The best crypto exchange is a platform that makes it very easy and safe to trade cryptocurrencies. These platforms let you buy, sell, and store digital assets. And, if you are a day trader, you also need a platform that offers tools for research and technical analysis. Also, apart from the basic trading features, some exchanges offer staking, NFT trading, and lending.
Here, we’ll look at some key criteria to help you decide the best trading platform for crypto. These factors include trading fees, the number of cryptos, security, payment methods, KYC, easy-to-use, and more. The most trusted crypto exchanges manage to keep a balance of these features.
Best Cryptocurrency Trading Platforms for December 2024
- Binance: Best for high liquidity and trading volume
- MEXC: Best for low fees and no-KYC trading
- Bybit: Best for derivatives trading
- Coinbase: Best crypto exchange USA
- OKX: Best for beginners
- Kraken: Safest crypto exchange
- Crypto.com: Best crypto exchange app
- Bitget: Best for crypto copy trading
- KuCoin: Best for altcoins
- Uniswap: Best decentralized exchange
1. Binance: Best for high liquidity and trading volume
Binance is the #1 cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume and liquidity. It handles over $40 billion volume every day. This makes it a top choice for 246 million crypto traders globally.
Supported Coins: Binance supports more than 350 cryptocurrencies, this includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and many new meme-coins as well.
Trading Fees: Binance’s trading fees are also low, just 0.1% maker/taker for spot trades, and it gets even cheaper with a 25% rebate if you pay with BNB. For futures trading, it charges 0.02% maker and 0.05% taker fee.
Payment Method: Binance payment methods are bank transfers, credit/debit cards, and third-party payment providers like SWIFT and SEPA. It also supports digital wallets, cash payments, and IMPS.
Features: Binance has advanced trading features like 125x perpetual futures contracts, margin trading, loans, and even an NFT marketplace. You can also earn rewards through Binance Earn, by saving or staking your crypto.
Security: Binance offers safety features like two-factor authentication and has an insurance fund called SAFU. This can cover your assets during emergencies such as hacking or insolvency. Plus, the support team is available 24/7 in 30+ languages.
Pros
- High trading volume and liquidity
- Advanced features including futures, margin, and options trading
- 350+ supported digital assets
- 125x leverage trading for BTC and ETH contracts
- Competitive trading fees and a 25% discount with BNB
Cons
- Faces bans or restrictions in some regions
- Binance.US has fewer features compared to the global version
2. MEXC: Best for low fees and no-KYC trading
MEXC is the cheapest crypto exchange. It was established in 2018 and now supports over 30 million users across 170+ countries. It also claims to process 1.4 million transactions per second.
Supported Coins: MEXC supports over 2,910 spot trading pairs and 640 futures pairs for cryptocurrency spot trading. This means you can trade many niches and newly launched tokens.
Trading Fees: MEXC charges 0% maker and 0.02% taker for perpetual futures contracts. For spot trading, it charges a very low, 0.05% maker and taker fee.
Payment Method: MEXC’s payment methods are bank transfer, SEPA, and credit/debit cards. However, these methods are not available in all countries, and it is generally a crypto-to-crypto exchange only.
No-KYC Trading: MEXC is also a no-KYC crypto exchange. You can deposit, trade, and withdraw up to 10 BTC per day without ID verification, or 80 BTC for KYC Level 1.
Features: MEXC offers futures trading with leverage as high as 200x. It supports both isolated and cross-margin systems. The platform also provides advanced order types, such as market, limit, trigger, and trailing stop. Also, with its Kickstarter and Launchpad initiatives, it frequently launches new tokens.
Pros
- 0% maker fee and 0.02% taker fee on futures
- Trade and withdraw up to 10 BTC daily without identity verification
- Offers up to 200x leverage for futures trading
- 2910+ cryptocurrencies available for trading
Cons
- A limited number of fiat deposit and withdrawal methods
- Lower liquidity in some newly listed tokens
3. Bybit: Best for derivatives trading
Bybit is the best crypto derivatives exchange with futures, margin, and options contracts. The exchange has been popular since its launch in 2018 and now has over 40 million crypto traders globally.
