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Looking to get into investing in cryptocurrency? The 1st step is finding the best cryptocurrency exchange for you. Luckily, there are dozens of cryptocurrency exchanges and brokerages you can choose from. With all these offerings, however, it may be hard to find the right platform to get started with crypto. Each cryptocurrency exchange has its own unique benefits which we will get into later on in this article.
Depending on your needs as an investor, you may want to opt for an exchange with advanced trading features, low fees, sign up bonuses or industry leading security. Continue reading to find out where each cryptocurrency platform excels so you can make an account with an exchange that fits your needs.
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9 Best Crypto Exchanges
Let’s take a deeper dive into the best cryptocurrency exchanges currently available on the market. Remember, some big names won’t be on this list because they’re technically considered cryptocurrency brokers, which serve the same function as exchanges but operate differently. If you’re looking for the best cryptocurrency brokers, we also have an article on that. Most exchanges have both desktop and mobile applications, so we’ve weighed both in our review.
- Best Overall: Coinbase
- Best for Variety: Uphold
- Best for Sign-up Bonuses: eToro
- Best for All-in-one Capabilities: Exodus
- Best for Decentralized Automated Trading Solutions: Carbon DeFi
- Best for Businesses Wanting Exposure to Cryptocurrency: ICONOMI
- Best for Low Fees: Crypto.com
- Best for Beginners: iTrustCapital
- Best for New Investors: Gemini
1. Best Overall: Coinbase
earn free crypto
securely through Coinbase’s
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Coinbase is one of the Internet’s largest cryptocurrency trading platforms. From Bitcoin to Litecoin or Basic Attention Token to Chainlink, Coinbase makes it exceptionally simple to buy and sell major cryptocurrency pairs.
You can even earn cryptocurrency rewards through Coinbase’s unique Coinbase Earn feature. More advanced traders will love the Coinbase Pro platform, which offers more order types and enhanced functionality.
Though Coinbase doesn’t offer the most affordable pricing or the lowest fees, its simple platform is easy enough for complete beginners to master in as little as a single trade.
Best For
- New cryptocurrency traders
- Cryptocurrency traders interested in major pairs
- Cryptocurrency traders interested in a simple platform
- Simple platform is easy to operate
- Comprehensive mobile app mirrors desktop functionality
- Coinbase Earn feature rewards you with crypto for learning about available coins
- Higher fees than competitors
Coinbase is the most popular cryptocurrency broker in the U.S., with over 100 million users, and enjoys a renowned reputation for its security measures and regulatory compliance. Its platform allows trading of more than 200 different cryptocurrencies via solid trading tools while ensuring safety standards are exceeded.
Furthermore, Coinbase provides free crypto to its customers through various means. When you sign up for an account you can spin a free reward wheel which can yield up to $200 worth of Bitcoin or USD. The Coinbase Learn program also gives users mall amounts of crypto just for reading about tokens and taking short quizzes. Coinbase has a great staking page too with solid APYs to get your money working for you.
Pros
- Large userbase
- More than 200 cryptocurrencies to choose from
- Free rewards are available
Cons
- The platform has been hacked in the past
2. Best for Variety: Uphold
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Uphold is a unique broker that makes it easier than ever for you to trade on the crypto market, with quite a lot of information and access to cryptocurrencies that will help diversify your portfolio.
Uniquely, Uphold just released the option for a Trailing Stop Order. Unlike a Stop Order, which only protects you from losses based on purchase price, a Trailing Stop Order readjusts to the highest price after you buy. Therefore, you will follow the market up while the “going’s good” and get out if the price starts falling further than you’d like.
Also, ATOM is now a Tier 3 token, meaning that you can make deposits and withdrawals to and from the Cosmos Network.
Best For
Uphold is easily the best cryptocurrency exchange for traders looking to trade a variety of different assets, especially for U.S. users. It supports more than 200 different cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, Dogecoin and more. Uphold also offers cryptocurrency staking where you can earn up to 19.5% on It even offers trading on stocks and precious metals too. Fees on Uphold aren’t the lowest in the market but they are close to it.
