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Best crypto exchanges and platforms of 2024
Find the top regulated crypto exchanges and trading platforms available to US residents.
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.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced investor or trader, finding the best crypto exchange is crucial for safe and efficient trading. It’s also the first step you need to take to invest in this growing asset class.
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. 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.
Best crypto exchanges and platforms of 2024
- Best overall crypto exchange: Crypto.com
- Best for beginners: Coinbase
- Best for nationwide availability: Gemini
- Best broker for buying crypto: Robinhood Crypto
- Best for advanced trading: Kraken
- Best for copy trading: eToro
- Best for multi-asset trading: Uphold
- Best for automated crypto investing: Betterment
Why you can trust Finder's crypto experts
We're free
Our comparison tables are completely free to use. We link you directly to the platform's secure sign-up page and often have offers you won't find elsewhere.
We're experts
We've researched and rated dozens of exchanges for our Crypto Trading Platform Awards and are often called upon to comment in media.
We're independent
We're not owned by an exchange or investment firm. Our opinions are our own and we put our users first to help you find the product that's right for you.
We're here to help
We're a team of crypto nerds with extensive experience in investing, trading and decentralized finance but we also remember how it feels to be a beginner.
Best overall and Best for low fees
Finder Award Crypto.com App
★★★★★
Finder score
Why it’s the best overall: For offering a low-cost, reliable and world-class service for all levels of crypto traders and investors.
Why it’s the best for low fees: It charges no fees or spreads to buy bitcoin within the Crypto.com app.
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 fee-free bitcoin 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.
| Fiat currencies | 31 |
|---|---|
| Supported assets | 384 |
| Supported states | 49 |
Best for beginners
Finder Award Coinbase Digital Currency Exchange
★★★★★
Finder score
Why it’s the best for beginners. For its user-friendly and secure platform and comprehensive educational resources.
Coinbase is one of the most prominent names in the crypto space. Launching in 2012, it offers an intuitive, beginner-friendly platform to buy, sell, exchange and store cryptocurrencies. It also offers a straightforward onboarding process, making it easy for newcomers to start trading. Moreover, the platform’s extensive educational resources and tutorials help users understand the crypto market and make informed decisions. It’ll even give you some crypto to learn about crypto. With a wide variety of coins available and reliable, accessible customer support, Coinbase is a comprehensive, beginner-friendly solution for entering the world of crypto trading.
| Fiat currencies | 23 |
|---|---|
| Supported assets | 248 |
| Supported states | 43 |
Best for nationwide availability
Gemini Cryptocurrency Exchange
★★★★★
Finder score
Why it’s the best for nationwide availability: For offering a wide selection of cryptos to residents across all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
Gemini is one of only a handful of providers we reviewed that’s licensed to operate in all 50 states, allowing users from anywhere in the country to legally and securely trade cryptocurrencies. And do it with a user-friendly platform with robust security measures, including hot wallet insurance and two-factor authentication. Additionally, Gemini provides access to a wide range of cryptocurrencies, making it a versatile choice for traders and investors nationwide.
| Minimum deposits | $0 |
|---|---|
| Fiat currencies | 7 |
| Supported assets | 152 |
| Supported states | 50 |
Best broker for buying crypto
Robinhood Crypto
★★★★★
Finder score
Why it’s the best broker for buying crypto: For its affordable crypto trading, self-custody wallet and respectable lineup of supported cryptos.
No other traditional broker comes close to Robinhood when it comes to crypto. Robinhood supports more coins than any other broker we review and boasts some of the lowest crypto trade fees — $0 commissions and a 0.45% spread. Trading on Robinhood is also incredibly easy and user-friendly. Not to mention, Robinhood offers a dedicated self-custody wallet, Robinhood Wallet, which gives you full control over your crypto.
| Fiat currencies | 1 |
|---|---|
| Supported assets | 36 |
| Supported states | 49 |
Best for advanced trading
Finder Award Kraken Cryptocurrency Exchange
★★★★★
Finder score
Why it’s the best for advanced trading: For its strong security, advanced tools through Kraken Pro and 24/7 customer support.
