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Crypto trading is associated with juicy potential returns. That said, to reap heavily from this endeavour, you need a good exchange. Finding one can be an arduous task since countless options are available in the UK. But don’t let that bother you. We’ve analysed UK crypto exchanges and recommended the best in this guide. The platforms we’ve endorsed comply with FCA regulations and have favourable qualities like excellent customer support and reasonable trading fees.
The crypto universe is home to many wealthy investors and traders like Luke Timmins and Blythe Masters. These individuals have reaped handsome returns from crypto trading and investing. You can do the same. But, to achieve astronomical success, you must be knowledgeable and disciplined. Furthermore, you have to trade and invest with the best UK crypto exchange.
Vast numbers of crypto trading platforms accept Britons. But you don’t have to worry about testing all of them while searching for the best option. Our team has done that for you. We’ve spent many days researching and comparing service providers in the UK. Our guide outlines 4 exchanges that caught our attention based on their regulatory status, supported cryptos, and other indispensable factors.
List of the Best Crypto Trading Platforms
- eToro – Best Overall Crypto Trading Platform UK
- Kraken – Best UK Exchange for Advanced Crypto Traders
- Exodus – Best Crypto Trading Platform for Beginners
- Crypto.com – Best All-in-One UK Crypto Exchange
In This Guide
Crypto Exchange UK: Comparison Table
Britons have access to hundreds of regulated and unregulated crypto exchanges. Some are good, and others are terrible. So, how did we sift out deplorable entities and isolate the best service providers in the UK? Well, the process wasn’t easy. We had to research and test countless entities. And, to single out the cream of the crop, our experts had to compare available platforms.
While examining and comparing the crypto exchanges in the UK, we kept numerous factors in mind, with licensing and regulation at the top of our list. We always recommend FCA-authorized and regulated service providers because they comply with rigorous guidelines and mandates. For instance, these entities keep client funds in segregated accounts that are immune to misappropriation.
Besides licensing and regulation, we also use various factors to separate the best service providers from the crowd. These range from supported coins to support services and the availability of proprietary digital wallets. Start comparing the crypto exchanges listed in this guide using the table below.
| Best Crypto Exchange | Exchange Type | Support Service | Price | Supported Coins | Digital Wallet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eToro | Centralised | 24/5 | Free | 100+ | Yes |
| Exodus | Decentralised | 24/7 | Free | 300+ | Yes |
| Crypto.com | Centralised | 24/7 | Free | 350+ | Yes |
| Kraken | Centralised | 24/7 | Free | 200+ | Yes |
Platforms Short Overview
The factors outlined in the table above aren’t the only ones we consider while choosing the best UK crypto exchanges. We also go deeper and analyse the types of assets available on each platform. Additionally, our experts analyse every company’s fee and commission. And right so, since your success as a trader or investor hinges on whether or not you’re using an affordable platform with the right crypto assets.
The tables below will introduce you to the assets and fees we discovered while analysing and comparing the best cryptocurrency exchanges in the UK.
Fees
| Best Crypto Exchange | Fees | Minimum Deposit Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| eToro | 2% coin transfer fee | £100 |
| Exodus | No fees | None |
| Crypto.com | From 0.0%/ 0.1% maker/taker fees | None |
| Kraken | From 0.0% /0.1% maker/taker fees | £1 |
Assets
| Best Crypto Exchange | Bitcoin | Ethereum | Litecoin | Ripple | Tether | Solana |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eToro | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Exodus | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto.com | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Kraken | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Our Expert Opinion about the Best Crypto Exchanges
We’ve researched, examined, and tested the best crypto trading platforms in the UK. Based on our experiences and findings, these entities are outstanding and reliable. You should consider trading with them without any reservations. But before diving in, compare these platforms and pick one that’s more likely to fuel your ride to success.
1. eToro – Best Overall Crypto Trading Platform UK
Our overall best crypto trading platform UK is eToro. Various aspects have enabled eToro to earn its place in our guide. First, official eToro crypto trading site is simple and intuitive. Moreover, this company has provided a smooth app for mobile users. Anyone can invest in crypto with eToro and enjoy seamless experiences, including novices.
You can buy, hold, and sell over 100 digital assets on eToro, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. And don’t worry about searching for a third-party digital wallet and risking issues like poor security. While trading with this company, you’ll have access to the trademark eToro Money crypto wallet. The product makes storing and transferring crypto assets easier for investors like yourself.
Furthermore, crypto staking is supported on eToro. You can buy supported assets, stake them, and watch your investments grow. Besides cryptocurrencies, eToro allows users to diversify their portfolios with other financial instruments, including currency pairs and CFDs on commodities and ETFs.
eToro
✔5000+ financial instruments
✔Cost-free deposits
Pros & Cons
Fees
Trading Assets
Pros
- User-friendly web interface and mobile app
- Offers a vibrant crypto community to copy traders
- Safeguards client assets with military-grade offline storage infrastructure
- Allows newbies to upgrade their skills from the eToro Academy
- Virtual portfolios are available
Cons
- Fewer crypto assets than other exceptional exchanges
- Higher coin transfer fees than its peers
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.
