Insider’s experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our our partners, however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
Understanding cryptocurrencies alone can be daunting, and if you’re new to crypto trading, finding the right platform to buy and sell popular assets like bitcoin, ethereum, and dogecoin can be another challenge. Plus, if you don’t want to use your exchange’s built-in wallet (if applicable), you’ll need to set up an external crypto wallet to store your assets securely.
Most crypto exchanges also offer staking rewards (for holding a crypto asset for a set period of time), margin trading, and institutional services. Plus, you’ll find that many platforms offer crypto-backed loans and payment perks (e.g., the Coinbase debit card gives users up to 4% back on purchases). We’ve compiled some of the best cryptocurrency exchanges for buying and selling crypto assets. Keep reading to find the best option for you.
Best for bitcoin-oriented traders: Coinbase
Fees
0.50% spread for buy/sell transactions; transaction fee from $0.99 to $2.99; up to 0.60% for Coinbase Pro and Coinbase Advanced Trade
Investment Types
Cryptocurrencies
Fees
0.50% spread for buy/sell transactions; transaction fee from $0.99 to $2.99; up to 0.60% for Coinbase Pro and Coinbase Advanced Trade
Investment Types
Cryptocurrencies
Details
Fees
0.50% spread for buy/sell transactions; transaction fee from $0.99 to $2.99; up to 0.60% for Coinbase Pro and Coinbase Advanced Trade
Pros & Cons
Buy, sell, or store more than 170 cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and dogecoin
Educational investment resources, mobile access, digital storage, and customer support
Low account minimums
Can earn rewards for certain cryptocurrencies
Coinbase card lets you spend crypto or USD anywhere and earn crypto rewards; can deposit your paycheck into your account and convert from USD to crypto with no fees
No margin accounts
Pay more for lower balances
High trading and transaction fees
Limited staking options
Highlights
Promotion: Get $5 of bitcoin when you join Coinbase; earn up to $200 when you set up a new account and make your first purchase
Features: Coinbase Earn rewards, Coinbase Pro advanced account, user-controlled storage, stablecoins, staking, and institutional trading tools.
Awards: Named Best Prime Broker in Hedgeweek’s annual European Digital Assets Awards
Additional Reading
Read our review
Best for low fees: Abra
Account Minimum
$5 minimum deposit; Minimums vary per cryptocurrency
Fees
0% (Spread fee built into exchange rates)
Investment Types
Cryptocurrencies
Account Minimum
$5 minimum deposit; Minimums vary per cryptocurrency
Fees
0% (Spread fee built into exchange rates)
Investment Types
Cryptocurrencies
Details
Account Minimum
$5 minimum deposit; Minimums vary per cryptocurrency
Fees
0% (Spread fee built into exchange rates)
Pros & Cons
No fees to trade 80+ cryptocurrencies (excluding spread fee)
Can borrow against crypto holdings, with payback interest rates of 0% to 9.95%
Can earn up to 10% interest on crypto or USD stablecoins
Support in 150+ countries with access for 50+ fiat currencies
High fees for Visa or Mastercard transactions
Limited transparency on the exact exchange spread rates
Highlights
Features: 100+ cryptocurrencies, crypto-backed loans, staking, and support for traders in 150+ countries.
App store rating: 4.6 Apple/4.3 Android
Additional Reading
Read our review
Best for futures and margin traders: Kraken
Account Minimum
Depends on cryptocurrency
Fees
0% – 0.26% (1.5% for instant buy, sell, or convert orders)
Investment Types
Cryptocurrencies
Account Minimum
Depends on cryptocurrency
Fees
0% – 0.26% (1.5% for instant buy, sell, or convert orders)
Investment Types
Cryptocurrencies
Details
Account Minimum
Depends on cryptocurrency
Fees
0% – 0.26% (1.5% for instant buy, sell, or convert orders)
Pros & Cons
Can exchange more than 100 crypto assets
Low account minimums and fees
Variety of educational resources and tutorials on cryptocurrencies
Over-the-counter (OTC) trading and account management support available
No 24/7 phone customer support
Kraken’s futures mobile platform isn’t currently available in the US
Not a personal wallet service
Highlights
Features: More than 100 cryptocurrencies, margin and futures trading, OTC trading, account management for HNW individuals and institutional clients, multiple trading platforms, educational resources, and staking rewards.