Are you looking for the best cryptocurrency trading platform to diversify your Bitcoin portfolio and trade altcoins and exotic tokens? There are several exchanges to choose from such as Coinbase, Binance and eToro.
It can be a challenging task for beginners to know which exchange has the lowest fees, is safe and supports your local fiat currency. We have done the hard work for you and reviewed over 60 crypto exchanges and rated the top 10 below.
Best Crypto Trading Exchanges
Here is our top exchanges to trade Bitcoin, crypto, stablecoins and DeFi tokens:
- Binance (most popular and largest exchange)
- Coinbase (safe and available worldwide)
- Bybit (trade crypto with leverage up to 100x)
- eToro (copy-trade the most profitable traders)
- FTX (leveraged tokens, margin, options trading)
- Kraken (safe, secure trading platform)
- PrimeXBT (crypto and traditional markets)
- Crypto.com (easy to use trading app)
- KuCoin (100+ altcoin pairs and DeFi tokens))
- Phemex (buy and sell crypto without fees)
Before you get started, some exchanges strongly recommend using a hardware wallet such as the Ledger Nano X. If you don't have a wallet, be sure to read our guide on the best Bitcoin hardware wallets to keep your trading profits safe and secure.
Best Cryptocurrency Exchanges: Comparison
We have carried out extensive research to find the top 10 best crypto exchanges based on important user factors such as available trading pairs, user-interface, charting tools, fees, security features and customer support.
Exchange | Fees | Our Review | Rating | Promotion | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Binance | 0.10% | 4.8/5 | 10% off trading fees | ||
 Coinbase | 0.5% | 4.7/5 | USD $10 trading bonus | ||
 Bybit | 0.025% / 0.075% | 4.7/5 | $50 for first time deposit >0.2BTC | ||
 eToro | Spread (varies) | 4.6/5 | None available at this time | ||
 FTX | 0.025% / 0.075% | 4.6/5 | 5% off trading fees | ||
 Kraken | 0.16% / 0.26% | 4.6/5 | None available at this time | ||
 Crypto.com | 0.04% / 0.20% | 4.6/5 | 0% trading fees for 90 days | ||
 KuCoin | 0.01% | 4.55/5 | 0% trading fees for 7 days | ||
 Prime XBT | 0.5% | 4.3/5 | None available at this time | ||
 Phemex | 0% (Premium Members only) | 4.15/5 | None available at this time |
Cryptocurrency Trading Platform Reviews 2021
This comparison guide provides an overview of the best crypto exchanges to trade digital currencies. If you don't have Bitcoins, then you can use a global fiat-to-crypto service which accept deposit methods such as debit or credit card, PayPal and even Gift cards to obtain Bitcoin.
Binance
Binance is the largest digital currency exchange services in the world that provides a platform for trading more than 200 different cryptocurrencies. The platform has seen a meteoric rise since being founded in 2017. Binance is the biggest cryptocurrency trading exchange trading at 1.2 Billion daily volume and 1.4 Million transactions per second.
Binance has a mobile trading app for iOS and Android devices which is highly intuitive, easy to use, runs smooth and performs all the basic functions expected of a trading app. The app include live Bitcoin and crypto prices, ability to execute orders, manage each digital asset, view P&L and search trade history.
Features:
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Ease of use
Reputation
Deposit methods
Fees
Coinbase & Coinbase Pro
Coinbase is widely known as a safe and reputable Bitcoin and crypto exchange that is trusted by thousands of customers worldwide including the United States. The exchange is popular for buying and selling cryptocurrency, managing a portfolio, recurring buys, mobile app to monitor the market, earning crypto and a secure wallet to store assets purchased on the platform.
The platform offers an advanced and professional cryptocurrency trading exchange called Coinbase Pro which is ideal for beginners and intermediate cryptocurrency traders. The exchange allows individuals looking to trade a wide variety of digital currencies on a secure and insurance-backed platform and supports debit cards as payment.
Features:
Ease of use
Reputation
Deposit methods
Fees
Bybit
Bybit is a derivatives cryptocurrency exchange platform that is designed to offer a seamless experience to margin trade digital coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, EOS and XRP trading pairs with up to 100x leverage. The derivatives exchange offers perpetual contracts that follow the cryptocurrency price. Bybit has released USDT-settled perpetual contracts that can be traded on the exchange with high leverage.
Bybit is a popular platform in the crypto world with over 100,000 active users and counting. The daily trading volume on the exchange has seen astronomical growth and is currently ranked 3rd for derivatives exchanges.
Features:
Ease of use
Reputation
Deposit methods
Fees
eToro
eToro is a global financial brokerage that provides financial trading and investing platform for several markets including Crypto, ETFs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities and Forex. It is suited for beginners that want to invest in different cryptocurrencies using a powerful and user-friendly trading platform. eToro makes it easy to trade the best digital currencies and altcoins with leverage, or practice crypto trading using a virtual portfolio.
Getting started is easy with an intuitive trading interface that includes real-time crypto market research & news, advanced trading features and risk management tools and a social network feed to copy-trade some the world's most profitable crypto traders.
Features:
Ease of use
Reputation
Deposit methods
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FTX
FTX exchange is a cryptocurrency derivatives exchange built by traders, for traders. The platform differentiates itself from its competitors by offering a wide variety of indices and leveraged tokens that can be traded on the futures or options market.
FTX is known for creating the world’s first cryptocurrency index futures that allows its users to capitalize on the rise or fall of a particular index in the form of a future contract. Index futures can be traded directly from within the FTX exchange platform.
Features:
Ease of use
Reputation
Deposit methods
Fees
Are you based in the United States?
COMPARE THE TOP 10 EXCHANGES IN THE USA
Kraken
Kraken is a Bitcoin and cryptocurrency exchange that was founded in 2011 that is based in the USA. The platform is a top 5 exchange based on traffic, liquidity and spot trading volume according to coinmarketcap.
Kraken has over 70 crypto pairs to buy, trade and sell with new assets added frequently. The cryptocurrency exchange includes advanced trading tools and automated portfolio monitoring to allow users to monitor the market and manage their portfolio using a single interface.
Features:
overall
Ease of use
Reputation
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Crypto.com
Crypto.com is a relatively new exchange that has quickly amassed a large following with over 1 million users on its platform. The crypto exchange provides a powerful alternative to traditional financial services, making it easier for everyone to start investing with Bitcoin and altcoins. Crypto.com is known for their crypto app which let's you buy, sell, trade, spend, store, earn, loan cash and even pay bills with crypto!
Features:
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Ease of use
Reputation
Deposit methods
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KuCoin
KuCoin is an established exchange for trading altcoins and is often referred to as The People's Exchange' due to its popularity. Established in late 2017, KuCoin has surged to become a premium platform to exchange cryptocurrencies that has expanded its offering to include new and exciting services.
Create an account with KuCoin and receive 5 free coins.
KuCoin has over 5 million registered users from 200+ countries and regions and popular in countries such as South Korea, Japan, Spain, Italy, Vietnam, Turkey, Russia, India and other regions. According to Coinmarketcap.com, KuCoin exchange is currently ranked #8 based on traffic, liquidity and overall high volume traded on its spot market.
Features:
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Reputation
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PrimeXBT
Prime XBT is a popular Bitcoin-based cryptocurrency trading exchange that allows speculating on traditional financial products. Traders are able to trade a broad spectrum of markets including Forex (FX), cryptocurrency, commodities and indices using Bitcoin as collateral – a feature that not many exchanges offer today.
Features:
Ease of use
Reputation
Deposit methods
Fees
Phemex
Phemex is a cryptocurrency exchange that is available to users worldwide to trade perpetual contracts such as BTCUSD, ETHUSD, XRPUSD, LTCUSD, XTZUSD and LINKUSD with up to 100x leverage. Phemex is known for it's zero-fee crypto trading on spot pairs. The derivatives platform is surging in popularity and is currently ranked #6 for daily volume on the cryptocurrency exchange according to Coinmarketcap.com.
