Thadeus Geodfrey and finance are inseparable. He is a versatile expert with a strong cryptocurrency and market analysis background. Thadeus provides a unique blend of technical and strategic insights as a seasoned financial writer. His overarching probe and attention to detail inspire the InvestingGuide community. He guides you through the continuously evolving market landscape to build solid investments or make successful trades.
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Are you looking for the right Bitcoin trading platform in the UK but have no idea where to start? I’ve been there as well. To make your search for the best Bitcoin trading site easier, I did the legwork of testing and comparing a number of sites to personally choose what’s best for UK investors.
My guide not only compares the top platforms but also provides practical tips to help you choose the best for yourself. I will also take you through the procedures for getting started so you can kickstart your ventures on a good note.
List of Bitcoin Trading Platforms
After spending hundreds of hours researching, these are my top Bitcoin trading platforms for UK investors.
- Coinbase – Overall Best
- eToro – Beginner-Friendly
- Crypto.com – Best for All-in-One Crypto Services
- Kraken – Top Option for BTC Spot Trading
- OANDA Crypto – One of the Low-Cost Options
Compare Brokers Table
Before proceeding with the analysis of each of the Bitcoin trading sites in the UK, I have included a comparison table below. It gives a quick idea of the features that make them competitive. You are free to use it, as I am sure it will enable you to select the right option.
Best Bitcoin Trading Platform | Platform Type | Support Service | Supported Coins | Digital Wallet | Demo Account |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coinbase | Centralised | 24/7 | 200+ | Yes | No |
eToro | Centralised | 24/5 | 100+ | Yes | Yes |
Crypto.com | Centralised | 24/7 | 350+ | Yes | No |
Kraken | Centralised | 24/7 | 200+ | Yes | Yes |
OANDA Crypto | Centralised | 24/5 | 18+ | No | Yes |
Fees & Commissions
I have worked over 5 years in the UK investment industry. Through working with some of the region’s leading companies, I was able to experience their services firsthand. I have also tested a number of Bitcoin trading platforms, most of which I still invest with today.
Based on my experience and what is advised by the majority of successful traders in the area, choosing a platform that you can afford is worth considering for an excellent experience. The platform should also accept the Bitcoin cryptocurrency and others such as Ethereum, Litecoin, and Ripple. View the tables below with summaries of the charges applicable and asset coverage for well-informed choices.
Fees
Bitcoin Trading Platform | Fees | Minimum Deposit Requirement |
---|---|---|
Coinbase | 0.1% processing fee, Up to 60bps/40bps taker/maker fees | £1,000 |
eToro | 1% flat fee for buying and selling BTC | £100 |
Crypto.com | Up to 0.0000%/0.2640% maker/taker fees, 0.5% margin trading fee | £0 |
Kraken | Up to 0.25%/0.40% maker/taker fees, 0.01% margin trading fee for opening a position, 0.01% rollover fee | £1 |
OANDA Crypto | Up to 0.35% trading fee, 0.0005 BTC withdrawal fee | £0 |
Brokers Reviews
As of 2025, 12% of UK adults now possess crypto tokens and have made investments in the industry. The figures keep increasing with revenue set to reach $1.6bn by 2025. Companies are even accepting crypto payments, thus increasing the popularity of the digital tokens in the region.
In my opinion, cryptocurrencies are reshaping the UK’s financial landscape. While investing in the tokens does not guarantee profits, utilising the right platform and being strategic will maximise your potential. I will take you through some of the tips for getting started. But first, here are the Bitcoin trading platforms’ mini-reviews based on my hands-on experience
1. Coinbase – Overall Best
In my experience, Coinbase stands out as the best Bitcoin trading platform overall. Established in 2012, it has built a rock-solid reputation and now serves millions of users worldwide. Available in 100+ countries, it processes around £312 billion in quarterly trading volume. If you’re looking for a trusted, well-established exchange that prioritises security and top-tier services, Coinbase is the way to go.
