CEX (Centralised Exchange)
Also known as: centralised exchange, centralized exchange, exchange
A company-run crypto exchange that holds custody of user funds, provides statements, and increasingly reports user data to tax authorities.
Definition
A centralised exchange (CEX) is a custodial platform, such as Luno or Binance, that matches trades on its own order book and holds users' assets. CEXs provide transaction statements that simplify record-keeping, but they also fall under reporting frameworks — South African platforms share data with SARS, and CARF extends this internationally. Trades on a CEX are disposals just like anywhere else.
Example
You trade on a centralised exchange that gives you a CSV of transactions; that platform may also report your account data to SARS.
Jurisdiction notes
- South Africa: SA-licensed CEXs report data to SARS and are FSCA-regulated; CARF extends similar reporting to offshore exchanges from 2026.