Direct comparison
Two global order book CEX — low maker fee and altcoin width vs. EU passporting and OCO order types.
Key differences to help you choose, without an overall score.
| criterion |  MEXC |  OKX |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Seychelles | Malta (EU entity) |
| MiCA licenseMiCA / CASP: EU crypto regulation. CASP = authorized license. Passporting = EU-wide use via an approved entity. Unclear = status not reliably documented. | Unclear / not proven | EU passporting |
| KYC / VerificationKYC (Know Your Customer): How closely the identity is checked. “None / Wallet” = often just Wallet Connect. “Standard” = usual ID check. “Complete” = ID plus proof of address or similar. | Standard KYC | Complete (ID + Address) |
| Deposit | Bank transfer (SEPA), card | Bank transfer (SEPA), SEPA Instant, card |
| Order types | Limit, market, stop limit | Limit, Market, Conditional, OCO |
| EUR spot pairs | 20–100 | > 100 |
| Maker/Taker baseMaker/Taker: Order book fees. Maker provides liquidity (limit order), taker takes it (market order). Often “n/a” at spread brokers. | 0% / 0.05% | 0.08% / 0.1% |
| Costs (EUR 1,000 one-time purchase) | EUR 0.50 · 0.05% Taker | EUR 1.00 · 0.1% Taker |
| To the offerAffiliate links | To the offer ↗to EUR 400 |
| criterion | MEXC | OKX |
|---|---|---|
| app | ✓ | ✓ |
| Recurring buys | ✕ | ✕ |
| Staking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Payout your own wallet | Yes · plus network fee | Yes · plus network fee |
| Futures / PerpsFutures / Perps: Futures contracts or perpetual perpetuals with leverage. High risk of loss up to total loss — not the same as spot buying. | ✓ | ✓ |
| Support | Ticket system | Ticket system |
| German tax reportTax report DE: Export for German tax. “Native” = provider report. “CSV” = file import into tools. “API export” = automated retrieval. “No report” = document yourself. | CSV | CSV |
| Cost modelCost model: “Order book” = maker/taker fees. “Spread” = markup in the displayed price (typical broker/app) — no classic maker/taker rates. | Order book | Order book |
| API + Sub Accounts | API: Yes · Sub: Yes | API: Yes · Sub: Yes |
| Proof of ReservesProof of Reserves: Whether the platform publishes reserves (often with liabilities). “Self-certified” ≠ independent testing; “Third-party attested” = external confirmation. | Self-certified | Self-certified |
Conclusion — Strengths, limitations and suitable uses. Your workflow and the functions it requires are what matter.
In this direct comparison, MEXC and OKX are two crypto exchanges with spot order books and derivatives access. Both appeal to active traders — no recurring investment plan, full KYC requirement with OKX, standard KYC with MEXC. Costs follow maker/taker logic; General “cheap” statements are not enough without the order type and volume. Counterparty risk from central custody remains for both.
MEXC offers a wide range of altcoins and derivatives with documented maker 0% / taker 0.05%. SEPA and card deposits, without SEPA Instant and recurring investment plan. MiCA status is unclear - check access from Germany and product availability before use. Listing breadth means selection, not quality check: liquidity and due diligence remain with the user. Proof of Reserves is self-certified. Profile: MEXC.
OKX brings EU passporting of the Malta entity, more than EUR 100 spot pairs and advanced order types such as Conditional and OCO. Maker/Taker 0.08% / 0.1% in the catalog - derivatives increase the risk up to total loss. SEPA Instant is documented; PayPal is missing. Sub-accounts and API support structured processes. Tax data as CSV. Profile: OKX.
No overall grade: If you prioritize altcoin breadth and a low taker base, read MEXC more closely; If you are looking for EU passporting and pro order types, compare OKX - regulation and personal workflow decide.