You get to buy, sell, and exchange Bitcoin as well as over 200+ crypto tokens once you have an account. Because it’s listed as a publicly traded company worth over £54 billion, the transparency and security you get with Coinbase is unrivaled. Plus, high-volume traders can benefit from ultra-low taker/maker fees, starting at 5bps/0bps for those exceeding £400 million in trades.
I also appreciate Coinbase’s simple-to-use interface and solid mobile app, making it a good choice for beginners and pros alike. The site also has crypto staking, which allows users to collect nice rewards on specific digital currencies.
Pros
- Intuitive interface with optimum user-friendliness
- Low fees for high-volume Bitcoin traders
- Excellent 24/7 customer support
- Reasonable crypto staking rewards
- Wide range of altcoins for portfolio diversification
Cons
- £25 fee for SWIFT deposits
- Limited payment methods in the UK
Creating and maintaining a Coinbase account is free. We used that fact to our advantage by opening a new account and using it to test the Coinbase exchange. While exploring and evaluating this platform, we stumbled upon a few other noteworthy details.
For starters, Coinbase allows its users to store their FIAT and digital assets on the platform free of charge. Moreover, the company’s clients can transfer crypto to and from different primary balances at no cost.
That said, this company requires its users to pay a stipulated fee when transferring crypto from their Coinbase wallets to other digital wallets. The exact charges depend on factors like the prevailing network fees. Moreover, all Coinbase users must cover a 0.1% processing fee while using the Lightning Network to send Bitcoin from the exchange.
Coinbase also requires investors and traders to cover specific fees while buying, selling, or converting crypto on the exchange. Numerous factors, including your order size and preferred payment method, will determine the costs you’ll incur while partaking in such ventures. You should always use the preview screen to view the fees you are supposed to cover before placing an order.
Not to forget, this exchange includes a spread in every quoted price. Expect to cover this expense whenever you place simple buy/sell orders. If you want to avoid paying the spread, switch to Coinbase Advanced, where you can interact with the order book without an intermediary.
Finally, Coinbase charges maker fees starting from 0bps and taker fees starting from 5bps. And although some payment methods, like ACH, offer free deposits and withdrawals, most require Coinbase users to pay transaction fees. For instance, when withdrawing GBP with Swift, you must pay a £1 withdrawal fee.
2. eToro – Beginner-Friendly
With millions of users worldwide, I rate eToro as the best platform for novice Bitcoin traders in the UK. Its clean, beginner-friendly platform is easy to use. Plus, signing up is simple, and you can explore over 31 cryptos, including Bitcoin, without any hassle. I also like that eToro is home to additional asset classes like stocks, forex, commodities, and more. This makes it easier for users to diversify their portfolios and spread risks.
Another standout feature is the eToro Academy, which is an excellent learning hub for newcomers. Here, you’ll find essential courses such as Investing 101, Building Your Portfolio, and Crypto for Beginners. These lessons cover fundamental trading and investing concepts, complemented by in-depth guides and tutorials.
Once you have a solid grounding, feel free to open an eToro demo account to practice your skills with £100,000 in virtual funds. Demo accounts allow you to trade risk-free and gauge your skill level. And when you’re ready to trade with real funds, shift to the live trading account. With eToro, you will deposit at least £50 to trade. Plus, you’ll only pay a basic 1% buy/sell fee.
Pros
- Remarkable academy and educational materials
- Free fiat deposits
- A low, fixed buy/sell fee
- Easy-to-use crypto wallet
- A broad range of additional instruments available, including real stocks
Cons
- Every fiat withdrawal request incurs a £5 fee
- £10 account inactivity fee
If there’s anything that can eat away at your profit margins, it’s unnecessary costs. Thankfully, eToro fees UK are reasonable and pocket-friendly. We acquired a new account without paying a single cent, which was quite a relief. We also noticed that you can enjoy free deposits by using USD. That said, eToro supports many other currencies, including GBP, EUR, and RMB.
You will incur conversion fees if you use any currency other than USD. And if you use any currency that eToro doesn’t support, you must pay conversion fees to your payment provider. The exact conversion fees you may incur at any moment will depend on various factors, including your preferred currency and payment method.
