13 Best Crypto Exchanges in Australia (2026)

Researching the best cryptocurrency exchanges in Australia? From fees to security, there's a lot to consider. Here are 13 expert picks of the best crypto exchanges in Australia in 2026.

What are the best cryptocurrency exchanges in Australia?

Looking for a crypto exchange in Australia? We've done the digging so that you don't have to. Use our table to compare Australia's best crypto exchanges on fiat currencies, fees, deposit methods, and more. For peace of mind, we have only included exchanges that are registered with AUSTRAC.

Coinspot

CoinSpot is a homegrown Australian crypto exchange, and one of Australia's largest, with over 3 million users. Founded in Melbourne in 2013 and AUSTRAC-registered, CoinSpot is a safe and reputable exchange for Aussie investors. With low fees as standard and an excellent selection of tokens, the platform is an excellent entry point for newcomers to crypto.

Coinbase

Coinbase launched in Australia after establishing itself as a leading crypto exchange globally. The platform is AUSTRAC-registered, with easy on/off-ramp options for AUD for hundreds of leading tokens and altcoins. For those looking to up their trading experience, Coinbase Advanced offers TradingView integration, advanced order types, and real-time market data.

Swyftx

Swyftx is a local Australian crypto exchange, launched in Brisbane in 2018 and registered with AUSTRAC. The platform offers a strong selection of assets, SMSF accounts, and a rewards program, alongside automated diversification and investment through crypto bundles and dollar-cost averaging.

BTC Markets

Born and bred in Melbourne in 2013, BTC Markets is an Australian crypto exchange ideal for investors seeking reliability, transparency, and long-term holdings. Though the platform offers a more modest range of cryptocurrencies than other crypto exchanges in Australia, it's built an excellent reputation for compliance, ease of use, and reliability, particularly for OTC trading and SMSFs.

Independent Reserve

Independent Reserve has been a stalwart for Aussie crypto investors since 2013, making it one of the oldest crypto exchanges in Australia. The platform offers account types for all investors, including individuals, trusts, HNWI, institutions, asset managers, and family offices, as well as providing an OTC trading desk.

Crypto.com

Crypto.com is the Australian arm of the global crypto exchange founded in 2016 and is registered with AUSTRAC. It's ideal for Aussie investors who want access to the global market with local compliance and stands out not just for the amount of coins available, but also for dozens of staking options to earn passive income on your assets.

Cointree

Cointree is a homegrown Australian crypto exchange, founded in 2018. It's a great option for beginners thanks to a user-friendly interface and a decent selection of coins, as well as offering gold investments through a partnership with Rush Gold. For those looking to deposit in cash, Cointree has partnered with Blueshyft to make this simple.

OKX

A more recent crypto exchange in Australia, OKX launched its Australian platform in 2024 following AUSTRAC registration. While the platform is more limited in its services and tokens compared to the global OKX platform, it still offers many of the benefits the global branch is known for, such as low trading fees, OKB discounts, and staking.

CoinJar

CoinJar is a compact but reputable crypto exchange in Australia with an excellent track record since its founding in 2013. It offers both personal and business accounts, including for trusts, and great automation features to make growing and diversifying your portfolio simple.

Coinstash

Coinstash is a Brisbane-based, AUSTRAC-registered Australian crypto exchange founded in 2017 and boasts the largest selection of tokens in our list. It has built a great reputation as an entry point to DeFi thanks to its DeFi connector product, and also offers a unique rewards program where STASH points can be redeemed for goods, services, and exclusive offers on the platform.

Digital Surge

Digital Surge is a crypto exchange based in Brisbane and founded in 2017. The platform faced some difficulties in late 2022 due to overexposure to FTX, but it has since returned to full operations with a user-approved recovery plan, with all funds due to be returned. With a solid selection of assets, as well as individual, trust, and business accounts, Digital Surge has committed itself to transparency and simplicity.

How to choose a crypto exchange in Australia

Not all crypto exchanges are built the same, and in Australia, the best crypto exchange for you depends on what you actually want to do with your money, whether that's trade often, build a long-term portfolio, or just buy some Bitcoin and hold it. So instead of going with the biggest name, focus on how well an exchange fits your needs.

First, check what you can actually trade. Some exchanges only offer the major coins, while others list hundreds of altcoins and stablecoins. Fees are another deal-breaker: spreads, deposit costs, and maker/taker fees can vary a lot, and high fees will eat into your profits if you trade regularly.

Next, think about usability. A clean app with easy AUD deposits and withdrawals makes life easier, especially if you’re new to crypto. If you’re more experienced, look for advanced charts, order types, or API support. Want to earn on your crypto? Then make sure the platform supports staking, earn products, or interest accounts for Australian users, because not all of them do.

