Crypto may be an attractive investment for many, but if you want to have the chance to profit from it, you'll need to find a reliable platform where you can buy and sell crypto. There's a huge number of cryptocurrency exchanges available, but with some big names filing for bankruptcy, it's more important than ever to choose the right one.
This guide will help you do just that. Whatever your priorities are, you'll find the best crypto exchange to meet your needs reviewed and compared on this page. Right at the top of the list are eToro and Coinbase. Below, you can discover what benefits they provide to users wanting to invest in cryptocurrencies.
List of Top Cryptocurrency Exchanges
Name | Score | Visit | Disclaimer | |
---|---|---|---|---|
8.7 | Visitetoro.com | Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more. | ||
8.4 | Visitcoinbase.com | |||
8.7 | Visitcrypto.com | |||
8.4 | Visituphold.com | |||
7.6 | Visitkraken.com | |||
7.8 | Visitbitpanda.com | |||
6.8 | Visitbitstamp.net | |||
6.5 | Visitcoinjar.com |
Best UK Cryptocurrency Exchanges Reviewed
This section highlights the top 10 best crypto exchanges UK traders have access to. They have been selected for crypto trading pairs available, security, deposit methods, and more.
Here's a quick summary of the best providers on offer, and the areas where they shine:
Overall best cryptocurrency exchange - eToro
Best for beginners - Coinbase
Best for spending cryptocurrencies - Crypto.com
Best for staking - Uphold
Best for security - Kraken
Best for customer support - Bitstamp
Best for experienced traders - CoinJar
Before we move on to the reviews, it's worth noting the biggest caveat: Cryptocurrencies are speculative investments. You should only trade crypto assets if you are willing to accept the potential risk of losing all your investments.
1. eToro - Overall Best Crypto Exchange
- The pricing structure is straightforward and easy to understand.
- The platform is very intuitive and user-friendly.
- Its social and copy-trading features are unparalleled.
- It’s only possible to deposit USD.
- The number of coins is limited.
- Trading fees are a bit high compared to the rest of the crypto industry.
eToro is a fantastic UK crypto exchange for users of all experience levels – it combines an intuitive platform, straightforward pricing, and versatile features to provide an all-around experience for its users. Its flagship product, CopyTrader, appeals to novice and seasoned traders alike.
For beginners, it’s an outstanding tool to expand trading knowledge by following more experienced traders. For those with a little more experience, it’s a great way to get some trading inspiration or an extra income stream if you let others copy you. Plus, if you don’t want the hassle of crypto trading or don’t have the time to keep up with the market, you can simply copy others and keep your trades on autopilot.
The eToro app also functions as a crypto wallet for storing your holdings and allows for easy transfer of your cryptocurrency from one exchange or wallet to another.
Like most cryptocurrency brokers, eToro lets you withdraw coins to a private wallet for better storage. It's a popular option for the general investor. You can manage your whole portfolio in one place as eToro offers access to thousands of non-crypto assets as well. Plus there are a variety of tools to help you keep up with analysis, sentiment, and news about your investments.
2. Coinbase - Best for Beginners
- The platform is easy to use and geared towards beginners.
- There is a range of staking options.
- There’s a wide selection of coins to trade.
- Transaction fees for instant purchases are high.
- There are some occassional issues with customer service.
- The fee structure can be difficult to understand.
Coinbase is the best crypto exchange in the UK if you're totally new to investing. It makes the process of acquiring crypto coins effortless. The Advanced Trade mode features low trading fees, while there's also an instant buy section where you can immediately purchase coins via debit card or bank transfers.
Coinbase offers a range of unique features. Standouts include the dApp explorer where you can discover decentralised applications, and Coinbase NFT where you can trade and create non-fungible tokens.
Once you’ve bought cryptocurrency, you have access to various staking pools to earn interest on your crypto. The learning section is brilliant for total beginners because it covers the basics of the crypto market and trading. Also, Coinbase provides courses about specific digital assets in the Learning Rewards section, which reward you with free crypto upon completion.
3. Crypto.com - Best for Spending Cryptocurrencies
- The reward visa card allows spending crypto directly.
- The fees are very competitive.
- Range of options to earn crypto with high-interest rates.
- The customer service is poor.
- The platform can be difficult to navigate.
- The educational resources are hard to locate.
Crypto.com is ideal for investors who are looking to buy and spend cryptocurrencies. The brand offers a visa card with cashback rewards of up to 5% and different tiers. Based on these tiers, you are inclined to receive some great perks like increased CRO rewards, Spotify subscription, Amazon Prime, Netflix, and more.
