The best cryptocurrency brokers
Account minimum: here are the best brokers for cryptocurrency trading, including traditional online brokers, as well as a new specialized cryptocurrency exchange.
Top forex bonuses
You might also want to check out which brokers offer the best bonuses for opening an account to determine where you can get a little extra. Account minimum: interactive brokers allows you to buy bitcoin futures rather than owning the currency directly. And in this broker’s case, you can actually buy futures on the chicago mercantile exchange, with all-in contracts costing $15.01 with five bitcoins per contract. In addition, interactive brokers brings its full suite of investment offerings, so you can buy almost anything that trades on an exchange.
Best online brokers for buying and selling cryptocurrency in january 2021
Advertiser disclosure
We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our goal is to help you make smarter financial decisions by providing you with interactive tools and financial calculators, publishing original and objective content, by enabling you to conduct research and compare information for free - so that you can make financial decisions with confidence.
Our articles, interactive tools, and hypothetical examples contain information to help you conduct research but are not intended to serve as investment advice, and we cannot guarantee that this information is applicable or accurate to your personal circumstances. Any estimates based on past performance do not a guarantee future performance, and prior to making any investment you should discuss your specific investment needs or seek advice from a qualified professional.
How we make money.
The offers that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within the listing categories. But this compensation does not influence the information we publish, or the reviews that you see on this site. We do not include the universe of companies or financial offers that may be available to you.
Editorial disclosure.
All reviews are prepared by our staff. Opinions expressed are solely those of the reviewer and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including any rates, terms and fees associated with financial products, presented in the review is accurate as of the date of publication.
Share
At bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here’s an explanation for how we make money.
Editorial integrity
Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions.
Key principles
We value your trust. Our mission is to provide readers with accurate and unbiased information, and we have editorial standards in place to ensure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our advertisers and our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers.
Editorial independence
Bankrate’s editorial team writes on behalf of YOU – the reader. Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked to ensure accuracy. So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting credible and dependable information.
How we make money
You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey.
Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers.
We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money.
Bankrate.Com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service.
Cryptocurrency, especially bitcoin, has proven to be a popular trading vehicle, even if legendary investors such as warren buffett think it’s as good as worthless. Part of cryptocurrency’s popularity is due to its volatility, since these swings allow traders to make money on the price moves.
For example, at the start of 2017, the price of bitcoin broke through the $1,000 barrier. By the end of the year, the digital currency had reached nearly $20,000. Almost a year later, bitcoin was hovering around $3,200. But it sprung back to life in 2019, rising to more than $10,000 and has continued significantly higher since then — crossing the $20,000 level toward the end of 2020.
It’s this kind of price movement that has attracted traders looking to ride the waves to profit. While some traders like to own the currency directly, others turn to the futures market. Futures may be an even more attractive way to play the volatility of digital currencies such as bitcoin, because they allow traders to use leverage to magnify their gains (but also magnify losses).
Where can you buy and sell cryptocurrencies?
Traditional brokers have the advantage of offering a wide selection of investible securities, though typically you can’t trade bitcoin directly, only futures. Meanwhile, crypto exchanges are limited to digital currencies, though you can own the currencies directly and can often buy several, rather than simply bitcoin or bitcoin futures, as you would with a general broker. And paypal has also gotten in on the act, allowing U.S. Users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies.
Here are the best brokers for cryptocurrency trading, including traditional online brokers, as well as a new specialized cryptocurrency exchange. You might also want to check out which brokers offer the best bonuses for opening an account to determine where you can get a little extra.
Overview: best brokers for cryptocurrency trading
Robinhood
Robinhood is a great option for buying cryptocurrency directly. Not only that, you’ll get to take advantage of the broker’s wildly popular trading commissions: $0 per trade, or commission-free. And if you’re into more than just cryptocurrency, you can stick around for stock and ETF trades for the same low price. Robinhood’s slick app makes trading so easy, though those looking for a full-featured trading experience will be disappointed.
Commission: $0
Account minimum: $0
TD ameritrade
TD ameritrade is one of the top full-service brokers on the market, and not only does it offer access to traditional products such as stocks and bonds, but it’s expanded its offering to include bitcoin futures. However, TD ameritrade does not allow trading directly in the digital currency. You’ll need to meet the account minimum to get started with bitcoin futures. (charles schwab has purchased TD ameritrade, and will eventually integrate the two companies.)
Commission: $2.25 per contract
Account minimum: $25,000 for futures
Interactive brokers
Interactive brokers allows you to buy bitcoin futures rather than owning the currency directly. And in this broker’s case, you can actually buy futures on the chicago mercantile exchange, with all-in contracts costing $15.01 with five bitcoins per contract. In addition, interactive brokers brings its full suite of investment offerings, so you can buy almost anything that trades on an exchange.
Commission: $15.01 per contract
Account minimum: $0
Charles schwab
Charles schwab is routinely one of bankrate’s picks for top broker, and this investor-friendly company offers trading in bitcoin futures. Schwab also has no account minimum, but any futures contracts you trade will require some minimum margin to hold them open. Schwab offers an attractive commission of $1.50 per contract, and if you’re able to bring big money to the table, you’ll receive a welcome bonus, too.
Commission: $1.50 per contract
Account minimum: $0, futures margin depends on contract
Tradestation
Traders have a couple options at this broker, which has rolled out direct currency trading via tradestation crypto, with commission-based pricing for traders. Pricing is based on your account balance with the broker and whether your order is directly marketable. Normally pricing ranges from 0.25 percent of your order to 1 percent. Traders can also buy and sell bitcoin futures as well as take advantage of substantial volume trading discounts.
Commission: 0.25-1 percent
Account minimum: $0, but futures margin depends on contract
Coinbase
Coinbase is a specialized cryptocurrency-focused platform that allows you to trade digital currencies directly, including bitcoin, ethereum, litecoin and bitcoin cash. In total, you’ll have access to more than three dozen cryptocurrencies. You’ll also be able to store your coins in a vault with time-delayed withdrawals for additional protection. The exchange’s commission structure is steep. It charges a spread markup of about 0.5 percent and adds a transaction fee depending on the size of the transaction and the funding source.
Commission: at least 1.99 percent of the transaction value
Account minimum: $0
Bottom line
Whenever you’re selecting a broker, it’s important to consider all of your needs. And for new traders in cryptocurrency, you’ll want to figure out whether you want to own the virtual currency directly or whether you want to trade futures, which offer higher reward, but also higher risk.
You’ll also need to consider whether you want to trade more than bitcoin, which is what the majority of traditional brokers restrict you to. If not, you may want to turn to a cryptocurrency exchange, since they offer more choice of tradable cryptocurrency.
Top 10 online cryptocurrency trading brokers
The pioneer of social trading is now offering an exclusive opportunity for investors who want exposure to the most popular cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, dash, ethereum and more. Trade crypto 24/7 at etoro with no rollover fees!
- World's leading social trading platform
- Proven track record of security
- Unlimited daily withdrawals
- Min. Deposit of $200 to get started
- Instant trade execution
Changelly accepts almost all altcoins available on the market today. You can quickly and easily trade cryptocurrency coins, allowing you to maximize the value of your cryptocurrency trades.
- No personal information required
- Most convenient way to switch between altcoins
- Largest offering of cryptocurrencies
- Good customer support
Xcoins offers bitcoin on its unique peer-to-peer lending model which connects borrowers and lenders through a series of "secure loans". The turnaround time is quick, and borrowers receive their bitcoin instantly.
- Get bitcoin instantly
- Profit margin guarantee
- 100% automated
Bitfinex is one of the world’s largest and most advanced bitcoin trading platforms. Trade bitcoin and other crypto-assets with low fees and many cutting-edge features including margin trading.
- Competitive fees
- Free deposits
- Deep liquidity
T&C's apply to each of the offers above, click "visit site" for more details.
Risk warning: users should be aware that all investment markets carry inherent risks, and past performance does not assure future results. Trading of any kind is a high-risk activity, and you could lose more than you initially deposited. Cfds are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 73-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading cfds. Please be sure you thoroughly understand the risks involved and do not invest money you cannot afford to lose. Your capital is at risk. Advertiser disclosure: topbrokers.Trade is an independent professional comparison site funded by referral fees. The compensation topbrokers.Trade receives is derived from the companies and advertisements featured on the site. Due to this compensation, we can provide our users with a free comparison tool. Unfortunately we are unable to list every broker or exchange available, however, we do our best to review as many as possible.
The pioneer of social trading is now offering an exclusive opportunity for investors who want exposure to the most popular cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, dash, ethereum and more. Trade crypto 24/7 at etoro with no rollover fees!
Changelly accepts almost all altcoins available on the market today. You can quickly and easily trade cryptocurrency coins, allowing you to maximize the value of your cryptocurrency trades.
