Compare & rank
Crypto exchange comparison
A free, factual look at major centralised exchanges — standard fees, where they're available, what they offer, and who holds your assets. Figures are a snapshot; always confirm on the official site.
How to read this
Data is a snapshot from November 2026 for the standard retail tier. Fees fall with trading volume and native-token discounts, and country availability and products change often. This page is information only — not financial, investment or legal advice, and not an endorsement of any exchange. Always verify the current terms on the exchange's own site and check your local eligibility.
Affiliate disclosure
CoinGeography currently has no paid affiliate deal with any exchange below, so none of these links earns us a commission. If that ever changes, the link will be labelled and use rel="sponsored". Rankings are never for sale. See our advertising policy.
Rankings
Exchanges ranked by the CoinGeography score
A transparent composite of the public factors in each row — explained below. Not a safety rating.
| # | Exchange | Score | Spot maker / taker | US access | Regulation | Custody | Derivatives | Proof of reserves | Assets ≈ | Token | Official |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bitstamp Est. 2011 · Luxembourg / EU | 4 out of 582 | 0.3% / 0.4% | Available | Strong (licensed/public) | Custodial | No | Yes | ~110 | — | Visit |
| 2 | Kraken Est. 2011 · United States | 4 out of 582 | 0.25% / 0.4% | Available | Strong (licensed/public) | Custodial | Yes | Yes | ~240 | — | Visit |
| 3 | Gemini Est. 2014 · United States | 4 out of 578 | 0.2% / 0.4% | Available | Strong (licensed/public) | Custodial | No | Yes | ~90 | — | Visit |
| 4 | Coinbase Est. 2012 · United States | 4 out of 575 | 0.4% / 0.6% | Available | Strong (licensed/public) | Custodial | Yes | Yes | ~280 | — | Visit |
| 5 | Gate Est. 2013 · Global | 4 out of 572 | 0.1% / 0.1% | Not available | Offshore | Custodial | Yes | Yes | ~1700 | GT | Visit |
| 6 | Bybit Est. 2018 · Global (Dubai) | 4 out of 570 | 0.1% / 0.1% | Not available | Moderate | Custodial | Yes | Yes | ~700 | — | Visit |
| 7 | Binance Est. 2017 · Global (offshore entities) | 3 out of 569 | 0.1% / 0.1% | Not available | Moderate | Custodial | Yes | Yes | ~400 | BNB | Visit |
| 8 | OKX Est. 2017 · Global (Seychelles) | 3 out of 569 | 0.08% / 0.1% | Limited | Moderate | Custodial | Yes | Yes | ~350 | OKB | Visit |
| 9 | KuCoin Est. 2017 · Global (Seychelles) | 3 out of 562 | 0.1% / 0.1% | Not available | Offshore | Custodial | Yes | Yes | ~800 | KCS | Visit |
| 10 | Bitget Est. 2018 · Global (Seychelles) | 3 out of 559 | 0.1% / 0.1% | Not available | Offshore | Custodial | Yes | Yes | ~550 | BGB | Visit |
| 11 | Crypto.com Est. 2016 · Singapore | 3 out of 559 | 0.25% / 0.5% | Available | Moderate | Custodial | Yes | Yes | ~400 | CRO | Visit |
Fees are the standard retail tier and shown as maker / taker. "US access" and products vary by state and change frequently — confirm before signing up.
At a glance
What each exchange is known for
Bitstamp
4 out of 582One of the oldest exchanges; EU-licensed and, since 2025, owned by Robinhood.
- • One of the oldest exchanges
- • EU-licensed
- • No derivatives
- Spot fees
- 0.3% / 0.4%
- US access
- Available
- Custody
- Custodial
- KYC
- Required
Fees fall with 30-day volume.
Visit · official site
Kraken
4 out of 582US-based; operates under state money-transmitter licences and other regional registrations.
- • Long track record
- • Proof of reserves
- • Strong security reputation
- Spot fees
- 0.25% / 0.4%
- US access
- Available
- Custody
- Custodial
- KYC
- Required
Kraken Pro tier; standard instant-buy fees are higher.
Visit · official site
Gemini
4 out of 578New York State DFS-regulated trust; SOC 2 Type 2 examined.
- • NYDFS-regulated trust
- • Strong compliance
- • Fewer listed assets
- Spot fees
- 0.2% / 0.4%
- US access
- Available
- Custody
- Custodial
- KYC
- Required
ActiveTrader tier; basic mobile fees are higher.
Visit · official site
Coinbase
4 out of 575US public company (Nasdaq: COIN); registered money-services business with state licences.
- • Publicly listed and audited
- • Beginner-friendly
- • Higher spot fees
- Spot fees
- 0.4% / 0.6%
- US access
- Available
- Custody
- Custodial
- KYC
- Required
Advanced Trade tier; simple-buy fees are higher.