Buying cryptocurrencies on Crypto.com is convenient as you have multiple options. You can instantly buy coins using your debit or credit card, spot trade, or use the DEX. Moreover, margin trading is available if you want to increase your position’s value.
Users who are interested in spot trading will enjoy a decent selection of popular crypto assets with extremely low exchange fees, making Crypto.com the cheapest crypto exchange UK traders have access to.
In addition, Crypto.com has its own news section where you can learn about the company’s new developments. Also, a university is available that teaches investors different topics like margin crypto trading, metaverse projects, and proof-of-stake.
4. Uphold - Best for Staking
- The exchange is very easy to use.
- There is an extensive range of cryptocurrencies available for staking.
- You can sign up for a rewards debit card with no additional charges.
- The fees can be high and hard to understand.
- No advanced trading tools.
- Customer support is limited.
With over 30 coins available to stake, Uphold offers a range of ways to earn money. Among available staking options include some major coins, such as Ethereum or Solana, and other altcoins, like Polkadot or Cosmos. The APY rate ranges from 2.5% to 13%, with less popular coins often yielding higher returns.
Similar to Crypto.com, Uphold’s crypto visa card is also highly appreciated. The FCA-regulated card can be added to Apple Pay and Google Pay, incurs 0% in transaction fees, and facilitates spending crypto directly from your Uphold wallet. There are also no annual fees and you can earn 4% in cashback paid in XRP (the native token of Ripple). You can use your card anywhere that accepts MasterCard, without any geographical restrictions.
Uphold supports a no-commission model but spreads are included in the price and they vary widely depending on the digital currencies involved and regions. The spread can be as much as 1.5% for major coins in the UK, and it can be even higher for low-liquidity coins.
5. Kraken - Best for Security
- One of the most secure crypto exchange platforms, Kraken has never been hacked.
- The platform is easily navigable with a user-friendly interface.
- There’s a solid range of crypto investments offered.
- The deposit options are limited to bank transfers.
- Instant purchases carry a high fee.
Kraken is a secure and reliable platform because it takes extra steps to ensure user protection. It has real-time monitoring, offline cold storage, SSL encryption, and more. As a result, Kraken has never been hacked since it was founded in 2011.
Spot trading crypto with Kraken is simple because it doesn’t overcomplicate the process with complex interfaces and information. Investors can also place different order types - market, stop-loss, and limit. If you prefer all the bells and whistles, though, you can always opt for Kraken Pro, with its highly customisable interface and analysis tools.
After buying your coins, staking is available with APYs ranging from 1% to 20%. It's a very simple process, with rewards automatically added to your account twice a week.
6. Bitpanda - Best for Multi-Asset Trading
- You can invest in crypto indices.
- It’s possible to trade commodities and stocks.
- The platform is intuitive and provides learning resources.
- There are no interest-earning features available.
- Less advanced trading tools than competitors.
- The fees are relatively high compared to industry standards.
Bitpanda is best known for its crypto exchange, but its product portfolio is not limited to digital currency. It allows investors to branch out across 1,000 assets spanning stocks, commodities, and indices. Much like eToro, it’s an excellent choice for all-around traders who seek diversification.
We particularly liked the inclusion of cryptocurrency indices. There are seven options available – these include an index of the top 10 coins by market cap, smart contact leaders, and DeFi leaders. It provides an easy way to gain exposure to the top-performing coins or a certain industry without having to buy and manage each coin individually. Bitpanda is the best crypto exchange UK investors will find for crypto indices.
Simplicity and ease of use are also evident in the exchange itself, besides its offerings. The platform is incredibly user-friendly and navigable, and accepts a decent selection of payment methods for depositing fiat currencies.
7. Bitstamp - Best for Customer Support
- There’s a phone line and a dedicated in-app customer support service.
- The platform is easily navigable and beginner-friendly.
- There’s an advanced trading platform available.
- The coin collection is limited, and it misses some major coins.
- The platform was hacked in 2015, though it implemented new security measures since.
Providing reliable and accessible customer support is a pain point across the crypto industry – and few do it like Bitstamp. The platform offers a dedicated in-app customer support service and a phone line, which is rarely found among other cryptocurrency exchanges. If you prefer receiving support via text, though, you should find it elsewhere. It lacks a live chat facility, but you can fill in a ticket and send it via email.
The platform works best for those who wish to buy and hold coins, but it also offers some advanced trading features like multiple order types. These include fill-or-kill, trailing-stop, and stop orders along with instant, limit, and market orders.
