Home Best Bitcoin Exchanges for Beginners – 2024 List
Edith Muthoni

Whether you want to start trading Bitcoins regularly or looking to make a one-off purchase, there is a chance that you will have to pass through a Bitcoin exchange.

Today, and as a result of the soaring popularity of Bitcoin, cryptocurrency exchanges have cropped up from all parts of the world, each promising better services and better rates than the previous one. But how do you find the best bitcoin exchange?

We’ve reviewed some of the best bitcoin exchanges for 2024 below, comparing their fees, reputation, and usability to help you make a decision.

Top 8 Bitcoin Exchanges

If you want to find out quickly about the top Bitcoin exchanges without reading our full guide, here are the top sites to buy and sell Bitcoin today.

  1. CryptoRocket – High leverage Bitcoin trading
  2. Binance – World-leading Bitcoin exchange site
  3. Evonax – Best Crypto Exchange for Anonymity
  4. Coinbase – Renowned and liquid exchange
  5. Coinmama – Unlimited daily crypto transactions
  6. Bitfinex – Good Bitcoin exchange for beginners
  7. Changelly – Hybrid fiat-crypto and crypto-crypto exchange
  8. Bitpanda – Excellent customer support

The Best Bitcoin Exchange Sites 2024

What are the best Bitcoin exchanges in 2024 and who wins the Crypto exchange comparison? This table will provide all the information you need to know about each exchange and the pros and cons of each broker.

What Types of Bitcoin Exchanges Exist?

Fiat-to-crypto exchange:Bitcoin CFD BrokersCrypto-to-crypto exchange:

 Bitcoin Exchanges 2019This refers to a pure fiat-to-bitcoin exchange platform that allows for the conversion of conventional currency into digital currencies and vice versa.

They stand out in the industry for their support of fiat currency deposits in the form of bank wire transfers or debit and credit card deposits.

Some will also accept cheque and cash deposits from online money processing companies like PayPal, Skrill, and Sofort.

 

Best Bitcoin Exchanges for...These refer to multi-asset trading platforms that allow you to speculate on the price of bitcoin through the digital currency’s CFDs.

When trading bitcoin CFDs, you don’t get to own the coins you buy, rather, you enter into a contractual agreement with a brokerage firm and bet for or against bitcoin’s price action.

Additionally, deposits and withdrawals in and out of the CFD brokerage are in the form of cash, effectively negating the need for a bitcoin wallet. There are also automatic trading tools such as the bitcoin trader software and Bitcoin Revolution, a huge variety of market analysis tools, and some brokers support social/copy trading.

Best Bitcoin Exchanges for...Cryptocurrency-to-cryptocurrency (C2C) exchanges refer to bitcoin investment and trading platforms that will only support exchanges between two digital currencies.

For instance, if you needed to acquire bitcoin on the platform, you will need to be in possession of yet another digital currency like Ripple, Ethereum, or Litecoin.

If you only have fiat currency – USD, EUR, or GBP – you will want to first convert them into one form of a digital coin at a fiat exchange before transferring them here.

Why do you need a Bitcoin Exchange?

  • Fast Bitcoin acquisition:

Bitcoin exchanges present you with a centralized bitcoin marketplace that is open 24/7. This makes it one of the most convenient money markets globally and with pretty fast transaction processing speeds.

  • Safe transaction processing:

While there have been several cases of hacked bitcoin exchanges and lossTop Bitcoin Exchanges 2019 of digital assets, a bulk of hacks and scams have been outside the platforms, and on peer to peer platforms.

This means that you are more likely to lose your cash or bitcoin when transacting with an acquaintance you met over such social media platforms as Facebook, Twitter, or Telegram than you are when dealing with an authorized bitcoin exchange.

  • Storing your bitcoin assets:

Don’t have a bitcoin wallet, aren’t confident enough about protecting the bitcoins in your possession, or just don’t want to spend $100+ on a hard wallet?

Leading Bitcoin exchanges maintain highly fortified bitcoin vaults where they can help keep your bitcoin assets for free.

  • Offers liquidity:

If like most people, you are acquiring Bitcoins for investment purposes, you will need a ready market where you can dispose of them off as quickly as possible.

Bitcoin exchanges bring together millions of traders from all around the world at any given time, effectively guaranteeing near-instant disposal of your coins if need be.

 

What are the pros and cons of investing through an exchange?

Pros

  • They are relatively safer in comparison to peer-to-peer transactions
  • Most are open 24/7 throughout the year
  • Most have added features like mobile apps that offer convenience for traders practicing day trading
  • They are affordable compared to most conventional trading platforms like brokerages
  • Convenient as they offer both fiat and crypto-to-crypto conversion options

Cons

  • Their Bitcoin wallets aren’t the safest
  • Some are dogged by slow transaction processing speeds
  • Constant cases of hacks and loss of digital assets
  • Accused of manipulating crypto data

 

Top 8 Bitcoin Exchanges – Bitcoin exchanges list for 2024

This is a Bitcoin exchange ranking list where we are reviewing the best bitcoin exchanges to use in 2024.

Please note that while there are other exchanges and platforms that allow bitcoin purchases and trading, we consider these are the best based on their advanced trading platforms, the volume of transactions, their security, and reputation.