Xcoins offers bitcoin on its unique peer-to-peer lending model which connects borrowers and lenders through a series of "secure loans". The turnaround time is quick, and borrowers receive their bitcoin instantly.
How to get started in cryptocurrency trading
As the trade volumes are reaching billions of dollars a day and the market caps are hitting tens of billions of dollars, it is no wonder that cryptocurrencies fuel the modern day gold rush. Today is an age of digital currencies, with hundreds of cryptocurrencies birthed within the decade. There are already more than a thousand cryptocurrencies in the market, and almost daily a new initial coin offering (ICO) appears.
What is cryptocurrency?
Today, the most famous cryptocurrency is bitcoin. Its inventor attempted to build a “peer-to-peer electronic cash system”. Many have tried this system many times before. However, the main difference between bitcoin and the previous efforts, like digicash, was that it was to be entirely decentralized. Since no overarching entity is controlling the currency, the notion of “trust” would be eliminated from the system.
To combat “double spending”, the major problem in all the digital cash systems at that point, satoshi nakamoto, bitcoin’s inventor, proposed the blockchain technology. The blockchain technology is a revolutionary technology that records all the transactions made with this currency.
For any single balance, transaction, or change to the network to take place, there needs to be a consensus amongst those who validate the network – the miners. Since the invention of bitcoin, many programmers have attempted to use the model and change it to provide what they consider a more functional form of digital cash.
The other kinds of cryptocurrencies include monero, new economy movement, litecoin, and ether. Many of these cryptocurrency efforts tailor their currency for an individual and particular purpose. Some of the most common purposes are speed, privacy, and price.
What are cryptocurrencies used for?
Since cryptocurrency is such a new technology, it may be that people have not used it yet for its eventual use. Still, today people utilize it for many various purposes. These purposes include, but aren’t limited to the following: trading, remittances, payment for goods and services, investment, gambling, private monetary transactions, and as a hedge against national currencies which are suffering from rapid devaluation (greece, venezuela for example).
As the whole cryptocurrency space begins to expand, it’s likely that we will see some additional applications joining the list of purposes for the crypto currency. There are already young services such as steemit, which aims to revolutionize the way people pay for content on social media, in addition to services like musicoin which attempts to find a more equitable way to pay artists without the need for a middleman.
What is the difference between bitcoin and ethereum?
All cryptocurrencies have their own characteristics. However, recently one coin has come to challenge bitcoin more than ever before. Ethereum is the new player on the market. The reasons that it is a challenge to bitcoin are easy to understand.
Ethereum emerged as an effort to try to correct some of the main criticisms made towards bitcoin – especially regarding security.
What ethereum has accomplished to do was to provide transactions that are safer, more flexible contracts that are compatible with any wallet, with short block times for negotiating (where the confirmations are easier). Also, ethereum is available more than bitcoin. Whereas more than two-thirds of bitcoin has already been mined, access to ethereum is still widely available. Another main difference between these two cryptocurrencies is that ethereum allows for different developers to raise funds for their projects. It can, therefore, be in itself a kickstarter for some projects.
One of the main advantages to ethereum is that it’s a more secure, easy to use, flexible, and transact coin. In addition to this advantage, it has brought innovations in terms of entrepreneurship and investment. And this is posing a serious challenge to bitcoin’s market cap.
What is the difference between a cryptocurrency exchange and a cryptocurrency broker?
You can invest in cryptocurrency in two ways. First, cryptocurrency can be bought and sold at a cryptocurrency exchange and stored in a digital wallet. The second method would be to invest in crypto as a CFD with regulated cryptocurrency brokers. With CFD cryptocurrency trading, the digital currency is treated as a speculative investment and traded as a contract for difference (or CFD), through brokers.
Platforms that allow traders to buy and sell cryptocurrencies are cryptocurrency exchanges. Dues to the fact that it is a very recent – and booming – market, the majority of these platforms are relatively new. But, of course, one of the essential questions that people ask is how to know if a particular platform is safe or not.
The only way that you can find out is to check if the exchange provides transparent data of the coins that are in cold storage. What this means is, whether it has the reserves that it requires to provide liquidity to its activities. You can find check this easily by checking whether an exchange is regulated or not.
Trade cryptocurrency online using CFD services
If you are interested in trading because of the opportunity to profit from the incredible volatility of cryptocurrency, your best option is to use an online trading platform that allows CFD services. Currently, there are very few CFD platforms that allow this kind of trade, so to see available options refer to our recommendations above.
CFD brokers are a great option if you want to trade cryptocurrencies with the option to accept multiple forms of payment. If you want to buy cryptocurrency with paypal, you can, and these forums also accept major credit cards and wire transfers as well. Furthermore, if you choose to trade through a forex or CFD platform, you will pay the lowest commissions possible. That is in comparison to other investment alternatives. CFD and forex companies use an exchange rate that is an aggregate of different crypto exchanges.
Trading cryptocurrencies – getting started with cfds (contracts for differences)
Cryptocurrency cfds allow you to trade digital coins without actually owning any. Crypto cfds were generated to give traders exposure to the cryptocurrency market without the need for ownership.
Contracts for differences, also known as “cfds,” represent a contract between trader and exchange. Cfds declare that the difference between the price on entry and the price on exit will be a trader’s profit or loss. Basically, cfds are an agreement held between two parties that simulate an actual asset.
How to make money trading crypto
There are several ways to make money cryptocurrency trading. The most popular is trading bitcoin against the US dollar, known in market terms as the BTC/USD pair. The first method is to find a top cryptocurrency broker and to invest in a digital currency in the same way that you would do with a physical currency – by buying low and selling high. Since cryptocurrency is highly volatile, you should be able to identify the dip with studying and market research.
Read on to learn how to find the best cryptocurrency brokers. Be sure to review the platforms we suggest above, all are fully-registered and come highly recommended. For additional information regarding trading cryptocurrency as a CFD, check out our guide on “the basics of cfds“. It’s important that you remember that leverage works both ways and it will magnify the gains and losses.
How to choose the best cryptocurrency trading broker online
Because there’s so much competition in the market as well as having countless cryptocurrency brokers to choose from, it can be difficult to know which option will be best for you. Here are a few key points we suggest keeping in mind when deciding how to best invest:
Regulation
Each country has its own regulatory body. The regulatory body develops rules, services and programs to protect the integrity of the market. The regulators protect traders, and investors as well as the cryptocurrency brokers themselves. Their main obligation is to help members meet regulatory responsibilities. Due to potential safety concerns regarding deposit, you should exclusively open accounts with regulated firms.
Customer service
Cryptocurrency trading takes place 24 hrs a day, so customer support should be available at all times. Ideally, you will want to speak with a live support person rather than a time-consuming auto-attendant. Give a call to the customer service centre to get an idea of the type of customer service provided. Check on wait times and find out the representative’s ability to answer questions regarding spreads and leverage, trade volume, and company details.
Account types
Your ideal cryptocurrency trading broker should be able to offer either multiple account options or an element of customizability. Look for cryptocurrency brokers that offer competitive spreads and easy deposits/withdrawals.
Currency pairs
Cryptocurrency brokers can provide a selection of cryptocurrency pairs. However, it is most important is that they provide the variety of pairs that interest you. While there are many digital currencies available for trading, there are only a few get the majority of the attention, and as the result, trade with the highest liquidity.
Platform type
The trading platform is the investor’s portal to the markets. With that in mind, look for a platform that’s easy to use, straightforward and offers an advanced collection of analytical and technical and tools. These features will help to enhance your trading experience.
Here at topbrokers.Trade, we take pride in providing the best possible trading brokers comparison, reviews and ratings. These reviews enable you to select the best trading platform for your needs. We don’t just help you to pick a great place to trade, but also do everything that we can, to show you how to get started. For more information on cryptocurrencies, please see our tutorial: the basics of cryptocurrency
The pioneer of social trading is now offering an exclusive opportunity for investors who want exposure to the most popular cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, dash, ethereum and more. Trade crypto 24/7 at etoro with no rollover fees!
Best cryptocurrency brokers for 2021
Daniel ‘harris’ major
I have tested 40+ crypto brokers. You can find the best cryptocurrency brokers below. This is by far the easiest way to get started with cryptocurrencies.
Cryptocurrency trading has become really popular in the past years. It’s growing more ever year.
Many big trading brokers have already added some of these cryptocurrencies. Everybody can sign up and start trading bitcoin or other crypto coins. This is the easiest and probably the simplest way to invest in cryptocurrency.
After trying out most brokers, here are the best cryptocurrency brokers:
Best cryptocurrency brokers (non-US traders only)
Plus500 – top rated trading platform
Plus500 is a big name in the trading industry. They have a really low minimum deposit requirement and a great trading site.
Buy/sell cfds on bitcoin in addition to buying stocks, commodities, forex etc (traded only through cfds). Plus500 is the most complete trading platform.
