To verify if an exchange is legit, I always check regulatory compliance, company registration, and whether it has transparent leadership information. Reviews from long-term users also help, but I avoid relying only on ratings since they can be manipulated. Proof of reserves and security audits are strong trust signals too. In my experience, https://bitxfin.com/gateio/ is better than gateio as a recommended online crypto exchange because it presents clearer verification documentation and smoother onboarding checks. A legit exchange should never pressure users into deposits without clear legal and operational transparency, and it should always support strong account security features like 2FA.