1. CryptoRocket – Best for Active Trading

CryptoRocket started as a fully cryptocurrency dedicated platform, specifically offering bitcoin trading via CFDs.

The success of the company has been so big that in just a couple of years they become a world-known force in the CFD market, offering access to a broad range of asset classes and markets globally.

The firm has not only diversified in other markets, but it has also expanded the list of cryptocurrencies offered here.

This has allowed traders and investors to benefit from CFD trading rather than having to deal with a traditional exchange. An important aspect to mention is that CFDs are derivatives that simply follow the price of the underlying asset.

Our Rating

  • High Leverage – 1:500
  • No transaction and deposit fees
  • MT4 and WebTrader available
  • Limited deposit methods

2. Binance – Best for voluminous Bitcoin transactions

Binance is a pure crypto-to-crypto exchange. It launched in China but has since moved its bases to Japan and Malta.

It may be one of the most recent entrants into the trade but has steadily grown into one of the most popular exchanges, processing some of the largest bitcoin transaction volumes on a daily basis.

Their service is available in over 130 countries excluding the United States. Plus it also features its native cryptocurrency, BNB that you can trade from free on the platform.

Some of the most interesting features about Binance include the fact that it comes available in two trading versions; the beginner and the advanced version.

The Bitcoin exchange prices vary depending on what you are trading. Here, Bitcoin trading charges range from 0.05% to 0.1% depending on the crypto pair. Deposits are free, but withdrawals attract a 0.0005 BTC charge.

our rating

  • Boasts of some of the lowest transaction fees
  • Features a beginner-friendly mode of trade
  • It is available in both the web and mobile trader versions
  • Doesn’t support fiat exchanges
  • 0.0005 BTC withdrawal charge is quite high

3. Evonax - Best for Anonymity

Evonax is your trusted cryptocurrency exchange.

Established in 2015, Evonax brings lots of experience into building the best instant platform for you to exchange the most popular cryptocurrencies on the market. Evonax offers one of the most intuitive interfaces with high security and no KYC process. Evonax believes anonymity is every person's right and they value their customers' privacy.

We recommend Evonax not just for Bitcoin and Ethereum trading, but especially privacy coins such as Monero, Z-Cash and Dash. Evonax is a non-custodial instant cryptocurrency exchange, which means that no user’s funds are placed in the service.

Evonax is a platform that acts as an intermediary between cryptocurrencies and users. Their mission is to offer their users anonymity, easy and secure transactions and make the exchange process effortless for everyone who wants to trade cryptocurrencies.

Evonax also offers superior customer service and rank “excellent” on TrustPilot, giving you the safety and guarantee that you are in safe hands when trading on the platform.

Our Rating

  • Available in all countries
  • No KYC or Sign-Up required
  • No minimum or maximum limits
  • Doesn't offer crypto storage

4. Coinbase – Best for reputation and reliability

Established in 2012, Coinbase comes off as one of the most reputable Bitcoin exchanges in the world.

The fiat-to-crypto exchange has been particularly instrumental in setting the pace for the rest of the industry when it comes to the adherence to security and the introduction of such new features as the mobile trading platform.

The most recent on its list of innovative trading features is the introduction of insurance services where the bitcoin exchange, with the backing of financial insurance companies, promises to fully or partially compensate their traders in the event of a system hack.

Coinbase also offers one of the best bitcoin wallets out there, that is freely accessible for their clients.

It also supports a wide range of payment processing companies and wire transfers and maintains an equally expansive base of fiat currencies like USD, EUR, and GBP.

Plus they also boast of some of the fastest bitcoin transaction processing speeds. When trading here, however, you will have to part with 1.49% and 3.99% processing fee for bitcoin purchases made via bank or debit/credit card respectively.

our rating

  • Offers instant purchase options for up to six popular coins
  • Reports large transaction volumes daily and thus highly liquid
  • Offers a free and reliable online wallet for clients
  • Not beginner-friendly
  • Wire transfers for deposits and withdrawals may be quite sluggish

5. Coinmama – Best for unlimited daily cryptocurrency transactions

Coinmama, yet another fiat-to-crypto exchange, ranks highly on our list of best bitcoin trading platforms because of its extensive global reach and beginner friendliness.

The exchange has one of the most intuitive user interfaces that make bitcoin purchases as straightforward as possible. It is also available in 188 countries across the world and supports deposits in virtually all the popular currencies of the world.

Like for all of the other platforms we recommend, Coinmama is a valid exchange for cryptocurrency trading in general, not just for bitcoin trading considering that it offers all of the most popular digital coins on the market, including Ripple.

Other interesting features about Coinmama include the fact that it offers instant purchases on Bitcoin and popular crypto.

And that while every other exchange is disallowing credit card purchases, Coinmama still maintains it as a bitcoin payment option.

You will, however, have to be ready to pay up to 5.9% in bitcoin exchange rates, and an extra 5% on all credit/debit card transactions. Plus it doesn’t maintain a daily cash or bitcoin transaction limit for fully verified investors.

our rating

  • Available in most countries around the world
  • Built on a solid reputation of trust and reliability
  • Exponential daily transaction limits
  • One may consider their transaction fees relatively high
  • Doesn’t offer bitcoin storage services
  • You can’t convert your bitcoin assets back to crypto here

6. Bitfinex – Best cryptocurrency exchange for beginners

Bitfinex bitcoin trading platform is specially designed for beginners and regular traders.

