Bitfinex
Bitfinex is a long-running, advanced exchange whose "earn" is a peer-to-peer funding (margin-lending) market, not a simple savings account. Rates are market-driven and can swing widely — high in volatile markets, low when demand i…
Is Bitfinex safe? It scores D on our five safety checks, passing 2 of 5 — Flexible withdrawal, Track record (2+ years incident-free); not passed: Regulation, Proof-of-Reserves, Insurance Fund. Every check below cites the evidence behind it and links its source. See how it ranks against the other 41 venues we grade →
Why this grade
- ✗
Regulation
Registered in the British Virgin Islands with no major-market retail licence; blocked in the US and restricted in the UK/Canada. A 2021 NYAG settlement ($18.5M) covered the Tether/Bitfinex misrepresentation of reserves. Source →
- ✗
Proof-of-Reserves
A post-FTX proof-of-reserves (via BitGo, ~$15B estimated) exists, but there is no regular independent third-party audit. Source →
- ✓
Flexible withdrawal
Funding is a peer-to-peer lending market — you can recall unused funds at any time; offered loans return at the end of their (often daily) term. Source →
- ✗
Insurance Fund
No dedicated customer insurance fund for funding/earn balances. Source →
- ✓
Track record (2+ years incident-free)
Operating since 2012, one of the longest-running exchanges. A 2016 hack (~$72M / 120k BTC) was later made whole via a token-based recovery; no comparable breach since. Source 1 → Source 2 →
Incidents we count
Known incidents
1- August 2016 ~$72M (about 120,000 BTC) stolen in a security breach. Bitfinex socialised the loss across all users and later reimbursed them via BFX/equity tokens. Source →
All Bitfinex products
Yield products
as of Sep 26, 2026| Product | Rate | Type | Lock | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XLM | 18.2 % | lending | — | Open Bitfinex → |
| ETC | 17.1 % | lending | — | Open Bitfinex → |
| AVAX | 16.4 % | lending | — | Open Bitfinex → |
| USDT | 7.55 % | lending | — | Open Bitfinex → |
| FIL | 7.31 % | lending | — | Open Bitfinex → |
| ADA | 7.23 % | lending | — | Open Bitfinex → |
| BCH | 7.0 % | lending | — | Open Bitfinex → |
| XAUT | 5.44 % | lending | — | Open Bitfinex → |
| SUI | 5.0 % | lending | — | Open Bitfinex → |
| UNI | 4.62 % | lending | — | Open Bitfinex → |
| DASH | 4.49 % | lending | — | Open Bitfinex → |
| SOL | 3.69 % | lending | — | Open Bitfinex → |
| SHIB | 3.65 % | lending | — | Open Bitfinex → |
| ZEC | 3.28 % | lending | — | Open Bitfinex → |
| XMR | 2.92 % | lending | — | Open Bitfinex → |
| LINK | 1.87 % | lending | — | Open Bitfinex → |
What would Bitfinex pay you?
How much will you earn?
Method: monthly compounding (1 + APR/12)ⁿ, where APR is the exchange's stated rate. The realized 12-month return is slightly higher due to reinvestment. Rates may change. Not financial advice.
How yields have moved
Source: daily snapshots via exchange API · accumulating since YieldScope launch
This is not an affiliate link. Price for you doesn't change.
Bitfinex review: what this platform is
Bitfinex is a long-running, advanced exchange whose "earn" is a peer-to-peer funding (margin-lending) market, not a simple savings account. Rates are market-driven and can swing widely — high in volatile markets, low when demand is calm.
How Earn works on Bitfinex
You lend USD/USDT, BTC or ETH to margin traders and earn the funding rate. The figures shown here are recent snapshots; the live rate changes constantly, so treat them as floating, not fixed.
How to start on Bitfinex, step by step
- 01Create and verify a Bitfinex account (KYC).
- 02Deposit the asset, then place it in the Funding (lending) market at your chosen rate.
Should you park money here?
- +One of the longest-operating exchanges (since 2012); deep liquidity.
- +Funding lets you withdraw unused capital at any time.
- −Not for beginners — variable margin-funding rates, not a stable savings yield.
- −Weak on the safety checks — no major-market retail licence, no insurance fund, a 2016 hack and the NYAG/Tether settlement in its history.
Compare Bitfinex with others
Asset-by-asset rates and risk grades
Frequently asked questions
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Do you work at Bitfinex? The grade above is ours and is not for sale, but the right of reply is. Buy a page and write your own side →