As Bitcoin and Ethereum are hitting record highs, everyone is curious about the cryptocurrency space and tempted to join in. But with numerous crypto trading platforms available in the U.S., picking the right one can be a hard nut to crack. But fear not; we’re going to walk you through a few of the top exchanges so you can pick the best crypto exchange USA. So, let’s begin.
Top Crypto Exchanges USA
2024 proved to be a landmark year for the crypto space, where crypto exchange platforms grew significantly. And it’s going to get bigger in 2025. So if you want to take advantage of it and not miss out, these are the best crypto exchanges for US traders.
1. Coinbase
Coinbase has to be one of the best crypto exchanges USA traders can get on. Since its inception in 2012, it’s seen an uptick in the industry that helped beginners to understand the decentralized investment world. Having over 260 crypto options and billions of trading volume under its belt, Coinbase has proven to be the best crypto trading platform in USA.
Top Features
Usually, crypto exchanges have a steep learning curve, with a lot of technical charts and graphs that can be intimidating for newcomers. But that’s not the case with Coinbase! Its intuitive and clean layout will make trading an absolute pleasure.
On the desktop version, the main dashboard shows recent transactions and portfolio value with simplicity and you can buy and sell your favourite crypto in just a few clicks. It also offers multiple payment methods, such as credit cards and bank accounts. However, card purchases come with a fee of 3.99%.
The mobile app also features a slick interface. Plus, the app lets you keep track of portfolio balances, transaction history and manage multiple wallets.
Coinbase also offers a learning reward feature that lets you get free crypto assets for learning about cryptocurrencies. You just have to watch a couple of videos and take a quiz about the context. How awesome that is!
Plus there is a blog section with market trends, new features, and crypto basics so you don’t miss out. Coinbase has a help center too where there are guides on using their platform and answers to frequently asked questions. In short Coinbase is a solid choice as one of the best crypto exchanges for US traders who are just starting out.
Coinbase is also outstanding in terms of security and complies with all US regulatory requirements. Coinbase is an approved Money Services Business with FinCEN in compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act. Further Coinbase insures user funds and stores U.S. dollar balances in FDIC-insured bank accounts to prevent users from losing money if they get hacked.
Coinbase also offers plenty of customer service options for US users like a live chat feature, social media, and a ticketing system. There’s room for improvement since customer service isn’t the best, and problems take a while to fix.
Coinbase has low fees that make it a great option for newcomers considering the ease of use and security of the platform. But compared to other exchanges, its fees are high, complicated, and obscure.
Coinbase charges a fee when you buy, sell, or convert cryptocurrencies. These fees aren’t publicly disclosed; they’re calculated dynamically when you place an order. The fees may differ based on your payment method, order size, region, and market conditions.
Pros
- Well recognized crypto exchange with high liquidity.
- Wide range of cryptocurrencies.
- Intuitive interface for beginners.
- Learn and earn system.
- Robust security measures including insurance for digital assets .
- Coinbase bonus for new users.
Cons
- Confusing fee structure.
Ideal For
Coinbase is best suited for beginners looking for their first steps in the crypto market. The combo of educational resources and earning opportunities makes it a worthwhile choice. Plus the high levels of security make it the best crypto exchange USA traders should have to trade with confidence.
2. Kraken
Kraken is a world-class crypto exchange with a long history and reputation for excellence. Founded in 2011 when the crypto market was in its infancy, it’s one of the oldest and best crypto exchanges USA traders should check out. Kraken is known for its security, receiving the highest security rating from independent research firm Certified. Plus, there is a wide variety of trading options available.
Top Features
Right now Kraken supports over 200 cryptocurrencies and has a presence in 190 countries, making it perfect for US crypto traders. But there’s more. Kraken offers all kinds of trading options like spot trading, margin trading, future trading and much more. It features a Kraken referral program, through which you can earn rewards for referring your friends.
Additionally, this platform’s margin and futures trading features are truly unparalleled in comparison to other exchanges. Through margin trading, you can leverage up to 5X on over 100 trading pairs to increase your profits. However, this feature has limited access to users in the U.S.
Kraken also offers an impressive future trading option if you want to leverage your trading even more. This platform is powered by TradingView and offers up to 50X on specific contracts. Plus, it provides a wide range of tools to help you analyze markets with an intuitive interface.
While futures trading allows you to hedge risks or speculate on asset prices effectively, high leverage is risky and best reserved for professionals.
Kraken also offers a staking service that lets users make money on assets they would otherwise hold and not use. Plus it’s super easy, and you can do it in just a few clicks. The best thing is that you can earn excellent annual returns on your crypto, and you will receive payments twice a week. On top of that, Kraken lets you instantly unstake your crypto whenever you want – without a fee.
If we talk about fees, Kraken has 0.26% trading fees that go down depending on your 30-day trading volume and whether you place a maker or taker order. But if you maintain a high trading volume, your fees will drop to 0.00%. Isn’t that impressive?
