Investing in cryptocurrencies has been gaining popularity over the past few years. And if you’re ready to add digital assets to your portfolio, using a cryptocurrency exchange is one of the easiest and safest ways to get started.
But there is a wide variety between the best cryptocurrency exchanges. Some exchanges are great for beginners, while others cater to active traders. In addition, cryptocurrency exchanges support various coins, payment methods, and countries. And some even offer lucrative passive income options through staking and lending programs.
If you need help, this list of top cryptocurrency exchanges will point you in the right direction. Crypto investing doesn’t have to be rocket science, but it’s important to choose an exchange that has all the features you need to be successful.
Kraken
Kraken bills itself as a “cryptocurrency exchange for everyone”. This platform is best suited for experienced crypto investors who like low fees. Transaction fees can add up quite quickly for traders who trade daily or very frequently. Experienced traders can effectively execute advanced order types and perform margin and futures trading.
The Kraken is also very suitable for beginners who want to buy and hold. Kraken offers a large selection of affordable coins, and they are easy to buy using Kraken’s Instant Buy Platform. They also offer different types of customer service ranging from live chats to phone support. They are also a great educational resource for those who want to learn more.
Crypto.com
Crypto.com provides a very good selection of cryptocurrencies, with over 250 available. The platform offers unique privileges and crypto rewards for Crypto.com Visa Card users. Crypto.com was founded in 2016 and currently serves over 80 million users worldwide.
Users can use Crypto.com’s Cronos Utility Token (CRO) to pay fees on the platform and enjoy other benefits.
Uphold
Uphold claims that this is a place where you can exchange “anything for anything”. It offers forex, precious metals and stocks in addition to cryptocurrencies. So if you want to diversify your portfolio with more than just cryptocurrencies, you can do so with Uphold without the need for a separate account elsewhere.
There are more than 90 coins available on the exchange, which entails a fairly wide selection, so most crypto investors will have no problem finding the right coins.
Gemini
The Gemini cryptocurrency exchange is based in New York and was established in 2014. Its extensive security measures and protocols are rated as the highest security features. For their users, they offer hot wallet insurance that protects your wallet in the event of a security breach and includes an authentication code to reduce potential fraud.
It is very easy to use and great for beginners and experienced traders. Gemini provides a professional level trading panel that supports over 75 digital currencies and tokens.
Coinbase
Coinbase was founded in 2012 to allow people to buy, sell and hold bitcoins seamlessly. Fast forward to today: Coinbase is a publicly traded cryptocurrency exchange with a total market value of over $36 billion.
Beginners will appreciate Coinbase’s user-friendly interface and the simplicity of buying and selling orders, akin to using an online stock brokerage platform. With over 200 tradable Coinbase coins, it should satisfy most who want to break into the crypto space.
BYDFi
Ambitious newcomer BYDFi (formerly BitYard) was launched in 2019. This Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange provides trading services in over 150 countries.
BYDFi is one of the few exchanges that abides by financial industry regulations and is licensed in Australia, Singapore and the US. Users interested in spot trading will appreciate low trading fees and a decent selection of popular cryptocurrencies.
KuCoin
The KuCoin exchange writes on its website that every fourth cryptocurrency holder trades on it. We don’t know how realistic this is, but the site is in the top 5 of the Coinmarkercap rating in the Spot and Derivatives categories at the same time and is definitely popular. There are low trading fees, many trading instruments (including NFTs), good opportunities for investors, including the KCS exchange token, the owners of which receive dividends like in shares.
BitMart
Founded in 2017, BitMart is a global cryptocurrency exchange available in over 180 countries. It allows users to buy, sell and store over 1000 digital currencies and tokens.
Based in the Cayman Islands, BitMart has established itself as the leading marketplace for small and mid-cap cryptocurrencies. BitMart offers more assets and trading pairs than its leading competitors in the market, so investors looking to add newly launched or obscure crypto assets to their portfolios will likely find what they are looking for on this exchange.
Huobi
Huobi Global is a leading cryptocurrency exchange with a strong presence in Asian markets. Founded in 2013, Huobi provides a digital asset ecosystem that includes spot trading, derivatives trading, staking, crypto loans, crypto income products, and more.
Huobi Global allows users to buy, sell, bid and borrow a wide range of cryptocurrencies, providing a comprehensive ecosystem for savvy crypto traders and investors. However, the exchange has failed to achieve regulatory compliance in major markets, and newbies may find it difficult to use the platform’s many tools and features. Huobi Global is not available in the US.
Bitfinex
Bitfinex is one of the oldest cryptocurrency exchanges, founded in 2012. The exchange has been a leader in cryptocurrency trading since its inception, currently ranking ninth among the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world by volume, according to CoinMarketCap.
Bitfinex is one of the most popular cryptocurrency exchanges in the world with low fees. It is also closely linked to the Tether stablecoin, which has gotten the exchange into trouble with regulators. Bittfinex’s low fees are a plus, but its controversial history can be worrisome for potential users.