Find the best cryptocurrency exchange for UK investors; whether you're looking for a slick app, low fees, a beginner-friendly interface, advanced trading features and more.
Crypto is unregulated in the UK; there's no consumer protection; value can rise or fall; tax on profits may apply.
Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.
Estimated reading time: 2 min
Due to the potential for losses, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) considers this investment to be high risk.
What are the key risks?
1. You could lose all the money you invest
The performance of most cryptoassets can be highly volatile, with their value dropping as quickly as it can rise. You should be prepared to lose all the money you invest in cryptoassets.
The cryptoasset market is largely unregulated. There is a risk of losing money or any cryptoassets you purchase due to risks such as cyber-attacks, financial crime and firm failure.
2. You should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) doesn't protect this type of investment because it's not a 'specified investment' under the UK regulatory regime – in other words, this type of investment isn't recognised as the sort of investment that the FSCS can protect. Learn more by using the FSCS investment protection checker.
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) will not be able to consider complaints related to this firm or Protection from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) does not cover poor investment performance. If you have a complaint against an FCA regulated firm, FOS may be able to consider it. Learn more about FOS protection here.
3. You may not be able to sell your investment when you want to
There is no guarantee that investments in cryptoassets can be easily sold at any given time. The ability to sell a cryptoasset depends on various factors, including the supply and demand in the market at that time.
Operational failings such as technology outages, cyber-attacks and comingling of funds could cause unwanted delay and you may be unable to sell your cryptoassets at the time you want.
4. Cryptoasset investments can be complex
Investments in cryptoassets can be complex, making it difficult to understand the risks associated with the investment.
You should do your own research before investing. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
5. Don't put all your eggs in one basket
Putting all your money into a single type of investment is risky. Spreading your money across different investments makes you less dependent on any one to do well.
A good rule of thumb is not to invest more than 10% of your money in high-risk investments.
If you are interested in learning more about how to protect yourself, visit the FCA's website here.
For further information about cryptoassets, visit the FCA's website here.
We extensively review UK FCA-registered cryptocurrency exchanges and trading platforms with hands-on expert testing to decide our top picks. We’ve compared 6 crypto platforms in areas such as user experience, fees, cryptoasset choice and trading tools.
Finder’s 6 best crypto exchanges and trading platforms in the UK for 2026
Many cryptocurrency investors like to take a diverse portfolio approach. Along with backing major players, they also want to use their research and insights to spice things up with lesser-known altcoins. However, not all exchanges offer a wide selection of crypto altcoins.
9.8
Excellent
Trading Fee
From 0.99% plus spread
Deposit methods
Bank transfer (ACH), Debit card, PayPal, Apple Pay
Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest
Unlike some platforms, Bitpanda is actually a crypto brokerage. So, if you want a clean, broker-style experience without complicated order books, Bitpanda is ideal. Fees are baked into competitive, transparent spreads (0.99% for Bitcoin), and the platform lets you invest in over 600+ cryptoassets - the largest choice of cryptocurrencies available to UK investors. Alongside individual cryptos, you also have the option of investing in crypto indices, which allow you to own a collection of crypto with a single investment. On top of the wide choice of cryptos, Bitpanda has no deposit or withdrawal fees and you can get started with just £1.
Pros
No deposit or withdrawal fees
Over 600 cryptocurrencies available
Buy crypto from £1
Excellently designed app
Trade crypto 24/7
Crypto indices
Transparent fees
Spotlight feature for finding new cryptos
Cons
No access to advanced trading platform
Instant buy fees up to 2.49%
No access to additional assets in the UK yet
Deposit method
Bank transfer (ACH),Debit card,PayPal,Apple Pay
Deposit Fees
None
Withdrawal Fees
None
Trading fee
From 0.99% plus spread
Trading Fee
From 0.99% plus spread
Deposit methods
Bank transfer (ACH), Debit card, PayPal, Apple Pay
Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest
2. Best for overall exchange
Some crypto platforms do it all! We extensively test and review crypto exchanges, some do better than others when it comes to their Finder score, and our best overall exchange is simply the platform we’ve scored above the rest.
Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest
Kraken earns the top spot as our best overall crypto exchange as it was our highest-scoring platform across the board when we dug into the details for its Finder score. Along with an excellent beginner interface for those just starting out, Kraken is absolutely packed with other tools and features. Experienced traders get free access to advanced tools with Kraken Pro, it offers a state-of-the-art open source Kraken Wallet (meaning it can be scrutinised and checked externally), and the latest string in Kraken’s bow is the new “Krak” debit card with 1% cashback. This is a crypto exchange that truly covers all bases.