Additionally, Kraken has different withdrawal fees based on the method of payment and type of withdrawal, ranging from $0.10 to $35 for a fiat withdrawal. You can check out the Kraken website for details about its cryptocurrency withdrawal fees and limits.
Pros
- A pioneering crypto exchange.
- Extensive range of cryptocurrencies.
- Best for margin and future trading.
- Top-of-the-line security.
- Competitive fees.
Cons
- Access unavailable in New York and Washington.
- Staking service dismissed for US users.
Ideal For
Kraken offers features for all types of crypto traders. If you’re a beginner, you can try spot trading and staking, which are all backed by an easy-to-use interface. But for serious traders Kraken offers a high leveraging margin and future trading. Plus, it has top-rated security, making it our top choice for the best crypto exchange USA investors can find.
3. Gemini
Gemini is another one of the best crypto exchanges USA users can enjoy. It provides top-notch security and regulatory compliance as a cryptocurrency exchange. It was started by the Winklevoss twins, founding members of Facebook, back in 2015. The name itself refers to a pair of twins based on a constellation and zodiac sign. That’s clever naming, right?
Top Features
Whether you’re an amateur or an experienced trader, Gemini has an array of tools to suit your needs. Gemini offers a default exchange interface that simplifies the trading process for beginners and makes it easier to operate and navigate.
It comes with straightforward line charts instead of complicated candlestick charts. The three main actions are just buy, sell and convert – that’s all! These options are clear and quick, with preset amounts, so you don’t have to wonder what to do next.
For those with sophisticated trading skills Gemini offers ActiveTrader advanced investment platform. It features a fast trade execution system, a trading pair selector, an API for accessing the deep order book, and several API options.
Its Duel Market feature lets you compare multiple markets’ activity in real time, letting you execute trades and hedge positions in real time. Gemini ActiveTrader offers crypto derivatives too, but U.S. traders can’t use them.
Talking about the availability, since Gemini is based in the United States, it’s available in all states. Usually exchange platforms only offer their services in one or two states, so this is pretty uncommon. For this reason, Gemini is typically regarded as the best crypto exchange USA traders can use. To top it off Gemini accepts fiat currencies (only USD) along with digital assets, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and others.
For those who are interested in staking Gemini has got you covered too! Gemini offers staking service through Gemini Stake, previously known as Gemini Earn. This service currently lets users earn yield on Ethereum and Polygon at rates that are around market rates for Web3. The best part is that they typically offer higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts.
To go even further, Gemini also offers its stablecoin Gemini Dollar ($GUSD) which stands out because of its security and transparency. The exchange keeps $GUSD reserves under FDIC-insured bank accounts or US Treasury securities, making each token fully backed by real assets.
Pros
- Industry’s leading security measures.
- Caters for both beginners and experienced traders.
- Accepts USD and other crypto deposits.
- High yielding staking service.
- Own stablecoin.
- Gemini promo code no deposit.
Cons
- Derivatives are not offered in the U.S.
- Only two staking options.
Ideal For
If security and reliability are important to you, Gemini is the exchange you should choose. Plus the easy-to-use interface eliminates complex charts and graphs that overwhelm beginners. And for experienced traders it has everything they need, including fast order execution, trading pair selector and much more.
4. eToro
Ever thought about a crypto exchange where you can interact with people just like on social media? That is what eToro is all about. eToro is also famous for its flagship CopyTrader feature that gives you the ability to mimic top performers’ strategies.
Right now, eToro has over 38 million users across 75 countries, including about two million in the US. It’s available in 47 states, except in Hawaii, New York, and Nevada.
Top Features
Talking more about the CopyTrader feature it became popular because it doesn’t require you to do extensive research or keep an eye on the market constantly. You just select a popular and established investor that you like and pick the option to fully copy their trades.
Plus, its social feed allows you to connect, share ideas, and discuss strategies. This is a great way to stay in touch and learn more about investing.
Plus to make things easier eToro offers a demo account. If you create an eToro demo account, you’ll get $100,000 in virtual currency to trade. With a demo account, you can practice real-time trades and see how they work.
The demo account is a good way for traders to try out the platform before investing real money. And best of all, this demo account never expires! So you can play around with the demo for as long as you want.
eToro accepts EUR, GBP and even USD for deposit withdrawals and trading. This makes it an obvious choice as the best crypto exchange USA users can benefit from. Plus, you’ll save on conversion fees by using the currency that matches your bank.
Apart from copy trading eToro offers competitive brokerage services for stocks, ETFs, and options in the US. What’s mind-blowing is that it has no commissions on these stock, ETF, and option trades and just a 1% fee on cryptocurrencies. The exchange offers virtually all stocks traded on the NYSE and NASDAQ, as well as a wide variety of popular American Depository Receipts (ADRs).
Cryptocurrency trading is another great thing about eToro. You can get access to numerous popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum and Bitcoin Cash. You can check out the full list of supported crypto here.