Visit · official site
Gate
4 out of 572Very broad token listing; licensing varies by region.
- • Largest asset selection
- • Proof of reserves
- • Not available to US residents
- Spot fees
- 0.1% / 0.1%
- US access
- Not available
- Custody
- Custodial
- KYC
- Required
One of the largest asset selections; fees vary by market.
Visit · official site
Bybit
4 out of 570Large derivatives-focused exchange; licensing varies by region, not open to US users.
- • Strong derivatives
- • Low fees
- • Not available to US residents
- Spot fees
- 0.1% / 0.1%
- US access
- Not available
- Custody
- Custodial
- KYC
- Required
Derivatives: ~0.02% maker / 0.055% taker.
Visit · official site
Binance
3 out of 569Largest exchange by volume; holds various regional registrations, blocked or restricted in several jurisdictions.
- • Deepest liquidity
- • Low fees
- • Not available to US residents
- Spot fees
- 0.1% / 0.1%
- US access
- Not available
- Custody
- Custodial
- KYC
- Required
Down to ~0.075% when paying fees in BNB.
Visit · official site
OKX
3 out of 569Large global exchange with a built-in Web3 wallet; main platform restricted in some regions.
- • Very low spot fees
- • Monthly proof of reserves
- • Built-in Web3 wallet
- Spot fees
- 0.08% / 0.1%
- US access
- Limited
- Custody
- Custodial
- KYC
- Required
Among the lowest standard spot maker fees.
Visit · official site
KuCoin
3 out of 562Wide altcoin selection; settled US regulatory matters in 2024–2025 and now enforces KYC.
- • Huge altcoin selection
- • Low fees
- • Not available to US residents
- Spot fees
- 0.1% / 0.1%
- US access
- Not available
- Custody
- Custodial
- KYC
- Required
Visit · official site
Bitget
3 out of 559Derivatives and copy-trading focused; licensing varies by region.
- • Copy trading
- • Monthly proof of reserves
- • Not available to US residents
- Spot fees
- 0.1% / 0.1%
- US access
- Not available
- Custody
- Custodial
- KYC
- Required
Known for copy trading.
Visit · official site
Crypto.com
3 out of 559Holds multiple regional registrations and licences; large retail app and card programme.
- • App and Visa card
- • Many regional licences
- • Higher in-app fees
- Spot fees
- 0.25% / 0.5%
- US access
- Available
- Custody
- Custodial
- KYC
- Required
Exchange tier; in-app and card purchases cost more.
Visit · official site
How the CoinGeography score works
It is a transparent composite of public factors, out of 100:
- • Regulatory standing (licensed/public vs offshore) — up to 35
- • Published proof of reserves — 20
- • Track record (years operating) — up to 20
- • Standard spot fees (lower is better) — up to 15
- • Asset selection — up to 10
Regulation and transparency carry the most weight, so audited, licensed exchanges rank above ones that simply list the most coins.
The score is a convenience summary of the data on this page, not a safety guarantee, an audit, an endorsement, or investment advice. A high score does not mean an exchange is safe or suitable for you; a low one does not mean it is bad. Do your own research and consider a licensed professional before using any platform.
Important
Custody: who holds your crypto
Every exchange above is custodial: while your coins sit on the platform, the exchange controls the private keys, not you ("not your keys, not your coins"). That is convenient for trading but means you rely on the exchange's security, solvency and policies. For holdings you don't need to trade, many people move funds to a self-custody wallet (hardware or software) where they alone hold the keys. Neither choice is risk-free — self-custody puts loss, theft and backup entirely on you.
Exchange comparison FAQ
How current are these fees and details?
They are a snapshot from November 2026 for the standard retail tier. Fees drop with 30-day volume and native-token discounts, and availability changes often. Always confirm on the exchange's official fee and availability pages before trading.
Is the ranking telling me which exchange to use?
No. The score is a transparent summary of public factors (track record, proof of reserves, regulation, fees, selection). It is information only — not advice, not an endorsement, and not a safety rating. The right exchange depends on your country, needs and risk tolerance.
Do you earn money from these links?
Not currently — there is no paid affiliate deal with any exchange listed, so none of the links earns us a commission. If that changes, the link will be labelled and marked rel="sponsored". Rankings are never for sale.
What does 'custodial' mean?
A custodial exchange holds your assets and private keys for you while they are on the platform. You trust the exchange's security and solvency. Self-custody wallets instead put the keys — and all responsibility — in your hands.
Why is an exchange marked 'not available' in the US?
US rules require specific registrations. Several global exchanges block US residents or offer a separate, smaller US product. Availability can also vary by state, so check your eligibility directly.
Not financial advice. Trading crypto is risky and you can lose money. Information on this page is general and may be out of date or incomplete; it is not a recommendation to use any exchange or to buy, sell or hold any asset. Verify all details on official sources and consider advice from a licensed professional in your country.