10 Best Crypto Exchanges in the UK For 2024

Table of Contents

• Best crypto exchanges in the UK
• 1. Kraken - One of the most respected exchanges in the crypto industry
• 2. Coinbase - A crypto exchange that has been going strong since 2012
• 3. Binance - The biggest and most feature-packed cryptocurrency exchange
• 4. OKX - A solid alternative to Binance with web3 features
• 5. KuCoin - A crypto exchange that lists hundreds of altcoins
• 6. Crypto.com - A crypto exchange with an impressive Visa crypto card
• 7. eToro - A mainstream trading platform that also lists crypto
• 8. Cash App - A payments app with Bitcoin investing features
• 9. Gemini - An FCA-regulated crypto exchange
• 10. CEX.IO - A solid all-around cryptocurrency exchange
• The bottom line

Cryptocurrency trading is a global phenomenon, although not every exchange is offering its services in every market. In this article, we’ll be focusing on the United Kingdom, as we’ve analyzed the crypto markets to find the best crypto exchanges in the UK. We made sure to highlight exchanges catering to different types of crypto investors, including long-term holders, active traders and altcoin traders.

Before we begin, we should note that the United Kingdom’s financial regulator FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) has banned cryptocurrency-based derivatives products from being offered to retail customers in the United Kingdom. This includes trading products such as futures, options and CFDs. 

Best crypto exchanges in the UK

Without further ado, here’s our list of the best crypto exchanges in the UK for 2024.

• Kraken - One of the most respected exchanges in the crypto industry
• Coinbase - A crypto exchange that has been going strong since 2012
• Binance - The biggest and most feature-packed cryptocurrency exchange
• OKX - A solid alternative to Binance with web3 features
• KuCoin - A crypto exchange that lists hundreds of altcoins
• Crypto.com - A crypto exchange with an impressive Visa crypto card
• eToro - A mainstream trading platform that also lists crypto
• Cash App - A payments app with Bitcoin investing features
• Gemini - An FCA-regulated crypto exchange
• CEX.IO - A solid all-around cryptocurrency exchange

1. Kraken - One of the most respected exchanges in the crypto industry

Kraken is one of the most reputable exchanges in the crypto industry, and it has been operating successfully since 2013. Kraken is one of a few cryptocurrency exchanges that has never suffered a security breach impacting its customers’ funds. 

You can deposit GBP to Kraken through a variety of payment systems, including SWIFT, FPS/BACS, PayPal and CHAPS. The exchange also lists a variety of GBP-denominated trading pairs, where you can directly trade cryptocurrencies against the pound. 

Kraken strikes a good balance between being a well-established exchange with strong security practices and offering a sizeable selection of cryptocurrencies and trading products. While you won’t find the most obscure altcoins on Kraken, the exchange still does list more than 200 different crypto assets, which should be plenty enough for most traders.

Overall, Kraken is the best crypto exchange for UK customers in our opinion, but there’s some caveats you need to keep in mind. Keep in mind that Kraken customers from the United Kingdom cannot use the exchanges Opt-In Rewards product or trade futures. In addition, UK customers on Kraken are not allowed to deposit or trade the privacy coin Monero.

Trade Crypto on Kraken

2. Coinbase - A crypto exchange that has been going strong since 2012

Coinbase is a major cryptocurrency exchange that has been operating since 2012. Like the Kraken exchange that we’ve featured above, Coinbase has a stellar track record when it comes to keeping its customers’ funds safe. Coinbase has been offering its services in the UK since 2015. 

The Coinbase exchange lists more than 240 different cryptocurrencies, and you can deposit GBP to your Coinbase account using FPS (Faster Payments Service). In addition, you can get the exchange’s Coinbase Card, which allows you to spend your cryptocurrency balances wherever Visa is accepted. 

In practice, Coinbase and Kraken are quite similar and there’s not much separating the two. However, Coinbase does have slightly higher fees for low-volume users. On Coinbase, taker fees start at 0.6%, while the initial fee tier on Kraken is just 0.16%. 

