Which Crypto Exchanges offer Passkeys?

Passkeys in the world of cryptocurrency are transforming how traders and investors access their accounts and secure their digital assets without passwords. In the high-stakes environment of digital currency, where security is paramount, leading exchanges across the globe are beginning to implement passkeys to enhance security, eliminate phishing risks, and improve the user experience. This article covers which crypto exchanges currently support passkeys and why this technology represents the future of online crypto account authentication.

Passkeys are a secure, passwordless authentication method based on the FIDO2 and WebAuthn standards. They offer a faster and safer way for users to access their exchange accounts by replacing traditional passwords with biometric authentication (like fingerprint or facial recognition) or a device-based credential (like a PIN or screen lock pattern). Currently, major exchanges like Binance, Coinbase, OKX, Bybit, Crypto.com, and Gemini have fully implemented passkeys. Others, like Kraken, use them to enhance existing security measures. These institutions are leveraging passkeys to provide phishing-resistant security, reduce the risk of account takeovers, and streamline the login process for their users.

• Passkeys prevent phishing and fraud: In an industry where phishing is a primary threat, passkeys offer a crucial defense. They are inherently phishing-resistant because the underlying cryptographic key is bound to the exchange's legitimate website or app and cannot be used on a fake site. This effectively neutralizes attacks that trick users into revealing passwords or traditional 2FA codes.

• Better user experience for traders: The quick and simple login process using familiar device unlocking methods (e.g., Face ID, Touch ID, Windows Hello) enhances the user experience, allowing for faster access to trading platforms, especially in time-sensitive market conditions. For most users, no additional hardware is required, which simplifies the security process.

• Passkeys reduce operational costs for exchanges: Passkeys can lower an exchange's reliance on costly SMS-based 2FA methods. They also reduce the significant burden on customer support teams that handle password reset requests and account lockouts, which are common pain points for users. By preventing fraud, passkeys also help avoid the financial and reputational damage associated with compromised user accounts.

---

Crypto exchanges are adopting passkeys to combat the severe and ever-present threat of cyberattacks that target user funds. Traditional authentication, relying on passwords and legacy 2FA (SMS, TOTP), is demonstrably vulnerable to sophisticated phishing, SIM-swapping, and social engineering attacks that can lead to catastrophic losses. Passkeys solve these critical issues by leveraging FIDO2/WebAuthn standards, which use public-private key cryptography. This method ensures that no shared secret (like a password) is ever transmitted over the network or stored on the exchange's servers, making account takeovers drastically more difficult. For an industry built on the principles of cryptographic security, adopting the strongest and most modern authentication standard is a logical and necessary evolution.

• Phishing Resistance: Passkeys authenticate users without sharing secrets. The credential is cryptographically tied to the exchange's specific domain, making it useless on fraudulent websites and stopping phishing attacks cold.

• Support across devices: Passkeys can provide seamless access across a trader's multiple devices. Synced passkeys, managed by services like iCloud Keychain or Google Password Manager, allow a user to access their account from their phone, laptop, or tablet without friction.

• Improved User Experience (UX): Passkeys offer a frictionless authentication process, which is critical for traders who need quick access to the market. This significantly reduces login failures and frustration, improving the overall trading experience.

The following provides an overview of the passkey support status for major cryptocurrency exchanges. Adoption is accelerating, with many top-tier platforms now offering full passwordless login.

Note: "Fully implemented" refers to support for passwordless login. "Partial" refers to use as 2FA or other limitations.

A significant number of the world's largest exchanges have embraced passkeys, offering a full passwordless login experience.

Yes! Binance fully supports passkeys for both passwordless login and as a 2FA method. The exchange highlights that passkeys offer superior security against phishing and SIM swapping compared to traditional 2FA. Users can set up both synced passkeys (using their phone's biometrics) and device-bound passkeys (using hardware security keys), providing a comprehensive range of security options.

Yes! As a prominent early adopter, Coinbase offers robust passkey support for passwordless login and as a 2FA option. A key feature is the ability to add multiple passkeys to an account, which is a critical best practice to prevent lockouts if a device is lost. Coinbase supports both synced and device-bound passkeys.

Yes! OKX supports FIDO passkeys for a complete password-free login experience. A notable security feature is that once enabled, at least one passkey must always remain linked to the account. Additionally, resetting or removing a passkey using a non-passkey method will trigger a 24-hour hold on withdrawals and P2P trading as a security measure.

Yes! Bybit supports FIDO passkeys (branded as "Passkey 2.0") for secure login and transaction verification. The setup process allows users to create passkeys via iCloud Keychain, another device using a QR code, or a passkey bound to a specific browser profile, offering flexibility.

Yes! Crypto.com supports passkeys across both its mobile App and the web-based Exchange. A unique feature is that passkeys are shared between a user's App and Exchange accounts, creating a unified login experience. The platform supports synced passkeys and hardware security keys.

