Crypto exchanges are where traders tin purchase, sell and convert dissimilar cryptocurrencies and NFTs (not-fungible tokens). They are necessary for digital avails to be traded at the scale they are today. Some exchanges offer the almost competitive prices or speeds, whereas others provide specialized financial products.
Read on to learn about the best cryptocurrency exchanges, how they work, and which ane you lot should pick.
What happened with FTX Crypto Substitution
On November 11, 2022, FTX — previously 1 of the largest crypto exchanges in the earth — put out a statement on its Twitter page that information technology was filing for Affiliate 11 defalcation and its CEO Sam Bankman-Fried was resigning. This was a huge daze to the entire crypto ecosystem and has greatly afflicted the way people perceive the industry.
Suffice it to say, 2022 has not been a adept year for crypto. Nonetheless, the exchanges included in our peak picks list accept transparent financial backing and a strong cybersecurity infrastructure.
If yous’re looking for the accented safest manner to manage your crypto, consider buying a cold wallet (you tin can discover our pick for the best hardware wallet in our list of best crypto wallets).
Our Top Picks for the All-time Crypto Exchanges of December 2022
- Coinbase - All-time for Beginners
- Binance.US - Best for Low Fees
- Crypto.com - Best for Security
- Bisq - Best Decentralized Exchange
Best Crypto Exchanges Reviews
- Intuitive, user-friendly interface and easy purchase procedure
- Wide assortment of educational material
- Wide option of cryptocurrencies
- Higher fees
- Circuitous fee structure
Why we chose information technology:
Nosotros chose Coinbase as the all-time crypto exchange for beginners because of its easy-to-utilise interface, all-encompassing educational material on everything from blockchain to volatility, and robust security features.
If y'all’re familiar with crypto, chances are you’ve already heard of Coinbase. The substitution is i of the largest and most well-known in the U.S., and its debut on the public market last yr was seen by many every bit a legitimization of the crypto marketplace.
The Coinbase platform does a great job of lowering the barrier to entry for investing in crypto, with a straightforward onboarding procedure that eases users into trading. At the aforementioned fourth dimension, its interface makes navigating the platform and managing crypto a seamless experience.
Coinbase also features a comprehensive and attainable variety of learning materials. Users are encouraged to use these resources through the Coinbase Earn programme, which teaches how to trade specific cryptocurrencies and rewards users with costless crypto.
Lastly, the exchange’s security features are worth mentioning: Coinbase uses 2-factor authentication on all versions of its platform, stores 98% of customers’ crypto offline, and has an insurance policy to protect custodial accounts of up to $250,000 (in line with per-depositor FDIC coverage limits). Such robust measures are why Coinbase is ultimately worth information technology, despite the higher fees.
Users who savour Coinbase but would like more than advanced trading and charting features may want to look at the company’s other exchange platform, Coinbase Pro.
- Outstanding cybersecurity infrastructure
- Low fees if your account is funded with cash transfers
- Advanced trading charts and information graphs
- Credit menu purchases currently unavailable
- Some services are not bachelor in select U.S. states
Why nosotros chose it:
We chose Binance.US equally the best crypto commutation for low fees considering it features one of the most generous fee structures beyond all the trading platforms we considered.
Binance is the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange past trading book, and its U.s. partner, Binance.U.s., offers many of the former's advantages. One of its greatest assets is a competitive maker/taker fee structure that tops out at 0.1%. This fee starts low and keeps getting lower as your trading book increases.
Binance.US also offers discounts for using Build and Build (BNB), one of the world's almost popular utility tokens, to buy and sell other coins.
The exchange features more than than 140 cryptocurrencies, all of which are purchasable with USD, saving coin in conversion fees for those who desire to buy crypto direct. This multifariousness of discounts and purchase options benefits advanced users who may besides enjoy the platform’s comprehensive market dashboards, margin trading, and variety of order types, including limit orders, marketplace orders, and end limit orders.
Binance.US is not available in Hawaii, New York, Texas and Vermont.
- Outstanding cybersecurity infrastructure
- Low fees if your account is funded with cash transfers
- Big pick of crypto assets
- Expensive credit and debit purchases
- Some services are non available in the U.S.
- No crypto-to-crypto trading options
Why we chose it:
We chose Crypto.com as the best crypto exchange for security considering of its multiple layers of protection against crypto fraud and cyberattacks.
Nearly reputable crypto exchanges feature a solid cybersecurity infrastructure, simply this is where Crypto.com really stands out. The substitution is ranked beginning in the Cybersecurity Ranking and CERtification Platform’s top 100 exchanges past cybersecurity rating.