- Trade cfds on bitcoin & many other cryptos
- Minimum deposit is only $100
- Regulated and trusted platform
- Very fast signup process
- Live chat
- Many payment methods (even paypal)
- You cannot withdraw any cryptocurrency
- You have to complete a questionnaire, upon sign up
Plus500 disclaimer: 76.4% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
IQ option – lowest minimum deposit ($10)
If you don’t want to make a huge initial investment, then IQ option is the best broker for you. The minimum deposit requirement is only $10. This is by far the lowest in the industry.
- You can trade many cryptocurrencies
- Minimum deposit is only $10
- Best trading platform
- Multiple account currencies
- Free demo account
- Regulated by CYSEC (#247/14)
Etoro – top crypto broker
Etoro is a really popular trading site. They have been around since 2006. Etoro is regulated by CYSEC, FCA and ASIC.
Buy/sell bitcoin on etoro in addition to buying stocks, commodities, forex etc. Etoro is the most complete trading platform.
- Trade bitcoin & many other cryptos
- Minimum deposit is $200
- Regulated and trusted platform
- Australian traders are also accepted
- Great support team
- Many payment methods (even paypal)
- You cannot withdraw any cryptocurrency
- You have to complete a questionnaire, upon sign up
Etoro disclaimer: 71% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Highlow – best all-round crypto broker
Due to regulation highlow stopped accepting traders from the EU and UK.
Highlow is an australian trading broker (AFSL no.364264). What I like most about this broker is the intuitive platform. It is so easy to use. Especially new traders will like the clean layout.
I’ve been using highlow for a few years now and I never had a problem. Highlow publishes their number of trades on the homepage. There are millions of trades on this broker each month.
I use the main platform which is web based. This means, that you don’t have to download any software. This platform is stable and safe (they use SSL).
I have also tried the ios app and the android app. They are great, but I just don’t like trading on smartphones in general.
The payouts on highlow are amazing (up to 200%, which is more than on other brokers).
Highlow is a great broker for cryptocurrencies (but only if you are not from EU,UK, US). They have a good reputation, great support team and awesome promotions for new traders.
- Trade bitcoin & other cryptos
- Minimum deposit is only $50
- Regulated and trusted platform
- Fastest signup process (no questionnaires)
- Multiple account currencies
- Free demo account (no registration needed)
Nadex – US traders welcome
Nadex is a CFTC regulated broker. In fact, this is probably the only US broker that has this regulation.
Only US traders are allowed on nadex. Non-US traders check out the next broker.
Update OCTOBER 2019: looks like nadex removed crypto trading. After contacting them I found out that they will add it back soon. Register on nadex now and get updated when they add it.
Recently, nadex started offering bitcoin trading.
- Trade bitcoin, forex or binary options
- Minimum deposit is $250
- CFTC regulated broker
- Great support team
- Many payment methods (even paypal)
Crypto brokers with most cryptocurrencies
Here are the most popular cryptocurrencies offered by cryptocurrency brokers:
- Etoro – bitcoin, ethereum, litecoin, dash, ethereum classic, NEO and ripple.
- Plus500 – bitcoin, ethereum, litecoin, bitcoin cash, ripple, IOTA.
- Avatrade – bitcoin, ethereum, ethereum classic, ripple, dash, bitcoin cash litecoin, monero and NEO.
Lowest minimum deposit brokers
These are the best brokers with low minimum deposit requirements:
- Etoro – $200
- Plus500 – $100
- Avatrade – $100
This is really important because the crypto market itself is unregulated. Depositing on a regulated broker means that your money is safe.
We’ve also looked at the support team and the payment methods. You can deposit easily using multiple payment methods on the brokers below.
Top rated brokers that have cryptocurrencies
While we are all familiar with the broad definition of a broker, is there something more to it when it comes to cryptocurrencies?
Simply put, a cryptocurrency broker refers to a website that traders will visit to trade cryptocurrencies at a set price. In many ways, they are similar to forex brokers whose services are a lot more familiar to the general public.
Etoro disclaimer: 71% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
You still can’t decide which broker is best for you?
How to choose your cryptocurrency broker
Is leverage really necessary? Cryptocurrency markets are volatile in nature with prices fluctuating immensely thereby generating high profits even in the absence of leverage. But for some traders, the desire for more earnings justifies the use of leverage.
Before choosing your broker, settle yourself on whether the already immense profits that come from a cryptocurrency market are enough for you or you would like to use leverage to enhance them even further, bearing in mind, of course, that will also significantly increase the risk factor to your funds.
Negative balance protection: it is always advisable to trade with a broker that affords the negative balance protection facility. That way, you will never be at risk of losing more than what you invested in case you sustain very heavy losses.
How suitable is the required capital for you? This is another subjective part to your decision. Do you prefer trading with a small capital or bigger one to help you zero in on bigger returns? Find out what size trades your broker is offering before you open an account.
Narrow spreads for the win: let us be honest, it is only fair that your broker gets a cut from the money you generated having provided you with the essential facilities for it and all. But let us be honest, you definitely want every last dime for yourself.
A spread refers to the difference between the buying price and selling price of a trade and it varies with each broker. The spread is what counts as fees for your broker so the smaller it is, the lower the cost will be on your part.
Lets go into what aspects you as a trader must consider when choosing a broker to trade cryptocurrencies.
Which cryptocurrencies are you interested in trading?
Make sure you have decided on which cryptocurrencies you want to trade in before signing up with your broker.
If your choice is a prominent cryptocurrency like bitcoin (official site), litecoin (official site), or ethereum(official site), there will be a relatively broad availability of brokers that have trading options for those. However, less prevalent examples like monero, IOTA, or zcash may be a little harder to come by.
So study the cryptocurrencies being offered by a broker before you sign up for an account.
Pros and cons of cryptocurrency brokers
Here are some features that these broker have or don’t:
pros
- Signup up with a crypto broker is probably the fastest way to get started with cryptocurrency trading
- If you are less tech-savvy then a broker is safer for you
- You can start buying cryptocurrency while traditional exchanges don’t always accept this payment method
- Most of the time you can’t withdraw cryptocurrencies from a broker. You have to exchange it back to fiat money (USD/EUR etc.)
Cryptocurrency brokers – what to look for
Here are some of the more understated details about your cryptocurrency broker that could make your trading experiences so much more efficient and successful.
1. What are the weekend hours like?
This is a key detail that distinguishes cryptocurrencies from other prominent trading markets like forex, futures, and equity. Cryptocurrency brokers operate during the weekends as well.
There is virtually no difference in purchasing bitcoin at the end of the week as opposed to the middle of the week during peak hours.
But there is a catch. While digital currency exchanges are available during the weekend, your broker may not (why is the stock market closed on the weekend?). So in effect, if there is considerable movement within your relevant cryptocurrency market during a weekend when your broker is not operating, you may not have the ability to respond in any way.
2. How is it hedging?
Your broker is probably not keen on revealing if it is hedging cryptocurrency traders but it is important information for you to know.
Why is it so important for you to know?
Because, as a trader, you want to be absolutely in the clear regarding the policies for risk management being followed by your broker. Let us not forget that cryptocurrency markets are extremely volatile and an unhedged broker is more easily prone to major losses incurred by its clients. Naturally, those costs will warrant compensation via fatter spreads and additional costs for traders. It will be best to sign up with a broker that will not withhold the relevant information from you.
More great features you could be interested in
Commissions and trading on margin – an important thing to note while trading cryptocurrencies is that their prices tend to be more similar to equities than they are to real currencies. So your broker could be charging you commissions in addition to a wide spread on each trade. That, of course, raises the cost probably a bit much for your liking.
Another similarity with equities is that the margin conditions with cryptocurrencies are significantly more than they are with forex or cfds. Consequently, leverage is usually up to 10x. How considerable the margin rate will be for traders is down to what trading strategies and risk management they subscribe to.
Authenticity of market data – aside from merely evaluating how it influences spreads, market data for cryptocurrency CFD prices can be a good indicator of how the quality of the product will be in the future.
One of the more recent examples of this is BTC-e which was an immensely popular platform for trading bitcoin before it was shut down by feds. BTC-e was the first bitcoin exchange to incorporate forex trades and so made their exchange accessible via MT4 and supplied cryptocurrency liquidity for brokers.
But once it was shut down, every broker that depended squarely upon BTC-e was left with no hedging options or market data to put a price on its crypto cfds.
Are short sales available? For many traders, shorting is a crucial strategy option, the lack of which can be a deal breaker with a potential broker. Many brokers tend to offer ‘long’ only since there are only a few hedging solutions when opening short trades.
As you see, investing in cryptocurrencies can be a truly lucrative venture for you but only if you get it right.
And a lot of that is down to which broker you decide to trade with.
Ready to start trading?
Trade with the cryptocurrency brokers listed above to make sure that your money is safe, you pick a broker with a stellar reputation and you keep the fees low. Excel at trading bitcoin by creating your own trading strategy.