2. Exodus – Best Crypto Trading Platform for Beginners
Are you new to crypto trading? Starting out can be tricky since, in normal circumstances, you have to follow a long process, from signing up with an exchange to finding a suitable digital wallet. Luckily, you can avoid extra headaches by working with Exodus.
We highly recommend Exodus to novices because the platform is a wallet and an exchange. With it, you won’t have to deal with 2 different platforms. Moreover, it has a user-friendly interface that is intuitively designed to facilitate effortless navigation, especially where crypto newbies are involved.
Exodus allows beginners to buy, sell, and store crypto assets without any hassles. Moreover, it offers desktop, mobile, and Web3 wallets. You can also connect Exodus with a Trezor hardware wallet. Most importantly, Exodus has a vast Knowledge Base program with countless articles that address the basics of crypto trading.
Exodus
✔Zero additional transactional fees
✔Good customer support
Pros & Cons
Fees
Trading Assets
Pros
- Simplified, stylish, and beginner-friendly user interface
- Combines a secure exchange with a top-tier wallet
- Over 300 cryptos are available, including BTC and ETH
- A wide range of helpful educational resources
- Zero crypto trading fees
Cons
- Users can’t optimise security with 2FA
- Limited functionalities compared to its peers
The best thing about Exodus is the wallet is free. You can get it today without incurring any expenses. Moreover, despite having exceptional features and top-notch security, it has zero storage fees.
Lastly, Exodus users don’t have to pay additional charges to receive or send supported crypto assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum. The only fees you’ll incur while using this wallet are network fees, which go straight to the concerned network, not Exodus’ coffers.
Visit the company’s website for more information about Exodus wallet fees.
3. Crypto.com – Best All-in-One UK Crypto Exchange
Singapore-based Crypto.com is the best option for traders who need an exchange with an extensive ecosystem. Its proprietary exchange allows users to trade over 300 popular pairs, from ALGO/BTC to BTC/USD. Crypto.com exchange users can also increase their potential returns with up to 10x leverage.
Crypto.com also offers a non-custodial wallet that allows you to access various DeFi services. For starters, this product lets you hold stakeable assets and earn rewards. You can also use it to explore a broad range of popular Dapps. Moreover, the wallet allows users to view NFTs, discover their rare traits, share them on social media, etc.
We also urge you to consider trading with Crypto.com because this excellent exchange accepts crypto and fiat deposits. Not to mention, the company supports numerous popular payment methods, including Visa, Google Pay, and Apple Pay.
Crypto.com
✔24/7 live support
✔User-friendly interface
Pros & Cons
Fees
Trading Assets
Pros
- Users can trade over 350 crypto assets
- Excellent customer support services
- Up to 5% cash back on metal visa cards
- Traders can use Crypto.com Pay to make crypto payments
- Reasonable staking rewards
Cons
- High trading fees for low-volume traders
- Beginners might have a hard time navigating the platform
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 – Best UK Exchange for Advanced Crypto Traders
Kraken is an outstanding crypto exchange that boasts 10 million+ active users. We explored this service provider and discovered numerous aspects that have encouraged us to recommend it to advanced traders. For starters, this exchange supports over 200 digital assets, including in-demand options like Tether USD, Uniswap, and Polkadot.
Furthermore, Kraken has a powerful, intuitive trading platform. It allows users to make the most of advanced charting and technical analysis tools, including TradingView. While trading with the exchange, you can also customise charts to suit your needs and strategies.
We also consider Kraken a fitting exchange for advanced crypto traders because it offers an exemplary API. Moreover, the API allows users to integrate their Kraken accounts with numerous third-party elements, including portfolio management services and trading bots. Last but not least, traders can use the Kraken mobile app to place advanced orders anytime, anywhere.
Kraken
✔Registered with the FCA
✔24/7 customer support
Pros & Cons
Fees
Trading Assets
Pros
- Protect client funds and assets with industry-leading security
- Allows users to maximise returns with deep liquidity and minimum slippage
- Premium users can execute orders exceeding £10,000 with Kraken OTC
- Supports flexible funding options, including crypto, cash, and cards
- Highly customisable trading modules are available
Cons
- Fewer crypto assets than other industry leaders
- Higher fees for low-volume 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.
Crypto Trading in the UK
Crypto trading is legal in the UK. Any knowledgeable individual over 18 can engage in it and earn tremendous returns in the long run. However, this venture is associated with significant risk. That is why the FCA is tightening its reigns and introducing new, stringent regulations regularly. As of 2024, the FCA requires all exchanges to be authorised and regulated.