Pros
- Access to hundreds of cryptocurrencies
- Invest in other types of assets, as well
- Relatively low fees
Cons
- The mobile app may not serve all investors very well
3. Best for Sign-up Bonuses: eToro
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securely through eToro’s
website
eToro is headquartered in Cyprus, England and Israel. A major eToro plus is its social trading operations, which allows new clients to copy trade the platform’s best performers. Its social trading features are top notch, but eToro loses points for its underwhelming research and customer service features.
Best For
- Investors looking to CopyTrade other traders
- Simple user interface
- Several major cryptocurrencies and altcoins
- Expansive network of social trading features
- Large client base for new traders to imitate
- Only 29 coins available
Looking for a big sign-up bonus to add to your crypto investments? eToro is currently offering $10 to new investors who sign up on its platform. Note that you’ll need to deposit $250 to receive the signup bonus, but if you have the funds it’s well worth it. What’s more, eToro has a unique feature called CopyTrader which allows you to copy popular crypto traders investments.
While you should always do your own research before investing in crypto, CopyTrader is a useful feature for new investors. Even for generating trade ideas, this feature may be able to lead you in the right direction when it comes to crypto trading. However, it is important to note that even professional traders face a run of bad luck, so keep that in mind when copy trading.
Pros
- Robust signup bonuses
- Quality investing information
- Low minimums
Cons
- Copy trading is not a fool-proof investment plan
4. Best for All-in-one Capabilities: Exodus Wallet
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securely through Exodus Wallet’s
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Founded in 2015, Exodus is a multiasset software wallet that removes the geek requirement and keeps design a priority to make cryptocurrency and digital assets easy for everyone. Available for desktop and mobile, Exodus allows users to secure, manage and exchange cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and more across an industry-leading 10,000-plus asset pairs from a beautiful, easy-to-use wallet. The noncustodial functionality is encrypted locally on users’ own devices, ensuring privacy, security and complete control over their wealth. Exodus is on a mission to empower half the world to exit the traditional finance system by 2030.
Best For
- Newcomers to the cryptocurrency world
- Ease of use
- Trezor integration
- Free
- Huge selection of cryptocurrencies
- Excellent 24/7 customer support
- No personal info needed
- FTX app not available on the mobile app
Not only is Exodus Wallet one of the top software wallets in the world it is also one of the best cryptocurrency exchanges. With Exodus you can manage and exchange 230+ different cryptocurrencies all in your web browser. Exodus makes it extremely easy to on-ramp fiat currency into cryptos. You can even use Apple Pay or a credit/debit card as well as your bank account to the Exodus Mobile application. Unlike many other crypto wallets and exchanges, Exodus supports multiple blockchains so there is no need to swap between wallets just to buy popular coins like BNB or SOL. Exodus really seems to have everything you need to start trading crypto.
Pros
- Easy way to protect your crypto holdings
- Easy to attach payment options to the account
- Access to well over 200 tokens
Cons
- As a crypto wallet first, functionality could seem limited
5. Best for Decentralized Automated Trading Solutions: Carbon DeFi
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securely through Carbon DeFi’s
website
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced crypto trader, you’ve likely heard of crypto trading bots. In the highly volatile crypto market, these computer programs help you automate trades, execute strategies and navigate ever-changing market movements efficiently and effectively, ultimately maximizing profits and minimizing losses. However, most crypto trading bots operate strictly on centralized exchanges (CEX) like Binance, preventing traders from embracing the fundamental principles of cryptocurrency — decentralization and self-custody.