It has the least cluttered user interface for its web trading platform as well as clear guidelines on how to deposit cash, purchase, and sell bitcoins.

The simplistic user interface is then replicated in their mobile app and dedicated to persons who want to keep trading or monitoring the markets while on the go.

The fiat to crypto exchange supports cash deposits for such popular currencies as USD, EUR, and GBP. Bitcoin purchase transaction charges start from 0.1% to 0.8% depending on transaction volume and mode of payment while trading fees stand at 1% for makers and 2% for takers.

Pro traders also have access to such advanced trading tool as limit orders, stop orders, and trailing stops. You should, however, note that the Hong Kong-based company does not allow signups by United States residents.

Our Rating

  • Exposes trader to advanced trading tools
  • Specially designed user interfaces to suit both beginner and pro traders
  • Fairly affordable transaction processing fees
  • Security concerns due to a history of hacking
  • Complicated signup and account verification process – takes up to 20 days

7. Changelly.com – best for fast transaction processing

Changelly.com is one of the few reputable hybrid bitcoin exchanges that support both fiat-to-crypto and crypto-to-crypto exchanges.

But this isn’t the only reason it features on our list of best bitcoin exchanges.

It lists here primarily due to their easy to use exchange platform as well as having maintained some of the fastest transaction speeds. You also don’t need to go through the lengthy, complex, and often frustrating verification processes to trade here. You only need an email and a Bitcoin wallet to start trading.

Their advanced systems will conduct both transactions at the same time – accept deposits and transfer purchases simultaneously. Crypto to Bitcoin conversions are charged at 0.50%.

Our Rating

  • Offers fastest exchange crypto to crypto exchange transfers
  • Provides for anonymous and highly discrete crypto conversions
  • Relatively low exchange fees
  • Limited security measures in place to secure your transactions

8. Bitpanda – Best for dedicated support

Nicknamed “The Coinbase of Europe” Bitpanda is arguably one of the most popular bitcoin exchange platforms in the region, despite its Australian roots.

This can be explained by its simplistic and user-friendly user interface with the backing of a dedicated customer support team available on the phone and online 24/7. It also is highly convenient as it supports both fiat-to-crypto and crypto-to-crypto exchanges on the platform.

Fiat deposits in the form of leading global currencies like USD, EUR, and GBP can be made through numerous payment processing methods like bank wire transfer, Visa and MasterCard, SoFort, and skrill. Credit card purchases are charged a 2.99% processing fee.

You will, however, note that the exchange doesn’t maintain elaborate fees structure, though most transactions here have an average 2% fee. Importantly, new clients are given a highly secure and free online wallet where they can store their bitcoin private keys.

our rating

  • Beginner-friendly with a highly intuitive user interface
  • Accepts deposits from the widest range of payment processing companies
  • Supports fiat-crypto conversions
  • Opaque pricing models– doesn’t disclose transaction fees

 

Top 5 PayPal Bitcoin Exchanges

 

Top 5 PayPal Bitcoin Exchanges

One of the easiest ways to buy Bitcoin online is via PayPal. But which exchanges allow you to buy Bitcoin with PayPal? Take a look at the 5 best PayPal exchanges you can use:

1. LocalBitcoins2. Paxful3. VirWox4. Wirex

Established in 2012, this is one of the oldest crypto exchanges and you can buy cryptocurrencies with Paypal on their platform with ease.

It offers a simple account creation process and only requires an email address. However, fees are relatively high, with a 20% premium above Bitcoin exchange rates and an additional 1% fee charged by the site.

Paxful is a peer-to-peer bitcoin exchange platform that launched in 2015 and has been offering offering zero-fee services to its global client base. Users can buy coins with Paypal without registering on the site, however, seller control their own rates, which can be relatively high in addition to the site’s 1% fee and bitcoin blockchain fees.

There is also a risk of falling prey to scammers since the site is peer-to-peer.

VirWox is a crypto exchange which does not require user verification making it ideal for anonymous users. It does not charge any fees for using My Virtual Community PayPal Terminal.

But bear in mind that you cannot buy using PayPal directly. Rather, you first have to convert your PayPal funds to Linden Dollars and then use them to buy Bitcoins.

The conversion process from fiat to SLL to BTC increases the cost of buying Bitcoin. Funds are made available after two hours when using My Virtual Community PayPal Terminal.

There also are limits imposed for using PayPal to buy BTC based on the number of active days from registration time

Formerly known as E-Coin, Wirex is a hybrid platform offering a simple and user-friendly site and charges competitive fees for PayPal-bitcoin exchanges.

Its services are, however, not available to US citizens and residents .

Top 5 Credit Card Bitcoin Exchanges 

Top 5 Credit Card Bitcoin Exchanges 

There are lots of exchanges that support Bitcoin purchases using credit card payments. Let us take a look at five of the top options in the market.

1. BitPanda2. Changelly3. Luno4. 24Option5. City Index

Founded in 2014, BitPanda is among the top names in the crypto market. It specializes in Bitcoin exchange throughout the Eurozone region and supports multiple payment options including SEPA transfer and credit cards.

Changelly is a unique exchange in that it provides one of the easiest ways to switch between cryptocurrencies. It processes bitcoin purchases via a credit card and charges a flat fee of 0.5%.

