both retail and institutional traders interested in derivatives trading with competitive fees and advanced features.

Suitable for South African investors looking for a reliable platform with competitive fees and strong local support.

Base currencies available

USD, BTC, USDT

ZAR, BTC

Account

Trading

Phemex offers extensive trading options including spot, margin, and futures trading. It provides advanced tools suitable for experienced traders but might be overwhelming for beginners.

VALR is a popular exchange in South Africa, offering a user-friendly platform and easy fiat integration. It supports a good range of cryptocurrencies and competitive fees but lacks some advanced trading tools.

Deposit and withdrawal

Phemex supports multiple deposit and withdrawal methods, including bank transfers and crypto. Withdrawals are processed efficiently, with low fees.

VALR is popular in South Africa, offering easy fiat and cryptocurrency deposit methods. Withdrawals are processed efficiently, with competitive fees.

Account opening process

Phemex offers a seamless and fully digital account opening process. Users need to submit personal information and verify their identity. The process is quick and usually completed within a day.

VALR provides a seamless and fully digital account registration process. Users need to submit personal details and verify their identity. The process is quick and usually takes less than a day to complete.

KYC required?

Yes

Customer Service

Phemex offers extensive customer support through email, live chat, and a help center. Support is available 24/7, and the response times are quick, ensuring users get timely assistance.

VALR provides customer support via email and live chat. The support team is responsive and helpful, but the lack of 24/7 support may be a limitation for some users.

Security

Phemex provides extensive security measures, including 2FA and cold storage. However, it is not regulated by major financial authorities, which might be a concern for some users.

VALR employs robust security features, including 2FA and cold storage. However, it is not regulated by major financial authorities, which might be a concern for some investors.

Which of these exchanges is for you?

Alejandro Borja

As one of the experts reviewing cryptocurrency exchanges on our website, I find Phemex to be a highly compelling choice for traders. The platform impresses with its robust security features and a wide array of trading options, catering to both newcomers and seasoned traders. Personally, I appreciate the platform’s user-friendly interface and the fact that it offers high liquidity, which is crucial for executing trades swiftly and efficiently. I would recommend Phemex to anyone looking to dive into the world of cryptocurrency trading, especially those who value security and a diverse range of trading instruments.

Xavier Tarrasó

As an expert reviewer on our website, I highly recommend VALR for anyone entering the cryptocurrency market in South Africa. The platform’s wide array of cryptocurrencies paired with some of the most competitive fees in the market makes it a top choice. However, if you’re trading from outside of South Africa or require swift customer support, you might want to consider these aspects before deciding.

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How do we review crypto exchanges?

At Threenvest, we conduct a thorough review process to evaluate and rank the world’s leading crypto exchanges. Our goal is to offer an unbiased assessment, providing you with the information you need to make informed decisions on which ones best suit your needs. We strictly adhere to the guidelines of our editorial policy.

We collect data directly from exchanges through detailed questionnaires and conduct first-hand testing and observations during crypto exchange demonstrations. Questionnaire responses, combined with demonstrations and hands-on research from our experts, feed into our proprietary evaluation process that scores each provider’s performance on more than 15 factors. The end result produces star ratings ranging from poor (one star) to excellent (five stars).

For more details on the categories considered when rating brokers and our process, read our full methodology.

Risk Disclaimer

Investing in cryptocurrencies is very risky, you should only invest the money you are willing to lose. Also you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong.

Neither Threenvest, nor the author, are recommending you to invest with this article.