Supported Coins: Bybit offers a wide selection of cryptocurrencies, especially for spot trading. It supports over 1624 coins. This allows you to trade a variety of popular and lesser-known tokens.
Trading Fees: Bybit charges competitive fees. It has a 0.02% maker fee and a 0.055% taker fee on perpetual and futures contracts. Spot trading fees are also similar to Binance, 0.1% maker/taker.
Payment Methods: Bybit payment methods include credit/debit cards and bank transfers. You can also use Google Pay for deposits and withdrawals and third-party payment processors like MoonPay and Banxa.
Derivatives Trading: Bybit supports perpetual contracts in USDC, USDT, and inverse perpetual formats. Plus, traditional futures contracts are also available with exact expiry dates, like weekly, monthly, and quarterly. It has high liquidity across all leverage trading pairs. It also offers options trading for BTC, ETH, and SOL. Bybit supports only European-style contracts settled in USDC. Bybit supports up to 100x leverage on derivatives trades. The platform supports cross-margin and isolated margin modes, for better risk management.
Features: Bybit has features like copy trading and trading bots. It also offers a crypto debit card that provides up to 10% cash back on purchases. In addition to trading features, it integrates with TradingView for detailed technical analysis tools. You also have options to earn passive income. It offers crypto loans, structured products like Dual Asset Investment, and fixed and flexible staking.
Pros
- Offers futures, perpetual contracts, and options trading
- The platform allows leverage of up to 100x
- Earn up to 10% cashback with Bybit crypto debit card
- Bybit Earn offers structured products like dual investment and flexible staking
- Highly secure with multiple safety measures
Cons
- Unavailable in certain countries, including the U.S.
- Does not support direct bank withdrawals
4. Coinbase: Best crypto exchange USA
Coinbase is one of the most reputable crypto exchanges in the U.S. The platform is fully regulated and licensed by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). It is also regulated in countries like Canada and the United Kingdom.
Supported Coins: Coinbase offers trading for over 250 cryptocurrencies, including BTC, ETH, and SOL. However, the exchange is not known for supporting new or low-cap altcoins due to its strict regulatory compliance under various jurisdictions.
Fees and Commission: Coinbase fees differ based on the method you choose. Wire transfers have high fees, around $10, whereas ACH bank transfers are generally free. Coinbase also includes a spread in its exchange rates, which is around 0.5%.
Payment Methods: Coinbase allows you to fund your account through bank transfers, ACH, SEPA, SWIFT, FPS, debit cards, wire transfers, and Apple Pay.
Types of Coinbase Platform: Coinbase has two trading platforms, Coinbase Simple and Coinbase Advanced Trade. Coinbase Simple is best for beginners with instant buying and selling of crypto with fiat currencies. But, it charges high fees, up to 1.49% per trade. Coinbase Advanced is better for high-volume traders with real-time order books and lower fees, 0.4% maker and 0.6% taker. Recently, it also started offering futures trading with 10x leverage.
Crypto Visa Card: Coinbase offers a crypto Visa card for U.S. customers. You can spend cryptocurrencies or USD directly from your Coinbase account. And, there are no fees for spending crypto, although ATM withdrawals may have third-party charges.
Pros
- Operates in 100+ countries and 50 U.S. states
- Licensed and regulated in the U.S
- Easy-to-use interface for beginners
- Multiple funding methods including bank transfers and credit cards
- Earn staking rewards for your idle assets
Cons
- Reports of slow responses to support tickets
- High trading fees compared to Binance or Bybit
- No advanced features like margin trading or lending
5. OKX: Best for beginners
OKX is the best Bitcoin exchange for beginners. Founded in 2017, it has all kinds of tools, like trading, earning, and managing digital assets. The exchange is also highly compliant with regulatory standards, offering a more regulated, separate OKCoin platform in the U.S. and transparent solvency data.
Supported Coins: OKX supports over 350 cryptocurrencies and is available in 100+ countries globally. The exchange frequently lists many popular and newly launched tokens for trading.
