Bitcoin exchanges are platforms which allow the public to trade Bitcoins amongst each other. They may seem daunting to use at first because of all the fancy graphs and options for buying and selling, but when stripped down to the basics it's not much harder than a simple game. You can easily buy bitcoins at the price you want and also sell them to cash out.
As with wallets, there are many Bitcoin exchanges out there to choose from and some are indefinitely superior than others. After personally testing and reviewing each exchange, we believe the ones listed below are amongst the top rated choices available. Whether you're looking for a platform with a good user interface, top rates, low fees or high volume of trade we can confidently say you'll find the best Bitcoin exchange platform from the list below.
1. Bitfinex
Bitfinex was one of the newer Bitcoin exchanges to join the group, however this did not stop it from growing into the large platform it is today. It now holds the highest volume of Bitcoin trading out of any exchange meaning it's a great choice, particularly for US citizens as it trades in USD. It is also incredibly safe and those who deposit and withdraw fiat money onto Bitfinex are all verified to prevent criminal activities.
2. Bitstamp
Established as one of the most reliable Bitcoin exchanges today, Bitstamp was founded as an alternative for European traders from the days of Mt. Gox. It has stood the test of time and has proved that security and reliability are staple features of this platform. Bitstamp has incredible backing behind the exchange and they also are partnered with Coinbase who are prominent players in the Bitcoin trading space.
3. Bittrex
Bittrex holds one of the largest Bitcoin trading volumes in the world but is also known for offering hundreds of other cryptocurrencies or altcoins traded from Bitcoin, Ethereum or USDT - a great choice for building a varied portfolio. It offers a visually pleasing and easy to use interface for any user to start trading. Bittrex is trustworthy as a US based company who follow all laws and regulations by the government.
4. Poloniex
If you ask any Bitcoin trader, chances are that they know of or even use Poloniex. They are one of the most popular and diverse cryptocurrency trading platforms globally and offer great liquidity for major altcoins against Bitcoin. Due to its high volumes there will never a halt in sell/buy orders, however this does mean there are times where services are suspended from an overload of requests. Nevertheless, with a great track record and low trading fees it's a great place for anyone to start.
5. Kraken
If you prefer to trade bitcoins in Euros then Kraken should be your top choice. It's the largest exchange in terms of volume and liquidity in Euros, but in more recent years they've concentrated on expanding globally. Kraken has one of the most secure verification processes which means it takes longer compared to other exchanges to lift any trade limits but it ensures the majority of trades are 100% legit. So if you want excellent liquidity in European markets, margin trading and low fees then Kraken would be a perfect choice.
6. GDAX
Global Digital Asset Exchange (GDAX) is a global trading platform owned by Coinbase which is based in the US. GDAX was launched in May 2016 with the intention of penetrating the international market and has made great progress since. It has a great looking interface that has been refined to user needs which makes trading simple so it's a good platform for beginners. They also provide amazing 24/7 support, but you will sometimes be left waiting for a while when they're overloaded with tickets. All in all, you'll have a great experience so GDAX is definitely worth a try.
7. BTCC
BTCC International is the global expansion of BTC China which offers their amazing services to the rest of the world. After BTC China was permanently shut due to new regulations and potential government conflict, the company has since dedicated 100% of their resources to building their international presence. It now stands as one of the top exchanges for Bitcoin trading volume and is considered the best Bitcoin exchange by many users due to its great team, industry-best rates and superb mobile trading app.
8. Gemini
Largely known as the exchange founded by the Winklevoss twins, Gemini is a Bitcoin exchange based in New York. This is considered a platform for more adept users as first time buyers may get confused so we wouldn't recommend this for your first exchange. Gemini has gained great community trust due to its professional support team and has proved that funds held there are always safe with their top-notch security. The best part of Gemini and what attracts most people to it is the absence of deposit/withdrawal fees and low 0.25% trade fees - this means you get to retain a higher profits.
9. HitBTC
Operating since 2013, HitBTC is one of the most advanced Bitcoin exchanges today. It's known to be user-friendly for those who want to create trade bots due to their clever and easy to implement API. If you want to fund your account with Fiat money, the registration and verification process is fairly quick compared to other exchanges. If you purely want to trade then you don't need to go through any sign up process, you can begin immediately. You're guaranteed to have a positive experience with this safe and responsive Bitcoin trading platform.
10. WEX
Wex is a New Zealand based Bitcoin exchange that is relatively young. If you're looking for a straight to the point exchange that allows you to buy and sell Bitcoin then Wex fulfills this. Its interface is simplistic and only displays necessary information for you to make a trade - definitely one for the number geeks out there! Security is tight and the company operates on strict anti-money laundering and know-your-customer laws.
