How our Trust Score works
| Rating | Score | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| A++ | 91–100 | Very high |
| A+ | 81–90 | Very high |
| A | 71–80 | High |
| B | 41–70 | Moderate |
| C | 0–40 | Limited |
The rating provides a quick classification. For a more detailed assessment, we also show the numerical Trust Score and the rating of the individual criteria.
Context: The Trust Score is an additional indicator, not a guarantee of safety. Security and trustworthiness can never be fully captured by metrics alone. The score should therefore only be used as a complement to your own research.
How the Trust Score is calculated
| Criterion | Max. points |
|---|---|
| Regulation | 30 |
| Location | 15 |
| Year founded | 15 |
| Trustpilot rating | 15 |
| Company size | 10 |
| Proof of Reserves | 5 |
| Cost transparency | 5 |
| Customer support | 5 |
| Total | 100 |
Not all criteria are weighted equally. Factors we consider particularly relevant to security and trustworthiness have a greater impact on the overall score.
Regulation · 30 points
We assess whether the provider is subject to top-tier financial or crypto regulation. Regulatory oversight establishes binding requirements for providers and is therefore the most heavily weighted criterion in our Trust Score.
| Regulation | Points |
|---|---|
| Top-tier regulation | 30 |
| No top-tier regulation | 0 |
Location · 15 points
We consider the jurisdiction in which the company is based. Providers headquartered in established non-offshore jurisdictions receive a higher rating, while offshore jurisdictions receive no points for this criterion.
| Location | Points |
|---|---|
| Non-offshore jurisdiction | 15 |
| Offshore jurisdiction | 0 |
Year founded · 15 points
The longer a provider has been operating, the longer its track record across different market conditions can be evaluated. Providers receive between 0 and 15 points depending on how long they have been operating. The maximum score is reached after ten years.
Trustpilot rating · 15 points
We use the provider's publicly available Trustpilot rating as an additional indicator of existing customers' experiences.
| Trustpilot rating | Points |
|---|---|
| Above 2.5 out of 5 | 15 |
| Below or equal 2.5 out of 5 | 0 |
Company size · 10 points
Company size serves as an additional indicator of how established and organizationally developed the company behind a provider is. Our classification is based on the number of employees publicly listed for the company on LinkedIn.
| Company size | Points |
|---|---|
| Large | 10 |
| Medium | 5 |
| Small | 0 |
Proof of Reserves · 5 points
We assess whether and how transparently a provider publishes evidence of its crypto reserves (Proof of Reserves). Providers receive the maximum score where users can independently verify the inclusion of their holdings, for example through a Merkle Tree proof.
| Proof of Reserves | Points |
|---|---|
| Independently verifiable (e.g. via Merkle Tree) | 5 |
| Self-reported by the provider | 2 |
| Not available | 0 |
Proof of Reserves can improve transparency, but does not replace a complete audit of a company's assets and liabilities.
Cost transparency · 5 points
We assess how transparently users can understand fees, spreads and other relevant trading costs. This criterion evaluates the transparency of costs, not their absolute level.
| Cost transparency | Points |
|---|---|
| High | 5 |
| Medium | 3 |
| Low | 0 |
Customer support · 5 points
We take into account our editorial assessment of the accessibility and quality of a provider's customer support.
| Support rating | Points |
|---|---|
| 7–10 out of 10 | 5 |
| 0–6 out of 10 | 0 |
Data & updates: We regularly review the underlying data and update the Trust Score when relevant information changes. Despite careful research, we cannot guarantee that all information is accurate and up to date at all times.
Since 2017, Philipp Duringer has been deeply involved in Bitcoin, crypto assets and digital financial markets. As the founder of Coinbird, he combines years of crypto experience with more than 15 years of technical experience in IT and digital products. His goal is to make crypto easier to understand, more transparent and easier to compare.
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