Why a transparent methodology
At BlockFinances, we believe trust is built through transparency. Before publishing any review or analysis, we follow a rigorous and reproducible process. This page details exactly how we work, what criteria we use, and how we guarantee our independence.
Every platform is tested. Every analysis is sourced. Every score is justified.
How we test crypto platforms
Our testing process follows a precise protocol across several stages. We never publish a review based on press releases or unverified information. Each test is conducted with real funds over a minimum period of two weeks.
1. Account creation and verification
- Full registration on the platform
- KYC process: required documents, verification times, acceptance rate
- Onboarding quality: guides, tutorials, clarity of steps
- Accessibility from France and the European Union
2. Deposit and withdrawal
- Deposit methods: SEPA transfer, bank card, crypto, other options
- Actual fees: comparison between advertised fees and fees actually charged
- Processing times: real-time measurement for each method
- Withdrawal: process, delays, fees, limits, and verification of effective fund receipt
3. Trading and execution
- Market and limit order tests
- Real spread measurement on major pairs (BTC/EUR, ETH/EUR, BTC/USDT)
- Liquidity and order book evaluation
- Advanced feature testing: futures, staking, lending, earn
- Interface performance on desktop and mobile
4. Security and compliance
- 2FA implementation verification (TOTP, SMS, hardware key)
- Cold storage policy and fund distribution
- Security incident history (hacks, data leaks)
- Regulatory compliance: PSAN/MiCA registration, international licenses
- Third-party security audits when available
5. Customer support
- Live chat, email, and phone support testing
- Average response time measurement
- Response quality and relevance assessment
- French language support availability
- Tests on real scenarios: withdrawal issue, technical question, dispute
Evaluation criteria and weighting
Each platform receives a score out of 10 based on five weighted criteria. This weighting reflects the relative importance of each aspect for a crypto investor.
| Criterion | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | 30% | Trading fees, deposit, withdrawal, hidden spreads |
| Security | 25% | 2FA, cold storage, compliance, track record |
| UX & Features | 20% | Interface, tools, mobile app, advanced features |
| Customer Support | 15% | Responsiveness, quality, channels, language availability |
| Reputation | 10% | Track record, user reviews, volume, transparency |
Fees (30%)
Fees are the most important criterion as they directly impact every investor's returns. We analyze:
- Trading fees: maker/taker, with and without native token
- Deposit fees: by method (SEPA, card, crypto)
- Withdrawal fees: fiat and crypto, by network
- Spreads: actual gap between buy and sell prices
- Hidden fees: currency conversion, inactivity, premium services
Security (25%)
Security is non-negotiable in the crypto space. We evaluate:
- Authentication: mandatory 2FA, available options (TOTP, hardware key, biometrics)
- Fund storage: cold storage percentage, proof of reserves
- Track record: past incidents, crisis response, user compensation
- Compliance: PSAN registration with the AMF, MiCA compliance, international licenses
- Insurance: fund coverage in case of incident
UX & Features (20%)
User experience determines platform accessibility. We test:
- Web interface: clarity, speed, ergonomics, customization
- Mobile app: features, performance, notifications
- Trading tools: charts, technical indicators, order types
- Advanced features: staking, earn, futures, copy trading, crypto card
- API: documentation, rate limits, stability
Customer Support (15%)
Quality support is essential, especially during critical issues. We measure:
- Response time: live chat (< 5 min = excellent), email (< 24h = acceptable)
- Response quality: relevance, personalization, effective resolution
- Available channels: chat, email, phone, social media
- Help center: comprehensiveness, clarity, freshness
Reputation (10%)
Reputation is a complementary indicator that contextualizes test results:
- Track record: years of operation
- Trading volume: liquidity and market trust indicator
- User reviews: Trustpilot, App Store, Google Play (trends, not just the score)
- Transparency: communication, proof of reserves, audit reports
Crypto analysis methodology
Beyond platform testing, BlockFinances publishes market analyses and cryptocurrency studies. Here is how we proceed.
Market data
- Primary sources: CoinGecko, CoinMarketCap, DefiLlama, Dune Analytics
- Tracked metrics: price, volume, market cap, dominance, TVL
- Cross-verification between multiple sources to avoid data errors
On-chain analysis
- Network activity: transactions, active addresses, hash rate
- Fund movements: exchange inflows/outflows, whale accumulation
- Valuation metrics: NVT ratio, MVRV, SOPR
- Tools used: Glassnode, Nansen, Arkham Intelligence
Fundamental analysis
- Technology: whitepaper, architecture, scalability, recent updates
- Team: experience, track record, transparency, governance
- Tokenomics: distribution, inflation, token utility, vesting schedule
- Ecosystem: DApps, TVL, developer community, partnerships
- Adoption: real use cases, user count, integrations
What we do not do
- No investment advice: our analyses are informational, never prescriptive
- No price predictions: we analyze fundamentals, not fantasies
- No disguised promotion: no article is written in exchange for undisclosed compensation
Our commitment
Editorial independence
BlockFinances is an independent media outlet. Our revenue comes from affiliate links and clearly identified partnerships. No partnership influences our scores or conclusions. A partner platform can receive a poor score if our tests justify it.
Transparency
- Each article mentions the date of the last test or update
- Affiliate links are systematically disclosed
- Our methodology is public and available on this page
- Potential conflicts of interest are declared
Regular updates
Platforms evolve. Our reviews do too. Each test is updated at least every six months, or sooner in case of significant changes (fee modifications, security incidents, new regulations).
Contact
For any questions about our methodology or to report an error, contact us at blockfinancescontact@gmail.com.
Last updated: February 2026 Author: Said Bensfia Doroteo, founder of BlockFinances