Jessie Moore has been writing professionally for nearly two decades; for the past seven years, she's focused on writing, ghostwriting, and editing in the finance space. She is a Today Show and Publisher's Weekly-featured author who has written or ghostwritten 10+ books on a wide variety of topics, ranging from day trading to unicorns to plant care.
The crypto industry moves so fast that it can be hard to keep up.
Crypto exchanges pop up and disappear seemingly overnight — how are you supposed to know which ones you can trust and which you’re better off avoiding?
I’m going to make your life easy. I’ve done all the heavy lifting for you and narrowed down the countless crypto exchanges available in the UK to just the best. Below, I compare and contrast the six best crypto exchanges in the UK based on what coins they have, their transaction fees, and more.
Best Crypto Exchange UK: 6 Top Picks in Dec 2024
The bottom line: If you want access to more than 70 coins, a simple, flat fee, and the pedigree that comes with an exchange that’s been around the block, go with eToro.
Otherwise, the right exchange for you depends on what coins you want to trade and whether you’re an active trader or a long-term holder … Or should I say HODL-er?
At-a-Glance: Best Crypto Exchange UK
Exchange | Overall Rating | # of tradable coins |
|---|---|---|
Exchange | Overall rating | # of tradable coins |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 72 | |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 11 | |
⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 200+ | |
⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 250+ | |
Crypto.com | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 250+ |
⭐⭐⭐ | 100+ | |
⭐⭐⭐ | 350+ | |
⭐⭐⭐ | 60+ |
eToro is a multi-asset platform which offers both investing in stocks and cryptoassets, as well as trading CFDs.
Please note that CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
This communication is intended for information and educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice or investment recommendation. Past performance is not an indication of future results.
Copy Trading does not amount to investment advice. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
Cryptoasset investing is highly volatile and unregulated in some EU countries. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply.
Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more
eToro USA LLC does not offer CFDs and makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the content of this publication, which has been prepared by our partner utilizing publicly available non-entity specific information about eToro.
1. eToro
- Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- # of tradable coins: 72
- Minimums + fees: £40 minimum, 1% flat fee
eToro is one of the most well-respected names in finance. The platform gives users peace of mind in the often tumultuous crypto world.
There are a lot of great things about eToro, but my favorite is how easy the platform is to use. eToro has one of the few trading platforms that makes it easy for crypto newbies to track and analyze coins without sacrificing more advanced tools for experienced investors.
Another nice feature? The flat 1% fee. Some exchanges have complicated fee structures that take almost as much work to understand as the coins you’re buying. I like the simplicity of a flat fee, but 1% isn’t the lowest you’ll find.
Perhaps most importantly, eToro has all the coins you probably want to trade, from the big boys like BTC and ETH to up-and-comers like ADA and SOL.
Pros | Cons |
An established name in online trading | 1% flat fee isn’t the lowest around |
72 tradable coins | 0.5% fee on GBP deposits |
Super easy staking service | |
FCA regulated |
*Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong.
2. TradeStation Crypto
- Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- # of tradable coins: 11
- Minimums + fees: No minimum, £2 + 0.35% maker, £2 + 0.6% taker
TradeStation is the undisputed champ of online trading platforms, boasting better charts and analysis than anyone else in the game.
TradeStation brings all of the bells and whistles that stocks, options, and futures traders know and love to the crypto space through TS Crypto, its dedicated cryptocurrency trading platform. If you want the best analysis tools, TradeStation is the best crypto exchange, UK or anywhere else, for that matter.
Now for some bad news. TradeStation only lets you trade 11 coins. I know that’s laughable compared to the other exchanges on this list, but it’s worth it if you’re only interested in BTC and ETH. The coins they do offer are also not necessarily what you might expect:
- AAVE
- Bitcoin
- Bitcoin Cash
- ChainLink
- Compound
- Ethereum
- Litecoin
- Maker
- Shiba Inu
- USD Stablecoin
Overall, TradeStation is worth it if you want the best charts and analysis options, as long as you’re willing to take the time to learn the ropes. Overall, it’s a good Bitcoin trader UK residents have easy access to.
Pros | Cons |
Best analysis platform | Only offers 11 coins |
Low fees | Learning curve is a bit steep |
No minimum to open an account | More complicated fee structure |
Opening an account is easy |
3. Kraken
- Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- # of tradable coins: 200+
- Minimums + fees: £1 minimum, 0–0.26%
Kraken is the best crypto exchange in the UK for access to less common coins.
Kraken’s claim to fame is the sheer number of tokens you can trade through the exchange — more than 200 different coins, which means I’m willing to bet more than a few Satoshis that Kraken has it.
