Comparison of Pionex vs Valr [ 2024 ]

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

Your expert: Alejandro Borja

pionex

Pionex

  • Threenvest valuation: 4/5
  • US legal: Yes
  • Security: High 4,6/5
  • Mobile App: Yes
Go exchange

Investing risks losing your money

Your expert: Xavier Tarrasó

VALR

Valr

  • Threenvest valuation: 3,8/5
  • US legal: No
  • Security: High 4,6/5
  • Mobile App: No
Go exchange

Investing risks losing your money

Main points

Fees

0.05%

Earns

Yes

Customer service

3/5
-0,01%/0,10%

Fees

No

Earns

4/5

Customer service


Recommended for

Beginners

No

Trading

Yes

Passive income

Yes

Buy and hold

Yes
Yes

Beginners

Yes

Trading

No

Passive income

Yes

Buy and hold


Comparison of fees

Rating

4.0 – Competitive fees with additional benefits for automated trading.
4.0 – Competitive fees with strong local support in South Africa.

Level

0.05%
-0,01%/0,10%

Brief explanation

Pionex’s trading fee structure is notably competitive, designed to cater to both frequent and casual traders. The platform charges a flat trading fee of 0.05% per transaction, which applies to both makers and takers. This fee rate is among the lowest in the cryptocurrency exchange industry, making Pionex an attractive option for traders looking to minimize costs while maximizing returns. Additionally, the integration of trading bots at no extra cost enhances the value, as these bots can execute trades automatically based on predefined strategies, further optimizing trading expenses for users.
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.

Pionex

pionex
Read pionex review
  • Regulation: Pionex is registered with FinCEN as a Money Services Business (MSB), which means it complies with several regulatory standards aimed at preventing money laundering and financial fraud. This registration enhances user trust as the platform adheres to stringent financial regulations.
  • Security methods: Pionex prioritizes security with several layers of protection, including bank-level security systems and encrypted algorithms to safeguard user data and assets. The platform also employs two-factor authentication (2FA) for additional security during login and withdrawal processes.
  • Customer service: Pionex offers a comprehensive customer support system, including a detailed FAQ, a responsive email support team, and a community on various social media platforms where users can seek help and share their experiences.
  • Trading volume and liquidity: Thanks to its liquidity aggregation that combines liquidity from Binance and Huobi Global, Pionex provides high trading volume and liquidity, ensuring that trade orders are executed swiftly and at competitive prices.
  • Reputation and Reviews: Pionex has garnered positive reviews from users primarily due to its user-friendly interface and the unique offering of built-in trading bots. The community feedback on the effective functioning of these bots and the overall reliability of the platform is generally favorable, reinforcing its reputation in the crypto community.
  • Pros
  • Automated trading bots
  • Low trading fees
  • High liquidity aggregation
  • Cons
  • Complex interface for beginners
  • Limited regulatory information

Read pionex review

Valr

VALR
Read pionex review
  • 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.
  • Pros
  • Wide range of cryptocurrencies
  • Competitive trading fees
  • Strong security measures
  • Cons
  • Limited global fiat options
  • Slow customer support response

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Product selection

Native token

No
No

Earns

Yes
No

NFT marketplace

Yes
No

Cripto/debit card

Yes
No

Company information

Full name

Pionex Inc.
VALR Pty Ltd.

Regulation

Not regulated
Regulated in Sudáfrica

Year founded

2019
2019

Founder

Unknown
Farzam Ehsani

Payment methods

Transfers

No
Yes

Mastercard

Yes
Yes

Wire transfer

No
Yes

Card

Yes
Yes

Comparative table

Pionex FEATURES Valr
Pionex allows for low minimum trade amounts, making it accessible for beginners wanting 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 highly competitive fees, particularly attractive because of the zero-fee trading with bots, which is a standout feature.
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 users with a diverse selection of trading options.
Number of Cryptocurrencies
The exchange offers a wide selection of cryptocurrencies, providing ample opportunities for diversification.
Extensive range of trading pairs, allowing users flexibility in 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.
While Pionex offers good information on its operations, more clarity on regulatory compliance and security measures could improve transparency.
Website Transparency
While VALR generally provides clear information, some users might find details regarding certain policies and operational procedures could be better highlighted.
PointPay does not currently offer a card for customers to use in their daily transactions or at shops.
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.
Provides secure storage options, but enhanced details about its cold storage capabilities would be beneficial.
Storage Offering
VALR offers secure storage options including cold storage, ensuring high security for stored digital assets.
Offers competitive staking rewards, particularly through its bot-driven strategies, though it could expand its rewards program.
Staking and Rewards
The platform provides competitive staking options and rewards, making it attractive for users looking to earn passive income.
Both platforms are highly user-friendly and well-designed, offering full functionality.
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.
Responsive customer service with multiple channels, but could improve by adding real-time support like live chat.
Customer Service
While available, customer service response times can be slow, which might frustrate users, especially those needing urgent support.
Responsive customer service with multiple channels, but could improve by adding real-time support like live chat.
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

Integrated bots for automated trading
Basic charting tools

Mobile APP

Yes
No

Security

High 4,6/5
High 4,6/5

Additional features

Automated trading bots, margin trading, staking, Pionex Earn
Staking, fiat on/off ramps, VALR Earn, institutional services

Anonymity

Yes
No

Key points

Available cryptocurrencies

120+ (with trading bots)
50+

User-friendliness

Pionex 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.
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

Provides good value for money with low trading fees and automated trading bots, making it an attractive option for new and experienced 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

Singapore, United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom
South Africa

Best for

Ideal for traders interested in automated trading bots and low trading fees.
Suitable for South African investors looking for a reliable platform with competitive fees and strong local support.

Base currencies available

USDT, BTC
ZAR, BTC

Account

Trading

Pionex is known for its automated trading bots, offering a unique feature for users. It has a good range of cryptocurrencies and competitive fees but can be complex 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

Pionex offers multiple deposit and withdrawal methods, including bank transfers and cryptocurrencies. Withdrawals are processed quickly, with competitive fees.
VALR is popular in South Africa, offering easy fiat and cryptocurrency deposit methods. Withdrawals are processed efficiently, with competitive fees.

Account opening process

Pionex provides a straightforward and user-friendly account opening process. Users need to provide personal information and verify their identity. The process is efficient and typically takes less than a day to complete.
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
Yes

Customer Service

Pionex 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.
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

Pionex employs comprehensive security measures, including 2FA and cold storage. However, it lacks regulation from major financial authorities, which might be a concern for some investors.
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-analista-de-brokers.webp

Alejandro Borja

As a seasoned user and reviewer of cryptocurrency exchanges, I find Pionex to be an intriguing option, particularly for those who are fascinated by automated trading. The built-in trading bots, which offer diverse strategies and the ability to operate 24/7, make Pionex a standout choice for traders who aim to maximize their trading efficiency without constant personal monitoring. This feature alone simplifies the trading process significantly and can be a game-changer for both new and experienced traders. However, it’s important to approach with a degree of caution and ensure understanding of how these bots operate to truly benefit from what Pionex has to offer.
Xavier-tarraso-mascarell.jpg

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.

View all comparisons against Pionex

View all comparisons against Valr

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.

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