Crypto.com employs various techniques to proceed users’ cryptos secure on its trading platform, including offline cold storage for all crypto, a regulated custodian depository financial institution business relationship for traditional currency, and regular software peer-review. Information technology also uses multi-cistron identification with a password, biometric, electronic mail, telephone, and authenticator verification.
In addition, its platform has successfully completed several penetration tests, which are false cyberattacks performed to evaluate system security, and has shown proof of its funds over the years.
Security isn’t Crypto.com’s just attraction. The exchange offers the largest selection of currencies among all the companies on our list — over 250 coins.
Other noteworthy features are its non-custodial DeFi wallet — which allows users to send crypto at their preferred speed and earn interest on coins —, margin trading, prepaid visa cards to spend crypto, and crypto loans.
- Supports trades with a broad selection of coins and traditional currencies
- Wide variety of payment methods
- Short verification process
- Mobile version just works for notifications
- Must trade with Bitcoin or BSQ simply
Why we chose it:
We chose Bisq equally the best decentralized exchange considering it follows the ethos of Bitcoin best by maintaining an open-source platform that is completely decentralized without limiting currency support.
Formerly known as Bitsquare, Bisq brings the clean, easy-to-use interface and vast coin support of centralized exchanges to a decentralized environment. The platform is congenital on open-source software, meaning its design is publicly available, and the project is funded by personal savings and donations from its community of users.
Bisq doesn’t need a third party to bear cryptocurrency transactions, nor does it require users to submit personal data to merchandise on the platform. Information technology’s an excellent alternative for Bitcoin fans looking for a wide variety of coins to merchandise with, including altcoins like Cardano, XRP, and Dogecoin. In fact, it’s non typical for decentralized exchanges to back up then many digital assets — and fiat currency.
Additionally, the platform’south security features, such as multi-signature and a security deposit system, heighten the inherent rubber and privacy of decentralized exchanges past ensuring that both parties human action honestly and have complete command of their funds during the trading process.
Other crypto exchanges we considered
The following trading platforms are all fantabulous options, especially for new traders. Nevertheless, they didn’t go far to our top list considering they lack sure core features or are not dedicated crypto or bitcoin exchanges.
Public
- Commission-free trading platform
- Partial stock investing available
- Volatility reminders on cryptocurrencies
- Social trading lets you see what others are buying and selling
- Lack of technical charts and research tools
- Long waiting time for withdrawals
Public is a beginner-friendly platform that tries to mix attainable, affordable investing with an approach that puts financial literacy first. It does this by providing users with articles on a wide variety of investment topics, marketplace updates and a daily live show called Public Alive, where a panel of experts, analysts and journalists join to discuss market headlines.
Why it didn’t make the cut:
Public is not a total-service cryptocurrency exchange — information technology focuses on stocks and ETFs — pregnant it lacks certain tools and operates fundamentally different from an actual crypto exchange.
Robinhood
- No commissions and minimum account residual
- Exceptionally easy to apply and start trading
- Heavily regulated past the Securities and Exchange Commission
- No mutual fund and forex trading
- Lacks educational content and research tools
Robinhood is some other commission-complimentary investment platform that caters to beginners and casual investors. Users tin trade seven cryptocurrencies in addition to stocks, ETFs, options and more than.
Why it didn’t make the cut:
Robinhood lacks the tools and features of a full-service cryptocurrency exchange. Information technology has also been the target of numerous complaints from users and regulators regarding its dishonest business organisation practices (just last year, the app was fined lxx million by FINRA for misleading consumers) and involvement in the GameStop/meme-stock mania of 2021.
Gemini
- Recurring buys and dynamic toll alerts
- Enable crypto withdrawals to go simply to canonical addresses
- Output transaction histories and downloadable account statements
- Higher trading fees than other exchanges
- Express customer service options
Gemini is a well-funded crypto exchange with a reputation for existence like shooting fish in a barrel to utilise. The platform supports more than 100 crypto to buy, sell and store, has tools for high-operation traders and boasts industry-leading security.
Why it didn’t make the cut:
Gemini’s fees are more than expensive compared to other exchanges. And while the platform’s features make for a good bundle overall, none of them were impressive enough to earn Gemini a top spot with us.
Kraken
- Trade across multiple exchanges using a single platform
- Crypto staking and margin trading
- Rigorous security standards
- Low fees and spreads
- Not available in all US states
- Express number of funding options (via fiat currencies)
Kraken has been around for a while now, and is well known — and loved — by many crypto traders around the globe. The platform is a jack-of-all-trades: it supports more than 185 cryptocurrencies across a diversity of crypto services, which includes regular trading, margin trading, staking and futures.