Please note that eToro subjects each withdrawal request to a £5 fee. The platform uses this money to pay expenses arising from international money transfers. Most importantly, you can’t withdraw less than £30 from the eToro trading platform.
While depositing money into our account, we noticed that eToro has strict minimum deposit requirements. Britons using this platform have to deposit at least £100 the first time. Afterwards, you can fund your account with as little as £10, depending on your preferred payment method.
Commission-wise, eToro is very friendly to people who trade ETFs or invest in real stocks since the broker charges 0% for these assets. On the other hand, if you buy or sell crypto on this platform, expect to pay a 1% fee. CFD trading also attracts variable spreads depending on the involved instruments. For instance, the spreads for currencies and commodities start from 1 pip and 2 pips, respectively.
Not to forget, eToro charges a £10 monthly inactivity fee that kicks in after 12 months of dormancy.
3. Crypto.com – Best for All-in-One Crypto Services
After testing countless exchanges, I’ve found Crypto.com to be the top BTC trading platform for comprehensive services. It offers access to 300+ popular crypto pairs for spot trading, including CRO/BTC, ETH/BTC, and DOGE/BTC. If you’re looking to amplify potential gains, the platform also supports margin trading with up to 10x leverage.
Another feature is its flexible crypto-backed loans. You are allowed to take up to three loans consecutively without selling your assets. This is a good option when you are in need of cash. Crypto.com also allows you to stake supported cryptos and earn healthy rewards while holding your investments.
I commend Crypto.com’s seamless crypto payment system. You can pay at over 300,000 merchants with digital assets through the Crypto.com app. For top investors, the exchange also offers up to £1 million in protection for losses due to unauthorised fiat or crypto withdrawals.
Pros
- A rich selection of crypto assets besides BTC
- Up to £1 million coverage for prime investors
- Low maker and take fees for high-net BTC traders
- Users can generate passive income through staking
- Crypto-backed loans are available
- Allows crypto traders to start with as little as £1
Cons
- Higher fees for small-scale traders
- Limited educational resources
Ungodly costs undermine your capital and returns. For that reason, we analysed Crypto.com fees UK. Luckily, this exchange has affordable charges and commissions. The first thing we noticed is that this service provider allows new users to register and set up their Crypto.com wallet for free.
Moreover, Crypto.com has zero limits and fees for depositing crypto to the exchange. To make things even better, this service provider supports free GBP deposits. However, you must use a supported payment method like Faster Payments Service (FPS) to enjoy the latter.
That aside, Crypto.com users must cover varying maker and taker fees determined by their 30-day trading volume. Anything less than £50,000 attracts a 0.15%/0.30% maker/taker fee. But the numbers drop to 0.00%/0.05% for trading volumes of up to or more than £10,000,000. The more you trade, the lesser your fees.
Crypto.com has a free proprietary visa card you can use to make crypto payments. However, we discovered several fees associated with this product. For starters, if you ever decide to close your card, you’ll have to pay a £50 fee before any remaining funds get returned to you. The card also comes with a monthly free ATM limit. If you exceed it, you’ll incur a 2% withdrawal fee. Furthermore, dormant Crypto.com cards incur a £5 monthly fee that kicks in after 12 months of inactivity.
4. Kraken – Top Option for BTC Spot Trading
If you’re focused on spot trading (buying and selling crypto for immediate returns), Kraken is a top-tier platform worth considering. With over 10 million users, it caters to both individual traders and institutional investors handling large crypto volumes. Trading on Kraken means benefiting from deep liquidity and dedicated support, ensuring a seamless experience.
Away from spot trading, I like how Kraken has an option for purchasing crypto at a minimum of £10. This is convenient to all classes of traders. Professionals are not excluded since Kraken Pro has additional features that include a pre-installed Order Form trading platform. There are also various order types, such as market, limit, and take profit.
I also appreciate that Kraken is all about learning. Its Learn Center is packed with helpful resources to enable you to enhance your trading skills. And if you do experience challenges while trading or require clarifications on certain things, Kraken’s expert customer support team is available 24/7 via phone, chat, or email.