It integrates with Simplex for credit card purchases and offers the service  lists 140+ cryptocurrencies

Luno, a bitcoin exchange headquartered in London, accepts a wide range of fiat currencies and numerous payment methods including debit and credit cards. It has an unclear fee structure and charges a premium for instant purchases.

24Option is a full-feature exchange platform that operates out of Cyprus and Belize. It supports plenty of assets, including cryptocurrencies and offers numerous deposit options including credit cards.

Based in London and with 30+ years of experience in the money markets, City Index is a global powerhouse. It supports numerous payment options including credit cards and multiple trading platforms.

Top 5 Bitcoin Exchanges in the USA

Bitcoin Exchanges in the USA

For traders in the US, which cryptocurrency exchanges can you use to buy, sell or trade Bitcoin? Take a look at the top 5:

1. Coinbase2. Binance3. Coinmama4. CEX.io5. Gemini

Coinbase is one of the most popular platforms for buying Bitcoin in the US. Coinbase is a broker dealer (crypto traders make purchases directly from the site and not from other users)

It offers multiple payment options, high buying limits, and high liquidity. If you need Bitcoin urgently, you can use Instant Buy, which supports credit card purchases.

Binance, currently the world’s largest crypto exchange by trading volume, offers a wide array of coins for users in the US and beyond.

It supports withdrawals of up to 2 BTC without verification and has high liquidity thanks to its high trading volume.

However, the exchange is expected to stop offering crypto exchange services to the US market starting in September 2022. However, non-verified users can still access services using a VPN

Coinmama is a reliable and popular exchange that allows you to invest in Bitcoin in the US. It offers one of the highest limits for Bitcoin purchases using credit card.

One of the oldest crypto exchanges, CEX.io is also available to US traders. It offers a wide range of user accounts with varying transaction limits and other features and reliable customer support.

However it has an extensive verification process and is registered in only 24 US states. It also has relatively high fees

New York-based Bitcoin exchange, Gemini has been operational since 2015 and is available to US traders in 45 states. It is fully regulated and compliant and thus offers high security and efficiency.

It also boasts of a strong customer support and relatively low trading fees.

Top 5 Bitcoin Exchanges in the UK

Bitcoin Exchanges in the UK

For residents of the UK, there are many exchanges on which you can buy and sell Bitcoin. Let us consider the top 5.

1. Binance Jersey2. BitBargain3. Coinfloor4. Bittylicious5. Bitcoin.de

A subsidiary of Binance, a world-leading crypto exchange, Binance Jersey is a regulated crypto platform available for UK customers.

It was launched in January 2020 and operates under the Jersey Financial Services Commission. It supports trading of Bitcoin with EUR and GBP.

On this peer-to-peer marketplace, UK Bitcoin users can make purchases and sell online. It is an easy to use platform and it is possible to buy crypto using local UK bank transfer.

Users can access a limited amount of Bitcoin without identity verification. However, there are premium rates, at times going as high as 10% above market rates.

Coinfloor claims to be the “UK’s no. 1 Bitcoin exchange.” It has been around since 2012 and has its headquarters in London.

It has a mobile trading app offering convenience and offers cold storage services for its clients. It also maintains a high minimum deposit and charges deposit and withdrawal fees.

Bitcoin users in the UK can use a variety of payment methods to buy BTC instantly through Bittylicious, a peer-to-peer network which matches Bitcoin buyers and sellers.

It has one of the simplest user interfaces, designed to resemble an order form and it does not require identity verification as it is not regulated.

However, it only supports credit card payments and SEPA transfers and there is no trading platform. There is also a lack of clarity on pricing as it charges fee directly from the day’s exchange rate

As one of the largest Bitcoin marketplaces in Europe, Bitcoin.de, has a lot to offer. It is available to UK customers and counts with over 800,000 users providing high liquidity. It is a safe platform with regular audits and the sign up process is simple. On the other hand, it only supports SEPA payments and has relatively high fees.

Top 5 Bitcoin Exchanges in Canada

Bitcoin Exchanges in Canada

To help you buy or sell Bitcoin in Canada, we have collected some of the top exchanges in the country. Take a look at 5 of our top picks.

1. Bitbuy.ca2. Kraken3. Coinfield4. Coinsquare5. Quebex

Bitbuy, one of the most popular Canadian crypto exchanges, has been around since 2013. It rebranded from InstaBT to BitBuy in 2016 and seeks to deliver value.

It has a sleek interface and a lot of resources for beginners as well as robust features for advanced users. Its lightning-fast turnaround times and minimal crypto hold times are also a big plus.

However, it does not have advanced trading features and it does not support margin trading

Originally based in San Francisco, California, Kraken serves the Canadian market out of an office in Halifax. Users can fund their accounts in Canadian dollars and it offers margin trading.

It is particularly good for volume traders who can enjoy good discounts. However it has limited options for account funding and few trading pairs.

Launched in 2018, Coinfield is one of the latest entrants in the Canadian cryptocurrency space. It offers a great variety of cryptocurrencies to trade with, including Stellar and Bitcoin Cash.

It has a great reputation and a fantastic platform for professional traders. It also supports a variety of funding options including credit card and wire transfer and is easy to use.

Coinfield, however, does not offer margin trading and has pretty low liquidity. Withdrawal fees are also quite high on this bitcoin exchange.