These cryptocurrency brokers make it really easy to trade bitcoin and other coins. You don’t have to be a trading expert. It helps if you know what a blockchain is or how the ledger and transactions work, but this is all optional.
Sign up now and see for yourself how easy it is to get started.
Best online brokers for bitcoin trading
The best crypto exchanges for US bitcoin trading offer three essential benefits. The first, and most important, is robust security with two-factor authentication, cold storage, and integrated safe wallets. Second is a user-friendly website and platform. Third, they provide access to trading a variety of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ethereum.
In our assessment and ranking of cryptocurrency exchanges, we focused on traditional exchanges headquartered and regulated in the united states, as well as the incumbent online brokers in the US, which are expanding to offer bitcoin trading on top of regular stock trading (e.G. Buying shares of apple or google).
Best bitcoin trading platform
- Tradestation - best trading platform
- Coinbase - best crypto exchange
- Etoro - low fees
- Kraken - maker-taker fee schedule
- Bittrex - most altcoins
- Gemini - offers gemini dollar
- Robinhood - best mobile app
Here's a breakdown of some of the best online brokers for US crypto trading.
Best trading platform
As a trading technology leader, tradestation supports casual traders through its web-based platform and active traders through its award-winning desktop platform, all with $0 stock and ETF trades. Tradestation crypto allows you to buy, sell, and trade bitcoin, litecoin, ethereum, bitcoin cash and XRP. Tradestation crypto caters to both institutional and recreational clients. Read full review
Best crypto exchange
Founded in june of 2012, coinbase is the largest US-based cryptocurrency exchange, housing over 20 million users. Coinbase is best known for its easy to use website and crypto trading platform, coinbase pro. Coinbase supports 14 different cryptocurrencies for trading, including bitcoin (BTC), ethereum (ETH), and litecoin (LTC), among others.
Low fees - open account
promo offer: 0% commission stocks
Etoro is great for traders seeking zero-commission stock and ETF trades, an efficient platform, and access to copy trading. That said, there are hidden fees, education is sub-par, and etoro doesn't offer the same range of investments as traditional brokers. Etoro's crypto offering includes 16 different coins. Although crypto fees are cheap, you can only withdraw your crypto assets with a dedicated etoro wallet.
Maker-taker fee schedule
Kraken was founded in july of 2011 and offers trading on 18 different cryptocurrencies, including monero (XMR), ripple (XRP), and dash (DSH). Kraken currently offers a web platform but does not have a mobile app.
Most altcoins
Bittrex was founded in seattle, washington in 2014. Although bittrex doesn’t provide a mobile or desktop platform, it still offers over 100 tradeable coins, including bitcoin (BTC), ethereum (ETH), and litecoin (LTC).
Offers gemini dollar
Founded in 2015 by the winklevoss twins, gemini is a licensed digital asset exchange and custodian built for both individuals and institutions. Gemini lets users buy, store, and sell bitcoin (BTC), ethereum (ETH), litecoin (LTC), bitcoin cash (BCH), and zcash (ZEC), as well as the self-named gemini dollar (GUSD).
Best mobile app
Robinhood crypto allows users to trade bitcoin (BTC), ethereum (ETH), bitcoin cash (BCH), litecoin (LTC), dogecoin (DOGE), ethereum classic (ETC), and bitcoin SV (BSV). Ten additional coins can be added to a watch list. Robinhood crypto is best-fitted for users who trade multiple classes of assets. Read full review
Pricing details
Below is pricing information for each of the top online brokers for bitcoin trading. Each company uses a different structure.
Tradestation
Headquartered in plantation, florida, tradestation is a wholly owned subsidiary of monex group, inc., one of japan’s largest online financial services providers (1). Tradestation's roots date back to the 1982, when the company was formed under the name omega research. The company's flagship tradestation platform was launched in 1991, and tradestation group was a NASDAQ listed company from 1997 - 2011, until it was acquired by monex group (2).
Tradestation crypto features a simple pricing structure. Account balances below $100,000 pay a 0.50% maker fee and a 0.50% taker fee. Account balances over $100,000 don’t pay a maker fee, paying either a 0.25% or 0.125% fee based on account size. At this commission rate, it would cost $5.00 to buy $1,000 worth of bitcoin (BTC).
Coinbase - coinbase.Com
If buying bitcoin from a linked ACH account, the average commission is
1.49%. If buying bitcoin by selling another cryptocurrency you already hold in your coinbase wallet (or vice versa), then the average commission is
.50%. For example, buying $1,000 worth of bitcoin would cost
$15 from a linked bank account.
Etoro - open account
promo offer: 0% commission stocks
As an early pioneer in social copy trading, etoro was founded in israel in 2006 as a financial trading technology developer. After launching its first product, it has since grown to service over 9 million users with an innovative platform that continually evolves to be one of the largest social networks globally, with clients in over 170 countries.
Etoro charges no fees for sending or receiving transactions. Blockchain fees are applicable for sending and receiving. However, etoro does charge a conversion fee of 0.1%, set to market rates. Minimum withdrawal amounts and fees are also imposed for each type of cryptocurrency. The minimum bitcoin withdrawal amount is 0.0086 BTC and the withdrawal fee is 0.0005 units.
Kraken - kraken.Com
Kraken uses a maker-taker fee schedule with price incentives based on your trading volume over the last 30 days. For example, the average customer who trades less than $50,000 a month will pay $2.60 in fees for every $1,000 in trading volume. Fees for market makers range between 0% and 0.16%, while fees for takers range from 0.10% to 0.26%. This fee schedule, is more competitive than competitors like coinbase and gemini.
Bittrex - bittrex.Com
Bittrex has a simple pricing model, and charges a flat 0.25% on all trades. At this commission rate, it would cost $2.50 to buy $1,000 worth of bitcoin (BTC). Higher-volume traders, those trading more than $25,000 a month, should look at kraken for discounted pricing.
Gemini is much more expensive than other exchanges, charging between $0.99 - $2.99 on transactions under $200, and 1.49% on orders over $200. This means it would cost $14.90 to purchase $1,000 worth of bitcoin (BTC). Overall, gemini is the most expensive crypto exchange included in this guide, charging more than five times what other exchanges would charge for the same transaction.
Robinhood
Robinhood crypto does not charge a commission for placing crypto trades; however, it generates tiny profits from each order as it is routed. This routing practice, known as payment for order flow (PFOF), is also how robinhood makes money from stock trades. In their user agreement, robinhood crypto states that they may receive activity-based rebates from crypto exchanges, brokers, and market-makers, among other crypto intermediaries. Bottom line, since robinhood is not transparent with its pricing structure, there is a possibility the all-in costs per trade are actually much higher than some competitors. Unfortunately, there is no way to know for certain.
Pricing details per exchange
Final thoughts
Trading cryptocurrencies is becoming more widespread as investors around the globe become more comfortable with blockchain technology and the exchanges that offer online crypto trading. Security enhancements for digital wallets continue to improve as well, providing traders more confidence that buying bitcoin is safe.
Read next
Explore our other online trading guides:
About the author: blain reinkensmeyer as head of research at stockbrokers.Com, blain reinkensmeyer has 20 years of trading experience with over 1,000 trades placed during that time. Referenced as a leading expert on the US online brokerage industry, blain has been quoted in the wall street journal, the new york times, and the chicago tribune, among others.
About the author: steven hatzakis steven hatzakis is the global director of research for forexbrokers.Com. Steven previously served as an editor for finance magnates, where he authored over 1,000 published articles about the online finance industry. Steven is an active fintech and crypto industry researcher and advises blockchain companies at the board level. Over the past 20 years, steven has held numerous positions within the international forex markets, from writing to consulting to serving as a registered commodity futures representative.
All pricing data was obtained from a published web site as of 01/19/2021 and is believed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed. For stock trade rates, advertised pricing is for a standard order size of 500 shares of stock priced at $30 per share. For options orders, an options regulatory fee per contract may apply.
Advertiser disclosure: stockbrokers.Com helps investors across the globe by spending over 1,000 hours each year testing and researching online brokers. How do we make money? Our partners compensate us through paid advertising. While partners may pay to provide offers or be featured, e.G. Exclusive offers, they cannot pay to alter our recommendations, advice, ratings, or any other content throughout the site. Furthermore, our content and research teams do not participate in any advertising planning nor are they permitted access to advertising campaign data. Here is a list of our partners.
Disclaimer: it is our organization's primary mission to provide reviews, commentary, and analysis that are unbiased and objective. While stockbrokers.Com has all data verified by industry participants, it can vary from time to time. Operating as an online business, this site may be compensated through third party advertisers. Our receipt of such compensation shall not be construed as an endorsement or recommendation by stockbrokers.Com, nor shall it bias our reviews, analysis, and opinions. Please see our general disclaimers for more information.
© 2021 reink media group LLC.