If you plan to buy and hold crypto over the long term, trading fees aren’t a very important consideration and Coinbase is a great choice due to its reliability. However, if you intend to trade cryptocurrencies very frequently, there are much more cost-effective options than Coinbase on the market.

Trade Crypto on Coinbase

3. Binance - The biggest and most feature-packed cryptocurrency exchange

Binance is the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange, and offers arguably the most comprehensive suite of features in the industry. 

Binance lists more than 350 different cryptocurrencies, which means that it’s suitable for all types of cryptocurrency traders, regardless of whether you are only looking to trade the biggest coins or also want to explore the markets for low-cap cryptocurrencies. 

On Binance, you can find a variety of products that can complement your cryptocurrency trading and investing — for example, you can grow your crypto portfolio with services such as staking and lending. If you hold BNB tokens, you can earn tokens through Launchpool staking or buy tokens from upcoming tokens on Binance Launchpad.  

However, UK users should keep in mind that Binance is not regulated in the UK and you can’t deposit GBP to the exchange or use it to trade futures. Still, customers from the United Kingdom can use Binance based on reverse solicitation. If you’re looking for a crypto-to-crypto exchange, Binance is still one of the best options available on the market. 

Trade Crypto on Binance

4. OKX - A solid alternative to Binance with web3 features

OKX is another solid option for UK customers that can be considered as an alternative to Binance as the two exchanges are quite similar in their offerings. Just like Binance, OKX lists a large number of cryptocurrencies, offering more than 330 different coins at the time of writing.

In addition to its spot trading marketplace, OKX provides a wide spectrum of products for cryptocurrency traders and investors. This includes copy trading, crypto passive income products, trading bots, and services for institutional investors.

UK customers should be aware that OKX does not offer its derivatives products (for example futures contracts) in the United Kingdom. You also can’t deposit GBP to the exchange, so OKX is only suitable for those who already own some crypto.

When it comes to OKX, we have to highlight the exchange’s Web3 Wallet, which helps users manage and track their portfolios on a variety of blockchain platforms. If you’re someone who often engages with DEXes, DeFi protocols and NFT marketplaces, OKX might just be the right choice for you.

Trade crypto on OKX 

5. KuCoin - A crypto exchange that lists hundreds of altcoins

KuCoin is a popular cryptocurrency exchange that’s best known for listing a huge number of different cryptocurrencies. The exchange offers more than 650 different crypto assets for trading, which makes it one of the best platforms for those who like to trade low market cap coins.

Similarly to Binance and OKX, KuCoin provides many different products for crypto traders beyond just the basic spot trading functionality. KuCoin also offers cryptocurrency futures, although you have to keep in mind that crypto futures are not allowed in the UK so you might not be able to access them. 

The KuCoin exchange has recently introduced a “Beginner Zone”, which is meant to help onboard new users into crypto and provide crypto rewards along the way.

Previously, KuCoin did not have mandatory identity verification. However, the exchange has since updated its policies in line with crypto industry standards and you’ll need to complete a KYC (know your customer) process if you want to trade on KuCoin. You also need to keep in mind that you can’t fund your KuCoin account with a GBP deposit.

Trade Crypto on KuCoin

6. Crypto.com - A crypto exchange with an impressive Visa crypto card

Crypto.com is one of the biggest players in the cryptocurrency industry, and it provides a comprehensive platform for trading and investing in crypto. It also has an NFT marketplace, derivatives trading and a cryptocurrency passive income platform called Crypto.com Earn. 

Crypto.com received approval from UK regulator FCA to operate as a crypto asset business in the United Kingdom.

One of Crypto.com’s best known features is its Visa card, which allows users to spend their crypto balances with all merchants where Visa is accepted. Depending on the card tier you get, you can also earn crypto cashback rewards on your spending (the cashback rewards are paid with the CRO token).

Many of Crypto.com’s most exciting features are only accessible to CRO holders, which will be a downside for some users. If you plan to hold CRO anyway, Crypto.com is a great exchange for you. However, buying CRO just to access Crypto.com’s premium features might not be the best idea, as cryptocurrency prices are volatile and the price of CRO could easily drop enough to offset any benefits you receive for holding it.

Trade crypto on Crypto.com

7. eToro - A mainstream trading platform that also lists crypto

eToro is a mainstream trading platform that offers stocks, foreign exchange trading, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. 

eToro lists quite a few different cryptocurrencies, but not as many as dedicated cryptocurrency exchanges. The list of supported coins includes almost all of the biggest cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, XRP, BNB, Cardano and others. However, eToro’s fees are quite high, as the platform charges a 1% fee on buying and selling cryptocurrency. Most cryptocurrency exchanges have significantly lower fees.

eToro can be a good choice for trading cryptocurrency, especially if you’re also looking for a platform to trade stocks and want to keep all your trading and investing activity under one roof. The most unique aspect of eToro is its “social trading” feature, which allows users to automatically follow the moves made by more experienced traders.

Please keep in mind that UK customers are not allowed to go short on cryptocurrencies using eToro. This is because shorting on eToro is performed through CFDs, which is a type of derivative that can’t be offered to retail customers according to UK regulations.

Trade crypto on eToro

8. Cash App - A payments app with Bitcoin investing features

Cash App is an interesting option for UK-based cryptocurrency investors, but it’s important to know that it only offers Bitcoin. If you’re someone who likes to invest in other cryptocurrencies as well, consider choosing among the other exchanges we’ve highlighted in this article.

If you’re in the market for a payments app and would also like to invest in Bitcoin, Cash App can be a good option. The app also supports the Lightning Network, which allows you to send Bitcoin to other users without having to pay any transaction fees.

Another interesting feature of Cash App is that you can set it up to convert a certain percentage of any direct deposit you receive into Bitcoin. This can be a good way to slowly build up a stash of BTC without trying to time the market. 

Trade Bitcoin on Cash App

9. Gemini - An FCA-regulated crypto exchange

Gemini is a well-established cryptocurrency exchange that offers its services in several markets across the globe, including the United Kingdom. The exchange is regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

When you’re trading cryptocurrency on Gemini, you can either use the Gemini Exchange for a straightforward experience, or use the exchange’s high-performance Gemini ActiveTrader platform. For most users, the basic exchange should suffice, but it’s nice to have the option for advanced traders. 

The exchange offers a solid selection of cryptocurrencies, with more than 200 crypto assets listed for trading. Users can access Gemini through a web interface or a mobile app for both iOS and Android.

If you want to earn rewards on your crypto, you can take advantage of the Gemini Pro Staking feature, where the exchanges stakes your crypto so you can earn rewards instead of your coins sitting idle.

Trade crypto on Gemini

10. CEX.IO - A solid all-around cryptocurrency exchange

CEX.IO is a cryptocurrency exchange with a long track record, as it has been in operation since 2013. The exchange can be used to easily buy and sell a wide range of cryptocurrencies, as it lists more than 200 different crypto assets. You can use GBP to buy cryptocurrency on CEX.IO.

Besides trading functionality, CEX.IO also makes it possible for users to make the most of their cryptocurrency holdings through stakings and savings. Users can stake Proof-of-Stake coins through CEX.io to earn staking rewards, or lend their crypto to earn yield.

The exchange offers a web trading interface, as well as mobile applications for the iOS and Android mobile operating systems.

Although the trading volume on CEX.IO is fairly low compared to the industry’s leading exchanges, the liquidity on CEX.IO should still be plenty enough for the vast majority of crypto investors – your trades should be completed quickly with minimum slippage.

Trade crypto on CEX.IO

The bottom line

The United Kingdom is an important crypto market, so it’s not too surprising that a large number of exchanges is catering to UK-based crypto investors. Regardless of whether you’re looking for a platform to make a one-time investment in crypto or if you’re trying to trade actively, there’s an exchange on the market that will suit your needs. Hopefully, our article provided a good overview of the best crypto exchanges for UK investors.

If you want to learn more about how to get started with cryptocurrency, make sure to check out our ultimate guide to investing in crypto.