INX isn’t your typical crypto exchange. If you’re looking for high-leverage futures, hundreds of altcoins, or lightning-fast trades, you’ll be disappointed. But if you want a platform that plays by the rules-where every trade is legal, secure, and backed by U.S. securities law-then INX might be exactly what you need.
What Makes INX Different?
Most crypto exchanges focus on Bitcoin, Ethereum, and a bunch of meme coins. INX does something no other major exchange does: it lets you trade SEC-registered security tokens. These aren’t speculative tokens. They represent real ownership in companies, real estate, or private funds-digitized and legally compliant. Think of it like buying shares in a private company, but instead of paperwork and lawyers, you do it on an app. INX is one of only two exchanges in the world (alongside tZERO) that’s fully registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to handle these kinds of assets. That’s huge. It means institutional investors, financial advisors, and even accredited retail traders can access digital securities without stepping outside the law. This isn’t marketing fluff. INX operates under Regulation A+, D, and S, plus Regulation ATS. These are the same rules that govern Wall Street broker-dealers. Most crypto platforms ignore these. INX built its entire system around them.What You Can Trade on INX
INX supports seven major cryptocurrencies:- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Litecoin (LTC)
- Avalanche (AVAX)
- Zcash (ZEC)
- Ripple (XRP)
- Solana (SOL)
- RealT-tokenized U.S. rental properties
- Goldfinch-tokenized private credit
- Other private equity and venture funds
Security and Compliance
Security on INX isn’t an afterthought-it’s the whole point. The platform uses BitGo Trust Company as its custodian. That means your assets are stored in cold wallets with multi-signature protection, meeting the strictest U.S. financial standards under Rule 206(4)-2 of the Investment Advisers Act. You won’t find margin trading, leverage, or perpetual contracts here. That’s intentional. INX avoids speculative instruments to stay compliant. For some, this feels limiting. For others, it’s a relief. If you’ve ever lost money on a leveraged trade or seen a platform collapse during a market crash, you’ll appreciate the restraint. The platform’s trading engine processes transactions one at a time (sequential architecture), not in parallel. This slows things down slightly during peak times, but it makes it harder for hackers to exploit race conditions or front-run trades. It’s slower, but safer.Trading Experience and Tools
The interface is clean, professional, and mobile-friendly. You get:- Limit, market, stop-limit, and stop-market orders
- TradingView-powered charts with candlesticks and depth charts
- Unified portfolio view showing both crypto and security tokens
Liquidity and Trading Volume
This is where INX struggles. Daily trading volume hovers between $5 million and $7 million. Compare that to Binance, which does $15-20 billion a day. That means wider bid-ask spreads-often 0.5% to 1.0%-compared to 0.1-0.2% on bigger exchanges. If you’re trading $50,000 in ETH, you might lose $400-$500 just in slippage. That’s not acceptable for large traders. But for small to medium investors buying $5,000-$10,000 in security tokens, it’s manageable. The low volume isn’t because INX is failing. It’s because the market for security tokens is still young. Only 247,000 users are verified on the platform, and 68% are based in the U.S. That’s a small pool compared to global exchanges. But that pool is growing-and it’s growing fast.Who Is INX For?
INX isn’t for everyone. It’s not for gamblers. It’s not for traders chasing quick flips. It’s for:- Accredited investors looking to diversify into digital securities
- Financial advisors who need compliant platforms for clients
- Institutional players wanting to tokenize assets or trade regulated digital securities
- Long-term holders who value legal safety over speculative gains
Registration and KYC
Signing up takes longer than on most crypto exchanges. You’ll need:- Government-issued ID (passport or driver’s license)
- Proof of address
- For security tokens: Accreditation verification (income or net worth documentation)
Customer Support and Community
Support is available 24/7 via live chat and email. Chat responses average 12 minutes. Email replies take about 4.5 hours. That’s faster than most traditional brokerages. The community is small but active. The official Discord has 12,500 members. The subreddit r/INXPlatform has 8,200 subscribers. Users consistently praise the transparency and compliance. One Reddit user, a financial advisor, said: “I only recommend INX to clients for security tokens. It’s the only platform that gives me peace of mind.” The downside? Fewer tutorials, less educational content, and no YouTube influencers pushing INX. You’ll need to learn on your own. The platform offers documentation and video guides, but they’re technical, not beginner-friendly.What’s Coming in 2026?
