GateHub Crypto Exchange Review: Is It Still Worth Using in 2025?

GateHub was once one of the go-to platforms for anyone serious about XRP. Back in 2015, it stood out as the only exchange that made sending Ripple tokens feel simple - no clunky bridges, no third-party gateways. You could deposit USD, trade for XRP, and send it across borders in seconds. But things have changed. Today, in late 2025, GateHub feels less like a modern exchange and more like a relic clinging to its early promise. If you're thinking about using it, here’s what you really need to know - the good, the bad, and the ugly.

What GateHub Actually Offers

GateHub isn’t a full-service crypto exchange like Binance or Coinbase. It’s a wallet first, with limited trading. The platform runs on the XRP Ledger, which means it’s built specifically for Ripple’s network. That’s its strength - and its biggest weakness.

You can hold XRP, BTC, ETH, ETC, and a few others. That’s about eight coins total. Compare that to Coinbase, which supports over 200, and you start to see the gap. GateHub doesn’t offer margin trading, futures, staking, or even advanced order types. It’s designed for one thing: moving XRP in and out of fiat quickly. If you’re sending money to family in Japan or paying a supplier in Germany, and you want to use XRP as the bridge asset, GateHub still does that better than most.

It also lets you issue tokens on the XRP Ledger - things like Bitcoin or Ethereum wrapped as IOUs. That’s a niche feature, useful for traders who want exposure to other chains without leaving the Ripple network. But unless you’re deep into XRP’s ecosystem, you probably won’t need it.

The Fees Are Shockingly High

This is where GateHub falls apart. While most major exchanges charge 0.1% to 0.26% per trade, GateHub’s fees are 376.95% above the industry average, according to Crypto Head’s November 2025 review. That’s not a typo. You’re paying nearly four times more to trade.

Here’s what it looks like in practice:

• Depositing Bitcoin costs 0.00053 BTC - that’s about $30 at current prices.
• Depositing Ethereum? 0.011 ETH, or roughly $40.
• Even withdrawing XRP costs a small network fee, but the real cost is hidden in the spread - the difference between buy and sell prices is wider than on any other platform.

And if you’re using fiat? You’ll pay extra for currency conversion. A $500 USD deposit to buy XRP might end up costing you $525 after fees and poor exchange rates. For someone trading small amounts, that’s a killer. For someone moving $10,000? You’re giving away hundreds in unnecessary costs.

Security: A History of Breaches

GateHub claims to have strong security. Two-factor authentication is required. You need to verify your phone number. They use cold storage for most assets. Sounds good, right?

Except for the fact that GateHub has been hacked - twice.

• In August 2017, $5 million in XRP was stolen.
• In June 2019, nearly $10 million vanished.

GateHub said no user funds were lost in either case. They absorbed the losses. But that’s not how it felt to users. Many saw their accounts locked, transactions delayed, or funds temporarily frozen while the company investigated. Trust was broken. And it never fully recovered.

Cryptowisser’s 2025 review says it plainly: “Many crypto users switched to competitors because of security concerns.” Exodus, Electrum, and even Coinbase became safer bets. GateHub’s reputation still carries the scars.

The 20 XRP Wallet Reserve - A Hidden Cost

Here’s something most beginners don’t know: to use any XRP wallet - including GateHub - you must hold a minimum of 20 XRP as a reserve. This isn’t a fee you pay. It’s a lock-up. You can’t trade it, withdraw it, or use it. It’s just sitting there to prevent spam on the XRP Ledger.

At $0.63 per XRP (as of November 2024), that’s $12.60 you need to spend just to open an account. And you can’t get it back. Even if you close your account, that 20 XRP is burned. No refunds. No exceptions.

For someone testing the waters, that’s a big barrier. Other wallets like Trust Wallet or Exodus don’t require this. You can hold XRP there for free. GateHub forces you to pay upfront - just to be allowed in.

Customer Support and User Experience

Customer service at GateHub is hit or miss. Some users report quick replies and smooth resolutions. Others say they waited weeks for answers - if they got any at all.

Reddit threads from October 2024 show 68% of 147 comments were negative. Common complaints:

• “My withdrawal took 11 days. No updates.”
• “Account suspended without explanation.”
• “They asked for my passport three times.”

Verification for fiat deposits can take several days. That’s slow compared to platforms like Kraken or Coinbase, where you can deposit and trade within minutes after ID upload.

The mobile app? It’s functional but outdated. Rated 3.2/5 on iOS with 487 reviews. People say it’s clunky, slow to load, and crashes when you try to send XRP. Not something you want to rely on during market swings.

Who Should Use GateHub in 2025?

Let’s be clear: GateHub isn’t for most people.

If you’re new to crypto, avoid it. The fees, the reserve, the security history - it’s a minefield.

If you’re trading altcoins, avoid it. The selection is tiny, and the fees make it pointless.

But if you’re a long-term XRP user who needs to send money internationally - and you’ve already got XRP sitting in a wallet - GateHub might still be useful. Its integrated payment gateway lets you send USD, EUR, JPY, or CNY directly to XRP addresses with no transfer fees. That’s rare. Most exchanges don’t offer that.

And if you’re part of a business or remittance service that uses XRP as a bridge asset, GateHub’s infrastructure still works. It’s not flashy, but it’s reliable for one specific job.

What’s Missing? Everything Else.

GateHub hasn’t added new features since 2023. No mobile app overhaul. No staking. No API for developers. No integration with DeFi protocols. No NFT marketplace. No fiat on-ramps for most countries outside the U.S. and EU.

Even worse - UK users can’t deposit or trade anymore. Only withdraw. That’s because of FCA restrictions. GateHub didn’t fight it. They just shut down the service.

Compare that to Kraken or Binance, which are constantly rolling out new tools, lower fees, and better security. GateHub is stuck in maintenance mode. It’s not growing. It’s surviving.

The Bottom Line

GateHub isn’t dead. But it’s not thriving either.

It’s a specialized tool for a shrinking niche. If you’re deeply invested in XRP and need to move fiat to crypto with minimal friction, it still does that job. But you’re paying a heavy price - in fees, in locked funds, and in trust.

For everyone else? There are better options. Coinbase, Kraken, Bitstamp - they all support XRP now. They have lower fees, better security, faster support, and way more coins. Why settle for a platform that’s been hacked, charges 4x more, and locks up your money just to let you in?

Unless you have a very specific reason to use GateHub, don’t. Your crypto will thank you.