Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced investor or trader, finding the best crypto exchange is crucial for safe and efficient trading. We evaluate security, fees, user experience, available cryptocurrencies and other criteria across more than 40 providers to find the best crypto exchanges and trading platforms for buying and selling crypto.
Great for copy trading
Great for beginners
Advanced crypto trading
All providers on our list are US government-regulated and licensed to operate within the US. Many providers on our list also carry crime insurance covering fiat currency and digital asset theft. See which crypto exchange is right for you and learn how to start investing in crypto today.
| Exchange | Best for | Finder Score | Learn more | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best overall |
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Best for beginners |
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Best for coin selection |
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Best for low fees |
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Best all-in-one platform |
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Best for fiat currencies and commodities |
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Best for security |
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Best for advanced features |
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Crypto.com is Finder’s top pick for the best overall crypto exchange due to its low costs, robust security and user-friendly interface. Supporting a wide range of cryptocurrencies, it offers a low-cost fee structure for crypto trading, third-party asset insurance and seamless integration with its mobile app. Its intuitive design makes it accessible for beginners, while advanced features cater to seasoned traders. Regulated and widely trusted, Crypto.com is a top choice for all levels of crypto traders and investors.
eToro is widely regarded as one of the most beginner-friendly platforms for getting started in crypto, thanks to its intuitive interface and straightforward fee structure. Its standout feature, CopyTrader, lets new users automatically replicate other investors’ trades at no extra cost — a powerful way to learn by doing. The platform also offers an unlimited demo account and a comprehensive online training academy with resources ranging from bite-sized articles to full courses, making it easy for newcomers to build confidence before committing real money.
OKX has a reputation for charging some of the lowest fees in the industry. Its transparent fee framework features a tiered system with a VIP structure that offers progressively lower rates, including negative maker fees for high-volume participation. ACH deposits are free of charge (debit card deposits carry a fee), and there are no account maintenance or inactivity fees, making OKX one of the leanest cost structures available to US crypto traders today.
With over 500 cryptocurrencies available, Kraken offers something for everyone — from Layer-1 coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum to stablecoins, meme coins, AI coins and real-world asset (RWA) projects. What sets it apart from exchanges with similarly large selections is the quality bar behind each listing — Kraken focuses on tokens with strong liquidity, vast adoptio, and real utility, meaning its coin selection is curated rather than indiscriminate. With a high liquidity score, Kraken is particularly well-suited for traders who want broad asset variety without sacrificing the ability to execute trades efficiently. For more advanced users, Kraken Pro builds on this with professional-grade trading tools, deeper analytics, and a streamlined interface designed for executing more complex strategies.
Robinhood goes beyond crypto, making it a true all-in-one financial platform for investors who want to manage everything in one place. Alongside commission-free trading on stocks, ETFs, options and crypto, it offers IRA accounts with contribution matching and up to 3.6% APY on stored cash (for Robinhood Gold members). Its AI-powered tool, Robinhood Cortex, delivers real-time insights into crypto and stock movements, while its prediction markets feature lets traders speculate on real-world events like elections and Fed rate decisions — a unique offering few platforms can match.
Paybis supports over 340 cryptocurrencies, making it a strong choice for anyone who wants variety beyond the usual handful of major coins. With 40+ fiat currencies accepted across payment methods including cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets like Skrill, it serves users in 180+ countries. Add in near-instant transactions, verification in under two minutes, and 24/7 live support, and Paybis makes the entire experience as frictionless as the asset selection is broad.
Uphold is unique in that it enables direct trading between cryptocurrencies, fiat currencies and precious metals. This means you can trade directly between any two of these assets without having to first go back into a common asset like US dollars. For example, you can trade ether (ETH) for Japanese yen or physical gold. Buy gold, silver, platinum and palladium, with instant liquidity into 27 national currencies and no custody fees.
Coinbase is the standout choice for traders who want powerful tools without sacrificing usability. Coinbase Advanced’s TradingView integration — a rare feature among crypto exchanges — gives active traders access to 400+ indicators, 100,000+ public scripts, and real-time chart trading for both spot and futures markets. Users can place market, limit, and stop orders, and toggle seamlessly between the simple and advanced interfaces with a single click.