Why information technology didn’t make the cut:
Kraken didn’t make our list due the lack of a standout feature. That said, nosotros still fully recommend the exchange both for newcomers and experienced crypto investors due to its highly affordable fee structure and robust security framework.
eToro
- Active investment customs, ideal for social trading
- Support crypto staking for some coins
- Wide selection of cryptocurrencies
- Disappointing withdrawal fees and spread fees
- Crypto trading not bachelor in all states
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform that allows users to merchandise a variety of assets, including 30 popular cryptocurrencies. The platform’s main highlight is its social trading features, which allows users to create a custom news feed and follow, copy and collaborate with their favorite traders.
Why it didn’t make the cut:
eToro did not make our top list considering information technology’southward not a full-service crypto substitution. This ways it lacks basic tools and services, such as withdrawing your crypto, and direct depositing, trading or exchanging crypto on the platform.
Cash.app
- One of the easiest platforms to buy Bitcoin and get started with crypto
- Lock prices immediately and withdraw quickly
- Make and receive mobile payments
- No insurance coverage from the FDIC
- Information technology cannot be used to make payments internationally
- Tin only merchandise Bitcoin; no other crypto available
Cash.app is a great selection if you merely want to test the Bitcoin waters or merely need some other platform to do quick bitcoin transactions. Unlike with other non-defended cryptocurrency exchanges, Cash.app lets yous continue custody of your coins. This alone makes information technology worth a endeavor.
Why it didn’t brand the cut:
Cash.app is not a defended crypto substitution and its bitcoin services are bare basic. While it may be an accessible entry indicate for those interested in crypto, nosotros cannot recommend it as an exchange for trading in the long term.
Crypto Exchanges Guide
Despite having broken into the mainstream, crypto can still be a confusing subject for investors of all levels. How exactly do they work? What are the unlike types of exchange and how do they differ from crypto wallets? Read our guide to understand the ins and outs of cryptocurrency exchanges.
- What is a crypto exchange?
- How exercise crypto exchanges work?
- What to wait for when choosing a crypto exchange?
- Latest News on Crypto Exchanges
- How We Chose the Best Crypto Exchanges
What is a crypto exchange?
Crypto exchanges are platforms where users can trade digital currencies for other assets, including cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), and regular currencies, like U.South. Dollars and Euros.
Exchanges are an essential part of the crypto ecosystem considering virtually traditional investment firms exercise not offer cryptocurrencies in their portfolios. Without exchanges, you would have to find another person willing to trade crypto and agree at an exchange rate. And then, you would have to transport the coins directly to each other’s cryptocurrency wallets — a somewhat convoluted process.
Crypto wallet vs substitution
Crypto wallets and exchanges are both essential tools used to manage cryptocurrencies. Wallets are meant to keep your crypto funds safe, whereas exchanges are trading hubs where users convert fiat currencies to digital ones and buy or sell crypto based on current market rates.
Crypto exchanges | Crypto wallets |
Facilitate trading between users | Hold the private keys that are necessary to access cryptocurrency on the blockchain |
Convert fiat currencies into digital currencies | Are offered past exchanges and independent developers. |
Are available 24/7, unlike traditional investment firms | Can exist an online-only platform, a concrete storage device, or incorporate both aspects. |
Many crypto exchanges operate their own wallets, and then users can offset trading crypto as soon as they open their account without having to worry virtually getting a digital wallet of their own. These are known every bit web-hosted wallets, and their incorporated exchange is responsible for their security measures.
Serious traders are encouraged to keep an independent cryptocurrency wallet to deposit any coins they aren’t actively trading. This is because you could lose all your digital assets if the commutation is hacked.
Although you lot’ll exist responsible for securing, backing up, and managing your own funds, contained digital wallets are a much safer alternative for safeguarding the bulk of your crypto.
How do crypto exchanges piece of work
The manner crypto exchanges piece of work depends on their type of platform. Nearly crypto trading platforms are known equally centralized exchanges, which part equally a brokerage, acting equally intermediaries betwixt buyers and sellers.
Users tin deposit coin into exchanges to buy cryptocurrency or deposit their own crypto to trade for other currencies, known as crypto-to-crypto spot trading. Traders tin can expect to pay a fee for converting one crypto to another, like when exchanging regular currencies at a bank (for instance, converting USD to EUR).
In exchange for digital currencies, exchanges may accept a broad diverseness of payments, including credit carte du jour payments, ACH transfers, credit or debit cards, money orders and even gift cards.
Dedicated crypto and bitcoin exchanges will allow you to withdraw your crypto funds and transfer them to another wallet of your choice. Others, particularly those that focus on other assets, like stocks and ETFs — including Robinhood and eToro — only permit you purchase the crypto but non transfer it out of their spider web wallets.