Carbon DeFi offers a revolutionary approach, enabling traders to seamlessly create custom trading bots on the Ethereum blockchain, facilitating non-custodial, decentralized and fully transparent automated trading strategies. Carbon is a decentralized exchange (DEX) trading protocol facilitating customizable automated crypto trading strategies with on-chain limit and range orders. You can place single orders or combine them to create a recurring strategy that automatically buys within a specific price range and sells in a higher price range using a single source of rotating liquidity (similar to grid trading).
Unlike other on-chain liquidity solutions, orders move in one direction: once you buy within your desired range, liquidity is either removed from active trading or directed to a paired sell order if you have one set up. Unlike centralized trading platforms like Binance, Carbon fully leverages blockchain technology. It brings the comfort of CEX trading to a DEX while adhering to decentralized and non-custodial principles. Read on for a comprehensive breakdown of Carbon DeFi, its core offering, pros and cons and how it compares with competitors.
Best For
- Crypto enthusiasts seeking decentralized and transparent automated trading solutions
- Active cryptocurrency traders who utilize trading bots and other automated trading strategies
- Traders who prefer non-custodial platforms for added security and control over their funds
- Strategy-based crypto traders who don’t want to keep a constant eye on prices and charts
- Those interested in customizing their trading strategies to fit their specific needs
- Users who wish to take advantage of on-chain liquidity and limit orders for their automated trading strategies
- Individuals looking to explore new and innovative decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms for automated trading
- Those who spot trade or perform token swaps
- Fully decentralized, non-custodial and permissionless
- Customizable and automated crypto trading strategies
- No counterparty risks
- Users pay zero fees on their trades and only pay a small Ethereum gas fee to open/close their strategy.
- Resistant to miner extractable value (MEV) sandwich attacks
- Orders are easily adjustable directly on-chain at no high ETH gas cost
- Clean, intuitive and user-friendly interface
- Supports every standard ERC-20 token — ETH, MATIC, LINK, USDC, DAI & more
- Instant token availability for linked orders as markets reach the desired price range — known as “rotating liquidity”
- Carbon’s “linked orders” mimic traditional grid trading, except fully on-chain
- Ability to scale in and out of trending markets via Carbon’s DCA bots
- May require an understanding of DeFi protocols and strategies to optimize trading performance effectively
- Exposure to smart contract vulnerabilities and potential security risks associated with using decentralized applications (dApps)
- Incompatible with “rebasing” or “fees-on-transfer” tokens
Carbon DeFi is a decentralized exchange (DEX) that offers custom trading bots on the Ethereum blockchain. What does this mean for you? You can create fully transparent, automated trading strategies that take advantage of the movement of the market, current pricing and quick execution to increase profits and reduce losses.
Orders move in one direction on this platform so that active crypto traders can take advantage of market movements to buy a token low and sell high. There are no counterparty risks, zero fees charged on trades and it supports ERC-20 tokens like ETH, MATIC, LINK and USDC.
Your bots are fully customizable, and you can adjust in or out of trends as you need. Yes, Carbon DeFi may be built for those who have a clear understanding of the DeFi space, but it can work well for those in the know.
Pros
- You can adjust orders at any time and not pay high fees, meaning that you can get more out of each move you make on the market
- You can create trading bots and adjust them as much as you like, meaning that you can change strategies as you go
Cons
- This platform is quite powerful, but it will require some knowledge of how the DeFi space works
- This platform will not work well with rebasing tokens, meaning that some strategies may need to move elsewhere
6. Best for Businesses Wanting Exposure to Cryptocurrency: ICONOMI
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The cryptocurrency market has rapidly evolved, providing millions of traders and investors an opportunity to earn a living and build long-term wealth. Yet, navigating the crypto ecosystem remains challenging for most traders and investors because of the inherent complexities of blockchain technologies and the high volatility of crypto assets. ICONOMI offers a powerful solution for beginners and experienced investors seeking a hassle-free cryptocurrency investing and asset management platform. Thanks to its wide range of carefully selected cryptocurrencies and blockchain assets, you can seamlessly invest in or trade multiple crypto assets and diversify your digital portfolios.