Pros
Large selection of 500+ cryptos
Low fees for active traders
Accessible interface for new traders
High-quality educational guides and tools
Krak debit card with 1% cashback
Open-source Kraken Wallet
Cons
Lots of trading features unavailable to UK users
More expensive for newcomers or infrequent traders
Need to use Kraken Pro for lowest fees
Deposit method
Bank transfer,Cryptocurrency,Debit card,PayPal,Faster Payments (FPS),Apple Pay,Google Pay,SWIFT
Deposit Fees
Cash: Free up to £21 depending on method of deposit Cryptocurrency: Mostly free but requires a minimum balance to deposit
Withdrawal Fees
Cash: Free up to £35 depending on method of withdrawal (min. withdrawal £1) Cryptocurrency: Minimum withdrawal requirement and flat-rate withdrawal fee that varies for each cryptocurrency
Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest
3. Best for advanced features
Choosing an exchange with advanced features can really help you level up your crypto investing experience. The interface may be more complex but it usually results in lower fees and a bunch of trading tools at your disposal. Our top pick for advanced features packs a punch.
9.7
Excellent
Trading Fee
Instant buy: Up to 3.99% plus spread Maker fee: 0-0.6% Taker fee: 0.05-1.2%
Deposit methods
Bank transfer, Credit card, Cryptocurrency, Debit card, PayPal
Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest
Although Coinbase does cater towards beginners, we think it’s best suited for those looking for more advanced features. Those looking to dive deeper into crypto markets will find a lot to like with Coinbase. You get free access to “Coinbase Advanced”, which has a much more competitive fee structure and comes complete with all the tools and features an aspiring crypto enthusiast needs. This includes interactive charts powered by TradingView, advanced order types, and access to all of the other features offered by Coinbase like staking, borrow, and the Web3 wallet. As a publicly traded company, you don’t get much more legit than Coinbase.
Pros
Free GBP deposits
240+ cryptoassets
Beginner-friendly platform
Offers Visa debit card
Low fees with Coinbase Advanced
Coinbase has an insurance fund
Cons
Coinbase instant buy fees are quite high
Limited ways to contact customer service
Cheapest fees for high frequency traders
Some fees aren't very transparent and difficult to calculate
Deposit method
Bank transfer,Credit card,Cryptocurrency,Debit card,PayPal
Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest
4. Best for new coins
The cryptocurrency market moves fast, we’re talking lightning fast. And sometimes, exchanges can be slow to list new coins, whereas others have their figurative finger on the button, which allows you earlier access to the latest digital assets.
9.8
Excellent
Trading Fee
0.25%-2.95% Spreads also apply
Deposit methods
Bank transfer (ACH), Debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay
Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest
Uphold stands out in the UK market for those looking to get in on new and emerging cryptocurrencies early, offering one of the broadest ranges of tradable digital assets. The platform prides itself on being connected to multiple underlying trading venues, which allows it to support a massive selection of cryptoassets and often list important new tokens earlier than many competing platforms. Beyond sheer quantity, Uphold also offers the unique 'Anything-to-Anything' feature, which enables a single, seamless trade between any two supported assets - be it crypto, fiat currency, or even precious metals - making it an exceptionally flexible platform for UK users looking to diversify their portfolio and explore up-and-coming digital assets.
Pros
No fiat deposit/withdrawal fees when using bank transfer
Expansive list of digital assets
Available in 184+ countries
Registered with the FCA
Cons
Limited customer service
Certain services are limited to geographical availability (debit card)
Crypto withdrawal fees are unclear
Deposit method
Bank transfer (ACH),Debit card,Apple Pay,Google Pay
Deposit Fees
Free
Withdrawal Fees
Debit card: 1.75% (min. £1) Apple Pay/Google Pay: Free Bank (FPS, SEPA): Free + Fee equivalent to $0.99 on selected blockchain networks + Fee equivalent to $0.99 on selected smaller trades (under $500)
Trading fee
0.25%-2.95% Spreads also apply
Trading Fee
0.25%-2.95% Spreads also apply
Deposit methods
Bank transfer (ACH), Debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay
Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest
5. Best for beginners
A beginner-friendly crypto exchange may sound like an oxymoron, but they do exist! Our top pick for cryptocurrency beginners needs to be easy to use and have plenty of tools and learning features designed for those just starting to explore the wide world of crypto.
Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest
eToro makes investing in 100+ cryptocurrencies as straightforward as possible. Using the mobile app or desktop platform is a breeze and there are excellent features like a free virtual portfolio and an academy to learn how to trade crypto. Its beginner-friendly interface makes buying and selling crypto quick and straightforward for someone just starting out. allowing you to view and mirror the trades of more experienced investors with a click of a button. Getting started is easy, simply choose a proven trader and set your account to automatically follow their moves, making it a powerful shortcut for beginners (though profits are not guaranteed).
Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest
6. Best for crypto debit card
Some exchanges offer debit cards that allow you to spend your crypto in the same way you might spend your fiat currency (like pound sterling). Crypto debit cards bring a new interactive element to cryptos to more easily blend with your current finances.
9.8
Excellent
Trading Fee
Maker: 0.00-0.75% Taker: 0.05-0.75%
Deposit methods
Cryptocurrency, Debit card, SEPA, Faster Payments (FPS), Apple Pay, Google Pay
Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest
Crypto.com was a pioneer in the crypto debit card space, really driving the wider adoption of these tools, and it’s managed to stay on top of the game which is why it’s our best exchange for a crypto card. The Crypto.com prepaid debit card allows you to use Visa to spend crypto and fiat anywhere, offering cashback rewards (paid in CRO) that are among the best available. The key distinction is that higher cashback percentages are unlocked by staking the native CRO token or subscribing to a Level Up tier. Alongside the card, the platform provides access to over 400+ cryptos and a range of integrated financial and lifestyle features.
Pros
150m+ users globally
400+ currencies
Thematic baskets to instantly diversify
Wide range of features including crypto debit cards and staking.
Security is a top priority and there is a $750 million insurance fund.
Clean and friendly user interface.
Certain Crypto.com cards give you the opportunity to cover the entire monthly cost of subscription services like Netflix or Spotify.
Registered with the FCA
Cons
Customer service is rated poorly.
Support for certain cryptocurrency assets can be geographically restricted.
Withdrawal fees from exchange can be high.
In order to be eligible for certain Crypto.com cards, you are required to stake a set amount of GBP that is converted into CRO.
Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest
Compare crypto exchanges
Table: sorted by promoted deals first
6 of 9 results
Finder Score for crypto exchanges
To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Fees, features and asset-support across the most popular platforms are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the exchange – simple.
Frequently asked questions
Beginner’s guide to crypto
To buy and sell crypto in the UK, you need to sign up to a cryptocurrency exchange or app. Increasingly, you can buy and sell crypto through banking apps like Revolut. Our guides and comparisons help you to filter down your options to what’s important to you.
Crypto guides are plastered with warnings and there’s a good reason for that, which is that crypto is incredibly volatile and you could lose all your money. It’s worth knowing that before you take the plunge.
Altcoin stands for alternative coin, and refers to any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin (BTC). This broad term covers everything from coins like Ether (ETH), which was released in 2014 and has a 12-figure market cap, right down to brand new crypto coins which were invented this morning.
Yes, Bitcoin is also known as BTC (and, less commonly, XBT). All cryptos have a “code”, called a ticker symbol, which is typically 3 letters but can be 4 or more. Bitcoin is BTC, Ether is ETH, Ripple is XRP, Dogecoin is DOGE and so on.
Typically, a crypto wallet is used to safely store your crypto (online or offline) and it can be hardware or software. Whereas, a crypto exchange works like a stock exchange where you can buy or sell crypto by dealing with other crypto investors, and the exchange itself acts as a middleman (or broker) to help facilitate trades.
Yes. In the UK, profits made from selling crypto are subject to Capital Gains Tax (CGT). You may also be taxed if you’re earning crypto through staking or mining. HMRC provides clear guidance, and you can use online tools to help calculate your tax obligations.
How do you pick the best crypto exchange?
This depends on what cryptocurrencies you’re interested in and how you plan to invest. We’ve listed some of the best crypto exchanges that excel in different categories, but the best exchange for you to use will be based on which one suits your needs and budget.
First, think about how you plan to invest in cryptocurrency (or whether you’re looking to trade cryptoassets). If you’re a complete beginner, check out the more beginner-friendly apps and platforms that are simple to use and have some useful learning resources.
If you happen to know your hash rates from your halvings, you might want to think about using one of the crypto exchanges offering more advanced trading features to help you make the most of your investing experience.
Whether you’re a beginner or experienced crypto trader, it’s always worth comparing fees to try and find the best UK crypto exchange with low fees to ensure you get the most value from your digital investments.