Trading: Varies based on trade
Spread: Varies based on trade
Taker fee: 0.05% to 0.60%
Maker fee: 0.00% and 0.40%
Finder’s investments experts reviewed over 40 cryptocurrency platforms available to narrow down the best exchanges in the USA for trading and investing in crypto. Only platforms registered with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network operating in the US were considered part of the final methodology.
We analyze each platform based on 98 key metrics we collect directly from exchanges and brokers and assess each provider’s performance based on eight different categories, weighing each metric based on the expertise and insights of Finder’s investment experts. We then score and rank each provider depending on its performance in each category.
How we weigh the overall rating
| Category | Weighting |
|---|---|
| Availability | 20% |
| Support cryptocurrencies | 20% |
| Trading costs | 20% |
| Security | 15% |
| Storage | 10% |
| Customer support | 5% |
| Mobile app store ratings | 5% |
| Features and amenities | 5% |
We update our best picks as products change, disappear, or emerge. We also regularly review and revise our selections to ensure our best provider lists reflect the most competitive.
Not all crypto exchanges are created equal. The right platform for you depends on your experience level, trading goals, and where you live — but regardless of those factors, there are five core areas every trader should evaluate before committing to an exchange.
What's your top priority when choosing a crypto exchange?
Cryptocurrency is held in digital wallets. Some exchanges will give you your own wallet that lets you hold cryptocurrency in your exchange account and then transfer it anywhere as desired.
However, once you have purchased what you consider to be a sizeable amount of digital assets, you may want to consider transferring the private keys to those assets to a self-custodial wallet.
This is because the exchange controls the private key to your wallet, which means you don’t have total control of your funds. And with exchanges sometimes falling victim to hackers, there is some degree of risk involved with leaving the private keys to your crypto in the hands of a centralized exchange.
Gemini is widely regarded as one of the safest crypto exchanges available, particularly for U.S. users. It was the first exchange to achieve SOC 1 Type 2 and SOC 2 Type 2 certifications — the gold standard for internal controls and data security — and keeps the majority of assets in cold storage, with USD deposits FDIC-insured up to $250,000. Gemini also maintains $125 million in total digital asset insurance ($25 million for hot wallet holdings, $100 million for cold storage) and, as a New York Trust Company, is subject to regular audits and strict capital reserve requirements.
It depends on your goals and experience as a trader. Coinbase is the better choice for beginners who want the smoothest first experience, while Kraken better serves advanced users who value granular control and lower fees. On cost, Kraken Pro’s base tier charges 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker, with rates dropping significantly at higher trading volumes — so the cheaper of the two depends heavily on your trade volume rather than a fixed comparison. Both are highly secure and reputable, and Coinbase is publicly traded on Nasdaq with the large majority of assets in cold storage.
Effectively, yes. The IRS tracks crypto by combining blockchain analysis with user data from exchanges — all legally operating U.S. exchanges must collect KYC information and report activity to the IRS via Form 1099-DA. Even self-custody wallets aren’t truly hidden: the 1099-DA includes wallet addresses for every transfer off an exchange, allowing the IRS to trace wallet-to-wallet movements and map your entire crypto portfolio over time.
The IRS also works with blockchain analytics firms like Chainalysis and CipherTrace, which can follow funds across dozens of wallets and flag suspicious patterns even when users move crypto between multiple addresses.
Disclaimer: This page is not financial advice or an endorsement of digital assets, providers or services. Digital assets are volatile and risky, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Potential regulations or policies can affect their availability and services provided. Talk with a financial professional before making a decision. Finder or the author may own cryptocurrency discussed on this page.
Opening a crypto account now positions you to jump on market swings — and earn a higher APY than your bank account while you wait.
A great option for beginners and security-conscious traders, but you must live within its limited service area.
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If you’re thinking of trading cryptocurrency on eToro, make sure you check out our comprehensive eToro Crypto review first.
A comprehensive review of the OKX cryptocurrency exchange, its features, fees, pros and cons.
Gemini’s user-friendly platform and strong security measures make it appealing for beginner traders.
Kraken is one of the best exchanges for advanced traders, offering a wide range of useful features and gaining many positive user reviews.