ICONOMI’s diverse range of expertly crafted Crypto Strategies enables users to turbocharge their digital assets investment via copy trading. These strategies are curated to suit different risk profiles, making it a flexible and personalized investment journey. As a one-stop-shop for digital asset investment and management, ICONOMI saves time, reduces cost and streamlines investment decision-making. Whether you want to grow your wealth, explore new investment avenues or navigate the complex crypto landscape, ICONOMI stands out as a reliable and forward-thinking partner. With its robust platform and expertly curated strategies, it is shaping the future of digital investing.
However, despite offering convenient digital asset management and investment, ICONOMI’s reliance on other coins for survival and its limited availability (only in the U.K.) may pose challenges, necessitating further innovation to thrive amid numerous competitors. Read on for a comprehensive review of the platform, its pros, cons and core offerings and how it differs from similar platforms.
Best For
- Businesses wanting to gain exposure to cryptocurrency
- Experienced crypto traders and investors seeking to invest in a diversified portfolio of cryptocurrencies and blockchain assets without the complexities of managing multiple wallets and assets
- Beginner crypto traders and investors looking for a user-friendly platform with expertly curated Crypto Strategies to guide their investment decisions
- Crypto enthusiasts with a company seeking a more practical approach to structure their crypto investments
- Busy professionals and crypto enthusiasts with limited time for active crypto trading who prefer a convenient and automated approach to managing their digital assets
- Risk-averse investors seeking a carefully crafted investment strategy tailored to their risk tolerance, providing a more controlled approach to crypto investing
- Tech-savvy traders or investors familiar with blockchain technology who want to explore different crypto investment options from a single platform
- Sleek, intuitive and user-friendly interface for easy navigation
- Facilitates diversified crypto trading and investment strategies for reduced risk and higher returns
- Consolidates user’s digital assets in one place, saving time and reducing the hassle of managing multiple wallets and accounts
- Simplified and accessible digital asset investment and management
- Automated investment processes make it convenient for those with limited time to manage their crypto investments actively
- Robust security protocols and measures protect users against potential threats and vulnerabilities
- Accepts multiple deposit options, including credit card and Skrill
- No subscription charges — open account for free
- Diversified copy trading strategies from experts means little or no education is needed to get started
- Significantly minimize the complexity of the crypto market or trading
- Round-the-clock trading availability and customer support
- Registered with the FCA in the UK, but only users from US, Canada and high risk countries are unable to register
- Relatively few educational resources
ICONOMI is a unique crypto site that allows you to enter the crypto market at your own pace. For example, when you visit the site, you’re posed with a simple question: do you want to trade crypto and automate your portfolio, or do you want to copy the Strategy of a professional?
You can either look through all the features on the site or check out Strategies that could benefit you. From there, all you need to do is fund your account and get to work on your portfolio.
You can also earn money by sharing your Strategy with other users. Referral bonuses are available, and there are even business accounts available if your company is trading or if you are a financial planner, advisor, etc.
There is a robust platform where you can share information and learn from other traders, there’s a learning section for those who want to read up on the subject, and pricing is clearly noted on the site. You can open an account for free, start trading and enter the crypto market right away
Pros
- ICONOMI is helpful for those who wish to gain quick access to the crypto market through a free account
- You can learn about crypto on the platform long before investing your funds
Cons
- Remember that this platform will likely work better for those working as planners or managers
7. Best for Low Fees: Crypto.com
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Crypto.com strives to make cryptocurrency a part of everyday life by offering a full suite of services for crypto users. The company offers a Crypto.com App, Exchange, Visa Card, DeFi swap, DeFi Wallet, DeFi Earn, Crypto.com Price, staking, crypto lending, and many other services. What really sets them apart, however, is the combination of super low fees and incredibly generous rewards programs for their users.
