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    How coinvela Works & Methodology

    Last Updated: November 26, 2025

    1. Our Mission

    At coinvela, we are on a mission to bring transparency to the fragmented cryptocurrency market. We believe that finding the true cost of a trade should be simple, not a spreadsheet exercise.

    Whether you are looking for a fully regulated centralized exchange (CEX), a decentralized protocol (DEX), or a direct fiat on-ramp, we help you compare real-time prices across the entire market to find the best deal for your specific needs.

    2. The Scope of Our Data

    Unlike many comparison sites that only list a handful of partners, we aim to cover the full spectrum of the digital asset economy:

    • Centralized Exchanges (CEX): Custodial platforms that manage your funds and order matching.
    • Decentralized Exchanges (DEX): Non-custodial protocols where trades occur directly on-chain via smart contracts.
    • Fiat On-Ramps: Specialized services focused purely on converting government currency (USD, CAD, AUD) into crypto.
    • Wallets & Products: Hardware and software solutions for self-custody.

    3. How We Rank & Score

    We strive to be 100% transparent about why a platform appears at the top of your list. Our default ranking is "Best Value," but we also score platforms on Safety and Features.

    A. Final Price (The "Real" Cost)

    This is our primary ranking factor. We calculate the Total Cost of Acquisition, which includes:

    • Payment Fees: (e.g., Credit Card processing fees vs. Bank Transfer fees).
    • Trading/Swap Fees: The taker fee (CEX) or protocol fee (DEX).
    • Network/Gas Fees: For DEXs and on-chain withdrawals, we estimate the network cost to execute the transaction.

    B. Trust & Security Scoring

    We score safety differently depending on the type of platform:

    • For Regulated CEXs: We evaluate their licensing status (e.g., FINTRAC, FinCEN), proof-of-reserves, and insurance policies.
    • For DEXs & DeFi: We evaluate smart contract audits, open-source code verification, and liquidity measures.
    • For Unregulated Platforms: We provide the data "as is" to ensure comprehensive choice, but these platforms may carry a lower Trust Score due to the lack of regulatory oversight.

    C. User Experience

    • Ease of Use: Is the platform suitable for beginners, or is it a complex professional trading terminal?
    • Payment Methods: Availability of local rails (Interac for Canada, ACH for USA, Osko for Australia, etc.).

    4. How We Make Money (Affiliate Disclosure)

    coinvela is free for users. We are supported by affiliate partnerships.

    • The Mechanism: When you click a "View Deal" or "Trade" button on our site, we may receive a commission from that provider.
    • The Promise: This commission never affects the price you pay. In many cases, our partnership allows us to offer you lower fees or signup bonuses than if you went direct.
    • The Wall: We maintain strict editorial independence. We do not accept payment to artificially boost a platform's ranking. If a high-paying partner has poor liquidity or security flaws, our data will reflect that regardless of our commission rate.

    5. What We Don't Do

    To be perfectly clear about our role:

    • We Don't Provide Investment Advice: We are a comparison tool, not a financial advisor. We don't tell you which coin to buy or when to buy it.
    • We Don't Execute Trades: We never custody your funds. All transactions happen directly between you and the exchange you choose.
    • We Don't Sell Rankings: Exchanges cannot pay to rank higher in our results. Our rankings are based solely on the factors outlined above.

    6. Data Limitations & Disclaimers

    To protect yourself, please be aware of the following technical limitations:

    • Data Latency: Price feeds from exchanges and on-chain aggregators can be delayed by seconds or minutes. The price you see on coinvela is an estimate.
    • Smart Contract Risk (DEXs): When using decentralized platforms, you interact directly with code. While we strive to list reputable protocols, bugs or exploits can occur.
    • Market Volatility: In times of high market volatility, the price can change significantly in the time it takes you to click from our site to the exchange.

    Important: Always verify the final rate, fee schedule, and contract address directly on the provider's interface before confirming your transaction.

    7. Contact Us

    We invite feedback on our data accuracy. If you have a question about our methodology, please contact us directly: hello@coinvela.com