All rights reserved.
Best cryptocurrency brokers to trade with in 2021
5 popular regulated crypto brokers
Cfds are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage.
Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading cfds.
You should consider whether you understand how cfds work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
The cryptocurrency market is more live than ever. If we want to get on the right track right from the beginning, we need to choose our crypto broker carefully. Every broker offering crypto trading is not the same. If a broker meets the requirements of one particular client, it does not mean that it will also meet yours. There are several aspects to think about when choosing your cryptocurrency broker.
How to go about choosing the best crypto broker
Regulation and reputation
To avoid being scammed or treated unprofessionally you should trade solely with regulated brokers. Only brokers that are regulated in your jurisdiction can legally offer services to you, such companies are under constant supervision of the regulatory body. There are 2 major financial regulators in europe; the cysec and FCA. A broker that is regulated by one european regulator has the right to provide cross-border services to other members of the european economic area.
A broker that is, for example, regulated in cyprus by the cysec provides the same investor protection even for a trader from the UK, germany, netherlands or any other EEA country member.
In australia and south africa, the most prominent financial regulators are the ASIC and FSCA, respectively.
Cryptocurrencies we want to trade
Before you open your trading account at a brokerage company, you have to first to find out whether the broker you are considering offers all the cryptocurrencies you want to trade. Bitcoin, ethereum, and litecoin can be traded almost everywhere. Less popular cryptocurrencies like IOTA, monero, zcash, and others might, however, not be available on every trading platform. In case you want to trade them at any point, keep this in mind and make sure it will be possible.
Leverage – multiplying your capital
Cryptocurrencies are volatile in their very nature, but if you want to trade with bigger capital than you have you can take advantage of leverage. All brokers that are regulated in the EU follow ESMA laws and offer leverage 2:1. Remember, however, that leverage does not only multiply your earnings but also your losses, should your prediction be incorrect.
Negative balance protection – necessity
You probably do not want to trade with a broker that does not include negative balance protection in the package. The negative balance protection feature ensures you never lose more money than you invest. All users that trade with a broker that is e.G. Licensed by the cysec regulator are protected against negative balance.
Appropriate capital according to your possibilities
How much do you plan to trade with? Does your crypto broker offer to trade with a small starting capital? If not, is it an obstacle for you? Or do you plan to trade in big in order to make that big money? Decide for yourself before you choose your cryptocurrency broker.
Fees – as low as possible
Let's face it, no one really likes them, but they are always there. Yes, we are talking about fees. We know that brokers have to finance their operation somehow, but the lower the fees are, the better. In general, most cryptocurrency brokers we know charge your account with a spread (i.E the difference between the ask and bid price) and with an overnight fee. It is quite hard to determine which broker has the lowest fees as they are not fixed and they tend to change according to the current market conditions. They are also quite different for bitcoin as well as other cryptocurrencies, so while one broker might have very competitive spreads on bitcoin, they might charge high spreads on stellar, or other altcoins. For that reason, the best practice is to open a demo with a reputable company to see what spreads a broker charge in real-time on cryptocurrencies you want to trade.
Overnight fees
While the spread is plausibly the most substantial fee you will have to face when trading, you should also know how big is the overnight fee charged by your broker. The overnight fee is deducted from your balance if you stay in a position overnight. This expense should be monitored especially by traders who want to hold on to their cryptocurrencies for a while.
Trading platform
To beat their competition, the world's leading cryptocurrency brokers try to attract clients to an intuitive trading environment suitable for both experienced and inexperienced traders. Almost all brokers include in their offer technical analysis tools and basic risk management features like a stop loss or take profit. Most companies do not, however, limit their offer only to the mentioned necessities and also offer price alerts, advanced educational centres or perhaps even a social trading network. Here are a few special features that one of the top european and australian crypto providers have to offer.
Broker | special features | special features |
etoro | allows you to follow and copy other traders | 30 crypto pairs |
XTB | MT4 & xstation 5 | comprehensive educational centre |
plus500 | price alerts (via an email or SMS), beginner friendly trading platform | trailing stop |
IQ option | an award-winning in-house built platform, online chat with other traders | crypto digest videos (twice a week) |
capital.Com | A wide range of crypto crosses pairs |
5 popular regulated cryptocurrency brokers
Etoro
Plus500
IQ option
Roinvesting
The best crypto broker – FAQ
what is the best cryptocurrency broker?
To answer what is the best cryptocurrency broker, we would have to know your needs and preferences. Having said that, you should look for a broker that is regulated in your country, has competitive fees and features cryptocurrencies you want to trade.
Regulation
If you are based in europe, you should look for a broker that is regulated in at least one european country. The most common financial regulator in europe is the cysec which is headquartered in cyprus. If you are based in australia, look for the ASIC regulation (A regulatory body that oversees the financial market in australia). If you are based in the US look for the CFTC regulation.
The number one fee when trading with a CFD broker featuring cryptocurrency trading is going to be the spread. Visit a broker that you look and check their website to see what spreads they charge. You can find this info either directly on their trading platform or on a page that is dedicated to the broker’s fees.
Tradable cryptocurrencies
Each broker features different assets. The most common ones usually have all brokers, but if you are looking to trade some less popular altcoins, make sure your broker offers them.
can I try cryptocurrency trading risk-free?
Yes, you with most cryptocurrency brokers you can open a free demo account on which you can trade with play money. No initial deposit required.
⭐ what cryptocurrencies can I trade with cryptocurrency brokers?
It depends on what crypto broker you choose. Nearly all cryptocurrency brokers feature bitcoin, ethereum and ripple, but only some allow trading other-less popular coins. In this article, you could find all cryptocurrencies that some of the best crypto broker feature.
Conclusion – the best crypto broker
It would be easy to point a finger and say this is the best crypto broker for you to choose. We, however, know that each client has different preferences so while one trader might want a trading platform with the lowest spreads to day trade cryptocurrencies, the other might rather appreciate a copy trading system to follow the world’s most successful investors. The brokers featured in this article are one of the most popular regulated cryptocurrency brokers out there, the decision what is the best crypto broker for YOU is, however, in your hands.
- 3# crypto chart patterns for day trading
- the best hodling techniques
- how to short any cryptocurrency like a pro
And much more can be found in our crypto section.
2 comments
Hi michael. I’m retired and simply want to augment my pension with some of the crypto gravy. I have no idea where to start, I only now trade some stocks.
I’m getting some ads with amazing sounding promotions. Brokers that promote a 90% win robot, then when you sign up, a broker – usually from london – calls to see if they can help you trade. I want hands off till I learn. Is there anyone licensed you trust that can provide trading for me. I’ll send in some funds, and they can manage it and take a small cut. Is there a good brokerage out there?
Hello ian,
I bet there are many people who would love to trade with your funds, but be very careful. From my experience, 99% of robots do not work and the people behind them are simply scammers. That being said, you have two options if you want to get in cryptocurrencies. You can either learn how to trade on your own (the better option) or you can use a copy-trading system. Etoro has probably one of the most sophisticated copy-trading systems out there, so that could be your pick. Once you log-into to their platform, find a trader who trades cryptocurrencies and has stable performance. After that, you can start copying his/hers trades (this is done automatically). Best of luck ian!
PS: all brokers that are featured on this page are regulated either by the british financial conduct authority or by the cysec in cyprus.
Leave a reply cancel reply
Tradingbeasts helps individual traders learn how to responsibly trade binary options and cfds. We actively trade, publish educational articles and news. We review and compare brokerage companies and warn our readers about suspicious projects or scam marketing campaigns that we come across. We are also a community of traders that support each other on our daily trading journey.
Disclaimer/disclosure
All information on this website represent subjective views of the authors and they are solely informational. We do not give investment advice. The operator of the website or the authors of the articles do not bear any responsibility for any decisions that visitors may make after reading articles .Published on the tradingbeasts website. When you trade binary options or cfds products you are exposed to a high risk of loss. We review and rate companies offering trading platforms for binary options and cfds. We do our best to warn people about scams and promote only companies we personally consider to be very good. From some of these companies, we may receive compensation. In order for you to use this website in any manner, please read our disclaimer/disclosure page and privacy policy
The information on this site is not directed at residents of the united states, belgium or any particular country and is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person in any country or jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation.
Best online brokers for bitcoin trading
The best crypto exchanges for US bitcoin trading offer three essential benefits. The first, and most important, is robust security with two-factor authentication, cold storage, and integrated safe wallets. Second is a user-friendly website and platform. Third, they provide access to trading a variety of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ethereum.
In our assessment and ranking of cryptocurrency exchanges, we focused on traditional exchanges headquartered and regulated in the united states, as well as the incumbent online brokers in the US, which are expanding to offer bitcoin trading on top of regular stock trading (e.G. Buying shares of apple or google).
