Best Crypto Exchanges of March 2023

Kraken

OKX

Binance

Uphold

Gemini

What Is A Cryptocurrency Exchange?

In simple terms, a crypto exchange is a platform where you can buy and sell crypto. You can either use one crypto to purchase another, or buy crypto with fiat, sometimes straight from your bank account.

Crypto exchanges have come to offer much more than just buying and selling crypto in recent times. Some now allow you to trade crypto derivatives, borrow cash with crypto, and perform decentralized functions like mining, staking, farming, etc.

When Bitcoin came onto the scene in 2009, it had no value. The only exchanges were donations and test exchanges between friends. Bitcoin exchanges for fiat currency did not begin until 2010. There were only a few Bitcoin exchanges at that time, with Mt. Gox and Bitcoinmarket being two of the more prominent ones.

Methodology

We looked at more than 30 crypto exchanges and performed an in-depth assessment to determine what we believed were the best crypto exchanges.

To do this assessment, we evaluated the following:

Basic features: These features include the ability to buy and sell cryptocurrency with fiat currency in a simple and intuitive way.

Advanced features: This can include margin trading, spot trading, limit orders, and more.

Availability: In which countries is the exchange available? Whether certain features are restricted in certain countries

Customer support: Whether accessing support simple, fast, easy, and accurate

Security: Do they use cold wallets? Are they insured? Do they offer whitelisting and two-factor authentication?

Reliability: Whether the exchange is buggy and goes offline. Whether they restrict logging in when the market is volatile

Other products: Do they offer crypto lending, staking, credit cards, and other popular services?

We scored each exchange on these variables to determine its overall rank.

How do I buy Cryptocurrencies?

The most straightforward way to buy bitcoin and other cryptocurrenices is using a debit or credit card. The funds will be converted into the cryptocurrency of your choice. Some exchanges will only take simple market orders, but others will take more complicated orders like limit or stop orders. 

Some exchanges, like Kraken, also offer the ability to send wire transfers. Wire transfers can take days, and sometimes weeks. When trying to move money from a bank account to a cryptocurrency exchange, many banks also block wire transfers and have been known to freeze accounts.

What should I look for when choosing a Cryptocurrency Exchange?

There are various variables to consider while selecting a cryptocurrency exchange: 

Security

Check to see if the exchange has a good track record of keeping your money and information safe. 

Fees

Compare exchange costs to ensure you're receiving a fair deal. 

Payment Options

Consider whether the payment method you intend to use is accepted by the exchange. 

Supported currencies

Check to see which coins the exchange accepts. 

Reputation

Read reviews and look into the exchange's reputation in the crypto world. 

Jurisdiction

Some exchanges are controlled by governments and must adhere to specific laws and regulations, whilst others are not. 

User interface

Consider the exchange's trading tools' simplicity of use and availability. 

Customer support

Look for an exchange that provides excellent customer service in the event that you want assistance with your account or trades.

Different types of crypto exchanges

Centralized exchanges

Centralized cryptocurrency exchanges (CEX) are exchanges run by a central authority that often require customers to go through a KYC (know your customer) procedure and follow AML (anti-money laundering) rules. They have custody of the users' funds, and the exchange has complete authority over the users' assets. They, too, provide a high degree of liquidity, quick trading, and a large number of trading pairs, but they are more subject to hacking and fraud. 

Decentralized exchanges

Decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges (DEX) are founded on blockchain technology and are not centrally controlled. Users can keep custody of their assets, and exchanges are done directly between users. Because users are not forced to go through a KYC procedure and the exchange does not keep the customers' assets, DEXs provide more privacy and security. On the other hand, DEXs usually have less liquidity, slower trades, and fewer ways to trade. 

The main difference between centralized and decentralized exchanges is the user's control and custody of assets, as well as the level of security, privacy, and laws. Centralized exchanges provide more trading options and liquidity while providing less control and security, whereas decentralized exchanges provide more control and security while providing fewer trading options and liquidity.

Why are so many crypto exchanges unavailable in the United States?

The United States has tighter cryptocurrency regulations than the rest of the globe. In the past few years, both the US Securities and Exchange Commission and cryptocurrency exchanges have had problems, and the government is now looking into several exchanges. The categorization of virtual money is the most contentious issue. Several crypto tokens have been labeled as investment securities, which means they can be regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Furthermore, the government stated that bitcoin trading platforms are a dangerous investment instrument.

What're the differences between Binance and Binance.US?

Binance, as well as Binance.US Both are cryptocurrency exchanges; however, they are run by different organizations and have significant distinctions. 

Binance

Binance, also called Binance Global, is a cryptocurrency exchange that was founded in 2017 and is based in Malta. It gives you a wide range of trading pairs to choose from and is known for being reliable and easy to use. Binance also lets you trade on margin, and it has its own currency, Binance Coin (BNB), that can be used to pay trading fees and get discounts on transactions. 

Binance.US

Binance.US, on the other hand, is a US-based cryptocurrency exchange run by BAM Trading Services. It was released in 2019 and is aimed at the US market. Binance.US has fewer trading pairs than Binance Global and does not allow margin trading at the moment. It does, however, meet all US standards, and security and compliance are given a lot of attention. 

In the end, Binance is more complete and offers more trading pairs and other services, like margin trading. 

Binance.US is focused on the US market and complies fully with US rules.

How much does it cost to trade cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrency exchanges and trading pairings determine trading costs. Most exchanges impose a small "trading fee" per trade. Each exchange has a different fraction of these charges.

Binance costs 0.1% for most pairings, whereas Binance.US charges 0.5%. Binance, for example, gives customers who own a certain amount of Binance Coin (BNB) lower trading fees.

In addition to trading fees, some exchanges charge withdrawal, deposit, or payment method fees.

Remember that market conditions might affect cryptocurrency prices. The bid-ask spread, which varies by trading pair and exchange, can impact cryptocurrency prices.

The exchange, trading pairs, and market circumstances determine bitcoin trading costs. It is usually a small part of the contract, and there may be extra payments for certain services. Check exchange charges before trading.

Conclusion

Picking a crypto exchange that works for you is an intricate process. Depending on how you like to trade and how willing you are to take risks, you have to think about a lot of different things. In some situations, you might have to combine two or more exchanges whose features you like. Whatever the case, we hope this guide has helped you reach your decision.