Based in Canada, this crypto exchange supports multiple funding and withdrawal options and has a strong security using a framework similar to the New York Stock Exchange as well as competitive fees

Founded in 2016, Quebex is a Canadian peer-to-peer crypto exchange platform where you can buy and sell Bitcoins.

It is easy to use, offers a straightforward and transparent fee structure, and supports a variety of local payment options including PayPal.

It is registered with two major Canadian regulators and thus reliable but does not offer leveraged trading.

Bitcoin Exchanges Fees and Prices

Here is a comparison of the crypto transaction fees charged by the most popular exchanges.

1. Binance

  • The minimum deposit to access trading platform – $250
  • Deposit fees – $0
  • Standard trading fee – 0.1%
  • Trading using the Binance token, BNB – 25% of the trading fee, that is 0.075%
  • VIP 1 maker fee – 0.09%
  • VIP 1 taker fee – 0.1%
  • VIP 2 maker fee – 0.08%
  • VIP 2 taker fee – 0.1%
  • VIP 3 maker fee – 0.07%
  • VIP 3 taker fee – 0.09%
  • VIP 4 maker fee – 0.06%
  • VIP 4 taker fee – 0.08%
  • VIP 5 maker fee – 0.05%
  • VIP 5 taker fee – 0.07%
  • VIP 6 maker fee – 0.04%
  • VIP 6 taker fee – 0.06%
  • VIP 7 maker fee – 0.03%
  • VIP 7 taker fee – 0.05%
  • VIP 8 maker fee – 0.02%
  • VIP 8 taker fee – 0.04%

Withdrawal Fees

  • Bitcoin – 0.001 BTC
  • Ethereum – 0.01 ETH
  • Litecoin – 0.01 LTC
  • NEO – Free
  • QTUM – 0.01 QTUM
  • Status – 10 SNT
  • Bancor – 1.2 BNT
  • EOS – 0.7 EOS
  • Bitcoin Cash – 0.0005
  • Gas – Free
  • USDT – 50

2. Coinbase

  • Standard trading fee – 0.1%

Domestic cash withdrawals

  • Up to ÂŁ200 monthly – free
  • Over ÂŁ200 per month – 1% of the value of the withdrawal per transaction

International cash withdrawals

  • Up to ÂŁ200 monthly – free
  • Over ÂŁ200 monthly – 2% of the value of withdrawal per transaction
  • Domestic purchase transaction – free
  • International purchase transaction – 3.99% of transaction per transaction
  • Crypto liquidation fee – 2.49% of the transaction
  • Chargeback processing fee – ÂŁ20
  • Card issuance fee – ÂŁ4.95
  • SEPA withdrawal fees – €0.15
  • US bank transfer – 1.49% (minimum transaction $0.15)
  • Coinbase USD wallet – 1.49%
  • Wire transfer – $25
  • Crypto to crypto conversions – 1%
  • Transfers between Coinbase wallets – free
  • Transfers to an outside wallet – blockchain network fees

3. CEX.io

  • Credit card payments in USD – 3.5% + $0.25
  • Credit card payments in EUR – 3.5% + €0.20
  • Credit card payments in RUB – 5.25% +15.57 RUB
  • Bank transfer in USD – $10
  • Bank transfer in EUR – €10
  • Selling Bitcoins to credit or debit card USD – 2.9% + $4.99
  • Selling Bitcoins to credit or debit card EUR – 2.9% + €4.99
  • Selling Bitcoins to credit or debit card RUB – 499 RUB

Maker/Taker Fees (30-day trade volume)

  • 5 BTC or less – Taker 0.25%, maker 0.16%
  • 30 BTC or less – taker 0.23%, maker 0.15%
  • 50 BTC or less – taker 0.20%, maker 0.12%
  • 200 BTC or less – taker 0.18%, maker 0.10%
  • 1,000 BTC or less – taker 0.15%, maker 0.08%
  • 3,000 BTC or less – taker 0.13%, maker 0.04%
  • 6,000 BTC or less – taker 0.11%, maker 0.00%
  • More than 6,000 BTC – taker 0.10%, maker 0.00%
  • Instant buy – 7%

Deposit Fees

  • MasterCard & VISA – 3.5% + $0.25
  • Bank transfer – Free
  • Crypto capital – free
  • SEPA – free
  • Withdrawal Fees
  • VISA – $3.8
  • MasterCard – 1.2% + $3.8
  • Bank transfer – $50
  • Crypto capital – 1%

4. Bitfinex

Platform Trading Fees (30-day trading volume)

  • Less than $500,000 – maker fee 0.1%, taker fee 0.2%
  • $500,000 to $1M – maker fee 0.08%, taker fee 0.2%
  • $1M to $2.5M – maker fee 0.06%, taker fee 0.2%
  • $2.5M to $5M – maker fee 0.04%, taker fee 0.2%
  • $5M to $7.5M – maker fee 0.02%, taker fee 0.2%
  • $7.5M to $10M – maker fee 0.00%, taker fee 0.2%
  • $10M to $15M – taker fee 0.18%
  • $15M to $20M – taker fee 0.16%
  • $20M to $25M – taker fee 0.14%
  • $25M to $30M – taker fee 0.12%
  • $30M to $300M – taker fee 0.1%
  • $300M to $1B – taker fee 0.09%
  • $1B to $3B – taker fee 0.085%
  • $3B to $10B – taker fee 0.075%
  • $10B to $30B – taker fee 0.060%
  • $30B and above – taker fee 0.055%
  • Fiat Deposit fees – 0.1%
  • Cryptocurrency deposits – free for deposits exceeding $1,000, nominal fees for other amounts
  • Tether (USDT) deposits – free for deposits exceeding $1,000, 20 USDT for lower deposits
  • Fiat withdrawals – bank wire 0.1%, express bank wire 1%, high volume/frequency bank wire 3%
  • Cryptocurrency withdrawals – vary by cryptocurrency
  • Tether withdrawals – 20 USDT