INX isn’t standing still. In August 2025, they integrated with the Avalanche blockchain to improve transaction speed. This directly addresses the criticism about slow processing. Their roadmap includes:- Expanding crypto offerings to 15 major coins
- Launching staking for Proof-of-Stake assets like ETH and SOL
- Releasing a dedicated institutional API with FIX protocol support by Q2 2026
The Bottom Line
INX is a niche platform. It doesn’t compete with Binance or Coinbase. It competes with traditional brokerages and private equity firms. And in that space, it’s leading. If you want to trade Bitcoin and Ethereum like a regular crypto user, there are better options. But if you want to own tokenized real estate, private equity, or other regulated digital assets-without breaking any laws-INX is one of the only places you can do it. It’s slow. It’s limited. It’s expensive in terms of spreads. But it’s also the most legally secure digital asset platform in the world. For the right investor, that’s worth more than any low fee or high leverage.Frequently Asked Questions
Is INX a legitimate crypto exchange?
Yes. INX is fully registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under Regulation ATS, D, A+, and S. It’s one of only two exchanges globally with legal authorization to trade both cryptocurrencies and SEC-registered security tokens. It also holds a DLT license from Gibraltar’s financial regulator, making it compliant in both the U.S. and EU jurisdictions.
Can I trade leverage or futures on INX?
No. INX does not offer margin trading, leverage, perpetual contracts, or futures. The platform is designed for compliance, not speculation. This makes it safer but less attractive for active traders looking to amplify returns.
How many cryptocurrencies does INX support?
INX supports seven major cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Avalanche (AVAX), Zcash (ZEC), Ripple (XRP), and Solana (SOL). There are no altcoins or meme coins listed.
What are security tokens, and why do they matter?
Security tokens represent ownership in real-world assets like real estate, private companies, or funds. Unlike utility tokens, they’re regulated as securities by the SEC. This means they come with legal rights-dividends, voting, or profit-sharing. INX is one of the few platforms where you can buy and sell these legally.
Is INX safe for beginners?
It’s safe from a security and compliance standpoint, but not beginner-friendly. The platform assumes you understand concepts like accreditation, tokenized assets, and blockchain custody. New users should expect a 45-60 minute setup process and may need to do extra research on how security tokens work.
Does INX have a mobile app?
Yes. The INX mobile app is available on iOS and Android. It has a 4.3/5 rating on the Apple App Store with over 1,200 reviews. Users appreciate the unified portfolio view but note the lack of advanced charting tools compared to standalone TradingView or Binance apps.
How long does KYC take on INX?
Standard KYC takes 1-2 business days. If you want to trade security tokens, you’ll need accreditation verification, which adds 2-3 more days. You’ll need to provide proof of income or net worth, such as tax returns or bank statements.
Is INX available outside the U.S.?
Yes. While 68% of users are U.S.-based, INX is accessible in over 40 countries, including Australia, the UK, Canada, and parts of Europe. However, some security tokens are only available to accredited U.S. investors due to regulatory restrictions.
LeeAnn Herker
January 8, 2026 AT 13:52This is just Wall Street repackaged as crypto. They call it 'compliance' but it's really just a gated club for rich people who don't want to get their hands dirty. I'm not impressed. If you need a broker-dealer, just open a Fidelity account. Why pay higher spreads and wait 5 days for KYC to buy Bitcoin? This isn't innovation-it's regression with a blockchain sticker.
Andy Schichter
January 8, 2026 AT 17:58So let me get this straight-you're telling me the future of finance is slower trades, fewer coins, and more paperwork? I thought crypto was supposed to break the system, not become the system. If I wanted to deal with SEC forms and accredited investor hoops, I'd go back to law school. This isn't Web3. This is Web2.5 with a crypto gloss.