Another point in Kraken’s favor is its low fees, which are between 0% and 0.26%, depending on the coin you’re buying or selling. There also isn’t a minimum deposit through most funding channels, although that is subject to change.
Kraken can be a bit more intimidating than TradeStation or eToro since its platform and infrastructure have fewer guardrails. I recommend Kraken mostly to experienced Bitcoin trading UK residents due to its steeper learning curve and less intuitive platform.
Pros | Cons |
Excellent selection of 200+ coins | More complicated than other options for a Bitcoin trader UK residents have access to |
Lowest fees around | Best for experienced crypto traders |
No minimum deposit for most cryptocurrencies |
Knowledge is power!
If you want to increase your money-making potential in the fast-moving world of crypto, you’ve got to understand the basics. Check out these Udemy courses to expand your knowledge:
4. Crypto.com
Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
# of tradable coins: 250+
Minimums + fees: £1 minimum, 2.99% debit card fee, 0.075% commissions
Crypto.com doesn’t have the same name recognition as Coinbase but offers a similar number of coins and a better fee structure.
Crypto.com’s commissions are way better than Coinbase’s, coming in at just 0.075%. The charge to deposit GBP into your account with a debit card is also a bit lower at 2.99%, although I still recommend using one of the other available funding channels.
Security-wise, Crypto.com offers a level of protection for its users with a proprietary wallet and a secure mobile app.
Pros | Cons |
More than 250 cryptocurrencies available | 2.99% fee for funding with a debit card |
Fund your account with GBP via a bank transfer | |
Low commissions | |
Margin trading available |
5. Gemini
- Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐
- # of tradable coins: 100+
- Minimums + fees: $0 minimum, 3.49% debit card fee, 1.49% commission on BTC
Gemini is a smallish exchange with excellent customer service and solid security practices.
If you’re looking for a more personal feel — at least as personal as a crypto exchange can get — Gemini is a great choice. The company focuses on security and customer service more than most exchanges, which makes it one of the more approachable small exchanges.
To be fair, Gemini is only small compared to the major players like Coinbase and Crypto.com. The exchange lets you trade more than 100 coins and operates in 70 countries, including the UK.
The one major downside to Gemini is that its commissions are a bit steep, between £0.50 and £2.49 for trades under £160 and 1.49% over £160. I like to use Gemini for larger purchases since the flat pricing structure on small trades makes it not worth it.
Pros | Cons |
Solid selection of 90+ coins | Higher commissions on small trades |
Enhanced security by buying through Paypal | 3.49% fee for debit cards |
Low commissions on large trades | 1.49% fee for buying bitcoin |
6. Bitcoin IRA
- Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐
- # of tradable coins: 60+
- Minimums + fees: £2,500 minimum, 2% transaction fee, 0.08% security fee
This isn’t exactly an exchange, nor is it for active traders. However, Bitcoin IRA is worth a mention because it offers something truly unique: it’s the best way for UK investors with U.S. residency to invest in crypto for retirement.
Let’s get this out of the way: the 2% transaction fees Bitcoin IRA charges make it a terrible choice for active trading. But for long-term Bitcoin trading, UK residents have no better option.
If you want to take advantage of tax-advantaged crypto trading, Bitcoin IRA gives you all the tools you need. The only thing I’m not a big fan of is the account setup fee, which seems gratuitous and unnecessary.
Pros | Cons |
Easy transfers from other retirement accounts | Trading fees, maintenance fees, account setup fees |
Insured up to £550 million | |
Unbeatable secure cold storage option |
Final Word: Best Crypto Exchange UK
For my money — or maybe I should say crypto — eToro is the best crypto exchange in the UK. It’s easy to use, has a simple flat fee for all transactions, and is easy to fund. It’s also regulated by the FCA and comes with more than a decade of online trading experience, which gives me peace of mind.
If you have some crypto experience already, TradeStation might be a better option, as long as you don’t mind being limited to just 11 tradable coins.
Kraken is also a good options for Bitcoin trading, with good prices and a good reputation.
FAQs:
What is the best crypto exchange UK?
eToro or TradeStation is the best crypto exchange in the UK, in my opinion. eToro is a little bit better for new users and has a much wider selection of coins, while TradeStation is great for experienced crypto traders who don’t mind the limited number of tradable coins.
Which crypto exchange has the lowest fees UK?
Kraken has the lowest fees for most cryptocurrencies in the UK. However, its trading fees vary by token, so make sure you look into the coins you want to trade before you open an account. Overall, Kraken’s fees vary between 0% and 0.26%.
Which crypto exchanges are available in UK?
There are tons of cryptocurrency exchanges available in the UK for Bitcoin trading; UK residents don’t have to worry about missing out on the next bull run. My top picks for UK crypto exchanges include eToro, TradeStation, Kraken, and Bitcoin IRA.
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