There are also tools to help you analyse the crypto space such as a heatmap of the market. This makes Bitstamp one of the more popular crypto exchanges for active traders.
The platform is also pretty secure. It keeps 98% of all assets offline in cold crypto storage, safely kept away from the reach of hackers.
8. CoinJar - Best for Experienced Traders
- The fee structure is very competitive.
- You can use Coinjar reward points to offset exchange fees.
- There’s a reward debit card.
- It supports a limited range of cryptocurrencies.
- Customer support is often unreliable.
CoinJar is the best UK crypto exchange for the advanced crypto trader. The spot trading software allows investors to place different order types when they buy or sell cryptocurrency, like market, stop-loss, and limit.
Although being one of the more advanced crypto platforms, beginners are welcome to use the instant buy section, which allows you to purchase crypto instantly with your card or bank account. The educational materials are far-reaching, ranging from beginner to advanced difficulty, and teach you everything you’ll need to know about crypto trading.
All in all, CoinJar is a great cryptocurrency exchange to trade on due to the multiple features provided, like crypto loans, staking, and a wallet. Also, you can order a debit card that allows you to pay with crypto and receive cashback rewards.
How to Buy Crypto on an Exchange in the UK
This section is a rundown of how to buy cryptocurrency in general on a crypto exchange in the UK. To make it easier, we’ll use Coinbase as an example.
1. Create an Account
2. Deposit Funds
3. Buy Your Preferred Cryptocurrency
What Are Crypto Exchanges?
Crypto exchanges operate by allowing customers to trade Bitcoin and other cryptos via their services. They enable individuals to acquire real coins for a variable or flat fee that they can then withdraw, stake, loan, and spend.
How Does a Crypto Exchange Work?
Cryptocurrency exchanges function by using an order book system. The crypto exchange accepts buy and sell orders and filters them by price. The order book will display live trades, which will impact the rate of the trading pair. This is why we can see price discrepancies between crypto exchanges in the UK as the liquidity and trade orders differ.
Also, you can set different order types that will affect how the trade is fulfilled. For example, when you set a market order, it goes into the order book, and the crypto exchange will try to match the order with the best available prices. Alternatively, you set the price with limit orders, and the crypto exchange will match sell orders at the same value.
What Is the Difference Between a Crypto Wallet and an Exchange?
Cryptocurrency wallets are mainly used to store coins. However, they come with many features you’d find on an exchange, like converting coins and staking. The main difference between both options is that crypto exchanges in the UK are primarily for investing and buying coins, while wallets are best for spending and storing cryptos. For instance, with over 50,000 downloads just in July 2022, Coinbase is the most popular digital wallet in the UK.
Best Crypto Exchanges for Top Cryptocurrencies in the UK
These are the best crypto exchanges in the UK for buying specific coins.
Cryptocurrency | Best Exchange |
---|---|
Bitcoin | Binance |
Ethereum | Coinbase Pro |
Ripple | eToro |
Cardano | Coinbase |
Dogecoin | Binance |
Shiba Inu | Binance |
Algorand | Coinbase |
What Are the Types of Crypto Exchanges in the UK?
There are many different types of exchanges available, all come with their respective benefits and drawbacks. Here's a quick overview:
Centralised Exchanges (CEX). CEXs are exchanges that are owned by a company that oversees the whole operation. Centralized crypto exchanges fulfill trades by using an order book, which is visible on the trading interface. A few great CEXs worth checking out are Coinbase, eToro, and Kraken. In case you're interested, you can even build your own centralised exchange, here's a guide on how to start a crypto exchange.
Decentralised Exchanges (DEX). Decentralized exchanges differ from CEXs as all the money is traded using liquidity pools and private wallets. They are not owned by a singular entity and are run by using smart contracts. PancakeSwap and Uniswap are the overall top choices due to their high liquidity and coin variety.
Hybrid Exchanges. Hybrid exchanges are a combination of DEXs and CEXs. These crypto exchange examples allow users to buy coins via spot trading/instant buying or trade anonymously through a decentralized cryptocurrency exchange. Crypto.com and Binance are the leading brands that offer this service.
P2P Exchanges. P2P services allow investors to trade Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies without going through a third party like a crypto exchange. Instead, crypto traders can buy cryptocurrency directly from the seller, which usually results in fewer fees. Binance P2P and KuCoin P2P provide an outstanding user experience for this type of buying method.
What Is the Best Way to Send Crypto Between Exchanges?
