Deposit Methods Compared: Card, Bank, P2P

All five exchanges compared here support the same three broad funding methods — card purchase, bank transfer, and P2P (peer-to-peer) trading — though availability by country varies and each exchange enables them slightly differently.

Availability confirmed from each exchange's own sign-up flow, 9 September 2026. Bank transfer support varies most by country — MEXC supports it only in supported regions.

Card Purchases

The fastest way to fund an account — usually instant — but typically the most expensive per transaction, since card networks and payment processors both take a cut before the exchange sees the funds.

Bank Transfer

Slower (often same-day to a few business days) but usually cheaper per transaction than a card, making it the better option for larger deposits where speed matters less than cost.

P2P Trading

You buy crypto directly from another user on the exchange's platform, paying them via a method you agree on (often local bank transfer). This is how many exchanges support deposits in countries where direct bank or card rails aren't available — the trade-off is you're trusting the exchange's escrow and dispute process rather than a card network.

Start Small on a New Method

Whichever method you use for the first time on a given exchange, send a small test amount first — deposit flows occasionally have region-specific quirks that are cheap to discover with $20 and expensive to discover with $2,000.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which deposit method is cheapest?

Bank transfer is typically cheaper per transaction than a card purchase, though it takes longer to arrive. Card purchases are fastest but usually carry the highest fees.

Does every exchange support bank transfer everywhere?

No. MEXC supports bank transfer only in supported regions; Bitget, Gate.io, Bybit, and OKX offer it more broadly, but exact availability still depends on your country.