AEX Crypto Exchange Review: Why This Platform Is a Known Scam in 2025

If you're thinking about using AEX to trade cryptocurrencies, stop. Right now. This isn't a warning you'll hear from a random forum post-it's a fact confirmed by financial safety experts, fraud databases, and hundreds of real users who lost their money. AEX claims to be a crypto exchange with staking, margin trading, and a user-friendly app. But behind the surface, it's a platform that systematically blocks withdrawals, ignores customer service, and has been blacklisted by multiple trusted organizations since 2024.

What AEX Claims to Offer

AEX says it’s a full-service crypto exchange. It offers over 100 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT trading pairs. You can deposit via credit card or bank transfer, use leverage up to 10x, stake coins for passive income, and even trade through their OTC desk. There’s a mobile app, a desktop platform, and a launchpad for new tokens. On paper, it looks like any other exchange-maybe even better because of the low 0.10% trading fee, which matches industry averages.

But here’s the catch: none of these features matter if you can’t get your money out.

The Real Problem: Withdrawals Are Blocked

Starting in 2021, users began reporting that AEX stopped processing withdrawals. At first, it was delays-"We’re upgrading our system," they said. Then came silence. People deposited thousands in Bitcoin or USDT, only to find their accounts frozen. When they contacted support, replies were generic, automated, or never came. Some users spent months chasing refunds. Others gave up entirely.

These aren’t isolated complaints. Multiple review sites, Reddit threads, and crypto scam watchdogs have collected hundreds of similar stories. One user in Australia deposited $15,000 in USDT. After three weeks of waiting, their account showed a balance-but the "withdraw" button was grayed out. Another in India lost $8,000 after being told their account was "under review" for over a year.

No Regulation, No Protection

Legitimate crypto exchanges operate under financial regulators. Binance is licensed in multiple jurisdictions. Coinbase is regulated in the U.S. and EU. Even smaller exchanges like Kraken or Bitstamp follow strict KYC and AML rules. AEX? It’s not regulated by any recognized financial authority. BrokerChooser, a trusted platform that evaluates brokers using global regulatory data, explicitly states: "AEX is not regulated by a financial authority with strict standards. Avoid this platform."

That’s not a suggestion. It’s a red flag so bright it should be flashing. Without regulation, there’s no legal recourse if things go wrong. No ombudsman. No insurance fund. No way to force them to return your funds. AEX operates in a legal gray zone, likely based in a jurisdiction with weak oversight-which is exactly how scam platforms hide.

Why the Low Fees Don’t Matter

You might think, "But their trading fee is only 0.10%-that’s competitive!" Yes, it is. But comparing fees between a regulated exchange and AEX is like comparing a safe bank to a fake one that pays 10% interest on deposits. The low fee is a lure. It makes the platform look professional. It tricks people into thinking, "If the fees are this low, they must be legit."

Real exchanges compete on security, customer support, and transparency-not just trading fees. AEX doesn’t offer any of those. Their "low fee" is just bait. Once you deposit, they lock you in.

Withdrawal Fees and Hidden Costs

AEX charges 0.0005 BTC for Bitcoin withdrawals. That’s actually lower than the industry average of 0.0008 BTC a few years ago. But here’s what they don’t tell you: they don’t charge fees for deposits via credit card. That’s unusual. Most exchanges charge 3-11% for card deposits. Why would AEX waive them? Because they’re not trying to make money on fees-they’re trying to get your money in.

And once it’s in? They make it nearly impossible to get out. Withdrawal requests are ignored. Accounts are frozen. Customer support replies with copy-pasted messages. There’s no escalation path. No phone number. No live chat that works.

Expert Consensus: AEX Is a Scam

Traders Union, a database that’s tracked fraudulent crypto brokers for over a decade, added AEX to their blacklist in 2024. Crypto Legal, which maintains one of the largest global scam databases, lists AEX as a confirmed fraudulent exchange. Financial analysts from BrokerChooser, CoinCheckup, and other trusted sources all warn against using AEX.

Their reasoning is consistent: no regulation, withdrawal blocks, poor support, and a pattern of behavior that matches known scam operations. There’s no "maybe" here. There’s no "it could be a glitch." This is a confirmed scam.

What Happens If You Use AEX?

Let’s say you’re tempted. You think, "I’ll just deposit a small amount to test it." That’s the trap. You deposit $500. You trade a little. You see your balance go up. You try to withdraw. It fails. You contact support. No answer. You check your account a week later-it’s gone. Or worse, it’s still there, but the platform says, "Your account is under investigation for suspicious activity."

That’s the script. It’s been used on thousands of people. And every time, the outcome is the same: lost money, no recourse, no justice.

What to Do Instead

If you want to trade crypto safely, use exchanges that are regulated and trusted. Here are a few that actually protect your funds:

• Coinbase - Regulated in the U.S., insured custodial accounts, easy for beginners.
• Binance - High liquidity, low fees, regulated in several countries (excluding the U.S.).
• Kraken - Strong security, transparent operations, regulated in the EU and Canada.
• Bitstamp - One of the oldest exchanges, regulated in Europe, reliable withdrawals.

These platforms have real customer support teams, regulatory oversight, and insurance for hot wallet losses. They don’t vanish with your money.

Final Verdict

AEX is not a crypto exchange. It’s a scam. It looks like one. It acts like one. And every expert, watchdog, and user who’s tried to withdraw has confirmed it. The low fees, the mobile app, the staking features-all of it is a distraction. The only thing AEX delivers is financial loss.

If you’ve already used AEX and can’t access your funds, you’re not alone. But you’re also not out of options. Report it to your local financial authority. File a complaint with Crypto Legal or Traders Union. Share your story. The more people know, the fewer others will get trapped.

Don’t risk your money on a platform that’s already been exposed as a fraud. There are hundreds of legitimate exchanges. Use one of them.