What are the unlike types of crypto exchanges?
Crypto exchanges come in three varieties: centralized, decentralized, and hybrid.
Centralized exchanges (CEX)
Centralized exchanges are the most common and traditional type of crypto exchange. These are endemic by individual companies and offering investors a platform to trade cryptocurrencies. This type of exchange tends to have college trade volumes and liquidity and a greater number of trading pairs.
Centralized exchanges are often considered a good option for new crypto traders because of their better onboarding and user interface, availability of client back up, and insurance should the platform’southward systems fail.
The principal issue with this type of exchange is that users are inherently more vulnerable to hacking attacks. Some users also feel uncomfortable sharing their private data in the KYC process.
Examples: Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, Gemini
Decentralized exchanges (DEX)
Decentralized exchanges follow in the spirit of Bitcoin by operating with no central signal of control. Servers for this type of exchange are spread throughout computers located across the world, which means if one reckoner is attacked, the network keeps running. This solitary entices many users who fright losing their crypto due to a security flaw in a company’s trading platform.
Where centralized exchanges operate as brokerages, decentralized exchanges are more than similar marketplaces. They facilitate peer-to-peer trading and take a less rigid registration process. The chief drawbacks of decentralized exchanges include lower trading volume, small-scale liquidity, generally poor user interface, and a lack of client support.
Examples: Bisq, Uniswap, PancakeSwap, Tokenlon, dYdX
Hybrid exchanges
Hybrid exchanges are role of a new generation of crypto trading platforms whose goal is to provide the best of both worlds. They aim to overcome the limitations of older exchanges by offering the greater functionality and liquidity of centralized exchanges together with the security advantages of decentralized exchanges.
Hybrid exchanges boast fast transaction speeds without compromising their users’ privacy but are still a relatively new development in the crypto world. Time will tell if they will be successful or struggle due to high costs, limited scalability and limited assets.
Examples: Nash, Qurrex, Eidoo, Legolas
Agreement crypto exchange fees
Crypto exchanges accuse several fees, and information technology’s non always articulate what exactly you’ll be charged for.
There are 2 main types of fees to look out for: substitution fees and network fees.
Commutation fees
are how crypto exchanges make money. In other words, they’re service fees that include:
- Trading fees, charged when making transactions and are likewise called “maker/taker” fees. Trading fees indicate whether a crypto order provides liquidity to the market or not. These as well employ when converting currencies.
- Eolith fees, charged when users add money to their account, usually via debit card, credit carte, or PayPal instead of through a wire transfer.
- Withdrawal fees, charged when withdrawing regular currency or cryptocurrencies from your account.
- Account fees, charged on a regular ground, usually monthly.
Network fees
are paid to cryptocurrency miners, who process and secure crypto transactions on the blockchain. Many centralized crypto exchanges incur this cost, though some may allow their users to pay more in miner fees to speed up transaction speeds. Users on decentralized exchanges generally have to pay this themselves, since there is no 3rd party between them and the crypto miners.
What to await for when choosing a crypto exchange
-
Functionality.
Your exchange of choice should have almost, if not all, of the features y'all expect to use, exist it fiat-to-currency trade pairings, liquidity assemblage, or specific altcoins and stablecoins you want to merchandise
-
Security measures.
Exchanges should provide additional lines of defense, such equally two-factor hallmark and Bitcoin locks, to help confronting hackers.
-
Ease of use.
This is especially important for newer traders who may struggle to use platforms with a less intuitive user interface. Nonetheless, advanced traders can also benefit from greater usability.
-
Geography.
Not all exchanges are available in the USA, some only operate in certain states.
How to be certain a crypto exchange is legitimate and secure
When looking for a crypto exchange, it’s essential to keep an eye out for fake websites and mobile apps. Fifty-fifty if the platform seems legitimate, brand certain to check for any misspellings in the re-create, inauthentic branding, and, in the case of a website, whether there’s a minor lock icon indicating security near the URL bar.
Likewise, information technology’s of import to remind yourself that scams aside, trading crypto tin be dangerous. Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, meaning that they are subject to sudden increases and decreases in values that even the wisest investors cannot predict with certainty.
Financial advisors recommend that if you invest in cryptocurrency, practise caution and keep it below five% of your total investments.
How to open a crypto exchange account
Every crypto substitution has its own registration and setup process. Some exchanges may allow you open an account without verifying your identity or submitting sensitive information. Others volition require new users to undergo an extensive “Know your Customer” (KYC) process to comply with U.S. authorities regulations meant to foreclose money laundering and fraud.
