Six of the world's largest exchanges, compared on what actually matters: trading fees, coin selection, and whether you can legally use them where you live. No rankings-for-hire — the trade-offs are stated plainly so you can pick what fits you.
| Exchange | Spot fees (maker/taker)* | Coins | USA | EU | Canada | Australia | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binance | 0.10% / 0.10% (less with BNB) |
~400 | No† | Yes | No | Yes | Lowest fees + deepest liquidity |
| Coinbase | up to 0.40% / 0.60% (Advanced Trade) |
~240–310 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Beginners & US users |
| Kraken | 0.16% / 0.26% (Pro tiers lower) |
~450–500 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Widest availability + compliance |
| OKX | 0.08% / 0.10% (less with OKB) |
~350 | Partial‡ | Yes | No | Yes | Low fees + advanced tools |
| Bybit | 0.10% / 0.10% (derivatives cheaper) |
~600+ | No | Partial‡ | No | Yes | Derivatives & futures traders |
| Crypto.com | ~0.25% / 0.50% (less with CRO/volume) |
~350 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Mobile-first users & card perks |
| eToro | ~1% spread (built into price) |
~100 | Partial‡ | Yes | No | Yes | Copy trading & multi-asset investing |
* Standard tier, spot trading, before token/volume discounts. Card purchases cost significantly more everywhere (often 1–4%) — bank transfer is almost always cheaper. † Binance.US operates separately with a reduced service. ‡ Availability varies by state/country and product — check the exchange's own list for your region.
The world's largest exchange by volume — by roughly 5× over the next-largest. That depth means tight spreads and reliable execution even on big orders or smaller altcoins. Standard spot fees of 0.10% drop further if you hold BNB. The ecosystem (earn products, conversions, launchpad) is the industry's broadest.
Cheapest standard fees of the major exchanges
Unmatched liquidity — best prices on almost every pair
Huge feature set: earn, staking, P2P, futures
Not available in the US (Binance.US is a limited, separate entity) or Canada
Interface can overwhelm beginners
Long history of regulatory friction — settled major US charges in 2023
Available: EU, UK, Australia + 100 more countries · Not available: USA, Canada
The most regulated major exchange — publicly listed on the US stock market, licensed under MiCA in the EU, and the default choice for US residents. The simple interface is genuinely beginner-friendly. The price of that comfort is fees: the simple buy flow costs several percent on small purchases, and even Advanced Trade's 0.60% base taker fee is the highest in this comparison.
Cleanest regulatory standing in the industry
Easiest onboarding for complete beginners
Available in the US, EU, Canada and Australia
The most expensive fees in this comparison
Simple interface hides a costly spread — always use Advanced Trade
USD withdrawals cost $25 via wire
Available: USA, EU, UK, Canada, Australia + 100 more countries
Operating since 2011 with one of the cleanest security track records in crypto, Kraken works in 190+ countries — including the US and Canada, where several rivals don't. Base fees (0.16%/0.26%) are higher than Asian exchanges, but Kraken Pro brings them down sharply, card purchases are unusually cheap (0–0.26% vs the 1–4% common elsewhere), and EUR bank support is excellent for European users.
Available almost everywhere — 190+ countries
Excellent security history since 2011, current proof-of-reserves
Cheap card purchases and strong EUR/fiat rails
Base spot fees higher than Binance/OKX
Fewer exotic altcoins than the Asian giants
Pro interface has a learning curve
Available: USA, EU, UK, Canada, Australia + 185 more countries
A favorite of active traders: 0.08% maker fees undercut nearly everyone, OKB token discounts cut up to 40% more, and the platform bundles a serious derivatives stack, trading bots and a built-in Web3 wallet. OKX entered the US market in 2025–26 after settling anti-money-laundering charges with US authorities — a genuine mark against its history, and part of why compliance-minded traders often pick Kraken instead.
Among the lowest spot fees available
Excellent advanced tools: bots, derivatives, Web3 wallet
Zero-fee stablecoin pairs
Paid $500M+ to settle US AML violations — trust accordingly
Not available in Canada; US access is new and state-dependent
Complex for first-time buyers
Available: EU, UK, Australia, USA (partial) · Not available: Canada
The world's #2 exchange by volume, built derivatives-first: perpetual futures fees of 0.01%/0.06% are among the best anywhere, and the trading UX is widely considered the cleanest for futures. Two honest caveats: it suffered the largest hack in crypto history (~$1.5B, 2025 — users were fully reimbursed), and availability is the most restricted of this list — no US, Canada, or UK, with EU access varying by country through its regulated EU entity.
Best-in-class derivatives fees and interface
Huge coin selection (600+) and copy trading
Users fully reimbursed after the 2025 hack — resilient response
Not available: USA, Canada, UK; EU availability varies by country
Largest hack in crypto history is part of its record
Derivatives + leverage are high-risk tools — not for beginners
Available: Australia + ~150 countries; EU partial · Not available: USA, Canada, UK
The most consumer-polished of the majors: a slick app, a popular crypto rewards Visa card, and wide availability including the US, Canada and Australia. Base trading fees are mid-to-high (roughly 0.25%/0.50% before CRO/volume discounts) and USD withdrawals cost $25, so active traders usually look elsewhere — but for buy-hold users who live on mobile and want the card perks, it's a solid pick.
Best mobile experience of the majors
Crypto rewards Visa card
Available in the US, EU, Canada and Australia
Higher fees than Binance/OKX/Kraken Pro
$25 USD withdrawal fee
Proof-of-reserves less current than Kraken/OKX
Available: USA, EU, UK, Canada, Australia + 80 more countries
Not a pure crypto exchange but a multi-asset broker — you can hold crypto alongside stocks and ETFs in one account, and its signature CopyTrader feature lets you automatically mirror experienced traders. Pricing works differently: instead of maker/taker fees there's a spread of roughly 1% on major cryptos (higher on smaller ones) built into the buy/sell price, plus a $5 withdrawal fee and an inactivity fee after 12 idle months. Costlier than the exchanges above for frequent trading — but for casual investors who want crypto, stocks and social features in one regulated app, it fills a genuine niche none of the others do.
CopyTrader — mirror real traders' portfolios automatically
Crypto, stocks and ETFs in a single regulated account
Very beginner-friendly interface
Spreads (~1%+) cost more than exchange fees for active trading
$5 withdrawal fee and inactivity fee after 12 months
Smaller crypto selection; transfers to private wallets are limited by region
Available: EU, UK, Australia, USA (crypto only, state-dependent) · Not available: Canada
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.
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