Yes! Gemini supports passkeys for passwordless login on its web and mobile platforms. Their implementation requires users to have a cloud-synced password manager enabled (like iCloud Keychain or Google Password Manager) to ensure passkeys can be recovered.

Yes! KuCoin now fully supports passkeys for passwordless login, allowing users to log in without a password or traditional 2FA. The setup is managed within the account security settings and supports both synced passkeys and device-bound hardware keys.

Some exchanges have integrated passkey technology to strengthen existing security layers rather than replacing them entirely.

Yes, but only as a form of Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). Users on Kraken still enter their username and password first, then use a passkey for the second verification step. This makes the 2FA process phishing-resistant and faster than authenticator apps. Kraken allows up to five passkeys to be registered, including both synced and hardware-based keys.

Partially. Bitfinex support is limited to device-bound FIDO2/U2F hardware security keys, which are used as a 2FA method. The platform does not appear to support modern, synced software passkeys for a fully passwordless login. This means users must have a physical security key to use this feature.

Several exchanges have not yet implemented passkey support and continue to rely on traditional security methods.

No. Bitstamp does not currently support passkeys. Their security documentation focuses on strong passwords combined with traditional 2FA via authenticator apps.

No. There is no evidence that Gate.io supports passkeys. The exchange's security relies on login passwords, separate "fund passwords," and traditional 2FA methods.

No. While a single third-party review mentions passkeys, there is no official announcement, help guide, or confirmation from HTX (formerly Huobi) that they support this feature. Until official documentation is provided, support should be considered unavailable.

No. It is important to distinguish Binance.US from its global counterpart, Binance.com. Binance.US is a separate entity and does not currently offer passkey support, relying on traditional password and 2FA methods.

Yes, many crypto exchanges support hardware security keys (like YubiKeys) as the most secure form of authentication. These are physical, device-bound passkeys.

Key insights:

• Gold Standard Security: Hardware keys are considered the gold standard because the private key is physically isolated and can never leave the device, making it immune to remote software attacks like malware.

• Full and Partial Support: Exchanges with full passkey support (like Binance, Coinbase, OKX) allow hardware keys to be used for passwordless login. Exchanges with partial support (like Kraken and Bitfinex) use them as a phishing-resistant 2FA method.

• User Choice: The widespread support for hardware keys gives security-conscious users a powerful option to protect high-value accounts.

The crypto industry is rapidly moving toward passwordless authentication to defend against the relentless threat of phishing, social engineering, and credential theft. As attacks become more sophisticated, traditional passwords have become the weakest link in securing digital assets. Passkeys are the leading technology driving this transition.

The shift away from passwords in the crypto space is happening in phases:

1. Current state: A hybrid model is dominant. Most exchanges that support passkeys still offer traditional password/2FA login as an alternative, allowing users to opt-in to the new technology.

2. Near future: Increased adoption of "passkey-first" login flows, where passkeys are presented as the primary and recommended login method, with passwords as a fallback.

3. Long-term goal: A fully passwordless crypto ecosystem where passwords are no longer supported for user accounts, significantly raising the baseline security for all participants.

For the average retail trader, synced passkeys offer the best combination of security and convenience. Unlike requiring separate hardware, passkeys often:

✅ Do not require users to purchase a dedicated security key.

✅ Are built into the smartphones and computers traders already use.

✅ Work across a user's devices via cloud ecosystems (iCloud, Google).

✅ Provide a fast, frictionless login experience critical for active trading.

Given these advantages, synced passkeys are becoming the default high-security option for retail users on leading exchanges.

For institutional traders, professional firms, and users with very high-value accounts, the security model may differ:

• Hardware Key Mandates: Security policies often require the use of device-bound passkeys (hardware keys) for all access, as they provide the highest level of security and physical control.

• API Security: While user-facing login is critical, passwordless principles are also being applied to secure API keys, which are a major target for attackers.

• Slower Adoption: The need to integrate with complex internal security systems and ensure compliance can mean that passwordless adoption for institutional portals may be more measured and deliberate.

The cryptocurrency industry is converging on passwordless authentication as a fundamental security requirement. Passkeys provide:

• Phishing resistance: Eliminating the single greatest threat to user funds.

• Faster login times: Improving the user experience for active traders.

• Cost savings: Reducing the operational load on exchange support teams.

• Improved User Experience (UX): Offering a seamless and modern authentication process that builds user trust and confidence in the platform's security.

• Industry alignment: Following the FIDO standards for authentication, which are being adopted by all major technology companies.

As passkey adoption becomes ubiquitous across the web, crypto users will expect this level of security as standard. Exchanges that embrace passkeys today are positioning themselves as security leaders and providing their users with the best protection available.