Best For
- Traders who want access to a secure, low-cost cryptocurrency exchange
- Passive investors who want to earn interest on their balance without frequent trading
- Mobile investors who prefer to handle all their crypto needs via their phone or tablet
- Low fees
- High security
- One-stop shop for all your crypto needs (wallet, trading, spending, and more)
- Lots of ways to earn interest, rewards, and rebates
- Low privacy
- Customer service response time could be improved
If you are looking for an affordable, all-in-one cryptocurrency platform, Crypto.com may be the best crypto brokerage for you. Not only does Crypto.com reward its users in several ways, but the platform offers over 100 different cryptocurrencies to invest in. The exchange has its own VISA card, allowing you to use crypto for every day purchases. What’s more, Crypto.com offers up to 8% cash back on purchases with their debit card. If you like to spend money, then using a crypto.com debit card could be a great way to increase your crypto positions through their rewards program.
Like Uphold, Crypto.com also offers interest bearing accounts. You can earn up to 14% annual interest on your holdings – interest rates that banks can only dream of offering. With huge cash (or crypto) rewards available alongside high interest-bearing accounts, Crypto.com is a no-brainer for many cryptocurrency investors.
Also, Crypto.com withdrawal fees are free. Remember that if you’re using a blockchain like Bitcoin or Ethereum to withdraw your funds, you’ll still need to pay a transaction fee to miners.
Pros
- Interest-bearing account options
- You can sign up for a Visa card
- Rewards are available
Cons
- You may be surprised by fees paid to miners
8. Best for Beginners: iTrustCapital
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securely through iTrustCapital’s
website
iTrustCapital is a self-directed IRA provider that gives you the opportunity to invest in cryptocurrencies, gold and silver through your retirement account. iTrustCapital focuses on providing investors with a straightforward and easy-to-understand platform, which can be a major asset if you’ve never bought or sold alternative investments in the past.
When you reach retirement age, iTrustCapital allows you to choose whether you’d like to take your disbursements in cash or in the assets you’ve invested in. Though the platform does offer a limited range of cryptocurrencies when compared to brokers like Coinbase, its simple structure and unique IRA offerings make iTrustCapital a great place to invest.
Best For
- Investors who want to add gold, silver or cryptocurrencies to their IRA
- Those who are interested in taking a long-term approach to cryptocurrency or metal investing
- Beginner cryptocurrency investors
- Straightforward platform allows you to buy and sell assets in a few minutes
- Orders clear within 5 minutes
- 24/7 order placements and portfolio monitoring services
- Both live chat and phone customer service service available
- Limited number of cryptocurrencies to buy and sell
- No mobile app currently available
iTrustCapital may be the most unique trading platform on this list, as it allows you to trade cryptocurrencies from an Investment Retirement Account (IRA). IRAs have significant tax benefits, so if you plan on being invested in crypto for the long-run, it may be a good idea to use iTrustCapital to manage your digital assets. What’s more, the platform supports over 25 cryptocurrencies, including major assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum and Polygon.
iTrustCapital is also extremely secure –– it uses Coinbase Custody to store digital assets, which holds crypto offline in hardware wallets. This is also backed by a $320 million insurance policy, so you can rest easy knowing your funds are safe.
Pros
- Crypto IRA options
- High level of security
- Backed by quality insurance coverage
Cons
- Fewer cryptocurrencies available compared to most other platforms
9. Best for New Investors: Gemini
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securely through Gemini Crypto’s
website
Gemini is a cryptocurrency exchange and custodian that offers investors access to over 100 coins and tokens. Founded in the US, Gemini is expanding globally, in particular into Europe and Asia. Offerings include both major cryptocurrency projects like Bitcoin and Ethereum, and smaller altcoins like Orchid and 0x.
Gemini is 1 of the only brokers with multiple platform options based on skill level. New investors will love the streamlined interface of Gemini’s mobile and web apps, while advanced investors might appreciate all the tools that come with ActiveTrader.
In addition to a host of platform choices, Gemini users also have access to insured hot wallets to store tokens without worrying about digital asset theft. Learn more about what Gemini can do for you in our review.