Best bitcoin trading platform
- Tradestation - best trading platform
- Coinbase - best crypto exchange
- Etoro - low fees
- Kraken - maker-taker fee schedule
- Bittrex - most altcoins
- Gemini - offers gemini dollar
- Robinhood - best mobile app
Here's a breakdown of some of the best online brokers for US crypto trading.
Best trading platform
As a trading technology leader, tradestation supports casual traders through its web-based platform and active traders through its award-winning desktop platform, all with $0 stock and ETF trades. Tradestation crypto allows you to buy, sell, and trade bitcoin, litecoin, ethereum, bitcoin cash and XRP. Tradestation crypto caters to both institutional and recreational clients. Read full review
Best crypto exchange
Founded in june of 2012, coinbase is the largest US-based cryptocurrency exchange, housing over 20 million users. Coinbase is best known for its easy to use website and crypto trading platform, coinbase pro. Coinbase supports 14 different cryptocurrencies for trading, including bitcoin (BTC), ethereum (ETH), and litecoin (LTC), among others.
Low fees - open account
promo offer: 0% commission stocks
Etoro is great for traders seeking zero-commission stock and ETF trades, an efficient platform, and access to copy trading. That said, there are hidden fees, education is sub-par, and etoro doesn't offer the same range of investments as traditional brokers. Etoro's crypto offering includes 16 different coins. Although crypto fees are cheap, you can only withdraw your crypto assets with a dedicated etoro wallet.
Maker-taker fee schedule
Kraken was founded in july of 2011 and offers trading on 18 different cryptocurrencies, including monero (XMR), ripple (XRP), and dash (DSH). Kraken currently offers a web platform but does not have a mobile app.
Most altcoins
Bittrex was founded in seattle, washington in 2014. Although bittrex doesn’t provide a mobile or desktop platform, it still offers over 100 tradeable coins, including bitcoin (BTC), ethereum (ETH), and litecoin (LTC).
Offers gemini dollar
Founded in 2015 by the winklevoss twins, gemini is a licensed digital asset exchange and custodian built for both individuals and institutions. Gemini lets users buy, store, and sell bitcoin (BTC), ethereum (ETH), litecoin (LTC), bitcoin cash (BCH), and zcash (ZEC), as well as the self-named gemini dollar (GUSD).
Best mobile app
Robinhood crypto allows users to trade bitcoin (BTC), ethereum (ETH), bitcoin cash (BCH), litecoin (LTC), dogecoin (DOGE), ethereum classic (ETC), and bitcoin SV (BSV). Ten additional coins can be added to a watch list. Robinhood crypto is best-fitted for users who trade multiple classes of assets. Read full review
Pricing details
Below is pricing information for each of the top online brokers for bitcoin trading. Each company uses a different structure.
Tradestation
Headquartered in plantation, florida, tradestation is a wholly owned subsidiary of monex group, inc., one of japan’s largest online financial services providers (1). Tradestation's roots date back to the 1982, when the company was formed under the name omega research. The company's flagship tradestation platform was launched in 1991, and tradestation group was a NASDAQ listed company from 1997 - 2011, until it was acquired by monex group (2).
Tradestation crypto features a simple pricing structure. Account balances below $100,000 pay a 0.50% maker fee and a 0.50% taker fee. Account balances over $100,000 don’t pay a maker fee, paying either a 0.25% or 0.125% fee based on account size. At this commission rate, it would cost $5.00 to buy $1,000 worth of bitcoin (BTC).
Coinbase - coinbase.Com
If buying bitcoin from a linked ACH account, the average commission is
1.49%. If buying bitcoin by selling another cryptocurrency you already hold in your coinbase wallet (or vice versa), then the average commission is
.50%. For example, buying $1,000 worth of bitcoin would cost
$15 from a linked bank account.
Etoro - open account
promo offer: 0% commission stocks
As an early pioneer in social copy trading, etoro was founded in israel in 2006 as a financial trading technology developer. After launching its first product, it has since grown to service over 9 million users with an innovative platform that continually evolves to be one of the largest social networks globally, with clients in over 170 countries.
Etoro charges no fees for sending or receiving transactions. Blockchain fees are applicable for sending and receiving. However, etoro does charge a conversion fee of 0.1%, set to market rates. Minimum withdrawal amounts and fees are also imposed for each type of cryptocurrency. The minimum bitcoin withdrawal amount is 0.0086 BTC and the withdrawal fee is 0.0005 units.
Kraken - kraken.Com
Kraken uses a maker-taker fee schedule with price incentives based on your trading volume over the last 30 days. For example, the average customer who trades less than $50,000 a month will pay $2.60 in fees for every $1,000 in trading volume. Fees for market makers range between 0% and 0.16%, while fees for takers range from 0.10% to 0.26%. This fee schedule, is more competitive than competitors like coinbase and gemini.
Bittrex - bittrex.Com
Bittrex has a simple pricing model, and charges a flat 0.25% on all trades. At this commission rate, it would cost $2.50 to buy $1,000 worth of bitcoin (BTC). Higher-volume traders, those trading more than $25,000 a month, should look at kraken for discounted pricing.
Gemini is much more expensive than other exchanges, charging between $0.99 - $2.99 on transactions under $200, and 1.49% on orders over $200. This means it would cost $14.90 to purchase $1,000 worth of bitcoin (BTC). Overall, gemini is the most expensive crypto exchange included in this guide, charging more than five times what other exchanges would charge for the same transaction.
Robinhood
Robinhood crypto does not charge a commission for placing crypto trades; however, it generates tiny profits from each order as it is routed. This routing practice, known as payment for order flow (PFOF), is also how robinhood makes money from stock trades. In their user agreement, robinhood crypto states that they may receive activity-based rebates from crypto exchanges, brokers, and market-makers, among other crypto intermediaries. Bottom line, since robinhood is not transparent with its pricing structure, there is a possibility the all-in costs per trade are actually much higher than some competitors. Unfortunately, there is no way to know for certain.
Pricing details per exchange
Final thoughts
Trading cryptocurrencies is becoming more widespread as investors around the globe become more comfortable with blockchain technology and the exchanges that offer online crypto trading. Security enhancements for digital wallets continue to improve as well, providing traders more confidence that buying bitcoin is safe.
Read next
Explore our other online trading guides:
About the author: blain reinkensmeyer as head of research at stockbrokers.Com, blain reinkensmeyer has 20 years of trading experience with over 1,000 trades placed during that time. Referenced as a leading expert on the US online brokerage industry, blain has been quoted in the wall street journal, the new york times, and the chicago tribune, among others.
About the author: steven hatzakis steven hatzakis is the global director of research for forexbrokers.Com. Steven previously served as an editor for finance magnates, where he authored over 1,000 published articles about the online finance industry. Steven is an active fintech and crypto industry researcher and advises blockchain companies at the board level. Over the past 20 years, steven has held numerous positions within the international forex markets, from writing to consulting to serving as a registered commodity futures representative.
All pricing data was obtained from a published web site as of 01/19/2021 and is believed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed. For stock trade rates, advertised pricing is for a standard order size of 500 shares of stock priced at $30 per share. For options orders, an options regulatory fee per contract may apply.
Advertiser disclosure: stockbrokers.Com helps investors across the globe by spending over 1,000 hours each year testing and researching online brokers. How do we make money? Our partners compensate us through paid advertising. While partners may pay to provide offers or be featured, e.G. Exclusive offers, they cannot pay to alter our recommendations, advice, ratings, or any other content throughout the site. Furthermore, our content and research teams do not participate in any advertising planning nor are they permitted access to advertising campaign data. Here is a list of our partners.
Disclaimer: it is our organization's primary mission to provide reviews, commentary, and analysis that are unbiased and objective. While stockbrokers.Com has all data verified by industry participants, it can vary from time to time. Operating as an online business, this site may be compensated through third party advertisers. Our receipt of such compensation shall not be construed as an endorsement or recommendation by stockbrokers.Com, nor shall it bias our reviews, analysis, and opinions. Please see our general disclaimers for more information.
© 2021 reink media group LLC.
All rights reserved.
Fxdailyreport.Com
Over the last few years, cryptocurrency trading has become one of the most attractive niches in forex trading. Other than it being extremely profitable, the lack of regulation is its biggest appeal. Still, cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, ethereum ripple, dash, and litecoin are dynamic, unstable instruments that need to be handled cautiously and in the most optimal way. To achieve this, you need to choose a trustworthy, well-established broker to carry out your cryptocurrency trading.
This is crucial to getting on the right track from the beginning when trading cryptocurrencies. When choosing a broker, it is important to note that not all are the same. A broker that meets the needs of another trader may not meet yours. Here are a few tips to help you choose the best forex broker for cryptocurrency trading:
- Regulation and reputation
To avoid dealing with an unprofessional broker and being scammed, you need to make sure all your crypto trades are made solely with a regulated broker. When choosing a forex broker to work with, make sure they are regulated within your jurisdiction to legally offer you their services. Regulated forex brokers are under constant supervision of the regulatory body. If you are in the UK, make sure to trade with a broker that is regulated by the FCA. If in europe, ensure they are regulated by the cysec. In case you are in australia, they should be regulated by the ASIC.