And as mentioned earlier, there’s a 1% trading fee for each buy and sell. However, it’s worth noting that if you live in NY, NV, HI, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands you can do crypto trading.
Pros
- The best copy trading platform.
- Demo account for practice.
- User-friendly interface suited for beginners.
- Offers stocks, ETFs and other options.
Cons
- Limited range of cryptocurrencies.
Ideal For
If you’re just getting into the crypto space, eToro is a no-brainer. Its copy trading features, combined with the demo account, give you the best idea about how trading works without risking your own money. In addition, eToro is also a good choice if you want to trade stocks and ETFs.
5. Crypto.com
If you’re looking for a versatile crypto exchange, then crypto.com might be the best option. Since it was founded in 2016, Crypto.com has grown into a major company with a bunch of products and is building out its own blockchain ecosystem. Its exclusive Visa card with amazing features took its popularity to the next level.
Top Features
Crypto.com currently offers over 350 cryptocurrencies with popular coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum and many more. Plus, it’s a reputable, highly secure, regulated crypto trading platform that you can access from your browser or phone. However Crypto.com offers two apps, one for the exchange and another for the platform.
It is important to note that only select U.S. institutional investors are eligible to use the web trading platform. This means most U.S. investors will have to use its mobile app.
One of the biggest reasons that makes Crypto.com the best crypto exchange USA traders can have is its Visa cards. Crypto.com has five prepaid Visa cards you can use anywhere Visa is accepted. but before you can spend money, you’ll need to top them up. These are the best cards for everyday spending and earning rewards as well.
The card rewards users with cashback via CRO tokens, the native currency of the platform. With the highest-end Obsidian card, you can earn up to 5% cash back more accurately and get a host of bonuses on top of that. However, in order to qualify, you’ll need to lock up about $400,000 worth of CRO.
The best part is that the rewards get bigger the more CRO tokens you stake. This makes it a great option for those who want to seamlessly incorporate cryptocurrency into their everyday lives.
But if you want to go budget friendly, you can choose the Ruby Steel card. For this you have to lock up $400, and you will receive 1% back on it. The nice thing is you don’t have to pay an annual fee, and depending on the card, you get a set number of free ATM withdrawals.
Crypto.com lets you stake two ways. CRO staking for Visa card perks and Soft Staking for more flexibility. Using Soft Staking, you can earn interest on your crypto assets without locking them up. On the other hand CRO staking gives access to premium Visa cards that offer cash back, rebates on Spotify and Netflix, and better interest rates.
Pros
- Exclusive Visa card with lucrative benefits.
- Offers staking with two different options.
- Cash back reward on Visa cards.
- Secure and regulated platform.
Cons
- Some coins and services are unavailable in the U.S.
Ideal For
Crypto.com is ideal for those looking for a secure, regulated platform that offers robust stake options and cashback rewards on Visa cards. For crypto enthusiasts who want to use cryptocurrency in their daily lives, it’s the perfect platform.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Crypto Exchange
All crypto exchanges let you buy and sell cryptos, but they all have their own special features. However, to select the best crypto exchange USA traders can use, it is important to consider the following factors:
1. Security
Security is of paramount importance when choosing the best crypto exchanges USA has. Make sure the exchange you choose has a solid security infrastructure to prevent hackers from stealing your assets.
Consider evaluating the security measures those ever-exploited exchanges use, or just don’t use them at all. Also check if the exchange complies with local and international laws, and employs multi layer security techniques such as cold storage and two-factor authentication.
2. Fees
Another key factor to consider when choosing the best crypto exchange USA is the fee structure of the platform. Look out for fees associated with transactions, deposits, and withdrawals, as well as possible hidden fees such as spreads and inactivity fees.
When picking a crypto exchange, you shouldn’t just go for the cheapest one. Instead, it’s about determining how your trading habits and investment strategy are reflected in the entire fee structure. So make sure to read the details, compare multiple platforms, and consider all costs before taking the plunge.
3. User Experience
User experience matters a lot when it comes to crypto trading. For beginners in crypto, choose a platform with a user-friendly interface and responsive customer service. The combo of these two will make a huge difference in making your crypto initiation go smoothly.
Plus the design should provide comprehensive charts, order books, and trade history as well as facilitate easy trading, deposits, and withdrawals.
4. Supported Cryptocurrencies
If you’re buying cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin, then you should consider the list of supported assets before going with an exchange. While many exchanges offer a broad range of coins and tokens, there are some that specialize in altcoins.
Moreover, make sure your platform lets you deposit and withdraw fiat money in your local currency if you’re planning on funding your account with fiat. For example, Americans might consider Gemini to be the best crypto exchange USA for USD deposits and withdrawals.
Conclusion
So there you have it. This is everything you need to know about the best crypto exchanges USA options so you can make an informed choice.
Remember the cryptocurrency market can sometimes rise and fall dramatically, so make sure you do your homework before getting in. Plus have a closer look at the factors to choose the best crypto exchanges for the US because the wrong choice will ruin your entire investment and trading experience.