There’s no single answer unfortunately, it’s all about finding the best crypto exchange for your budget and investing strategy. We’ve broken down the top FCA-registered crypto exchanges into different categories to help you narrow down the best option to suit your cryptocurrency plans.
The best crypto exchange in the UK depends on your needs. For beginners, eToro, Revolut and Kraken offer user-friendly interfaces. If you’re seeking low trading fees and advanced features, Kraken Pro, Revolut X and Uphold strong options. Always choose an FCA-registered exchange where possible.
There’s no single thread where all the crypto-enthusiast Redditors get together to vote on the best UK crypto exchange. However, a number of posts, threads and comments have highlighted Kraken, which is also on our list as one of the best.
To trade crypto, there has to be a buyer and a seller. The people adding to the order book are makers. For example, if you’re selling a coin at a high price. These orders didn’t exist beforehand, so you’re making more options available. If you buy or sell at a price which is already available, you’re taking options away. Both makers and takers can be charged a fee when trading, called – you guessed it – maker fees and taker fees.
It’s up to you whether you want to leave your funds on an exchange or store them in your own private wallet, which can be done either online or offline. If you do choose to leave your funds on an exchange, it would help to choose one which has additional insurance. This is because the exchange could be hacked, which is something that has happened at very large crypto exchanges in the past.
Our current pick is Uphold is a good choice because you get a debit card linked to your digital wallet that allows you to withdraw your crypto balances as fiat currency (pounds sterling, for example) at a cash machine just like you normally would. You can also use it in shops and online to spend directly from your cryptocurrency balance and you’ll even earn 1% cashback in GBP when spending on your card.
We don’t score and rate decentralised exchanges or those that don’t follow “know your customer” (KYC) requirements because these exchanges don’t comply with the rules.
Crypto safety and protection
Yes, it is legal to buy and sell Bitcoin (BTC) in the UK. In order to ensure you’re being legally compliant, it’s a good idea to use only crypto exchanges which are registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). All of the crypto trading platforms in this guide registered with the FCA (which means they’ve passed checks for money-laundering).
Yes, cryptocurrency exchanges are legal in the UK. However, exchanges that serve UK residents must register with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for anti-money laundering compliance. Not all global exchanges are FCA-registered, so always check this before you sign up.
Yes, you can trade crypto legally from the UK on FCA-registered exchanges like those in this guide. There are currently no signs that crypto trading will be made illegal in the UK.
FCA-registered exchanges like eToro, Coinbase, Kraken, Uphold and all the crypto exchanges listed here are considered safe due to their regulatory compliance. For extra security, we’ve given each platform a Finder score to help you choose platforms offering things like cold storage, 2FA, and a stellar security track record.
No, as of Monday 16 October 2023 at 5pm UK time, Binance stopped accepting new UK users. If you had an existing account, this should still work to some degree but you can’t open a new account with Binance because it does not comply with the FCA’s rules around crypto exchanges and money laundering.
Sources
*Cryptocurrencies aren't regulated in the UK and there's no protection from the Financial Ombudsman or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Your capital is at risk. Capital gains tax on profits may apply.
Cryptocurrencies are speculative and investing in them involves significant risks - they're highly volatile, vulnerable to hacking and sensitive to secondary activity. The value of investments can fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. This content shouldn't be interpreted as a recommendation to invest. Before you invest, you should get advice and decide whether the potential return outweighs the risks. Finder, or the author, may have holdings in the cryptocurrencies discussed.
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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by
Liz Edwards
as part of our
fact-checking process.
George is a deputy editor at Finder. He has previously written for The Motley Fool UK, Nasdaq, Freetrade, Investing in the Web, MoneyMagpie, Online Mortgage Advisor, Wealth, and Compare Forex Brokers.
He's focused on making personal finance and investing engaging for everyone. To do this he draws from previous work and his Level 4 Diploma for Financial Advisers (DipFA), sharing what he’s learnt. When he’s not geeking out about money, you’ll find him playing sports and staying active.
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Finder guides across topics including:
Find out everything you need to know about Bitpanda UK as a crypto broker from our hands-on testing review and how to start investing in over 600 cryptos from just £1.
A comprehensive review of Uphold, the cloud-based financial services platform where you can hold, move, convert and transact in fiat currency, cryptocurrency and even commodities.
Check out our complete review of Coinbase UK to see if it’s safe, weigh up pros and cons, compare fees and learn what you can do on it beyond simply buying cryptocurrency.
If you’re thinking of buying and selling cryptocurrencies on eToro, make sure you check out our comprehensive eToro review first to understand the pros and cons.
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