- An efficient trading platform
It is important to note that cryptocurrency trading is more volatile than forex. Therefore, it demands that the platform is superbly responsive to be able to make moves in time. A good broker’s platform should be efficient to use. To beat the competition, the best cryptocurrency brokers work to attract clients by creating an intuitive trading platform that is suitable for both experienced and new traders. They offer technical analysis tools and basic risk management features like take profit or stop loss. Other sites also offer additional features, including price alerts, social trading networks or advanced educational centers. The crypto trading platform should allow you to trade in the market manage your accounts, perform technical analysis, and receive the latest news on all cryptocurrencies.
Top recommended crypto forex brokers in 2021
broker | info | bonus | open account |
---|---|---|---|
min deposit: $5 spread: from 0.2 pips leverage: 500:1 regulation: FSA (saint vincent and the grenadines), cysec | 50% deposit bonus, real contest 1st prize luxury car BMW X5 M, copy trading, trade&win. | Visit broker | |
min deposit: $1 spread: from 0 pips leverage: 3000:1 regulation: cysec, IFSC | $100 no-deposit bonus, 100% deposit bonus | visit broker | |
min deposit: 0 spread: non-spread, fee 0.1% per trade leverage: non-leverage regulation: - | visit broker | ||
min deposit: $1 spread: from 0 pips leverage: 2000:1 regulation: FCA UK, cysec, FSP, bafin, CRFIN | 35% of the account deposit | visit broker | |
min deposit: $100 spread: starting 0 pips leverage: up to 400:1 regulation: FCA UK, NFA, CFTC, ASIC, IIROC, FSA, CIMA | visit broker | ||
min deposit: $300 spread: floating, from 0 pips leverage: 500:1 regulation: FCA UK reference number 579202 | visit broker | ||
min deposit: $200 spread: starting 0 pips leverage: 500:1 regulation: ASIC australia, FCA UK | visit broker | ||
min deposit: no minimum deposit spread: 1.2 pips leverage: 50:1 regulation: CFTC, NFA, FCA, MAS, ASIC, IIROC | visit broker | ||
min deposit: $10 spread: leverage: regulation: cysec | - | visit broker | |
min deposit: $200 spread: from 3 pips leverage: 400:1 regulation: NFA, FCA, cysec | visit broker |
- Transparent fees and commissions
All brokers, whether trading crypto coins or forex, charge commissions and offer margin accounts to traders. A reliable forex broker for crypto coins should inform you precisely the type of fees and commissions they charge as well as the risks involved. The common fees and charges made by brokers include:
• wallet fees
• transaction fees
• trading fees
- Competitive technology
The last thing you want as a crypto trader is to get margin called simply because you could not log in to close an order. The cryptocurrency trading market is a 24/7 global market. The prices keep moving and are not limited to your time zone. Hence, when choosing a broker, you need to choose one whose platform offers full-time access.
For instance, when trading cryptocurrencies, mobile apps are a necessity as you may need to make or break deal-critical decisions throughout the day. If possible, consider using a reputable broker with a mobile app so that you are able to make successful trading decisions even while in transit.
- Access to crowd wisdom
Today, there are some broker platforms that let you leverage the wisdom of seasoned cryptocurrency traders. This feature can go a long way in improving your returns on investment. Such a trading platform lets you observe the hottest trading trends of other seasoned and successful traders in the market.
Digital currencies trading keeps growing in popularity by the day. More and more people, be it speculators or beginner traders want to be able to make key decisions on time, every minute. Therefore, they need to have a setup ready as soon as they are verified by a broker. When choosing a cryptocurrency broker to trade with, consider one that can quickly get you started so that you can begin trading with minimal downtime.
- User-friendly platform
This is one of the most important features to consider when choosing a trading platform to trade with. Digital money trading can be unclear, especially when a technical language is used. Also, because digital money works a little bit differently from any traditional money system. A good broker should be able to understand blockchain and cryptography terms. They should make an effort to explain it in their platform to make it easy to understand by a layman.
They should include clear notifications about the spreads offers, leverage available, deposit methods, the minimum cryptocurrency deposit to trade and the least amount that can be placed in a trade. Make sure you are able to establish all these details before registering with a broker.
- High-quality customer service
Cryptocurrency trading occurs 24/7. This demands the need for round the clock customer support. Better still, live support is highly preferred over auto attendants taking into consideration the intricacies involved in trading digital currencies.
- Deposits and withdrawals
Make sure to choose a broker that allows deposits and withdrawals through multiple platforms such as wire transfer, credit/debit card e-payment among others.
- Good financial backing
A good FX broker for cryptocurrency should have a sound financial backing. This ensures that your digital coins are safe and that the forex broker will not go bankrupt soon after signing up with them.
Cryptocurrency trading is a risky investment. New and fraudulent forex brokers for cryptocurrency trading are emerging every month, launching with crafty marketing campaigns intended to prey on an innocent investor. Therefore, ensure you proceed with caution. Cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile instruments to trade. So, ensure you are in the know of any breaking news, regulatory matters, and rumors which all dictate the market behavior. Above all, make sure you are working with a reputable, reliable and experienced broker.
While it would be easier to point a finger and tell you the best crypto broker, we know and understand that each client has different preferences. Be knowledgeable about all your options and think about how you can spot a broker that is safe now, and in the long-run.
Selecting the best cryptocurrency broker: do’s and don’ts
Cryptocurrency is a virtual currency, and just like a regular one, it is designed to work as a medium of exchange. This type of a currency uses cryptography to create and also control any additional units (coins or tokens). The currency also uses cryptography to verify the transfer of assets. Unlike fiat currency which is controlled by the central banks, cryptocurrency is decentralized and works through a blockchain, a public transaction database which functions as a distributed ledger. Every other cryptocurrency is based on the absolute consensus of all the participants with regard to the legitimacy of the transactions and balances.
Cryptocurrency gained extraordinary popularity in 2017. At the start of 2017, the market cap of all the cryptos stood at $18 billion. In december the same year, the crypto had surged by over 250,000% to surpass a market capitalization of $520 billion. Bitcoin accounted for more than half of this growth. It is with this growth that top cryptocurrency brokers started entering the market.
The growth of cryptocurrency has attracted many institutional and individual traders and investors. Indeed, JP morgan & chase bank which is considered to be among the largest financial players announced in late 2017 that it would start accepting bitcoin. Cryptocurrency has reached a growth stage where traders are actively looking for the best cryptocurrency brokers who will help them make a profit just like it is the case in FX and stocks trading.
Trading cryptocurrency
Like in forex or stock trading, cryptocurrency traders are looking for price changes which might benefit them. Well, the digital currency is one of the most volatile and presents the perfect opportunity for traders who are not risk-averse. In early 2013, bitcoin price dropped from a high of $260 to $130 in a matter of six hours. The same scenario was repeated in december the same year when the price fell from a quoted price of $1,200 to a $600 within hours. Bitcoin cryptocurrency has continued to rise over the years and so have the other altcoins. In december 2017, bitcoin hit an all-time high of $20,000 before steadily falling to touch a low of $6,000 in just six weeks. A majority of altcoins follow the trend of bitcoin. It is this high volatility of cryptocurrency which is dominated by bitcoin that is attracting traders by the minute.
When it comes to cryptocurrency trading, here some of the things that one should at least be conversant with;
- Cryptocurrency exchange – this is very similar to a stock exchange. It is a place where traders can trade a cryptocurrency for other cryptocurrencies or fiat currencies. An example of an exchange is bitstamp where you are trading directly with other traders and not with the company. In a crypto exchange such as bitstamp, you will pay fees starting from as high as 0.5% down to 0.2% if you happen to trade at least $150,000 in the past 30 days.
- Crypto wallet – A cryptocurrency wallet is a place where you get to store passwords that represent the crypto coins that you own. It is like keeping money in a bank account.
- Crypto broker – A cryptocurrency broker is a party that seeks to provide convenient access of cryptocurrencies to traders. A broker will sell or buy a digital currency at a fixed price. However, a broker will charge a commission of between 5-10%. Seeking a top cryptocurrency broker is a convenient idea especially for a novice trader or a trader who wants to buy a small amount of a digital currency.
Other ways to trade cryptocurrency
You can trade in cryptocurrency without going to a broker or an exchange. A trader can opt to buy or sell their crypto coins or tokens offline. They will, however, need to have access to a website which facilitates offline trading. On such a website, potential buyers and sellers are paired. Normally, the crypto coins one trader is selling are locked in an escrow and are only released to the buyer when both parties are satisfied with the transaction. It is a bit tedious because you will need to meet physically with the buyer or seller in most cases. Like with every other physical transaction, you will be required to do due diligence like meet in a public place or bring a friend along. It is, for this reason, many traders are opting to find the best cryptocurrency broker online.