Best For
- New investors looking for a simple mobile and web app
- Day traders looking to use technical analysis tools
- Users looking for a 1-stop-shop to buy, sell and store all of their cryptos
- Easy and quick signups — can get started in as little as a 5 minutes
- Multitude of platforms to accommodate traders of all skill levels
- Hot wallets include insurance to protect your from theft and hacking attempts
- Charges both a commission and a convenience fee for users buying and selling through the desktop or mobile app
Gemini is a quality cryptocurrency exchange with industry-leading security features and a robust support center; it is a great choice for beginners and experienced traders alike. Founded in New York by the famous twin billionaires, Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, it is regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYSDFS).
The four key operational pillars of Gemini include licensing, product, security and compliance. Unlike some of its competitors, Gemini is available in all 50 U.S. states and offers digital asset insurance in the event of a hack or security breach.
Pros
- Large range of investment products
- Available in all 50 states
- Digital asset insurance is available
Cons
- The scale of the platform might overwhelm newer investors
What are Cryptocurrency Exchanges?
Cryptocurrency exchanges connect buyers and sellers of cryptocurrency to create a market for digital assets. Most exchanges use order books where investors place buy and sell orders for crypto at any given price. Cryptocurrency exchanges hold custody of your digital assets, as you aren’t able to control your private keys from these centralized platforms.
You could also use a crypto brokerage, which only slightly differs from a cryptocurrency exchange. Crypto brokerages set the price of crypto assets based on the market price of the asset, but the price of crypto on exchanges is directly determined by investors’ buy and sell orders. Technically, Robinhood is a cryptocurrency broker, while exchanges like Coinbase Pro are crypto exchanges.
How do Cryptocurrency Exchanges Work?
Tip for Crypto Traders:
Ask yourself, are you a cryptocurrency trader or investor? If you’re a trader, you’ll want to choose a cryptocurrency exchange that has low fees, but if you’re an investor fees won’t matter as much. Fees typically are incurred when you buy or sell crypto, so if you’re actively trading fees will matter more.
Cryptocurrency exchanges work in a similar way to stock exchanges. Investors can either place a limit order or a sell order on an exchange, providing liquidity for other investors on the platform.
Buy and sell orders can be placed as either market or limit orders. Market orders will buy or sell crypto at market price, while limit orders buy or sell crypto at the price you specify. If the market price never reaches the price of your limit order, then your order won’t get executed.
Types of Crypto Exchanges
There are 2 main types of cryptocurrency exchanges: centralized exchanges and decentralized exchanges (DEXs). Most cryptocurrency exchanges investors use are centralized exchanges, meaning they are run by a central company. Some popular centralized exchanges are Coinbase, Gemini, Binance and eToro.
Centralized exchanges are typically more efficient and easy-to-use than DEXs. Centralized exchanges manage your assets off the blockchain, so transactions are faster and less expensive. When transacting on the blockchain, you need to pay miners transaction fees and wait for the blockchain to verify your transaction –– increasing the cost and time it takes to transact crypto.
Even though DEXs are less efficient and more expensive than centralized exchanges, many investors use them for their unique benefits. DEX let you trade cryptocurrencies directly from your crypto wallet in a permissionless and trustless way through smart contracts. Since smart contracts live on the blockchain, the code is also immutable and uncontrollable by a single entity. Due to this, you don’t need to trust a 3rd party with your assets, and you don’t need to sign up or provide any verification to use a DEX.
Plus, investors can use a decentralized exchange directly from their cryptocurrency wallet. This way, investors truly hold custody over their digital assets, and they don’t need to trust an exchange to keep their crypto safe.
In contrast to centralized exchanges, Crypto investors who own governance tokens vote to upgrade decentralized exchanges. Since DEXs aren’t controlled by a central entity, trading can’t be halted on the platform. You don’t have to worry about crypto assets being delisted from the exchange either, because no single person or company could make that decision.