Pros
- Powerful spot trading platform for institutions
- Users can also trade NFTs and pay zero gas fees
- Exceptional customer support service available 24/7
- Staking and OTC trading are supported
- £1 minimum deposit requirement
Cons
- Higher maker and taker fees for low-volume traders
- Limited fiat funding options for UK traders
Opening a Kraken account won’t cost you anything. The Kraken wallet is also free to acquire and use. That said, while trading with this review, you will be required to cover maker/trader fees starting from 0.00%/0.10%. But, to enjoy such low costs, you must have a high 30-day trading volume. Otherwise, if your 30-day trading volume is low, you may be subjected to higher maker/trader fees of up to 0.25%/0.40%.
With that in mind, many of the crypto assets supported by Kraken come with zero address setup and deposit fees. However, they have minimum deposit requirements. You should pay close attention to the latter since any deposits below the stipulated minimum are lost forever.
Also, note that Kraken allows users to trade with leverage. However, this optional and advanced feature can increase overall costs with additional rollover and margin opening fees. You will be exposed to higher charges if you purchase, sell, or convert your assets with the Instant Buy/Sell feature.
Finally, Kraken charges zero account maintenance, inactivity, and storage fees.
5. OANDA Crypto – One of the Low-Cost Options
You probably know that trading and non-trading fees can affect the amount of profit you earn. Therefore, if you do not want to incur a lot of costs while trading Bitcoin, OANDA Crypto is a considerable choice. The platform does not have any minimum deposit, which means you can start trading Bitcoin by depositing any amount you can afford. Fortunately, this platform supports multiple payment methods, thus guaranteeing a streamlined transaction process.
One of the things I like most about OANDA Crypto is how open it is. There are no hidden fees to inflate your costs artificially. The straightforward price model of the platform means you always know where you stand. Its costs range between 0.35% and as low as 0.05%, depending on the account you use.
I like that OANDA Crypto stands out for its free deposits. Automated trading and new token pairs are also supported. Other than being economical, the platform is educational, equipping users with risk management tools to minimise loss.
Pros
- Clear, transparent fees
- No minimum deposit requirement
- Low fees starting from 0.05%
- Reasonable minimum and maximum order sizes
- Free GBP bank deposits
Cons
- High SWIFT withdrawal fee
- Fewer altcoins than its peers
Opening an OANDA trading account is free, and you only need your personal details to set it up. From our experience, there is no minimum deposit requirement. We believe this attracts even low-budget traders as they can easily dive into financial market investment with any amount they can afford.
We also noticed that the OANDA broker doesn’t charge fees for deposits. This is whether you transact using credit/debit cards, e-wallets, or bank transfers. Plus, users can make one free withdrawal every month using their credit/debit cards. Subsequent withdrawals attract a fee, which varies depending on the currency you are transacting with. Bank transfers and e-wallet withdrawals also attract a fee, which from our analysis, is higher than credit/debit card withdrawals.
When it comes to inactivity fees, OANDA charges £10 monthly should your account remain dormant for over 12 months. Financing charges also apply for positions left overnight. Overall, we can confidently state that OANDA has no hidden charges. It allows users to easily plan and budget for their activities without worrying about future surprises.
How to Choose the Best Bitcoin Trading Platform
With an abundance of Bitcoin trading platforms, it is indeed overwhelming to select one. Being spoiled for choice is a good thing, but it also means dealing with shady services and outright scams. I’ve learned the hard way that not all platforms are created equal, so I always check a few key factors before trusting any provider with my money. Here’s what I look for:
For me, security is non-negotiable. The best ones are those regulated by the FCA, which ensures that they follow very strict financial rules. I always check to see the regulatory status of any provider I am about to sign up for. Other than that, I look for strong security measures, like encryption techniques, cold storage, and two-factor authentication. If there are no security measures taken by the platform, then I have to reject it.
I don’t want to lose everything because of some trivial issue with my chosen platform. A good and reliable trading platform will provide easy access for its users, especially beginners. If the interface feels confusing, I just leave. I don’t want a trading experience to have me finding my way around in the dark.