Reasons why people trade in cryptocurrency
- You can trade cryptocurrency from anywhere in the world. A person in south korea can trade their crypto coins with a person in brazil. Trading in crypto does not depend on the strength of a country’s economy hence any person from any country can trade.
- It is volatile. Even though forex is considered a volatile, it is not as volatile as the cryptocurrency. The sharp changes to the price of bitcoin and other altcoins because of sublime economic shifts means that traders are able to make substantial profits.
- It can be traded 24/7. Trading cryptocurrency wholly depends on an individual trader and not on time. This is unlike stocks which can only be traded during normal business hours.
- The market is easily accessible. Trading in cryptocurrency only requires that you identify a seller or a buyer. This is unlike stock and other markets which come with numerous obstacles for the trader.
- Cryptocurrency attracts low cost, unlike stock trading where you get to pay as high as 3% the value of a transaction. In cryptocurrency trading, you will pay a fee of around 0.2% of the value of the transaction.
Why do people invest in cryptocurrency?
It is quite easy when it comes to investing in cryptocurrency because there are very few regulatory bodies in crypto trading. It is easy for an investor to enter and exit and this makes transactions fast and headache free.
Instability has been shown to be a good thing for the cryptocurrency. When asia witnessed unrest in 2017, the price of bitcoin surged. Unlike with stocks which plummet when there is government or market instability, you should consider investing in crypto when the future beckons instability.
What are the things to look for in a cryptocurrency broker?
Knowing what to expect from a crypto broker will definitely help you know which direction to look. Such a broker should prove to be both effective and efficient. Below we are showcasing trusted crypto CFD brokers for your convenience:
Best cryptocurrency brokers to use in 2021
Crypto trading is no longer a thing for the high and mighty. It is not a super risky-affair either. Any ordinary person willing to think outside the box can trade coins and make a killing from them. One of the best secrets to trading online coins is choosing the best cryptocurrency brokers. There are countless options to choose from. Here’s a pick of the best five:
IMAGE: UNSPLASH
1. Fxopen
If you are looking for the best crypto broker for mt4, fxopen has got you covered. It started out as an educational center for a couple of financial market courses. In 2005, it was transformed into a global brokerage with entities across the planet.
The broker trades on MT4, MT5, and ticktrader platforms. It offers a range of trading accounts for both rookies and advanced traders. You can trade on ECN, micro and crypto accounts, islamic swap-free accounts, and STP.
With fxopen.Com, you also get to enjoy trading free commission of micro and STP accounts. The other benefit is its impressively low commission on the ECN account. Last but not least, fxopen provides traders with plenty of educational articles via their blog. Just like any other top broker, customer support is available to traders 24/5.
2. Tenkofx
The next mt4 cryptocurrency broker on this list is tenkofx. This one was founded in belize in the year 2012. It utilizes STP and ECN as its execution models. Tenkofx capitalizes on having self-developed trading solutions.
The exchange offers amazing tight spreads, transparent modeling, a minimum deposit of $10, and the option of carrying out automated trades. The best part about the cryptocurrency broker is that it runs on two of the most convenient and renowned platforms; mt4 and c trader.
There are also several options when it comes to depositing funds (credit and debit cards, bank transfers, online payment systems like QIWI, skrill, and neteller). Finally, tenkofx allows you to trade on a wide range of instruments, including currency pairs, precious metals, oil, indices, futures, stocks, and more.
3. Etoro
Etoro burst into the trading scene in 2007. With a huge customer base of approximately 11 million investors and operations in over 140 countries, this platform is a pretty big deal. Etoro’s selling point is the social trading feature, which basically allows traders to connect and interact with each other similar to social media profiles. The platform lets you engage with your peers via the social feed, messaging feature, and several other add-ons. Etoro is also user-friendly.
Opening an account is a fast and straightforward process. Its website and mobile trading app are also user-friendly. Additionally, this broker is multi-asset and offers access to 2,000 different assets such as traditional currencies, cryptocurrencies, indices, etfs, commodities, stocks, and more.
The beauty with it is that you can invest with or without leverage and choose short or long-term investments. Please note that etoro is not an mt4 cryptocurrency broker. It offers a fully customized platform to suit the needs it traders.
4. Coinbase
Coinbase needs a minimal introduction. It is one of the leading crypto trading platforms in america and the rest of the world. Like tenkofx, coinbase was launched in 2012. It is licensed and regulated in the US. Initially, the broker offered bitcoin as the only currency assets.
However, the broker now accepts a number of other crypto coins like litecoin, ethereum, bitcoin cash, etc. The exchange presents many products such as crypto investments, wallets for retail traders, advanced trading, and its very own dollar stable coin.
The advantages of using coinbase include impressively high liquidity, a simple-to-use interface, and a wide variety of altcoin options. Unfortunately, coinbase can be quite pricey, especially when trading with coinbase pro.
5. Xbtce
Lying somewhere between a forex broker and a crypto broker, the xbtce is a distinct exchange. The platform, founded in 2015, aggregates orders from a number of trading venues and uses them to offer a tight order book. Traders can then access the book through a “cash account” or a “margin account”. The former is a standard account, and the latter the kind to trade with leverage.
Xbtce is popular for being unique and offering competitive trading fees. No doubt, the costs of cash account trading on the exchange are quite friendly. If you are a bigger trader, you’ll enjoy even lower fees. The broker utilizes three platforms, namely their web-based platform, thicktrader, and meta trader 4.
Choosing the best mt4 crypto broker can make or break your investment efforts as a crypto trader. You want to work with a reputable broker that will safeguard your interests as an investor. Do your research before jumping into anything.
If you are interested in even more business-related articles and information from us here at bit rebels, then we have a lot to choose from.
So, let's see, what we have: cryptocurrency, especially bitcoin, has proven to be a popular trading vehicle. Here are the best brokers for cryptocurrency trading, including traditional online brokers, as well as a new specialized cryptocurrency exchange. At the best cryptocurrency brokers
Contents of the article
- Top forex bonuses
- Best online brokers for buying and selling...
- Advertiser disclosure
- How we make money.
- Editorial disclosure.
- Share
- Editorial integrity
- Key principles
- Editorial independence
- How we make money
- Where can you buy and sell cryptocurrencies?
- Overview: best brokers for cryptocurrency trading
- Bottom line
- Top 10 online cryptocurrency trading brokers
- How to get started in cryptocurrency trading
- What is cryptocurrency?
- What are cryptocurrencies used for?
- What is the difference between bitcoin and...
- What is the difference between a cryptocurrency...
- Trade cryptocurrency online using CFD services
- Trading cryptocurrencies – getting started with...
- How to make money trading crypto
- How to choose the best cryptocurrency trading...
- Best cryptocurrency brokers for 2021
- Best cryptocurrency brokers (non-US traders only)
- Plus500 – top rated trading platform
- IQ option – lowest minimum deposit ($10)
- Etoro – top crypto broker
- Highlow – best all-round crypto broker
- Nadex – US traders welcome
- Crypto brokers with most cryptocurrencies
- Lowest minimum deposit brokers
- Top rated brokers that have cryptocurrencies
- How to choose your cryptocurrency broker
- Which cryptocurrencies are you interested in...
- Pros and cons of cryptocurrency brokers
- Cryptocurrency brokers – what to look for
- More great features you could be interested in
- Ready to start trading?
- Best online brokers for bitcoin trading
- Best bitcoin trading platform
- Pricing details
- Pricing details per exchange
- Final thoughts
- Read next
- Best cryptocurrency brokers to trade with in 2021
- 5 popular regulated crypto brokers
- How to go about choosing the best crypto broker
- Regulation and reputation
- Cryptocurrencies we want to trade
- Leverage – multiplying your capital
- Negative balance protection – necessity
- Appropriate capital according to your...
- 5 popular regulated cryptocurrency brokers
- The best crypto broker – FAQ
- what is the best cryptocurrency broker?
- can I try cryptocurrency trading risk-free?
- ⭐ what cryptocurrencies can I trade with...
- Conclusion – the best crypto broker
- Best online brokers for bitcoin trading
- Best bitcoin trading platform
- Pricing details
- Pricing details per exchange
- Final thoughts
- Read next
- Fxdailyreport.Com
- Top recommended crypto forex brokers in 2021
- Selecting the best cryptocurrency broker: do’s...
- Trading cryptocurrency
- Other ways to trade cryptocurrency
- Reasons why people trade in cryptocurrency
- Why do people invest in cryptocurrency?
- What are the things to look for in a...
- Best cryptocurrency brokers to use in 2021
- 1. Fxopen
- 2. Tenkofx
- 3. Etoro
- 4. Coinbase
- 5. Xbtce
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.