Kraken stands out for its deep liquidity and diverse asset selection, enabling precise and high-volume trades. Through Kraken Pro, the platform offers advanced trading tools such as margin trading, futures and multiple order types, providing flexibility and enhanced strategies. Meanwhile, its top-tier security measures including cold storage, two-factor authentication and robust encryption boost asset safety. Kraken also boasts a transparent fee structure and 24/7 responsive customer support, ensuring reliability and assistance whenever needed. This combination of features makes Kraken a preferred choice for seasoned traders seeking a secure and versatile trading environment.
| Fiat currencies | 6 |
|---|---|
| Supported assets | 261 |
| Supported states | 48 |
Best for copy trading
Finder Award eToro USA LLC Cryptocurrency Trading
★★★★★
Finder score
Why it’s the best for copy trading. For being the only platform that offers such a unique feature.
eToro’s CopyTrader feature, which is currently only available for crypto, lets customers tap into the expertise of other eToro users and automatically replicate their crypto trades. View traders participating in the program, scope out their portfolios, stats, risk scores and more and choose a trader to copy, all at no extra cost. Trade 21 cryptos on eToro for a straightforward 1% buy and sell fee and take full ownership over your crypto with eToro Money, eToro’s crypto wallet.
| Fiat currencies | 6 |
|---|---|
| Supported assets | 106 |
| Supported states | 47 |
Best for multi-asset trading
Uphold - Digital Asset Platform
★★★★★
Finder score
Why it’s the best for multi-asset trading: For its seamless trading between any supported asset.
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.
| Minimum deposits | US$10 |
|---|---|
| Fiat currencies | 27 |
| Supported assets | 266 |
| Supported states | 42 |
Best broker for automated crypto investing
Betterment Crypto Investing
Why it’s the best for automated crypto investing. For its automated, expert-built portfolios of bitcoin, Ethereum and other coins.
Betterment’s a robo-advisor that offers hands-off, diversified crypto strategies, making it ideal for investors who prefer minimal intervention. It offers three portfolios, giving investors direct access to bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Dogecoin and 13 other cryptos. All crypto is custodied by Gemini, with low trade fees of up to 0.15%.
| Minimum deposits | $10 |
|---|---|
| Fiat currencies | 1 |
| Supported assets | 17 |
| Supported states | 50 |
Methodology: How we choose the best crypto exchanges and platforms
Finder’s investments experts reviewed over 40 cryptocurrency platforms available to narrow down the best exchanges and platforms 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.
How to choose the best crypto exchange
You won’t know if a crypto exchange or platform is right for you until you try it. That said, the following factors are typically universally important when choosing a provider:
- User-friendliness. Getting started buying and selling coins and tokens can be complicated and confusing. Look for a platform with a straightforward user interface that’s easy to understand.
- Payment methods. Choose an exchange that has deposit and withdrawal options that work for you. Remember to check the fees associated with different methods.
- Fees. Consider all relevant costs to use a specific platform, from depositing to trading and withdrawing funds and assets. For instance, fees for credit card purchases are usually higher than for a bank transfer.
- Type of trading. Consider the type of trades you want to place. Some exchanges offer only fiat-to-crypto, while others offer fiat-to-crypto and crypto-to-crypto trades. If you want to buy BTC with US dollars, you’ll need to find a platform that lets you buy coins via bank transfer or card. Alternatively, if you want to exchange your BTC or ETH holdings for another cryptocurrency, you’ll want a platform that offers direct crypto-to-crypto trades.
- Cryptocurrency selection. Traditional brokers tend to offer fewer cryptos than exchanges. Major cryptocurrencies are listed on most exchanges, while you may only find rarer altcoins on certain platforms.
- Trading platforms. Certain platforms only let you trade through a web browser, though many also have mobile apps. However, mobile apps typically have paired down trading capabilities.
- Liquidity. An exchange’s level of liquidity — also known as trading volume — affects the ease and speed at which you can complete trades. If there’s a high level of liquidity, then trades should be completed quickly and easily. One of the biggest benefits of trading on larger crypto exchanges is they get enough orders to match buyers and sellers easily. However, low liquidity can lead to substantial price fluctuations. Websites such as CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap provide information about an exchange’s liquidity level.
- Account verification process. Like stock brokers, most regulated centralized crypto exchanges implement a know-your-client (KYC) identity verification process. Expect to provide your name, email address, phone number, residential address and proof of ID to create an account. The verification process is usually instant but can sometimes take two to three business days.