Security should be non-negotiable. Look for things like offline cold storage, proof of reserves, two-factor authentication, and insurance or custody partnerships. And finally, check that the exchange is actually registered with AUSTRAC and follows Australian laws. Some global platforms don’t operate here legally or offer restricted services, so it pays to check before you deposit a cent.

Why are so many crypto exchanges banned in Australia?

Australia treats a lot of crypto activity as regulated financial services. If an exchange offers things like margin, derivatives (perps/options), yield/“earn” products, or anything that looks like a managed investment scheme or credit facility, it often needs an Australian Financial Services (AFS) licence and must meet strict design-and-distribution rules, target-market determinations, custody/segregation, and AML/CTF obligations. Many global platforms either don’t meet those standards or decide the compliance lift isn’t worth it, so they withdraw, trim features, or get pinged by regulators. Recent regulatory actions include:

• Binance Australia (derivatives): AFS licence for its derivatives entity was cancelled in Apr 2023; ASIC later sued the business in Dec 2024 over misclassifying retail clients as wholesale for crypto derivatives.

• FTX Australia: AFS licence cancelled in Jul 2023 following the global collapse.

• Swyftx Earn: “Earn” program closed in Jan 2023, citing the regulatory environment.

• eToro (CFDs): ASIC sued eToro Australia in Aug 2023 over design-and-distribution obligations for high-risk CFD products (a reminder that leveraged products face close scrutiny).

• Block Earner: Federal Court found its fixed-yield “Earner” product breached licensing laws (no penalty at first instance; ASIC later won special leave to appeal in 2025).

• Kraken/Bit Trade: Federal Court ordered $8m in penalties in Dec 2024 for offering an unlicensed margin (credit) product.

Why are so many crypto exchange features restricted in Australia?

Because many popular crypto features fall under Australia’s financial services laws. If a platform offers derivatives (perpetuals, futures, options) or margin/credit, it typically needs an Australian Financial Services (AFS) licence, must run Design & Distribution Obligation (DDO) checks (target-market determinations, appropriateness tests), meet strict custody/segregation rules, and comply with AUSTRAC AML/CTF controls. That bar is high, and ASIC actively enforces it, so most exchanges either disable retail derivatives or limit leverage to stay compliant.

Staking has also been heavily pared back. In 2023, many Australian platforms discontinued staking/“earn” products or reworked them after regulators signalled that pooled staking, fixed-yield offers, or “pass-through” rewards can resemble managed investment schemes or other regulated financial products. Until the legal treatment is crystal-clear, and disclosures, custody, and investor protections are nailed, providers have tended to remove, restrict, or relaunch staking in a much more conservative form.

Who regulates crypto exchanges in Australia?

In Australia, crypto is legal and accessible, but not every service is available on crypto exchanges. What you can and can’t access depends on who you are as a trader, whether you’re a retail investor or a wholesale client, what the platform offers, and how closely the exchange follows Australian licensing and compliance rules. Crypto isn't regulated by a single authority, but rather many agencies may have oversight into crypto regulation, including:

• ASIC (Australian Securities & Investments Commission): leads on financial-services law: licensing (AFS), markets, Design & Distribution Obligations, product disclosure, and enforcement (e.g., derivatives, margin, “earn”/staking where they resemble regulated products).

• AUSTRAC (Australian Transaction Reports & Analysis Centre): AML/CTF supervisor; exchanges must register as Digital Currency Exchange (DCE) providers and meet KYC/monitoring/reporting duties.

• ATO (Australian Taxation Office): taxation of crypto (CGT, income, GST implications), cost-base/record-keeping, and reporting.

• APRA (Australian Prudential Regulation Authority): prudential oversight of banks/insurers/custodians that service exchanges; relevant to safeguarding client money and custody arrangements.

• RBA (Reserve Bank of Australia) / Payments System Board: policy and oversight of payment systems that underpin AUD deposits/withdrawals; standards affecting on-/off-ramps and stablecoin/payments work.

• Department of the Treasury (Commonwealth Treasury): policy design and law reform for digital assets (consultations, licensing frameworks, custody/market rules).

• ACCC (Australian Competition & Consumer Commission): competition and consumer law (misleading claims, unfair contract terms, scam deterrence, platform conduct).

• OAIC (Office of the Australian Information Commissioner): privacy and data protection (Privacy Act, APPs), breach notification, cross-border data transfers.

• ACMA (Australian Communications & Media Authority): marketing communications rules (spam, telemarketing/SMS), platform/content standards that can affect promotions.

Don't forget the tax bill...

Whatever exchange you use, if you have profits from crypto, the ATO is clear that they're taxable. Koinly is an Australian crypto tax calculator that can help you calculate your gains, losses, income, and more, as well as generate ATO-ready reports. Learn more in our Australia crypto tax guide or sign up for free today to get started with your taxes.