Gate.io vs XTB Comparison

Gate, known as Gate.io until May 2025, is one of the exchanges with the widest altcoin selection worldwide: according to Gate, more than 5,400 cryptocurrencies can be traded on its global platform. Customers in the EEA are served through Gate EU, run by Gate Technology Ltd in Malta. Malta's regulator MFSA authorised the company as a crypto-asset service provider under MiCA on 29 September 2025; the authorisation is passported across the EEA, and the company also holds a licence for payment services. Since the end of June 2026, Gate has been moving existing EEA customers from the global platform to Gate EU step by step.

Gate EU is leaner than the global exchange: on 1 November 2026 it listed more than 200 cryptocurrencies, each against the euro and USDC. It also offers convert, OTC trading, staking and the Gate Card; futures, USDT pairs and the in-house GT token are not part of the offering. The spot fee is 0.1% for makers and takers and falls with trading volume, with makers paying nothing from VIP 10.

Our verdict: for experienced altcoin traders in Europe, Gate EU is a regulated option with a broad selection and a low spot fee. It is not designed for futures trading.

XTB stands out as an established, publicly listed multi-asset broker with more than 20 years of market experience and over 2.9 million clients. Its main strengths are a clear, easy-to-use interface and an unusually broad offering of more than 12,800 instruments, including more than 40 crypto Contracts for Differences alongside real stocks, ETFs, forex and commodities. The 0% commission on stocks and ETFs up to €100,000 in monthly volume, the XTB card and payment account, locally regulated European branches with support in the local language, and the depth of educational material all add to its appeal.

The key thing to understand is how XTB offers crypto: as Contract for Differences rather than as actual coins. That's a deliberate product design, not a defect: Contracts for Differences let you go long or short with leverage and built-in risk controls. But it does mean you never own the underlying crypto and can't move it to a personal wallet. For real crypto assets, the Cypriot entity XTB Limited has held a MiCA authorisation from CySEC since December 2025; XTB S.A., which serves clients in Germany, France and Spain among others, still offers crypto as Contracts for Differences. If your goal is self-custody or long-term holding of real coins, a dedicated crypto platform fits better; if you want regulated, flexible price exposure within a single multi-asset account, XTB's approach is a sensible match. Some users also note room for improvement in support responsiveness and app stability.

Overall, XTB is best suited to investors who want a regulated, broadly positioned broker with locally supervised European branches, strong stock and ETF conditions, and integrated crypto Contracts for Differences trading, and who value a simple, clear and intuitive interface over direct crypto ownership.

**Contracts for Differences are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 77% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with the EU entity XTB Limited, and 74% with XTB UK. You should consider whether you understand how Contracts for Differences work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.