- Security features. Security is a crucial factor to consider when choosing a crypto exchange. Hacks happen, so determine what security measures and insurance are in place to protect your funds. Is the exchange licensed and regulated by the proper authorities? Does it support two-factor authentication (2FA)? What percentage of customer funds are stored offline or in cold storage? Check the exchange’s trust score on CoinGecko or CER.
- Local regulation. US-based cryptocurrency exchanges are regulated by the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), which requires that crypto exchanges register with the US Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).(1) FinCEN requires all exchanges in the US to be licensed and to comply with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements. However, certain states such as New York also have specific regulatory requirements under a “BitLicense” that requires “virtual currency businesses” to go through several bureaucratic procedures to obtain a license to do business in the state. You’ll know you’re using a regulated exchange if you’re asked to provide KYC information to create an account.
- Customer support. Consider customer support availability and contact methods. Some exchanges offer 24/7 customer support with phone, email and live chat options, while others are only available by email and during specific hours.
- Reputation. All the providers on our list are US government regulated and licensed to operate in the US. They also hold the majority of customer assets in cold storage. Online reviews can shed light on overall customer sentiment when learning about an exchange’s reputation.
Should you buy crypto with a broker or an exchange?
Here are the most notable differences between buying and selling crypto via a traditional broker versus a crypto exchange:
Crypto exchanges
- Direct ownership. Buying through a crypto exchange usually means you directly own the cryptocurrency, which you can store in a digital wallet. However, some brokers offer this too.
- Variety of cryptocurrencies. Exchanges often support a wide range of cryptocurrencies, giving you more options for buying, selling and trading.
- Liquidity. High liquidity on major exchanges allows for quick trade execution and usually better market prices.
- Regulatoty uncertainty. Crypto exchanges vary widely in terms of regulatory compliance, making it crucial to choose reputable platforms.
- Security concerns. Crypto exchanges have been targeted by hackers, resulting in high-profile security breaches and significant losses of investor funds. While some exchanges have robust security measures, the risk of hacking remains a concern.
Traditional brokers
- Fees and commissions. Brokers typically have a more straightforward fee structure, which usually consists of a flat buy or sell fee or a spread.
- Access to other assets. Traditional brokers let you trade other assets like stocks, bonds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), providing a more diversified trading platform.
- Regulation. Traditional brokers are often heavily regulated, providing an added layer of security and consumer protection compared to some crypto exchanges.
- Indirect ownership. Though this isn’t always the case, buying crypto through a traditional broker often means you do not directly own the cryptocurrency. You may not be able to transfer your crypto to an external wallet.
- Limited cryptocurrency selection. Traditional brokers generally offer a more limited selection of cryptocurrencies compared to dedicated crypto exchanges.
The different types of cryptocurrency exchanges
The term “exchange” may refer to a variety of cryptocurrency brokers, trading platforms and other services. Different types of exchanges can be geared toward beginners or experienced users.
- Cryptocurrency brokers (suited to beginners). Buy directly from cryptocurrency dealers for simple and quick purchases. Many beginners use brokers for their first purchase. A broker will facilitate an instant purchase of the digital asset of your choosing and will not offer spot trading.
- Cryptocurrency trading platforms (suited to beginner/intermediate users). Buy and sell cryptocurrency on an open market for competitive fees, a wide selection of cryptocurrencies and optional features like margin trading. Many exchanges now offer brokerage services to be more beginner-friendly.
- Cryptocurrency derivatives platforms (suited to advanced users). These trading platforms don’t sell cryptocurrency outright. Instead, they let certain users trade cryptocurrency derivatives in regions where this restricted-access feature is available. They’re for advanced traders who want high speed, high leverage and deeply liquid platforms with a full range of features.
Risks of using a crypto exchange
- Cybersecurity breaches. Hacks and scams are, unfortunately, commonplace in the crypto space. Exchange-related security breaches and targeted phishing scams remain a major concern for exchanges and their customers.
- Not your keys. “Not your keys, not your crypto” is a common industry saying and refers to holding your digital assets in a wallet that another person or company controls, such as on an exchange. By storing cryptos on an exchange rather than in a non-custodial wallet, you’re relinquishing full ownership of those assets and putting trust in a third party – which some may see as contradictory to the decentralized philosophy of crypto.
- Lack of consumer protection. While crypto exchanges are increasingly regulated in the US and may be registered with FinCEN, they are still lacking a lot of consumer protections such as mandatory insurance or strict rules about how user assets are managed.
