eToro Cryptocurrency Trading

- Buy Bitcoin and 15 other cryptocurrencies
- Copy top-performing traders
- Disclaimer: Virtual currencies are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk
You can use a cryptocurrency exchange to buy, sell and trade cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH). We’ve compared some popular exchanges by different categories to make it easier to find the best for you.
Cryptocurrency is held in digital wallets. Some exchanges will give you your own wallet, which lets you hold cryptocurrency in your exchange account and then transfer it anywhere as desired, while others will require you to have your own wallet at the time of purchase.
However, using an exchange for long-term storage is not recommended. As the exchange controls the private key to your wallet, you don’t have total control of your funds. And with exchanges regularly (and sometimes successfully) targeted by hackers, storing crypto on an exchange long-term is very risky.
With hundreds of exchanges to choose from, how can you find the best cryptocurrency exchange for your needs? The most important thing to do is to research a wide range of platforms and compare the pros and cons of each option.
Consider the following factors when comparing crypto exchanges.
For the sake of our example, let’s assume that you have GBP£500 that you want to use to buy Bitcoin.
In this scenario, let’s assume that you have 1 BTC that you want to exchange for ETH. Here’s what you need to do if placing a trade on a centralised crypto exchange:
However, if you’re using a decentralised crypto exchange, the process is a little different. You’ll typically be required to link your wallet to your account, but you’ll then be able to trade directly from wallet to wallet, with no requirement to deposit any funds on the exchange.
If you want to sell cryptocurrency on an exchange – let’s say Bitcoin for the purposes of this example – you’ll need to follow these steps:
It’s now time to withdraw those funds from your exchange account, but the exact process you’ll need to follow depends on whether you’ve purchased crypto or fiat currency:
You’ll need to deposit funds on your cryptocurrency exchange. Bitcoin exchanges accept all sorts of deposit methods, including the following:
The payment types accepted will vary between exchanges though, so it’s worth checking to ensure your preferred payment method is supported before signing up.
The term “exchange” can be used to refer to a variety of crypto trading platforms:
Cryptocurrency brokers often offer the simplest and most convenient way to buy cryptocurrency. Buying Bitcoin or any altcoin from a broker is essentially like purchasing from a cryptocurrency shop – the broker buys digital coins or tokens at wholesale rates, adds their own margin on top and then sells the currency on to you.
Brokers offer a quick and straightforward entry into the world of cryptocurrency. Their platforms are designed to be easy to use and you can pay for your crypto purchase with your everyday fiat currency, often even by using a credit or debit card.
The main downside of using a broker is the cost, as you’ll not only need to buy your crypto at a price above the market rate but also pay transaction fees.
Cryptocurrency trading platforms are the most widely used platforms for buying and selling digital currency. They connect crypto buyers with crypto sellers and take a fee for facilitating each transaction. You can use these platforms to exchange cryptos at the current market rate or at a specified limit, while some sites also offer more advanced features like stop-loss orders.
Crypto trading platforms tend to provide access to a more diverse range of currencies than brokers, and often feature charting tools to help you plan your trades. These platforms also tend to offer lower fees and better exchange rates when compared with brokers.
However, it’s not possible to directly exchange one crypto for any other digital currency you want – you’re limited to the trading pairs supported by your chosen platform. Bitcoin and Ether are the most commonly traded currencies and feature in pairs alongside a wide range of altcoins. Crypto trading platforms can also be intimidating and confusing for new users.
These platforms allow direct peer-to-peer trading between people all around the world. The exchange acts as the middleman, with the seller able to set their own price and accepted payment methods.
The main advantage of peer-to-peer exchanges is that they let you quickly and anonymously buy or sell coins with almost any kind of trade or payment method you want. The downside is that you’ll often pay above market prices, and it can also be riskier than other options.
To help offset the risks, some platforms have built-in escrow features and reputation systems to identify reliable and legitimate buyers and sellers.
Not all crypto exchanges are created equal, and not all crypto buyers and sellers have the same trading needs. The best exchange for one person might not necessarily be the right choice for someone else, so it’s essential that you do your own research.
Check out our reviews on a range of leading cryptocurrency exchanges in the UK and around the world. Compare the features, fees and pros and cons of each Bitcoin exchange and consider how they align with your trading requirements.
Back to topYour detailed review of the Paybis cryptocurrency exchange, including supported cryptos, registration, fees and payment methods.
Learn more about the pros and cons of trading on the CoinDeal cryptocurrency exchange.
Read our Bitcoin UK review to find out how it works and what to look out for when buying Bitcoin.
Read the Zebpay review to find out how to use the app and what to watch out for.
Read our review for everything you need to know about the Binance cryptocurrency exchange, including its usability, fees, potential security risks and more.
Read about Bitsane’s features, security and fees to see if it’s the right cryptocurrency exchange for you.
See how Remitano works and find out how to buy and sell BTC, ETH, USDT and more peer-to-peer.
If you’re looking for a secure, decentralised exchange where you can trade a huge range of Ethereum ERC20 tokens, check out our review of IDEX.
Read our review of Vimba to discover the key features and the steps to getting started as well as the service’s pros and cons.
A review of BC Bitcoin that covers key features, pros and cons as well as steps to getting started.
I live in uk and want to buy EQS crypto coins by bank transfers I have my own nano s wallet ,could you advise me
Hi Brian,
Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well with you. :)
To help you further, did you mean EOS, instead of EQS? I’m not sure if there’s a cryptocurrency with EQS name. Please let me know.
In case you are asking about EOS, we have a guide that will help you. Please click this link.
You can use your Nano S wallet to store your digital coins, but it is not for buying EOS. What you can do is look for an exchange that allows you to use fiat money to buy EOS coins. You can find these exchanges conveniently listed and compared on the page I just shared to you above. Look for exchanges that handle fiat currency. Our table also indicates that so please feel free to explore the table.
Once you have chosen an exchange, you can now deposit fiat money into your account and use the money to buy EOS.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
A list of preferably UK crypto/altcoin exchanges and list of existing currencies with values and performances where available.
Hi Ian,
Thanks for getting in touch with finder.
We have a list of UK cryptocurrencies on this page. If you are looking for exchanges, then this guide should help.
Though we don’t have a UK page on cryptocurrencies along with their performances, we have one on our AU finder website. Here’s the link. It is still a great place to start learning more about cryptocurrencies.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua