Best Crypto Exchanges in the UK December 2024
Looking for the best crypto exchanges for UK investors? There are a lot of factors to consider - security, fees, deposit and withdrawal limits, KYC processes, available cryptocurrencies, and more. It's enough to make your head spin. That's why we've put together our list of the safest and best crypto exchanges in the UK to answer all your questions and save you hours of research. Let's dive in.
What are the best crypto exchanges in the UK?
Our best UK crypto exchange roundup includes everything you need to know about the top crypto exchanges operating in the UK to help you start your research. We cover all of them in depth below, but here's a quick overview:
Exchange | Cryptocurrencies available | Fees | Payment method | KYC? |
---|---|---|---|---|
Binance | 115+ | Tiered maker/taker fees | Transfer, Card | Yes |
Coinbase | 200+ | Tiered maker/taker fees | Transfer, Card, PayPal | Yes |
Kraken | 195+ | Tiered maker/taker fees | Transfer, Card | Yes |
Crypto.com | 220+ | Tiered maker/taker fees | Transfer, Card, Crypto.com Pay | Yes |
Gemini | 115+ | Transaction fee + convenience fee | Transfer, Card | Yes |
CoinJar | 60+ | 0% to 1% | Transfer, Card, Fedwire | Yes |
OKX | 360+ | Tiered maker/taker fees | Transfer, Card | Yes |
eToro | 30+ | 1% buy/sell, 0.1% trade | Transfer, Card, PayPal | Yes |
Huobi | 550+ | 0.2% maker/taker fees | Transfer, Card | Yes |
KuCoin | 700+ | Tiered maker/taker fees | Transfer, Card, PayPal | Yes |
Binance
Binance is a well-established player in the crypto market with an average daily trading volume of 2 billion, and processing 1 million transactions a second for 28.6 million users. They were launched in 2017 and now have users in over 180 countries. They also operate Binance Chain (BNB native coin) for DeFi investors, as well as Trust Wallet.
Binance FAQs
Is Binance safe?
And is it safe to keep your crypto on Binance? As with all the best crypto exchanges, Binance offers a 2-factor authentication feature, secure offline cold storage for most assets, real-time monitoring, and additional features like safe sign-in and advanced access control.
Has Binance ever been hacked?
Yes, in 2019 Binance was been hacked to the tune of more than £33 million.
How many cryptocurrencies are on Binance?
Binance offers 119 different cryptocurrencies to trade, including all major coins plus thousands on BNB plus their Trust Wallet for DeFi.
What fees will I pay on Binance?
Binance has a maker/taker tiered fee structure is a tiered schedule based on your monthly trading volume. As you trade more, the percentages get lower, and some BTC trading pairs are as low as 0%.
Are there any deposit and withdrawal limits on Binance?
Yes, but the limits on Binance would depend on your payment method, and there may be fees for some specific withdrawal methods like wire withdrawals.
Does Binance have a mobile app?
Yes, Binance is on mobile for iOS and Android. They also offer the Trust Wallet browser extension and mobile app.
Does Binance have KYC?
Yes. They require a photo ID and personal information to verify your account.
Coinbase
Coinbase was founded in 2012, with 98 million verified users trading over 200 cryptocurrencies. Three individual apps are owned by Coinbase - Coinbase Wallet, Coinbase Pro, and Coinbase Exchange - although the latter are in the process of amalgamating.
Coinbase FAQs
Is Coinbase secure?
Coinbase accounts must have multi-factor authentication, as well as support for hardware keys. Additional security tools like Coinbase Vault (a wallet with additional security steps) and an address book ensure your crypto always ends up where you want it to go.
Has Coinbase ever been hacked?
Thanks to an awesome cybersecurity team, Coinbase has never been hacked directly. There was an instance in 2021 where at least 6,000 Coinbase customers had their data breached and received phishing emails, resulting in losses. In this instance, as hackers exploited a flaw in Coinbase's 2FA system, users who were hacked were refunded by Coinbase.
How many cryptocurrencies are on Coinbase?
More than 200 - with everything from popular cryptocurrencies like BTC, ETH, and USDT to meme coins like SHIB, gaming currencies like MANA, and utility tokens like UNI.
Does Coinbase have a mobile app?
Yes, Coinbase has a mobile app for Coinbase exchange, Coinbase Pro, and Coinbase Wallet.
What fees will I pay on Coinbase?
It's free to create your Coinbase account, but you'll pay transaction fees (taker and maker fees) when you trade on Coinbase, as well as potential deposit and withdrawal fees if you're not using ACH.