- Proof of reserves. Since the widely publicized collapse of FTX, many traders and investors have demanded centralized exchanges provide proof of reserves and user deposits. This may be done by a third-party auditor or through the use of on-chain data. Proof of reserves is still an evolving concept, and it’s not clear yet what the best practices are or how reliable it will prove to be.
- Transaction limits. Most crypto trading platforms have daily deposit and withdrawal limits. This means that even though you may have, for example, 10,000 USD available, you may not be able to access and withdraw the total balance. Transaction limits depend on the exchange and FinCEN stipulations and typically increase as you provide additional KYC information.
- Frozen accounts. Crypto exchanges freezing deposits and withdrawals can happen without warning. If your account is frozen, you will not be allowed to remove your funds until the exchange approves or denies your request. Precautionary measures such as only holding a trading balance on an exchange are recommended.
- Asset delistings. Centralized exchanges can opt to delist a cryptocurrency at any time. This can happen for numerous reasons, including poor asset performance, security concerns or anti-money laundering (AML) breaches. If delisting is taking place, you will be notified by the exchange and forced to sell your assets or remove them from the platform.
Is it safe to store your cryptocurrency on an 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.
2023 crypto exchange industry predictions report
We polled 56 specialists in the fintech industry to get their opinion on what the future looks like for centralized crypto exchanges and what the demise of FTX means for the crypto industry.
The vast majority of our panelists (83.93%) don't think the collapse of FTX was the beginning of the end for crypto, while 8.93% think it was and 7.14% are unsure.
However, because of the FTX collapse, more than half of our panelists (58.49%) believe that crypto exchanges should be regulated just as much as other financial trading platforms.
22.64% believe that crypto exchanges should be regulated, but less so than other financial trading platforms. 15.09% don't believe that crypto exchanges should be regulated to the same degree.
Over one-third of our panelists (35.19%) believe all crypto exchanges will be regulated as traditional financial institutions by 2030. A further 22.22% believe this will happen by 2025 and another 14.81% think it will happen by 2024.
In the future, the majority of our panelists (86.79%) feel that crypto exchanges should be required to disclose both their proof of reserves (PoR) and records of their liabilities.
42.31% think that more crypto exchanges will face bankruptcy as a result of a reduction in their customer base. 15.38% believe this will play out over the next 5 years while a quarter (26.92%) think it'll happen within the year.
Frequently asked questions
Which crypto exchange is safest?
The safest exchanges have stringent security measures like Know Your Customer (KYC) registration, password protection and two-factor authentication (2FA). They’ll hold most customers’ funds in cold storage and offer a publicly available insurance policy for user deposits, as well.
Remember: all centralized cryptocurrency exchanges are vulnerable to hacking and exploits.
Which crypto exchange has the lowest fees?
There are lots of fees to take into account when choosing an exchange. Exchanges like Crypto.com, Binance.US and Coinbase are known for having competitive transaction fees.
But, it’s also important to consider deposit and withdrawal fees, possible account inactivity fees and spreads.
What is the most trustworthy crypto exchange?
Due diligence and research are incredibly important when choosing a crypto exchange you can trust.
As a good rule of thumb, look for exchanges headquartered in the US with a long history of serving customers without hacks — like Coinbase, Kraken or Gemini.
A great way to dive deeper is by reading extended reviews of each crypto exchange and researching customer feedback and industry data on platforms like Trustpilot.
Which crypto exchange is best for the US?
To answer this question, you’ll need to research a range of crypto exchanges to see which meets your needs and budget.
It’s also important to understand that there are different state laws and regulations that influence where you can buy crypto in the USA.
We’ve given you a headstart by sharing some of our picks for the best crypto exchanges in the US at the top of this page.
How do major crypto exchanges in the US compare?
Easily compare the following major crypto exchanges:
- Binance vs. Coinbase
- Gemini vs. Coinbase
- Robinhood vs. Coinbase
- Binance vs. Binance.US
- Kraken vs. Binance
- eToro vs. Coinbase
- Coinbase vs. Kraken
- Uphold vs. Coinbase
How much crypto do Americans own?
According to a 2023 Finder survey, respondents had about $19,881 on average invested in crypto. However, the median dollar amount our respondents had invested in crypto was only $1,000.(2)
Finder’s crypto exchange reviews
Whether products shown are available to you is subject to individual provider sole approval and discretion in accordance with the eligibility criteria and T&Cs on the provider website.
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