Cryptocurrency Exchanges vs Crypto Wallets
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A Trezor wallet is one of the best crypto wallets in the crypto-sphere. Besides having top-notch security, it is relatively easy to use and provides fantastic support and updates. Although you might consider it a bit expensive compared to other hardware wallets, the services you’ll enjoy are worth it. Your coins are more secured in Trezor than other hardware wallets.
Best For
- Crypto enthusiasts
- New traders
- Those who have a substantial amount of varying crypto coins
- Top-notch security
- Supports a vast number of cryptocurrencies (over 1,600)
- Regular firmware updates
- Backup and recovery
- May seem costly to some
buy now
securely through Ledger Hardware Wallet’s
website
Launched in 2014, Ledger has transformed into a fast-paced, growing company developing infrastructure and security solutions for cryptocurrencies as well as blockchain applications for companies and individuals. Born in Paris, the company has since expanded to more than 130 employees in France and San Francisco.
With 1,500,000 Ledger wallets already sold in 165 countries, the company aims at securing the new disruptive class of crypto assets. Ledger has developed a distinctive operating system called BOLOS, which it integrates to a secure chip for its line of wallets. So far, Ledger takes pride in being the only market player to provide this technology.
Best For
- ERC-20 tokens
- All experience levels
- Easy to set up and use
- Supports more than 1,500 different digital assets
- Tamper proof
- Portable
- Long-lasting battery
- Bluetooth connectivity features
- Can be quite pricey
get started
securely through ZenGo’s
website
ZenGo is the most secure crypto wallet in Web3. Leveraging MPC technology, ZenGo removes the vulnerability of the need for a private key, making it much more secure than traditional crypto wallets. ZenGo’s simple recoverability process makes it easy for anyone to access their crypto from anywhere, at any time. Because of ZenGo, MPC technology usually reserved for multi-billion dollar institutions is now available to average crypto users.
ZenGo was developed by KZen Networks, an Israel-based company that specializes in building products for blockchains with a passionate focus on user interface (UI) and security. Founded by Gary Benattar, Ouriel Ohayon, Omer Shlomovits and Tal Be’ery in 2018, their unique mix of security, engineering and cryptography expertise enabled the ZenGo project to raise $20 million in series A investment.
The aim of the ZenGo team is to make the crypto economy more simple and secure for everyday users, removing technical barriers to entry while maintaining the highest levels of safety. ZenGo strives to support all relevant native crypto protocols, financial services and digital assets.
Best For
- ZenGo’s friendly and intuitive interface makes the wallet a great choice for novice investors. Unlike many other cryptocurrency wallets, ZenGo removes many technicalities and complexities from storing cryptocurrency
- ZenGo eliminates the vulnerability of having a private key. This makes it a phenomenal choice for novice investors who don’t want the burden of keeping their private key safe and secure
- Smooth and simple user interface
- Strong customer service — ZenGo has live 24/7 customer support that can be reached via email, live chat or social media
- Strong security — three security factors (3FA) protect ZenGo users
- No need for private keys — eliminates the risk of single point of failure, key hacking/phishing. At the same time, all actions are on-chain.
- While ZenGo is available in 188 countries, some features are available only in certain locations
- For users that are willing to take the full responsibility of managing and storing their private key, ZenGo’s approach may be unfit
Cryptocurrency exchanges let you easily trade crypto. The security of your cryptocurrency exchange should be among your top concerns as an investor, as these exchanges hold custody of your digital assets. Unfortunately, many cryptocurrency exchanges have been hacked in the past, so don’t overlook this risk.
Although many exchanges have great security features, there have been several crypto exchange hacks in the last few years. To keep your cryptocurrency assets secure, you should store your funds in a cryptocurrency wallet.
Cryptocurrency wallets come as either software or hardware wallets. Software wallets are computer programs that securely store your crypto, and hardware wallets are physical devices that store your crypto offline. Since hardware wallets are inaccessible to online hackers, they are the most secure type of cryptocurrency wallet.