All the same, some parts of registration are shared across platforms. You lot will need the following data and documentation to open an account on well-nigh crypto commutation platforms:
- Your total proper noun and date of birth
- Your phone number and email address
- Your physical address
- Your Social Security number
- A government-issued ID (e.g., driver’southward license, passport) and a movie of you holding it or a scan of the ID
The sign-up process generally starts by asking for your personal information, followed past an electronic mail to confirm your accost. Some exchanges may too ask for a copy of a utility bill sent to your physical address and inquire about your involvement in trading crypto. Then, y'all’ll need to add a payment method to deposit funds into the exchange and starting time to buy and sell cryptocurrency.
Latest News on Crypto Exchanges
The contempo FTX bankruptcy annunciation has left experts and investors wondering how the market will react to the implosion of such a large name in the crypto manufacture. Many are request what volition happen to FTX customers — in the states and abroad — and how the exchange got to this signal in the first place. Coin prices accept fluctuated aggressively in reaction to the collapse, as have people’s perception of the crypto marketplace.
Involvement in unlike crypto is on the rise: many investors now own multiple types of crypto, despite the market problems that digital assets are currently facing. The latest annual Crypto Literacy Survey from the industry education initiative CryptoLiteracy.org shows that the diversity of individual holdings increased past 30% in 2022. According to this same survey, which was conducted in October, most a third of Americans now concord investments in crypto.
Crypto Exchanges FAQ
Why is crypto downward?
Cryptocurrencies are down because they are subject to the same factors that are currently impacting stocks and other financial avails. Growing inflation, higher interest rates — making it more expensive for businesses to borrow money — and events like the state of war in Ukraine take destabilized the global economic system. This has spilled over into the crypto market, which is already infamous for its high volatility.
What is the all-time crypto exchange?
At that place is no one best exchange for every user. Still, some of the features shared by the best cryptocurrency exchanges include solid security tools, low fees, several payment options, an accessible platform and availability on both mobile and desktop.
A large number of tradable cryptocurrencies that include various altcoins and trading pairs — for instance, Bitcoin/Litecoin (BTC/LTC) and Ethereum/Bitcoin Greenbacks (ETH/BCH) — is also something to await for.
How many crypto exchanges are there?
Because crypto exchanges exercise not register with any central say-so, information technology'southward hard to know how many crypto exchanges in that location are at whatsoever given point in time. Many exchanges may be ready up and so airtight after very piffling time, which makes tracking this number even harder.
Every bit of September 28, 2022, CoinMarketCap lists more than than 270 exchanges, the biggest of which are Binance, Coinbase, and FTX (by volume of trades).
Which crypto exchange has the everyman fees?
Crypto exchange fees are complicated and can be the source of great frustration, peculiarly when the cost of a trade suddenly spikes upwardly due to unexpected charges.
Based on our research, we found that the best crypto trading platform for depression trading fees is Binance.U.s.. Its maker and taker fees first at a very generous .01% / .01%, and its discount programs allow agile traders to catch even lower rates.
What is the most secure crypto exchange?
The nature of a crypto exchange's security depends on whether it is centralized or decentralized. The about secure crypto exchange should offer 1 or more methods of safeguarding your login and personal information. Based on our research, Crypto.com is the almost secure exchange among all centralized exchanges.
How We Chose the All-time Crypto Exchanges
We looked at over xx crypto exchanges and evaluated them based on cost, security, and user feel. Other factors we considered include cryptocurrency selection, payment options and trade book.
We mainly focused on defended crypto exchanges and looked at trading platforms that let y'all merchandise other securities.
The best cryptocurrency exchanges scored high in the following categories:
Security
Users should feel that their crypto is secure on their trade platform, so security alienation prevention measures and rubber account direction methods are essential elements. We looked at each platform’s history of keeping their users’ funds and information prophylactic and considered whether they offered insurance to users in case they lost their money due to a mistake on their function.
User Feel
Regardless of whether one is a novice or an practiced, an exchange that is like shooting fish in a barrel to use and navigate is always a plus. We considered each crypto substitution’due south mobile and desktop interface and favored those with more than intuitive designs. We too looked at the educational content and research tools available for users.
Cost
Fees can be a headache for users, especially those trading with smashing frequency. Nosotros favored crypto exchanges that offered lower fees or ways of reducing said fees. We likewise valued transparency when it came to their fee structure.
Summary of Money’s Best Crypto Exchanges of December 2022
- Coinbase - Best for Beginners
- Binance.United states - Best for Low Fees
- Crypto.com - Best for Security
- Bisq - Best Decentralized Exchange