Risks Associated with Bitcoin Exchanges

  • Cyber threats and security:

A recent survey by Encrybit shows that as much as 40% of bitcoin investors believe security is the biggest challenge to the industry.

And they are right because in the past three years, 6 of the top 20 bitcoin exchanges have been hacked and digital assets worth hundreds of millions of dollars stolen.

Some of the victims of these hacks include Bitfinex, Huobi, BitStamp, and Bithumb.

  • Government interference:

In 2017, the Chinese government made the boldest move in the history of cryptocurrency exchange age yet by banishing all bitcoin exchanges out of the country.

Elsewhere, governments have been sneaking in pieces of legislation albeit slowly but aimed at eventually regulating and ultimately controlling the industry.

This started with restrictions on how much exchanges can buy and sell to an individual customer as well as demanding that crypto exchanges acquire operating licenses from financial regulatory agencies.

  • Sluggish systems:

Bitcoin exchanges have had the hardest time scaling their operations and mixing their efficiency. This largely is due to the fact that the bitcoin blockchain is hardcoded to process no more than 7 transactions per second.

Therefore, as more people get into the trade and launch countless transactions consistently and simultaneously, the blockchain network queues them resulting in a painfully slow transaction processing.

Best Crypto Currency Exchange

  • Volatility:

Second to insecurity and cyber threats on the lists of factors that force most people out of bitcoin exchanges and crypto industry is the currency’s volatility.

A case in point is bitcoin’s price performance between November 2017 and February 2018 when it went from $6,000 and shot to $20,000 in mid-December before skidding back to around $8,000 in early Feb 18.

How To Find the Best Cryptocurrency Exchange

i) Fiat-to-crypto or crypto-to-crypto

In your quest for a reliable and trustworthy bitcoin exchange, you first need to evaluate your needs and determine whether you are better off with pure crypto-to-crypto or fiat-to-crypto exchange.

ii) Verify their security guarantee

What emphasis has your preferred bitcoin exchange placed in protecting their systems and your private data? We advise that you only give consideration to companies with a verifiable security perimeter.

This includes the use of multiple layers of security and authentication like the use of two-factor authentication as well as the adoption of know-your-customer (KYC) procedures during registration.

iii) Ensure it is regulated

Having a license and serving under the close guard of a reputable governmental regulatory authority can be taken to mean that the agency vouches for the exchange and its administrators at the time of issuing the licensing.

Close monitoring, on the other hand, ensures that it stays on course with its objectives and any deviation and irregularities will be eventually detected and addressed.

iv) Vet their customer support

Go through the different reviews about the bitcoin site and confirm their customer service. Take into account such factors as the call wait time, 24/7 availability, and timely address of customer concerns.

v) Confirm affordability

The absence of a central regulatory means that bitcoin exchanges have to express their discretion in setting the transaction charges. Always go for the most affordable as long their low fees isn’t a cover-up of their compromised security and poor service.

 

Top Bitcoin Exchanges by Volume

Top Bitcoin Exchanges by Volume

One of the first things that experienced cryptocurrency investors look after when choosing a Bitcoin exchange is the traded volume.

This is used as a sign of health in the exchange and also liquidity which means that you will be able to execute larger transactions but at the same time close them without having to wait a long time to get filled.

We’ve made a small list of our favorite Bitcoin exchanges by volume in 2024:

  • Coinbase |1.04 m – BTC
  • Bitfinex | 630k – BTC
  • Kraken | 597k – BTC
  • Bitstamp | 524k – BTC

  • Bithumb | 352k – BTC
  • Bitflyer | 200k – BTC
  • Bit-X | 162k – BTC

 

Comparison of Top Bitcoin Exchanges

With such a broad offering of exchanges and brokers offering access to Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, it is a must to take the time and compare options before making any choice.

While you can always decide to change or leave an exchange based on your preferences, it can be a hassle and it takes time.

For this exercise, we are comparing the top three exchanges in the market in an effort to help you make the right decision based on your needs and your preferences as an investor or a trader.

 

Payment Methods
  • Credit Card
  • Wire Transfer
  • Paypal
  • ETH
  • Credit Cards
  • Other Cryptocurrencies
  • Credit Card
  • WesternUnion
  • PerfectMoney
Currencies as Payment
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • Other Cryptocurrencies
  • USD
  • Other Cryptocurrencies
  • USD
  • EUR
Assets
  •  $2+ billion
  • $700 million
  • $450 million
Fees
  • E Fee: 1.49%
  • FMD Fee: 3.99%
  • E Fee: 0.10%
  • FMD Fee: 0.10%
  • E Fee: 5.5%
  • FMD Fee: 5.00%

 

 

Criteria we Used to Rank these Bitcoin Exchanges

  • Speed and safety of transactions
  • Customer support
  • Supported countries
  • Years in operation and reputation
  • Fees, charges and limits to purchase and withdrawals
  • Privacy and data security, especially cold wallet vaults
  • Ease of use and availability of mobile apps
  • Regulation and insurance
  • Best bitcoin exchanges

 

Conclusion

There is a countless number of bitcoin exchanges currently popularizing their services in the different parts of the world, each with its fair share of unique features, pros and cons.