Are there any deposit and withdrawal limits on Coinbase?
Crypto deposits are unlimited, while Coinbase may limit fiat deposits depending on your payment method. Withdrawals of crypto and fiat currency are limited to $100,000 (£83,000) daily, although you can request to increase this limit in your account settings.
Does Coinbase have KYC?
Yes. Coinbase has KYC - if you don't complete identity verification on Coinbase, your account will be restricted. You'll need to fill out various personal information and provide a photo ID document - like a driver's license or passport.
Kraken
Kraken has gained popularity since launching in 2011, thanks to its transparent team. The CEO has often echoed the popular phrase, “Not your keys, not your crypto,” and actively encourages self-custody. This has helped the platform grow to more than 6 million users who are trading more than 200 different coins, making it one of the top crypto exchanges.
Kraken FAQs
Is Kraken safe?
Yes. Kraken security labs are fully dedicated to protecting user assets. They actively test third-party products and services, work to fix security flaws, and have an extensive bug bounty program for white-hat hackers. They keep 95% of assets in an off-line, air-gapped, cold storage and include 2FA, master key, PGP encryption, and global setting lock as part of their security protocols.
Has Kraken ever been hacked?
While some accounts were breached due to user negligence, the platform has never been hacked. So if you are wondering, can Kraken be trusted? The answer is Yes!
How many cryptocurrencies are on Kraken?
Kraken currently offers 195 coins to be traded.
Does Kraken have a mobile app?
Yes, it is available on the Apple app store and Google Play. The Kraken Futures app was discontinued in January 2022.
What fees will I pay on Kraken?
Kraken has a tiered fee structure between 0% and 0.16% for makers and 0.10% to 0.26% for takers, based on your monthly trading volume. There is also a 0.9% fee for purchasing any stablecoins, a 1.5% fee for any other crypto purchase, plus a transaction fee of up to 3.75% depending on the payment method.
Are there any deposit and withdrawal limits on Kraken?
Kraken has a tiered structure, and your tier and payment method will also play a role in your withdrawal and deposit limits, with daily limits of around £7,500 on deposits and withdrawals for an express account. This is increased to $100,000 or $10 million for intermediate and pro accounts respectively.
Does Kraken have KYC?
Yes - however various levels of KYC are available, including starter, express, intermediate, and pro. Only the intermediate and pro levels require supporting documents.
Crypto.com
Crypto.com has 50 million users and supports 221 cryptocurrencies. There are also many different product offerings like the NFT platform, Crypto.org chain, crypto visa cards, and more. Security is robust; all deposits are screened for compliance, and a dedicated team monitors transactions.
Crypto.com FAQs
Is Crypto.com safe?
Yes. Crypto.com boasts very strong security protocols with MFA for accounts with passwords, biometrics, email, SMS, and OTP authentication, and whitelisting external addresses through email is mandatory. They boast industry creds such as ISO 22301:2019, ISO/IEC 27701:2019, and ISO/IEC 27001:2013- which deal with how they prepare for and react to any disruptions that may arise. Crypto.com also has PCI-DSS v3.2.1 Level 1 compliance - which is credited to businesses that process over 6 million card transactions a year and have suffered a breach, and the exchange is independently assessed at Tier 4, the highest level for both NIST Cybersecurity and Privacy Frameworks, as well as Service Organization Control (SOC) 2 compliance which addresses how they manage personal data. In other words, Crypto.com is very secure!
Has Crypto.com been hacked?
Yes. Despite their extensive security protocols, Crypto.com was hacked in January 2022 due to a flaw in their 2FA. This saw 483 users impacted and £29 million stolen.
How many cryptocurrencies are on Crypto.com?
There are currently 221 different coins available to trade on Crypto.com.
Does Crypto.com have a mobile app?
Yes., it is available for both iOS and Android.
What fees will I pay on Crypto.com?
Fees will vary, and they have adopted a tiered structure based on your 30-day trading volumes. There is a maximum maker fee of 0.4%, and they also offer discounts for users holding CRO.
Are there any deposit and withdrawal limits on Crypto.com?
There are no minimum deposits in place at Crypto.com, while withdrawal limits depend on the specific crypto you're withdrawing.
Does Crypto.com have KYC?
Yes, Crypto.com, you'll need your personal information and a valid photo ID to open an account.
Gemini
Founded in 2014, Gemini is one of the most popular crypto exchanges in the UK with a security-first mentality and more than 13 million active users. They are the world's first SOC 1 Type 2 and SOC Type 2 certified exchange and custodian.
Gemini FAQs
Is Gemini safe?
Yes. Gemini's security-first focus has made them incredibly popular with users, and they follow compliance to protect their user’s assets. Security measures include; 2FA, support for hardware security keys, and address listing, which all play a role in keeping the platform safe. Despite this, Gemini has unfortunately succumbed to a crypto hack.
Has Gemini been hacked?
Yes - as recently as 2022, Gemini has been hacked, although the extent of the breach was limited to a select few accounts. They suffered over £30 million in losses, and the IRA Financial Trust filed a lawsuit alleging negligence. Gemini has rejected these allegations and has stated that it was an isolated security incident.
What crypto is on Gemini?
Gemini has over 120 different coins available to trade on their platform.
Does Gemini have a mobile app?
Yes. The Gemini app is available for download on the Apple App Store, Google Play, and the Galaxy Store.
What fees will I pay on Gemini?
Gemini has a maximum fee of 1.49% - although this is often lower for most users.
Are there any deposit and withdrawal limits on Gemini?
Deposit and withdrawal limits are determined by your payment method, although some methods have no limits in place.
Does Gemini have KYC?
Yes. Gemini requires proof of ID like a valid passport or driver's licence to open an account.
CoinJar
CoinJar launched in 2013, making it one of the longest-running crypto exchanges. They currently have over 600,000 users and offer over 60 different cryptocurrencies to be traded. Is CoinJar in the UK? Yes! They focus on the UK and Australian markets. However, they have a presence in other regions and are FCA-registered.
CoinJar FAQs
Is CoinJar safe to use?
CoinJar’s security protocols include multi-level data encryption, BitGo custodian for cold storage, and multi-sig for hot wallets. In addition to those measures, they also have full currency reserves at all times and are FDA-registered.
Has CoinJar been hacked?
CoinJar hasn’t suffered any hacks or breaches to date.
How many cryptocurrencies are on CoinJar?
Does CoinJar have a mobile app?
Yes, the CoinJar app is available for both iOS and Android
What fees will I pay on CoinJar?
There is a 0-1% fee for conversions on CoinJar and instant buys attract a small fee too. So are CoinJar fees high? Compared to other exchanges in the market, CoinJar fees are relatively low.
Are there any deposit and withdrawal limits on CoinJar?
CoinJar has a minimum deposit of £5, while the maximum withdrawal is capped monthly but depends on the account level each user holds.
Does CoinJar have KYC?
Yes, CoinJar is FCA registered and requires a photo ID and some personal information to verify your account.
OKX
OKX (formerly OKEx) is a popular crypto exchange that was launched in 2017. They offer a wide range of advanced products to more than 20 million users in over 100 countries. They’ve grown in popularity due to low fees, as well as staking, saving, and mining.
OKX FAQs
Is OKX exchange safe?
OKX stores 95% of funds offline with backups and sensitive data stored in secure bank vaults. They use security protocols such as 2FA, mobile verification, anti-phishing code, and an authenticator app. On top of that, they also limit each cold wallet to no more than 1000 BTC, and private keys never interact with USBs or the internet.
Has OKX been hacked?
OKX has not been directly hacked, but there have been reports of some user accounts being compromised to the tune of £2.5 million.
How many cryptocurrencies are on OKX?
OKX offers an extensive range of coins to be traded. They currently list 362 cryptocurrencies to be traded.
Does OKX have a mobile app?
Yes, the OKX app is available for iOS and Android
What are the fees for OKX?
OKX operates a tiered fee maker/taker structure based on your trading volume over 30 days; average fees range from 0.060% and 0.1%.
Are there any deposit and withdrawal limits on OKX?
The minimum deposit for OKX is 10 USDT, so around £9, while standard account withdrawal limits are capped at 200 BTC daily.
Does OKX have KYC?
Yes. OKX has different requirements for each tier of account.
eToro
eToro, a renowned global trading platform established in 2007, offers a wide variety of financial investment options. But is eToro accessible to UK investors? Absolutely, eToro has extended its services to cater to European investors, including the UK. When it comes to assessing platform safety, it's of utmost importance. So, how secure is eToro? The platform places a strong emphasis on its robust security features, and all deposits are subject to compliance checks, closely monitored by a dedicated team. Currently, eToro boasts millions of users worldwide and provides support for a diverse range of cryptocurrencies for trading.
eToro FAQs
How secure is eToro?
eToro maintains strict security protocols, offering multi-factor authentication for accounts, including password, email, and SMS verifications. Moreover, eToro is subject to regulation by top-tier authorities such as the FCA, CySEC, and ASIC, ensuring compliance with the highest operational standards. They also adhere to GDPR regulations to safeguard user data.