Caitlin Colwell
January 9, 2026 AT 01:57I appreciate that someone's trying to make this space safer. After seeing so many platforms vanish overnight, I'd rather move slower and know my assets are actually protected. No drama. Just real ownership. That means something to me.
Charlotte Parker
January 10, 2026 AT 23:06Let’s be real-this platform is a glorified compliance tax. You’re paying for the illusion of safety while getting a worse user experience. The fact that they’re proud of sequential transaction processing is like a horse-drawn carriage company bragging about its 'reliable' brakes. We’re in 2026. Stop romanticizing mediocrity.
Calen Adams
January 12, 2026 AT 15:22INX is the only platform that’s actually building infrastructure for institutional-grade digital assets. The low volume? That’s because the asset class is nascent. But when tokenized private equity, real estate, and debt instruments go mainstream, INX will be the backbone. This isn’t about trading volume-it’s about creating a new financial layer. The early adopters here aren’t speculators-they’re architects.
Valencia Adell
January 12, 2026 AT 23:537 million daily volume? That’s a rounding error. And the bid-ask spreads are criminal for anyone trading over $10k. They call it 'safe' but it’s just illiquid. You’re not investing-you’re locking up capital with no exit strategy. This isn’t finance. It’s a waiting game with KYC.
Jacob Clark
January 13, 2026 AT 03:51Wait-wait-wait. Let me just say this again, because I think people are missing the big picture: INX is not a crypto exchange. It’s a digital securities marketplace. It’s not supposed to compete with Binance. It’s supposed to compete with Goldman Sachs’ private markets division. The fact that you’re comparing it to meme coin platforms shows you don’t understand what’s happening here. This is the future of asset ownership. And yes, it’s slow. And yes, it’s regulated. And that’s the point. We’re not trying to blow up the system-we’re trying to fix it. And it’s working.
Rahul Sharma
January 13, 2026 AT 13:01From India, I can't access security tokens, but I can see the value. This is how finance should work-transparent, legal, and grounded. Many crypto platforms feel like gambling dens. INX feels like a bank that actually listens to regulators. Not sexy, but necessary. 👍
Mollie Williams
January 14, 2026 AT 04:04There’s something quietly beautiful about a platform that says 'no' to leverage, to hype, to chaos. In a world where everything is optimized for attention and speed, INX chooses integrity over volume. It doesn’t scream. It doesn’t promise moonshots. It just… exists. Quietly. Legally. Reliably. And maybe, just maybe, that’s the most radical thing left to do.
Tiffani Frey
January 15, 2026 AT 09:28I’ve been using INX for over a year now. I’m a financial advisor, and I’ve recommended it to 12 clients. The KYC is long, the UI is basic, and the volume is low-but I’ve never had a single complaint from a client about asset safety or regulatory exposure. That’s rare. Most platforms are designed to look impressive. INX is designed to be bulletproof. And that’s worth more than any flashy charting tool.
Paul Johnson
January 16, 2026 AT 22:04Why do people keep pretending this is revolutionary? It’s just a brokerage with a blockchain logo. They ban meme coins because they’re scared of real innovation. If you want to own something real, go buy a house. This is just digital paperwork with extra steps. And the fact that they’re proud of being slow? Pathetic.
Kelley Ramsey
January 18, 2026 AT 20:42I’m so glad someone’s building this. I’ve watched friends lose everything on leveraged trades and rug pulls. This feels like the antidote. It’s not flashy, but it’s honest. And honestly? That’s enough for me.
Michael Richardson
January 19, 2026 AT 14:02USA only? No thank you. This isn’t crypto. It’s American financial colonialism wrapped in blockchain. If you’re not in the US, you’re just a second-class citizen in this ‘revolution.’
Sabbra Ziro
January 20, 2026 AT 13:45I think this is one of the most important experiments in finance right now. Not because it’s perfect, but because it’s trying to bridge two worlds that have been at war: Wall Street and Web3. It’s messy. It’s slow. But it’s trying. And that’s more than most platforms do. Let’s give it space to grow.