If you’re looking to get a cryptocurrency wallet, you should consider the price, security and capabilities of the hardware wallet you desire. Our choice for the best all around crypto wallet is the Ledger Nano S. The hardware wallet supports thousands of different cryptocurrencies, so it’s the only hardware wallet you’ll ever need. This way, you’ll be able to securely store all your crypto assets in one place, and you won’t need to purchase several different crypto wallets.
What Exchange Features Matter?
Before you choose a cryptocurrency exchange, ask yourself what your goals are as an investor. If you want to frequently trade crypto, then trading fees should be among your top priorities. If you don’t plan on using a crypto wallet, be sure that the exchange you choose is extremely secure.
You should also consider what financial services the crypto exchange you want to use provides. Some exchanges strictly use crypto, so you can’t use them unless you purchase cryptocurrency through another exchange like eToro. Also, not all exchanges support the same altcoins, so make sure the exchange you use has the cryptocurrencies you want to invest in.
Platforms like Crypto.com and Uphold allow you to earn interest on your cryptocurrency holdings, making them great options for long-term investors. Some exchanges even let you trade with leverage, but if you’re located in the U.S this feature won’t be available to you due to SEC regulations. In short, the best Bitcoin exchange is different for everyone.
Unique Features of Crypto Exchanges
- Coinbase: Coinbase is a great exchange for beginners. Its interface is simple, and you can easily fund your account from your bank. A unique feature of Coinbase is its crypto conversion feature, allowing you to exchange your crypto assets for any other cryptocurrency on its platform for free. Coinbase also offers one of the best mobile apps for crypto.
- Argent: Argent is unique because it operates as a crypto exchange and wallet. This software wallet is available on the app store, and allows you to directly interact with decentralized exchanges. Argent is an Ethereum wallet, so it supports Ethereum-based tokens like Ether, Uniswap, Wrapped Bitcoin and Compound.
- Uniswap: Uniswap is a DEX that offers many benefits over centralized exchanges. Uniswap is far more secure than centralized exchanges, as you exchange your crypto directly from your software wallet. You can earn interest on your crypto assets using Uniswap by providing liquidity on the platform.
- eToro: eToro is a great option if you want to learn more about the cryptocurrency markets. It has a unique social trading feature that allows users to enter trades together and share investment ideas.
Alternatives to Crypto Exchanges
Cryptocurrency exchanges aren’t the only way to buy cryptocurrency. For most investors, using a dedicated crypto exchange is better than any other alternative for crypto investing. However, cryptocurrency brokerages are another popular option, and these are very similar to crypto exchanges. Some good brokerages you may want to consider are Webull, Coinbase and IBKR Crypto. IBKR is a great option if you’re looking for a brokerage account with low fees.
An alternative way to purchase cryptocurrency is to buy it directly from someone who owns crypto. All you need to do is pay a cryptocurrency seller for their crypto, and they can send the funds directly to your cryptocurrency wallet. Another alternative is to use a Bitcoin ATM, but these ATMs charge a 5 to 10% premium on Bitcoin’s price.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a crypto exchange and a brokerage?
Crypto exchanges and brokerages are similar. Crypto brokerages act as an intermediary to set the price of crypto assets based on the market price, while crypto exchanges determine the price of cryptocurrencies directly through investors’ market orders.
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Are all the top cryptocurrency exchanges based in the United States?
Many top crypto exchanges are based in the United States. For example, Coinbase and Gemini are based in the United States but also offer services in a variety of other countries. There are also exchanges outside the U.S. Binance is headquartered in Malta because it has less strict cryptocurrency regulations than most other countries.
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How do crypto exchanges work?
Crypto exchanges are pretty similar to stock brokerages, but they work with cryptocurrencies. They usually custody user funds and allow trading of all kinds of different cryptocurrencies.
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