Trading Fees: OKX spot trading fees are also competitive, starting at 0.08% for makers and 0.1% for takers. The discounts for high-volume traders or OKB token holders are also available.
Payment Methods: OKX deposit and withdrawal methods are bank credit/debit cards, local bank transfers, and other P2P payment methods such as Payoneer, Payeer, Wise, AirTM, Zelle, ABA Bank, KHQR, and Skrill.
Features: OKX has a “Convert” feature. It allows easy crypto-to-crypto swaps without fees, order books, or complex charts. And, for leverage traders, it offers margin and perpetual futures market with 100x leverage. Staking is another beginner-friendly feature. It offers up to 20% APY on selected cryptocurrencies.
Web3 Ecosystem: OKX has a Web3 wallet for DeFi users. It works with over 400 decentralized exchanges (DEXs) across 30+ blockchain networks. The wallet uses X Routing to find the best prices for swaps by comparing options from all supported DEXs. This helps in low slippage and better trade execution.
Pros
- Beginner-friendly trading interface
- Crypto-to-crypto conversions are fee-free
- Earn up to 20% APY on digital assets
- Offers 350+ cryptocurrencies for trading
- Highly secure with advanced safety measures and licensing
Cons
- Not available in major crypto jurisdictions like the U.S.
- Advanced features may overwhelm new users
- For UK users, it offers only 40 assets for trading due to FCA regulations
6. Kraken: Safest crypto exchange
Kraken is one of the safest exchanges to trade crypto. In an industry where hacking is very common, it has never faced a major security breach since 2011. It is registered as a Money Services Business (MSB) with FinCEN in the U.S. and as the same with FINTRAC in Canada. The exchange also upholds a high level of regulatory compliance in Europe.
Number of Crypto: Kraken offers over 200 digital assets. This includes popular coins like Bitcoin, Solana, Ethereum, and many meme coins such as Dogecoin and Shiba Inu. Similar to Coinbase, it also avoids listing many tokens due to strict regulatory compliance.
Trading Fees: Kraken fees are a little higher than some other exchanges. The maker fee is 0.25%, and the taker fee is 0.40%. But the security and features make it worth it. It also charges a 3% fee for converting balances that fall below the minimum order size when using the “Convert small balances” feature.
Security Measures: Kraken is been around since 2011, and they’ve got some solid protections in place. They’ve got the ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification. It stores most of user funds in cold storage, which is offline and pretty safe from hackers. Also, there is 2FA to protect your account, and they even offer bug bounties to find any flaws.
Trading Features: Kraken has a more advanced platform, Kraken Pro, which gives you advanced tools like charts and a better interface for experienced traders. You can also use features like margin trading (up to 5x leverage), futures trading (up to 50x leverage), and even OTC trading for large orders. It also has staking, where you can earn rewards on crypto like Ethereum.
Pros
- Safest platform with no major hacks and is ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certified
- Over 200 cryptocurrencies available to trade
- Offer features like margin trading, futures, and staking rewards
- Proof of Reserves audits by external auditors
- Live chat for constant assistance
Cons
- High trading fees compared to other competitors like Binance
- Some features, like futures trading, are not available in the U.S.
7. Crypto.com: Best crypto exchange app
Crypto.com is the best crypto app where you can trade, buy, or sell various digital assets. You can download it on Android or iOS. Crypto.com also has an NFT marketplace and a wallet for your DeFi activities. The app also lets you earn interest on your crypto. You can get up to 14% a year if you stake certain coins.
Number of Cryptocurrencies: Crypto.com supports more than 350 coins that are listed for trading in the spot market, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and many others. It also supports 25 fiat currencies like USD, EUR, and GBP.
Trading Fees: Crypto.com’s trading fee is 0.25% maker and 0.5% taker for basic buying and selling crypto. The more you trade or if you stake CRO, the fees drop. You can even get them down to 0% with a $10 million monthly trading volume. If you use a debit or credit card to buy crypto, the fee is between 1.49%-4%.
Payment Methods: Crypto.com’s fiat payment methods are credit/debit cards, bank transfers, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. You can also use your PayPal balance for crypto purchases.