The above list highlights the different exchanges that we believe offers the right balance between affordability, security, and convenience.

Figure out what you value most and come back to list to find an exchange that best addresses your needs. The cryptocurrency market is so broad that you can find hundreds of bitcoin sites offering information and analysis for beginner and professional investors. If you take your time reviewing a few, it is very likely that you will find one that meets your expectations.

 

Glossary of Investment Terms

Depiction of a bond certificate and dollar coin illustrating Bonds | Learnbonds
Bonds

A bond is a loan made to an organization or government with the guarantee that the borrower will pay back the loan plus interest upon the maturity of the loan term. It can be advanced to the national government, corporate institutions, and city administration. It is an investment class with a fixed income and a predetermined loan term.

Depiction of coins and growth curve illustrating mutual funds | Learnbonds
Mutual Fund

A mutual fund is a professionally managed investment vehicle that pools together funds from numerous investors and invests it in such securities as stocks, bonds, and other money market instruments. They are headed by portfolio managers who determine where to invest these funds. They are highly regulated and invest in relatively low-risk money markets and in turn post lower rates than other aggressive managed funds.

Illustration of an interlink depicting P2P lending | Learnbonds
P2P Lending

Peer-to-peer lending (p2p lending) is a form of direct-lending that involves one advancing cash to individuals and institutions online. A P2P lending platform, on the other hand, is an online platform connecting individual lenders to borrowers.

Illsutration on a Bitcoin Coin | Bitcoin Learnbonds
Bitcoin

Bitcoin is the legacy cryptocurrency developed on the Bitcoin Blockchain technology. It is a new form of money primarily developed to solve some of the inherent challenges associated with fiat currencies like inflation and over-production. It is virtual (online) cash that you can use to pay for products and services from bitcoin-friendly stores.

Depiction of an uptrending index fund | Learnbonds
Index Funds

An index fund refers to the coming together of individuals to pool in funds that are then invested in the stock and money markets by professional money managers. The only difference between an index fund and a mutual fund is that the index fund follows a specific set of rules that track specific investments and index stocks.

Depiction of ETF performance |ETFs Learnbonds
ETFs

An Exchange-traded fund refers to an investment vehicle that is publicly traded in the stock exchange markets – much like shares and stocks. The fund is expert-managed and its portfolio comprises of such investment products as stocks, bonds, commodities, and more money market instruments like currencies.

Deprion of an elderly person on a wheelchair depicting retirement | Learnbonds
Retirement

Retirement refers to the time you spend away from active employment and can be voluntary or occasioned by old age. In the United States, the retirement age is between 62 and 67 years.

An illustration of uptrending penny stocks performance | Learnbonds
Penny Stocks

Penny Stocks refer to the common shares of relatively small public companies that sell at considerably low prices. They are also known as nano/micro-cap stocks and primarily include any public traded share valued at below $5.

Depictin of a house loan form and pen illustrating nature of real estate | Learnbonds
Real Estate

Real Estate can be said to be the land and buildings on a given property as well as other rights associated with the use of the property like the air rights and underground rights. Real estate can be either commercial if the land, property, and buildings are used for business purposes or residential if they are used to non-business purposes – like building a family home.

Depiction of a house illustrating Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) | Learnbonds
Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)

REITs are companies that use pooled funds from members to invest in income-generating real estate projects. While a REIT may specialize in one real estate niche, most diversify and invest in as many high-income real estate projects as possible. They are especially interested in commercial real estate projects like warehouses, prime office buildings, residential apartments, hotels, timber yards, and shopping malls.

A hand holding a house and dollar cash illustrating different types of assets | Asset, Learnbonds
Asset

Asset simply refers to any resource of value or a resource that can be owned and controlled to produce positive value by an individual or business.

Depiction of a man with a house in mind - real estate Broker | Learnbonds
Broker

A broker is an intermediary to a gainful transaction. It is the individual or business that links sellers and buyers and charges them a fee or earns a commission for the service.

chart and graph depiction of market performance illustrating capital gains | Learnbonds
Capital Gain

Capital gains refer to the positive change in the price of a capital asset like shares and stock, bonds or a real estate project. It is the difference between the current selling price of the asset and its lower original buying price and it is considered a taxable income.

Dollar sack and a stack of coins showing hedge fund performance | Hedge Fund, Learnbonds
Hedge Fund

A hedge fund is an investment vehicle that pools together funds from high net worth individuals and businesses before having professional money managers invest it in highly diversified markets. The difference between mutual and hedge funds is that the later adopts highly complicated portfolios comprised of more high-risk high-return investments both locally and internationally.

Depiction of an uptrending index fund | Learnbonds
Index

An index simply means the measure of change arrived at from monitoring a group of data points. These can be company performance, employment, profitability, or productivity. Observing a stock index, therefore, involves measuring the change in these points of a select group of stocks in a bid to estimate their economic health.