Features:
overall
Ease of use
Reputation
Deposit methods
Fees
BitMEX
BitMEX is a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency derivatives trading platform that offers high leverage contracts that are bought and sold in Bitcoin. It is one of the largest and most widely used margin trading exchanges. Beginner and advanced users can buy and sell contracts for cryptocurrencies (not the actual coins themselves) combined with margin trading up to 100 times.
Sign up using our referral link and get 10% off your fees for 6 months.
Features:
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Ease of use
Reputation
Deposit methods
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should I Trade or Invest in Cryptocurrency?
The decision to trade or invest in cryptocurrency coins such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP depends on how much involvement the person wants to have after purchase. An investor will buy when the asset is low in price with the goal to generate income or appreciation over time and sell for a profit.
In comparison, a trader is more involved to manage a position over a shorter during such as hours, days or even weeks. The trader may use leverage to take advantage of volatility by trading the swings with a smaller capital amount. If price or direction exceeds a risk tolerance, the trader will exit the position and wait for the next opportunity to make profit in the market.
How Much Money Can I Make Trading Cryptocurrency?
The amount of profit through trading cryptocurrencies depends on the traders level of experience, patience, discipline, risk management and having a sound trading strategy that is repeatable over a period of time. There is no guarantee to earn money trading and it is possible to lose more than the funds deposited into an account.
What Is The Best Crypto Trading Platform For Beginners?
The best cryptocurrency exchange for first time users to start trading is eToro in our opinion. Users can sign up an account within minutes and start trading on a simple interface. eToro features a world-class social platform to learn and copy-trade the most successful traders, includes a comprehensive suite of useful how-to guides and a demo trading account to practise trading without no money.
What Is The Best Crypto Platform to Trade Altcoins?
Binance is the best cryptocurrency exchanges to trade altcoins due to its wide range of coins offered on the platform and low fees. The crypto exchange offer over 200 trading pairs and is a leading crypto provider with the highest daily traded volume and liquidity across all its altcoin pairs. Deep liquidity allows users to obtain the best prices and spreads when trading digital assets.
Can You Trade Cryptocurrency Without Paying Fees?
There are several crypto exchanges such as Phemex that allow zero-fee crypto trading for the popular assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. A no fee trading exchange is the cheapest way to trade cryptocurrency as it will increase overall profitability by eliminating hefty fees and commissions that can accumulate over time.
Where To Store Your Cryptocurrency?
Storing cryptocurrency on a cryptocurrency exchanges can be risky as the owner has no control on the security of their investment against hackers and scams. The best way to store cryptocurrency is on a reputable cryptocurrency wallet which is kept under the possession of the investor.
Two of the most popular Bitcoin and cryptocurrency hardware wallets are:
Using a cold storage wallet provides an airlock between internet-connected devices and the asset. The private keys which give the right to access the cryptocurrency (send, transfer and receive) is kept on the wallet and not an exchange.
Even if the hardware wallet is damaged, lost or stolen, the funds can be accessed using a variety of back-up options such as using a recovery phrase. The cost of a hardware wallet is a small price to pay for your peace of mind.
Wallet | Dimension | Rating | Price | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nano Ledger X  | 72mm x 18.6mm x 11.7mm | 5/5 | $119 USD | |
Nano Ledger S  | 56.9mm x 17.4mm x 9.1mm | 4.5/5 | $59 USD | |
TREZOR T Model  | 64.0mm x 39.0mm x 10.0 mm | 4.3/5 | $159 USD | |
TREZOR One  | 60.0mm x 30.0mm x 6mm | 4.1/5 | $59 USD | |
KeepKey  | 38 mm x 93.5mm x 12.2 mm | 3.6/5 | $49 USD |
Conclusion
We hope our guide on the 10 best cryptocurrency platforms was useful to choosing the best platform that suits your requirements.
It is important to be aware that exchanges are vulnerable to getting hacked as these sites store huge volumes of money. If you plan to trade, remember to not hold you money on these exchanges for too long and make sure you withdraw profits to a reputable crypto hardware wallet for safe keeping.
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