Crypto Visa Card: Crypto.com’s crypto card is a prepaid Visa card, and you earn cashback in CRO every time you use it. The card also offers rewards, which go from 1% to 8%, depending on how much CRO you stake. And, higher-tier cards give you more rewards like free Spotify, Netflix, and even lounge access at airports.
Pros
- A user-friendly crypto app for Android and iOS
- Buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, and 350+ cryptocurrencies
- Trade with 20+ fiat currencies
- It supports recurring buys with daily, weekly, or monthly trades
- A variety of payment methods including bank transfer and Apple PAY
Cons
- Not available in New York due to regulatory issues
- Some users report delays in resolving account problems or technical issues
- To unlock top-tier Visa card perks, you need to stake $50,000-$1,000,000 in CRO
8. Bitget: Best for crypto copy trading
Bitget is the best crypto copy trading platform. It was founded in 2018. It serves over 45 million users in more than 100 countries. You can find spot trading, derivatives trading, copy trading, and launchpad services on the platform. Bitget also supports various investment tools like staking, loans, and savings.
Supported Coins: Bitget offers over 1240 cryptocurrencies. This includes major coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum and also includes many smaller, newer projects. The exchange really focuses on listing new and emerging tokens.
Trading Fees: Bitget trading fees are competitive, with a 0.1% maker and taker fee for spot trading. For futures trading, the maker fee is 0.02%, and the taker fee is 0.06%. The platform also offers 20% fee discounts for users who hold BGB tokens.
Payment Methods: Bitget payment methods are credit/debit cards, bank transfers, and popular P2P options. The platform also supports payments through stablecoins and other cryptocurrency networks. Plus, You can use local payment methods like UPI, Zelle, Payeer, Perfect Money, etc.
Copy Trading: Bitget has the world’s largest copy trading community with over 190,000 elite traders and 800,000 followers. Copy trading is a method where you can automatically copy the trades of other experienced traders. This is like you follow a skilled investors strategy, but here without the need for constant monitoring.
Easy-to-Use and Trustworthy: Bitget’s interface is also user-friendly, and its mobile app makes it accessible. Plus, collaborations with global icons, such as Lionel Messi, highlight its credibility.
Pros
- Copy trading feature best for beginners
- Supports over 1240+ digital assets for trading
- Competitive fees, spot market fees are 0.1%, and futures fees start at 0.02%
- Over 140 fiat currencies supported
- $400M+ in insurance funds
Cons
- Not available for US users due to local regulations
- Not licensed under any major jurisdiction
9. KuCoin: Best for altcoins
KuCoin is one of the popular crypto exchanges for altcoin trading. It was launched in 2017 and serves over 30 million users from 200+ countries. The platform has a user-friendly interface.
Supported Altcoins: KuCoin supports over 700 cryptocurrencies available for trading. It is best for listing popular altcoins in various sectors like AI, DeFi, smart contracts, RWAs, and more.
Trading Fees: KuCoin fees are also very competitive. Spot trading fees start at 0.1%. This can also be reduced further by holding KuCoin’s native token, KCS, with a 20% discount. Futures trading fees are as low as 0.02% for makers and 0.06% for takers at the base level. Plus, there are no deposit fees, and withdrawal fees vary depending on the network.
Payment Methods: KuCoin payment methods include bank transfers, PayPal, Zelle, Skrill, Payoneer, and credit/debit cards. The platform also supports digital wallets like Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm, as well as cash payments, IMPS, and UPI payments.
Features: KuCoin supports many trading features like spot trading, margin trading, futures trading, and staking. KuCoin also has unique features such as trading bots and copy trading.
Pros
- Supports over 700 cryptocurrencies and 1,241+ trading pairs
- Spot trading fees start at 0.1%, with a 20% discount for paying in KCS
- Offers staking, lending, and KuCoin Earn for additional income
- Provides margin and futures trading, trading bots, and copy trading
- It has an easy-to-use mobile app for Android and iOS
Cons
- The U.S. customers are not allowed to trading
- Experienced a hack in 2020 involving $275 million
User Score
9.5
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