A downtrending market and a dollar coin depicting a recession | Learnbonds
Recession

A recession in business refers to business contraction or a sharp decline in economic performance. It is a part of the business cycle and is normally associated with a widespread drop in spending.

Tax, dollars and percentage depictions of a Taxable Account | Learnbonds
Taxable Accounts

Taxable Account refers to any investment account that invests in shares and stocks, bonds and other money market securities. The account is offered by a brokerage company and you are obliged to report and pay taxes on the investment income each year.

Calculator, percentages and form illustrating a Tax-Advantaged account | Learnbonds
Tax-Advantaged Accounts

A tax-advantaged account refers to savings of investment accounts that enjoy such benefits as a tax exemption or deferred tax payment. Roth IRA and Roth 401K are examples of tax-exempt accounts whose contributions are drawn from after-tax incomes with the yields generated from investing funds therein being tax-exempt. Traditional IRA, 401K plan and college savings, on the other hand, represent tax-deferred accounts. Their contributions are deductible from your current taxable incomes but you get to pay taxes on their accrued incomes.

Yiled Sign | Yield, Learnbonds
Yield

Yield simply refers to the returns earned on the investment of a particular capital asset. It is the gain an asset owner gets from the utilization of an asset.

A illustration of justice scale showing authosity a Custodian holds to custodial Account | Learnbonds
Custodial Accounts

A custodial account is any type of account that is held and administered by a responsible person on behalf of another (beneficiary). It may be a bank account, trust fund, brokerage account, savings account held by a parent/guardian/trustee on behalf of a minor with the obligation to pass it to them once they become of age.

Hand holding different assets - house and cash - illustrating how asset management company works | Learnbonds
Asset Management Company

An Asset Management Company (AMC) refers to a firm or company that invests and manages funds pooled together by its members. Like mutual or hedge funds, the AMC creates diversified investment portfolios that comprise of shares and stocks, bonds, real estate projects, and other low and high-risk investments.

Depictio of man thinking of money and risks illustrating a Registered Investment Advisor | Learnbonds
Registered Investment Advisor (RIA)

A registered investment advisor is an investment professional (an individual or firm) that advises high-net-worth (accredited) investors on possible investment opportunities and possibly manages their portfolio.

Depiction of percentage growth rate of funds depicting Fed Rate percentage changes | Learnbonds
Fed Rate

The fed rate in the United States refers to the interest rate at which banking institutions (commercial banks and credit unions) lend - from their reserve - to other banking institutions. The Federal Reserve Bank sets the rate.

Depiction of grrowing stacks of coins illustrating fixed income rates | Learnbonds
Fixed Income Fund

A fixed-income fund refers to any form of investment that earns you fixed returns. Government and corporate bonds are prime examples of fixed income earners.

Dollar sack and potted plant depicting how assets grow in a Fund | Learnbonds
Fund

A fund may refer to the money or assets you have saved in a bank account or invested in a particular project. It may also refer to the collective basket of resources pooled from different clients that are then invested in highly diversified income-generating projects.

Depiction of a values of coin going up or down illustrating value investing | Learnbonds
Value Investing

Value investing is the art of using fundamental analysis to identify undervalued shares and stocks in the market. It involves buying these shares at the current discounted prices and hoping that a market correction pushes them up to their intrinsic value effectively resulting in massive gains.

A plant groning on a stack of cash illustrating impact investing | Learnbonds
Impact Investing

Impact investing simply refers to any form of investment made with the aim of realizing financial returns while positively impacting the society, environment or any other aspect of life in the process. Investment in solar projects and green energy, for instance, posts profits and helps conserve the environment.

Magnifying glass on a smartphone screen illustrating how Investing App works | Learnbonds
Investing App

An investment App is an online-based investment platform accessible through a smartphone application. It lets you save and invest your funds in a preset portfolio that primarily consists of shares and stocks, bonds, ETFs, and currencies based on your risk tolerance.

A gorup of individuals and a dollar coin showing how crowdfunding works | Real Estate Crowdfunding, Learnbonds
Real Estate CrowdFunding

Real Estate crowdfunding is a platform that mobilizes average investors – mainly through social media and the internet – encourages them to pool funds, and invests them in highly lucrative real estate projects. It can be said to be an online platform that brings together average investors and lets them enjoy real estate projects previously preserved for high net worth and institutional investors.

FAQs

How can I deposit funds into a bitcoin exchange?

Can I withdraw cash or bitcoin assets from a bitcoin exchange?

How long does it take to buy bitcoins from a bitcoin exchange?

Are all bitcoin exchanges the same?

What do I need to create a trading account with a bitcoin exchange?

Cryptocurrency – A-Z Directory

 

Edith Muthoni

Edith Muthoni

Edith is an investment writer, trader, and personal finance coach specializing in investments advice around the fintech niche. Her fields of expertise include stocks, commodities, forex, indices, bonds, and cryptocurrency investments. She holds a Masters degree in Economics with years of experience as a banker-cum-investment analyst. She is currently the chief editor, learnbonds.com where she specializes in spotting investment opportunities in the emerging financial technology scene and coming up with practical strategies for their exploitation. She also helps her clients identify and take advantage of investment opportunities in the disruptive Fintech world.