To get your hands on Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, you'll need to go through a leading Bitcoin exchange. There are many of them, but the best Bitcoin exchanges make it easy to buy and sell Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies using regular fiat currency (i.e. dollars, pounds, or euros). Bitcoin exchanges also allow people to store cryptocurrency, although if security is a priority, you'll want to store your virtual wealth in a top-tier Bitcoin wallet, over which you have more control. However, before diving in first, users should know what to look for in the best Bitcoin exchanges. The virtual currencies supported by the exchange are a good place to start. With many cryptocurrencies in circulation beyond Bitcoin, you will want to decide which ones to invest in. Popular alternatives include Ethereum, Litecoin, XRP (Ripple) and more. Also, pay close attention to the fees charged. While all Bitcoin exchanges charge a transaction fee (they are businesses, after all, looking to make a profit), as a user, it's obviously best to find one with the lowest costs in order to maximize your own profits. The best Bitcoin exchanges also offer strong security measures, including two-factor authentication, SMS or email alerts, encrypted emails, and more. - and should do a good volume of transactions. Now that we know what to look for, here's our look at the best Bitcoin exchanges right now.
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1 Coinbase
The biggest exchange there is
Reasons to buy + Simplified interface + Extended currency support + Insurance protection available It is a US-based exchange that was founded in 2012 and supports more than 32 countries. Coinbase markets Bitcoin and the altcoins Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin, and is the largest of the exchanges, claiming €150 billion (€112 billion) of coins traded. In 2014, Coinbase created GDAX, the global digital asset exchange that was developed for professionals with high trading volumes. As of June 29, GDAX is now Coinbase Pro with some improvements, and visiting the GDAX site will redirect you to Coinbase Pro. The company offers a mobile wallet, offline storage, and insurance protection for coins stored on its servers. . Coinbase supports multiple fiat currencies: British Pounds, US Dollars, Euros, Canadian Dollars, Australian Dollars, and Singapore Dollars. The Coinbase exchange has a flat fee of 1% for each purchase, while cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals are free. A streamlined user interface that is great for novice traders and fast trading makes Coinbase a popular exchange among traders.
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2. Gemini Exchange
Regulated exchange of Winklevoss twins
Reasons to Buy + Low Fees + Accepts ACH Transfers Reasons to Avoid -Interface is not very beginner-friendly Gemini Exchange is another US-based company founded by the Winklevoss twins, the couple who sued Mark Zuckerberg for social networks and received €65 million (€48 million), which they used as venture capitalists. This exchange is based in New York City and is available in 49 US states, as well as Puerto Rico, Canada, UK, Singapore, South Korea, and Hong Kong. The only fiat currency Gemini supports is the US dollar, and it trades Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Zcash. Gemini does not charge a deposit or withdrawal fee, and has a 1% fee (depending on your 30-day trading volume; the fee will decrease as your trading volume increases) for trades, both for the buyer and for the seller. Another advantage of Gemini is that it is a New York State Limited Liability Trust Company and is regulated by the New York Department of Financial Services. The proximity to the Wall Street financial markets allows the company to easily provide a bridge between more traditional investments and the newer cryptocurrency markets, for both individual and institutional investors. Gemini also stands out because it accepts ACH transfers for quick access to cash for transactions. One potential downside is that the interface isn't particularly user-friendly for beginners. In September 2018, Gemini launched a stablecoin called Gemini Dollar, which you can convert to US dollars and vice versa in your Gemini account.
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3. Changelly
From the team that created MinerGate
Reasons to buy + Supports many cryptocurrencies + Competitive in terms of fees Reasons to avoid -New relative on the scene Changelly is a cryptocurrency exchange that supports many more virtual currencies than most, including Monero, Dash, Bytecoin, and DigitalNote, among others. If you have a less popular currency, chances are Changelly can exchange it for you. This exchange comes from the popular MinerGate mining platform, which provides a combined mining pool on Windows, Mac, Linux and Android operating systems. While Changelly focuses on trading between different cryptocurrencies, users can also buy cryptocurrencies with US dollars or euros. Note that this exchange has a shorter history, having only entered the market in 2016. The exchange fee is 0.5% on transactions.
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4. Cryptopia
An exchange that literally supports hundreds of cryptocurrencies.
Reasons to buy + Supports a large number of virtual currencies + Low trading fees Reasons to avoid - Large and fairly heavy website Cryptopia was founded in 2014 with the goal of being a comprehensive user experience driven exchange, with service integration extras that include a marketplace and a wallet. It is based in Christchurch, New Zealand. Cryptopia is distinguished by the fact that the first level of verification happens very quickly, requiring only an email address for initial verification. While Cryptopia does not support fiat currency trading, it does support a ridiculously large number of cryptocurrencies – over 400 to date, with more being added all the time. The trading fee is also 0,20% per trade, which compares favorably with many competitors. The website is quite large and sprawling, which means that new users may find their first experiences with the site a bit intimidating.