CEX.IO
CEX.IO
CEX.IO is a multi-functional platform, which embodies Bitcoin crypto exchange and the leading cloud mining service.
History
CEX.IO project development started in early 2013 and proceeded with launching the CEX.IO domain, acquiring assets of GHash.IO and, finally, registering a legal company CEX.IO LTD in November 2013. By this time, according to Blockchain.info, GHash.IO has become the biggest mining pool, reaching over 42% of the overall Bitcoin mining power, which embodied the 51% attack threat. However, CEX.IO made an official statement, assuring the Bitcoin community that it would “take all necessary precautions to prevent reaching 51% of all hashing power, in order to maintain stability of the Bitcoin network.” In April 2014, CEX.IO user base exceeded 200,000 users. May 2014, CEX.IO imposed trade fee onto the exchange, lowered maintenance costs for cloud-based GHS and added IXC/BTC trading pair. On September 22, 2014, CEX.IO announced the successful launch of the first fiat currency — US dollars are accepted via bank transfer and payment cards. This upgrade allows users to trade Bitcoins and cloud-based hashing power (GHS) as well as deposit and withdraw funds at one place without using services of another exchange. On September 29, 2014, CEX.IO established the second fiat currency, the Euro, which can be bought and sold on the exchange for Bitcoins, Litecoins and Dogecoins.
GHS Trading
CEX.IO platform allows users to trade GHS. GHS (gigahash per second) = 1 000 000 000 hashes per second. The speed of mining is measured in hashes per second — the smallest amount of work done by a miner. While mining is more or less passive way of gaining bitcoins, trading GHS allows you to be involved in the world trading processes and enjoy the fruits of your own activity on the Bitcoin commodity exchange. GHS price depends on the correlation between market supply and demand. After purchasing GHS at CEX.IO, users automatically start mining blocks of Bitcoins. CEX.IO is the only Bitcoin commodity exchange where trading and mining can be done simultaneously: even when you decide to sell your GHS, they will still be mining BTC until the moment they are sold. This means your GHS will be making profit for you till the last minute you own them.
Cloud Mining
Due to the shared credentials between CEX.IO and GHash.IO mining pool, users can trade GHS and mine Bitcoins simultaneously. Cloud Mining is a concept of buying hash power from the pool or hardware operator, where the joint efforts are rewarded with possibly greater income, compared to individual mining with personal hardware. In case of cloud mining, all Bitcoin mining is done in the cloud mining operator data center facility, and once a block is mined, users receive payouts according to their shares via PPLNS. Apart from mining Bitcoins, users can simultaneously mine alternative cryptocurrencies, such as NMC, DVC and IXC.
With Bitcoin cloud mining users can forget about the most frequent mining problems, such as:
- Electricity consumption
- Connectivity issues
- The need to provide cooling and space
- Noise
- Other hardware maintaining issues
Trading Pairs
At CEX.IO, users are able to trade:
USD Market
- BTC/USD
- GHS/USD
- LTC/USD
- DOGE/USD
- DRK/USD
EUR Market
- BTC/EUR
- LTC/EUR
- DOGE/EUR
BTC Market
- GHS BTC
- LTC/BTC
- DOGE/BTC
- DRK/BTC
- NMC/BTC
- WDC/BTC
- FTC/BTC
- USDe/BTC
- MYR/BTC
- POT/BTC
- MEC/BTC
- IXC/BTC
- AUR/BTC
- ANC/BTC
- DGB/BTC
LTC Market
- DOGE/LTC
- FTC/LTC
- ANC/LTC
- WDC/LTC
- DRK/LTC
- MEC/LTC
- GHS/LTC
Fiat Currencies
As of September 22, 2014, CEX.IO accepts US dollars via bank transfer and payment cards. Users can trade Bitcoins and cloud-based hashing power (GHS) as well as deposit and withdraw funds at one place without using services of another exchange. The upgrade requires users to verify their identity as part of the company’s KYC policy. CEX.IO plans to continue expanding the range of trading pairs. On September 29, 2014, CEX.IO introduced the second fiat currency, EUR, which can be bought and sold for Bitcoins, Litecoins and Dogecoins. The selection of the second fiat currency was influenced by the high potential of the EU market and the increasing interest of EU citizens in the cryptocurrencies.
Referral Program
CEX.IO has a special referral program[1], according to which users can introduce new people to the platform and receive 3% of the referred ones’ GHS balance to their bonus account.
Two-Factor Authentication
Users can secure their accounts with passwords, but CEX.IO strongly recommends using Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).
Users are free to choose from two 2FA applications: Google Authenticator[2] or Authy. Alternatively, users can use simple cell phones and get a text or an audio message containing respective authorization code.