As for fees, I always make sure they are within reasonable limits. Trading fees can eat into profits really fast, hence, I don’t forget to check on both trading and non-trading costs before committing myself to a platform. Some exchanges are good at imposing hidden fees, which only show up when you withdraw funds or execute certain trades. I compare different platforms as a matter of course to find the most cost-effective one which won’t drain my earnings dry.
In addition to trading Bitcoin, I appreciate the need for diversification. A secure platform must offer an assortment of alternative cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum, Solana, Dogecoin, and others. If an exchange cannot offer diversification beyond BTC, I might be forced to keep risks confined only to it and take opportunities elsewhere. Note that platforms such as eToro and OANDA offer additional asset classes, including shares, forex, commodities, and ETFs, which is another good thing.
As a trader, I know that there will come a time when I will need assistance. This is whether regarding a technical issue or a question concerning withdrawals. With that being a consideration, I always access the platform’s customer support before I commit. I will reach out via chat, phone call, or email to see how quickly they respond and if they provide valuable answers. If the support is either too slow or unhelpful, I take my business elsewhere.
I could not trust a platform without researching it. Before signing up, I dive into online reviews on Trustpilot, Google Play, and in the App Store. A common pattern of complaints concerning withdrawals, customer service, and security would steer me away from that platform. And on the flip side, an overall good reputation with good reviews builds my confidence.
How to Start with the BTC Platform
Opening a Bitcoin trading account can seem quite a task, especially for a novice in crypto. I’ve been in that position. I remember wondering how complicated the process could be and whether I would get stuck along the way. As a rule, it’s easier than most people think to start engaging in crypto. Reputable platforms have simplified the process, which means you can be up and running in just a few steps. Here is what to expect:
Head on to the website of the Bitcoin trading platform you wish to use. Be sure to check that the URL is correctly spelled, as there are scams out there. Once on there, it is best to take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the layout, check out any mobile apps, and read through the terms and conditions. While this may not be the most exciting read, it is always good to know what you are getting yourself into.
Registration is usually straight up and fast. Basic personal information such as your name, email, and phone number is required. A few platforms might require your employment details, but this is not consistent with all. Providing valid information at this point is crucial, as any mistakes could lead to a delay in verification later on. This step is not much different from the experience of signing up for an online banking app.
Safety and knowledge calls for identity verification by all credible Bitcoin UK trading platforms. This seems like a hassle but is an essential step that keeps one safe and compliant with the relevant laws and regulations. Expect to provide a government-issued ID, such as a passport or driver’s license. You may also be required to share proof of address, like a utility bill or bank statement. The good news is that most platforms make this procedure smooth, and will validate your documents in just a few minutes.
Once your account is verified, it is time to fund and start trading. You will be offered plenty of payment options, depending on the platform. These include bank transfer, e-wallets, credit/debit cards, or even crypto deposits. For quick deposits, go for a solution that allows instant transactions.
Once you have funds into your account, it is time to buy Bitcoin. If you are a newbie in trading, you can start on a lower scale and get acquainted with the entire exercise. Note that the price of Bitcoin can fluctuate greatly; hence, you must make sure that you do encompass risk and not place all your funds into one trade. Plus, take advantage of demo accounts and apply risk management controls to maximise your experience.
How We Test
At InvestingGuide, we work together as a team of professionals in research for the best trading platforms. We do a hands-on test on all key components such as security, fees, ease of use, and trading features.
Moreover, we dive deep into real user feedback by reviewing testimonials and ratings on Google Play, App Store, and Trustpilot. By combining our first-prospect experience with user feedback, we ensure unbiased and well-rounded recommendations. You can go through our How We Test page to learn more about how we conduct our research.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the top Bitcoin trading platform is an important decision, so do not hurry. Take another look at the platforms I have recommended above, and do not hesitate to do some additional research by reading user reviews and testimonials. If you are a crypto beginner, prioritise education. Getting to know the market is just as important as selecting the proper exchange.
Once you have found a platform that fits your needs, practice disciplined trading and use proper risk management. Never let emotions like excitement or frustration dictate what you do. The key to long-term success is staying informed, patient, and strategic.
OANDA seems like a great option for me