Bithumb
Circle Markets
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Overview
Bithumb was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Hong Kong, while Circle Markets was established in 2007 and is based in New Zealand. Bithumb holds licences including Unregulated, while Circle Markets is regulated by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) among others. Bithumb serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Circle Markets has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $500 at Bithumb and $100 at Circle Markets.
| Feature | Bithumb | Circle Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $500 | $100 |
| Regulation | Unregulated | Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) |
| Founded | 2009 | 2007 |
| Country | Hong Kong | New Zealand |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Bithumb and Circle Markets, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Circle Markets has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $500 at Bithumb). Circle Markets charges withdrawal fees while Bithumb does not, giving Bithumb an edge for frequent withdrawers. Circle Markets charges deposit fees; Bithumb does not. Overall, Circle Markets scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Bithumb | Circle Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $500 | $100 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Bithumb offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Circle Markets supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Bithumb supports social and copy trading features, which Circle Markets does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | Bithumb | Circle Markets |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | iPhone/iPad,iOS,Mac | Desktop, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Bithumb and Circle Markets compare. Circle Markets runs regular live webinars; Bithumb does not. Circle Markets has a video library; Bithumb does not. Circle Markets publishes daily market commentary; Bithumb does not. Circle Markets integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central); Bithumb does not. Circle Markets maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Circle Markets scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Bithumb | Circle Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | No |
| CFD Education | No | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | No | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Bithumb accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Circle Markets supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Bithumb | Circle Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | No |
| Skrill | No | No |
| Neteller | No | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Bithumb and Circle Markets offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 2 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Bithumb | Circle Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |