Recently, I’ve noticed that many people are asking how to choose a cryptocurrency exchange—especially after Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission introduced new rules for VASPs in 2026. In fact, some platforms have already begun to exit the market. I’d like to summarize the current situation so I can help everyone find a suitable recommended crypto exchange.

To be honest, there are only 5 legal platforms available in Taiwan right now—MAX, BitoPro, XREX, HOYA BIT, and Maicoin—and all of them have completed the latest compliance requirements. A common feature of these platforms is that they support direct deposits and withdrawals in New Taiwan Dollars (NT$), and they store funds in segregated accounts, which makes them relatively safer.

From my own perspective: if you’re a beginner and you want to buy crypto directly using NT$, MAX is a good choice. It’s a long-established platform in Taiwan, with a simple interface that’s easy to get started. NT$ deposits are typically credited in about 10 minutes, and it has also added an automatic recurring investment feature. BitoPro is also a solid option—strong in stability—and it supports fast NT$ deposits at convenience stores for the whole family, plus its beginner package is also quite generous.

If you want more coin options and higher liquidity, and you’re willing to exchange foreign currencies, then international platforms are generally a better fit. Right now, the largest CEXs by trading volume globally occupy the vast majority of market share. For example, one major exchange has a market share of 38% and a monthly trading volume as high as 4826 billion USD; a well-known CEX has a market share of 9% and a monthly trading volume of 1137 billion USD; and several derivatives exchanges also have very strong liquidity. The advantages of these platforms are that they offer a wide variety of coins and good order-book depth. The drawbacks are that they don’t support direct trading in NT$, and customer service may not provide support in Traditional Chinese.

One interesting option is a contract-for-difference (CFD) platform. Its main advantages are that it supports direct NT$ deposits, offers 0 commission trading, and has low spreads. With this approach, you don’t need to actually hold spot assets—you’re tracking a 1:1 contract. It comes with leverage naturally, but you can adjust it freely. For traders who want short-term trading and value flexibility, this is a good alternative.

As for selection criteria, I think the most important points are these: first, compliance comes first—you must confirm whether the platform has completed VASP registration and whether it works with licensed banks; second, fund safety—users’ funds must be stored in isolated custody; third, the convenience and liquidity of using NT$; and only then do fees and user experience matter.

When it comes to risk prevention, the most crucial thing is not to put all your assets into a single platform. Over the past 10+ years, cryptocurrency exchanges have gone through far too many ups and downs. From the earliest Mt. Gox to later FTX, investors have suffered huge losses every time. While regulation has become much stricter in many countries, diversifying risk is always the wisest approach. In addition, you should stay away from unlicensed platforms—because to attract users, they often use tactics like low fees and “deposit-and-get-gifts” promotions, but the underlying risks are extremely high.

Also, you need to strengthen account security: set up two-factor authentication, don’t use API interfaces casually, and never click suspicious airdrop links. These may seem like small matters, but every step can lead to your assets being stolen.

Finally, what I want to say is that entering the cryptocurrency market isn’t difficult—the hard part is choosing the right platform and managing risk well. Whether you’re recommending a crypto exchange to friends or using one yourself, remember this: don’t keep large amounts of money on an exchange long-term. For big funds, it’s best to transfer them to a hardware wallet that you control for safekeeping. I hope everyone can find a trading approach that suits them in this market and steadily grow their assets.