Has eToro experienced any security breaches?
No, there have been no significant publicized instances of security breaches or hacks on eToro. Nevertheless, investors should always exercise caution and utilize all available security features.
How many cryptocurrencies does eToro support?
As of now, eToro facilitates trading in over 30 cryptocurrencies.
Does eToro offer a mobile app?
Certainly, eToro's mobile application is accessible on both iOS and Android platforms, enabling users to trade conveniently while on the move.
What fees are associated with eToro?
eToro imposes a 1% fee for buying and selling, along with a 0.1% conversion fee for cryptocurrency trades.
Are there any limitations on deposits and withdrawals with eToro?
eToro has established a minimum deposit requirement that may vary depending on the user's region and chosen payment method. Additionally, there is a daily transaction limit of up to £200,000 for sending funds.
Does eToro implement KYC procedures?
Yes, adhering to global regulatory standards, eToro requires users to provide personal information along with a valid photo ID when opening an eToro account.
HTX
Formerly Huobi, HTX was founded in 2013 and is a top 10 global crypto exchange. They currently support well over 500 cryptocurrencies as well as 47 different fiat currencies! The exchange offers peace of mind to investors by holding a 20,000 BTC security reserve fund.
HTX FAQs
Is HTX exchange safe?
Yes. HTX holds user funds in multi-sig cold wallets and has a 20,000 BTC security reserve fund, while account security features include 2FA on email, phone, google authenticator, trading password, anti-phishing code, and more.
Has HTX been hacked?
No. To date, HTX hasn’t suffered any hacks.
How many cryptocurrencies are on HTX?
HTX has an impressive number of cryptocurrencies available to trade. They currently list 589 different options.
Does HTX have a mobile app?
Yes, the HTX app is available for iOS and for Android
What are the fees on HTX?
HTX charges a 0.2% base fee with discounts for HT token holders.
Are there any deposit and withdrawal limits on HTX?
HTX limits withdrawals to between £1,000 and £30,000 a day, depending on the verification level. They also have an annual limit of £6,000 to £150,000 (depending on verification level) and a minimum deposit of £8.
Does HTX have KYC?
Yes, but they have different requirements for the various levels; with higher deposit and withdrawal limits, the more identification you would need to provide.
KuCoin
KuCoin boasts more than 18 million users and supports one of the largest ranges of currencies available to trade, with over 700 options available, making them one of the best crypto exchanges. They also have low KYC requirements and low fees. They suffered a security breach in 2020, leaving many investors wondering, “Is KuCoin safe to store coins?”. But with robust security measures and digital asset insurance, your crypto is still safe on the platform.
KuCoin FAQs
Is KuCoin safe?
KuCoin has industry-standard security measures, such as multi-factor authentication and password verification for trades and withdrawals. But in 2020, they were hacked.
Has KuCoin ever been hacked?
Yes, in September 2020, hackers stole more than £230 million in crypto from KuCoin, making it one of the largest ever hacks when hackers obtained users' private keys. They later offered a $100,000 reward for any information, recovered £169 million of the stolen crypto, and launched the safeguard program.
How many cryptocurrencies are on KuCoin?
KuCoin offers an extensive range of coins to be traded. They currently list 719 different options.
Does KuCoin have a mobile app?
Yes, the KuCoin mobile app is available on both Android and iOS.
What fees will I pay on KuCoin?
Fees on KuCoin are comparatively low and are based on your trading volume over 30 days, average fees range from 0.0125% to 0.1%, and discounts are offered to KCS token holders.
Are there any deposit and withdrawal limits on KuCoin?
KuCoin has no deposit minimum. Withdrawals are limited to 1 BTC per day for unverified accounts and are capped at 200 BTC for verified accounts.
Does KuCoin have KYC?
Yes, but the KYC requirements at KuCoin vary depending on the level of access you desire, and this flexibility has helped grow the popularity of the exchange.
Don't forget the tax bill...
Regardless of the exchange you've used, HMRC is very clear gains and income from crypto are taxable. Use a crypto tax calculator to figure out your tax liability or learn more in our UK crypto tax guide.
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