The best way to send cryptocurrency between UK crypto exchanges is to convert your coins to a coin with low fees and fast transfer times. For example, if you want to transfer Bitcoin to another Bitcoin exchange or a general crypto exchange, you could swap it for Cardano (ADA). Then transfer the ADA to another crypto exchange and buy Bitcoin again. This will result in fewer costs since ADA has lower transfer fees than Bitcoin.
What to Consider When Choosing a Crypto Exchange
When selecting a cryptocurrency provider, there are a few aspects to account for, like trading pairs, coin variety, and crypto trading fees. This section is a rundown of the best cryptocurrency exchanges for specific uses.
Number of Cryptocurrency Trading Pairs Available
Having multiple trading pairs is convenient since you don’t need to swap your coins multiple times to trade for the crypto you want. Therefore, it's important to check beforehand that the crypto exchange offers the trading pairs you plan to utilize.
# | Brand | # Cryptocurrency Trading Pairs |
---|---|---|
1 | Gate.io | 2790 |
2 | Binance | 1448 |
3 | KuCoin | 1291 |
Your Cryptocurrency Trading Knowledge
When searching for your next crypto exchange, take into account your crypto trading knowledge. If you’re an expert trader, you’d want a crypto exchange with advanced tools and helpful analytics. On the other hand, if you’re a complete beginner, you may get overwhelmed having extra features at your disposal.
Best Crypto Exchanges for Beginners in the UK
Coinbase, eToro, and Crypto.com offer the best services for beginners. Also, they all have excellent educational content, low exchange fees, and tutorials on how to use their crypto exchange.
# | Brand | Minimum Deposit |
---|---|---|
1 | Coinbase | £50 (recommended) |
2 | eToro | £40 |
3 | Crypto.com | No minimum deposit |
Best Crypto Exchanges for Advanced Traders in the UK
If you’re an expert trader, you may require advanced trading tools and different crypto trading styles. The exchanges below were selected for their trading software, leverage options, and crypto robot integrations.
# | Brand | Top Advanced Features |
---|---|---|
1 | Binance | Futures, strategy trading |
2 | Gate.io | Trading API |
3 | PancakeSwap | Liquidity pools |
Consider Your Needs: Owning, Trading, or Staking
Crypto exchanges differ in the services they provide, like coin variety, trading pairs, and staking options, which can impact your decision to create an account. So in some cases, you may need to sign up for multiple exchanges to receive the services you require.
Best Exchanges in the UK to Stake Crypto
This table highlights the best crypto exchanges in the UK for staking cryptocurrency.
# | Brand | Crypto Interest Rate | Exchange Type |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Coinbase | 3% to 10% | CeFi |
2 | Uphold | 0.35% to 16% | CeFi |
3 | Crypto.com | 3% to 12.50% | CeFi |
Compare Crypto Exchange Fees in the UK
Here you can see what fees you’d pay for buying £1,000 worth of cryptocurrency.
Coinbase | eToro | Binance | Kraken | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Deposit fee | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Withdrawal fees | 0 | £5 | 0 | 0 |
Purchase fee | £6 | £10 | £1 | £2.60 |
Selling fees | £4 | £10 | £1 | £2.60 |
Holding fee | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total fee | £10 | £25 | £2 | £5.20 |
Consider Crypto Exchange Reputation and Security
The first detail to look at with UK crypto exchanges is their reputation and how users’ investments are protected. You can easily verify if a Bitcoin exchange or a general crypto platform is trustworthy by reading reviews left by previous investors.
You should also look for UK crypto exchanges regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) that comply with anti-money laundering regulations. Here are the most secure crypto exchanges and their top security features:
# | Brand | Top Security Features | Year Founded |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Kraken | Penetration testing, 2FA, email confirmations, real-time monitoring, encrypted sensitive data | 2011 |
2 | eToro | FCA-regulated, SSL encryption, 2FA, segregated bank accounts | 2007 |
3 | Coinbase | 2FA, state-of-the-art encryption, multi-approval withdrawals, cold storage | 2012 |
Where Do You Plan to Store Crypto in the UK?
After buying crypto, the final step is storing it safely. Leaving coins on a crypto exchange is not a bad option as they have improved security over the years. However, there is still a risk of funds getting hacked. Therefore, you’ll want to use a cryptocurrency wallet, especially if you hold a large sum of coins.
Hardware wallets are great for storing coins since they keep your private keys offline. However, if you plan to trade often, then a software wallet is the next best alternative. Not your keys, not your crypto, as the adage goes.
