Bitfinex is one of the longest-standing centralized exchanges in the crypto industry, established in 2012. It offers a comprehensive trading platform with advanced charting tools, multiple order types, and deep liquidity across major trading pairs — making it particularly attractive to professional and institutional traders. Its peer-to-peer margin funding marketplace remains one of the most unique lending/borrowing features in the CEX space, allowing users to earn yield by providing liquidity to margin traders.

The native LEO token (ERC-20) provides fee discounts and serves as a utility token within the Bitfinex ecosystem, with a built-in burn mechanism tied to exchange revenues. Bitfinex's relationship with Tether (USDT) through shared parent company iFinex has historically drawn scrutiny, and the exchange faced a major hack in 2016 — though the U.S. DOJ later recovered a significant portion of stolen funds. Regulatory concerns persist as Bitfinex operates with limited licensing in certain jurisdictions. Despite controversies, its technical infrastructure, API reliability, and OTC desk capabilities remain industry-leading. Recommended for experienced traders who prioritize advanced features over regulatory transparency.