With that in mind, there are numerous unregulated crypto exchanges. We highly discourage trading with them since you won’t enjoy optimum investor protection. Additionally, such entities often have weak security measures that expose you to significant financial losses. To make matters worse, many unregulated trading platforms are run by criminals who are highly likely to pull exit scams and elope with your resources.
The exchanges we’ve reviewed here are authorised and regulated by the FCA, so trading with them should be in your best interest. But, if you’re a novice trader, don’t interact with any of the service providers in our guide before gathering sufficient knowledge and refining your skills. Also, note that any proceeds you get from crypto trading might be taxable. Familiarise yourself with UK tax mandates to avoid breaking the law and incurring hefty fines or spending a few years in prison.
What is a Crypto Exchange?
A crypto exchange allows you to purchase, sell, and trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and many other cryptos.
There are 2 broad categories of crypto exchanges: centralised and decentralised. Centralised exchanges are owned and run by private companies. On the other hand, in decentralised exchanges, traders can trade with their peers without any intermediaries. Traders also have access to hybrid platforms, which combine elements from centralised and decentralised exchanges.
As a trader, you can engage in spot trading, where you enjoy immediate returns from buying and selling different assets. You can also increase potential returns with leverage. Additionally, some exchanges allow users to trade options, futures, and many other financial instruments.
How to Choose the Best Crypto Trading Platform
Many crypto exchanges are operating in the UK, which can make picking an ideal platform challenging. But you can’t go with the first service provider you come across since it may not match your preferences and trading goals. You have to select the best cryptocurrency exchange UK based on the following:
Security
Available Assets
Charges
Reputation
Support
Cryptos are a prime target for savvy hackers. To protect your assets, you need a secure exchange. The most secure service providers in the UK are authorised and regulated by the FCA. They also use top-notch solutions like SSL encryption to optimise security and allow users to implement recommended measures like two-factor authentication.
Tens of thousands of cryptocurrencies are available today. However, exchanges don’t support all these assets. Before trading with any platform, evaluate the list of available cryptos and check if your favourite options are included. Moreover, prioritise trading with companies that keep up with emerging digital currencies since they offer a broader range of trading opportunities.
High expenses negatively impact profit margins. To avoid this predicament, evaluate every exchange’s fees and choose an affordable platform. You should also pay close attention to deposit, withdrawal, and account maintenance charges.
The best crypto trading platforms have a good reputation, and vice versa. So, while searching for the best exchange, read user reviews and analyse ratings. Numerous outstanding sites can help you to that end, including the App Store, Google Play, and Trustpilot. Avoid service providers that have received too many complaints from past users, especially where matters like security, transparency, and funding are concerned.
Crypto markets are open 24/7. Subsequently, the best exchanges allow users to contact customer support at any time of the day or night, 365 days a year. The bottom line here is trading with a company that provides support services 24/7 is advisable.
How to Sign up for an Account with a Crypto Exchange
While evaluating UK crypto exchanges, we opened numerous trading accounts. Fortunately, we discovered that most platforms have a simple registration process. Furthermore, they approve new applications within a few hours. If, for any reason, the idea of opening a crypto trading account sounds nightmarish to you, let your fears dissipate. You can register and start trading today by following these simple steps:
Step 1: Visit your preferred exchange’s official site
Step 2: Create an account
Step 3: Upload verification documents
Step 4: Deposit funds
Step 5: Trade
Before joining any exchange, visit its official site. Use the links here to avoid getting duped by unscrupulous platforms that mimic legitimate exchanges. While on the exchange’s site, check product offerings, promotions, fees, and other crucial elements. Moreover, if you want to trade on the go, download and install the company’s mobile app.
Sign up and create your account. You will be required to submit sensitive information like your name, email address, and mobile number. Don’t worry; regulated exchanges must gather such details to enhance security and mitigate issues like fraud. Additionally, you must secure your account and assets with a robust and unique password.
The best crypto exchanges ask every new signee to share documents like driver’s license and bank statements. They use them to verify identity and location as well as identify illegal intentions. You should submit clear copies or photos of the required documents. Then, wait for the platform’s team to check them and verify your account.
Depending on your chosen platform, you can deposit crypto or fiat. Whichever the case may be, you should use supported funding methods. Most importantly, pay close attention to minimum deposit requirements, especially where cryptos are involved. You may lose your assets if you deposit less than the allowed minimum.
After funding your crypto trading account, conduct extensive research and analysis. Then, pick an asset and start trading. If you want to rake in juicy returns with limited capital, use leverage if your exchange allows it. Additionally, use tools like price movement alerts and stop-loss orders to protect yourself from immense losses.
Conclusion
Pick the best crypto exchange UK from our list. Our recommended platforms obey strict FCA rules and mandates, so rest assured you’ll receive fair treatment, and your assets will be secured by world-class security protocols. With that in mind, crypto trading is risky. Trading with an exceptional platform won’t change this fact. To protect yourself from catastrophic losses, learn the basics, stick to a strict budget, and make good use of available risk management tools.
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