Best Crypto Exchanges With a Crypto Wallet
# | Brand | Wallet App |
---|---|---|
1 | Binance | Yes |
2 | Coinbase | Yes |
3 | Crypto.com | Yes |
Which Deposit and Withdrawal Methods Are Available?
Here you can examine the best crypto exchanges for popular deposit and withdrawal methods.
Payment Method | Brand |
---|---|
PayPal | Coinbase |
Skrill | eToro |
Neteller | Bitpanda |
Bank Transfer | Coinbase |
Debit card | Coinbase |
Credit Card | Crypto.com |
PaySafeCard | eToro |
Can You Buy Crypto on an Exchange Anonymously?
Yes, some crypto exchanges let you acquire crypto assets without disclosing your identity. DEXs are the top choice since you don’t need to create an account or upload an ID. However, you can also use a centralized crypto exchange since some allow you to trade crypto without completing the verification process.
Best Crypto Exchanges Without Verification and Registration
Brand | Registration | KYC | Limitations |
---|---|---|---|
KuCoin | Yes | No | Withdrawal limits and limited features |
PancakeSwap | No | No | Cannot buy crypto with fiat currency |
UniSwap | No | No | Cannot buy crypto with fiat currency |
Paybis | Yes | No | None |
dYdX | No | No | Cannot buy crypto with fiat currency |
Taxes and Regulations in the UK
The UK is a crypto-friendly country that aims to be a hub for financial companies. The government announced that stablecoins would be recognized as a valid form of payment. Moreover, crypto exchanges looking to operate in the UK must register with the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) or apply for an e-money licence and comply with anti-money laundering regulations.
You may need to pay tax when you sell crypto or otherwise dispose of it (swapping it for another coin, using it as payment, or giving it to someone other than your spouse). This typically results in Capital Gains Tax. You can earn up to £6,000 in capital gains tax-free, but if you earn any more than that, you will pay CGT at the following rates:
20% if you're a higher rate Income Taxpayer
If you're a basic rate Income Taxpayer you'll pay:
10% if your taxable income + taxable gains is within the basic Income Tax band
20% on any amount above this band.
You can read more about crypto taxes in the UK in our extensive guide.
Customer Service
Customer support is an essential feature any exchange should prioritize to keep clients satisfied. The most popular type of help that UK crypto exchanges provide are:
Email support
Phone helpline
24/7 live chat
Cryptocurrency Exchange Tracking
Crypto investors sometimes use multiple crypto exchanges in the UK since the coin variety, staking options, and other aspects differ. Therefore, it’s a good idea to use an app that tracks your portfolio across all cryptocurrency trading platforms. CoinStats and CoinTracker are great options that you can integrate with leading crypto wallets and exchange brands.
Alternative Ways to Buy Cryptocurrencies in the UK
Here are some alternative crypto trading platform types you can use to buy and trade cryptocurrencies.
Crypto Brokers
Cryptocurrency brokers are essentially the middlemen between you and the cryptocurrency market. Like most of the UK crypto exchanges, brokers have trading software with indicators and advanced tools. However, they may lack a few key features like staking and crypto lending. Nowadays, however, more and more crypto platforms provide both broker and exchange services, making the distinction less relevant.
Crypto Robots
Cryptocurrency robots are sophisticated software that trades on your behalf. Before using a robot, you’ll need to set up the parameters or use preset ones given by the bot provider. The advantage of using a crypto robot is that it can trade crypto 24/7 and place multiple orders simultaneously. Pionex is a leading robot brand with over a dozen different bots ready to use.
Crypto Apps
Many crypto exchanges offer downloadable smartphone apps that let you trade crypto, stake, and transfer crypto assets easily. Alternatively, a few crypto wallet apps are crypto-focused, letting you buy and make payments with cryptocurrencies. If you plan to trade crypto on a smartphone, Gemini and Crypto.com are excellent options optimized to work on a smaller screen. Also, we created a complete guide on the best crypto apps in the UK, so you can go deeper and find out how these apps work.
Best Crypto Exchanges in the UK Recap
Here is a handy recap of the top crypto exchanges in the UK.
# | Provider | Trading Fee |
---|---|---|
1 | eToro | 1% trading fee for buying or selling crypto. |
2 | Coinbase | Up to 0.6% with Advanced Trade |
3 | Crypto.com | Up to 0.075% on Crypto.com Exchange |
4 | Uphold | 0% plus an unspecified spread |
5 | Kraken | Up to 0.26% on Kraken Pro |
6 | Bitpanda | 1.49% |
7 | Bitstamp | From 0% |
8 | CoinJar | Starting from 1% |