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Best cryptocurrency exchanges
Find the best cryptocurrency exchange for beginners, low fees and more.
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You can use a cryptocurrency exchange to buy, sell and trade cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH). We've compared some popular exchanges by different categories to make it easier to find the best for you.
Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of cryptocurrency or any specific
provider, service or offering. It is not a recommendation to trade.
In this guide:
Compare 70+ cryptocurrency exchanges you can use in Australia
HiveEx.com is an over-the-counter (OTC) cryptocurrency platform specialising in high-volume trades.
- Trade between $50,000 and $100m for a fixed price
- Tap into HiveEx.com’s global network of high liquidity trading partners
- Access competitive rates compared to traditional exchange trading
- Receive your coins in your wallet fast, with same day settlement options
- As an AUSTRAC registered company, HiveEx.com is fully compliant with industry-standard AML and CTF obligations
Best exchanges for:
Beginners • AUD purchases • Low fees • Range of altcoins • Trading
Beginner friendly: CoinSpot
CoinSpot is built for beginners, but it's also a popular bridge between AUD and cryptocurrency for people of all skill levels.
- Offers fiat purchases of a wide range of cryptocurrencies, provides a wallet for customers, has full customer service, is known for its clean and simple interface.
- It charges 1% for straightforward buying and selling, and lets you make AUD payments through bank transfer, BPAY or cash (via blueshyft).
- An AUSTRAC-registered, regulated exchange.
AUD purchases: CoinJar
Whether it's cash, card or bank transfer, whether it's a large or small transfer, whether you want to make a deposit instantly or are happy to wait, CoinJar has a payment method for it.
- An Australian exchange so there's no need to worry about international transaction fees.
- You can make a BPAY or PayID payment straight from your bank account, or pay with cash via the blueshyft service at more than 1,200 convenience stores all around Australia.
- CoinJar Swipe debit card which converts cryptocurrency into cash anywhere that accepts EFTPOS including ATMs with no fees on the crypto to AUD conversion.
Low fee: Binance
Binance is popular for a reason, but it's also a crypto-only exchange, meaning you'll need to buy some cryptocurrency with fiat, and then deposit that onto the exchange before you can start trading on Binance.
- You'll simply pay a flat 0.1% trading fee at most.
- It's possible to reduce this even further by taking advantage of the exchange's native cryptocurrency, Binance Coin (BNB), and simply paying your trading fees with BNB held in your exchange account.
- There are different trading fee tiers, with lower fees for users who hold enough BNB coins and maintain certain monthly trading volumes.
Range of altcoins: Kucoin
You'll find a lot of selection on Kucoin, although the available liquidity for each will vary.
- Offers hundreds of different coins against both BTC and ETH trading pairs.
- Has a solid track record of being one of the first exchanges to list exciting new projects.
- Has a history of listing coins before they appear on more mainstream exchanges.
Trading: eToro
Beyond this, eToro also offers non-crypto assets so you can trade various stocks and commodities on the same platform as your crypto.
- Can be used by both beginner and advanced traders, and frequent and infrequent traders.
- Offers margin trading, CFDs and advanced trade types.
- Has limited API integration compared to some other exchanges, which may limit the use of trading bots, but makes up for it with copy trade features, which includes copy-trading bots.
Is it safe to store your cryptocurrency on an exchange?
Cryptocurrency is held in digital wallets. Some exchanges will give you your own wallet, which lets you hold cryptocurrency in your exchange account and then transfer it anywhere as desired, while others will require you to have your own wallet at the time of purchase.
However, using an exchange for long-term storage is not recommended. As the exchange controls the private key to your wallet, you don't have total control of your funds. And with exchanges regularly (and sometimes successfully) targeted by hackers, storing crypto on an exchange long-term is very risky.
How to choose a cryptocurrency exchange
With hundreds of exchanges to choose from, how can you find the best cryptocurrency exchange for your needs? The most important thing to do is to research a wide range of platforms and compare the pros and cons of each option.
Consider the following factors when comparing crypto exchanges.
How to use a cryptocurrency exchange
Buying cryptocurrency with fiat currency
For the sake of our example, let's assume that you have AUD$500 that you want to use to buy Bitcoin.
- Compare cryptocurrency exchanges to find one that offers the right service for you.
- Register for an account on the platform, including providing any personal details and proof of ID required.
- Navigate your way to the "Buy" screen.
- Select Bitcoin as the cryptocurrency you want to buy.
- Select your payment currency, which in this case is AUD, and specify the amount you want to spend as $500.
- Select your payment method, such as a credit card payment or bank transfer.
- Enter your payment details, such as your account number and BSB if sending a bank transfer or your card number and CVV if paying by credit card.
- Review the full details of your transaction, including the fees that will apply and the amount of BTC you are purchasing.
- If you're happy to proceed, click "Buy BTC".
- Once the transaction has been processed, the BTC will be deposited into your exchange wallet. However, please note that some brokers will automatically send your purchased BTC to an external wallet address nominated by you.
Buying cryptocurrency with another digital currency
In this scenario, let's assume that you have 1 BTC that you want to exchange for ETH. Here's what you need to do if placing a trade on a centralised crypto exchange:
- Compare cryptocurrency trading platforms to find one that offers the right service for you.
- Register for an account on the platform, including providing any personal details and proof of ID required.
- Log into your account and find the BTC wallet address for your account.
- Use this address to transfer the 1 BTC you want to trade from an external wallet.
- Navigate to the "Exchange" or "Trading" page.
- Search for the currency pair you want to trade, which in this case is BTC/ETH.
- In the "Buy" field, choose the type of order you want to place, such as a market order or limit order.
- Enter the details of your transaction, such as the amount of BTC you want to spend. If placing a limit order, you'll need to specify your desired ETH price.
- Take a moment to review your transaction, including checking the exchange rate and fees that apply.
- Click on "Buy ETH".
- Once the transaction has been processed, the ETH you have purchased will be deposited into your exchange wallet.
However, if you're using a decentralised crypto exchange, the process is a little different. You'll typically be required to link your wallet to your account, but you'll then be able to trade directly from wallet to wallet, with no requirement to deposit any funds on the exchange.
Selling cryptocurrency and withdrawing your funds
If you want to sell cryptocurrency on an exchange – let's say Bitcoin for the purposes of this example – you'll need to follow these steps:
- Log into your account and find the BTC wallet address.
- Use this address to transfer the BTC you want to trade from an external wallet.
- Navigate to the "Exchange" or "Trading" page.
- Search for the currency pair you want to trade, for example BTC/AUD or BTC/ETH.
- In the "Sell" field, enter the details of your transaction. Depending on the platform you're using, you may be able to sell at market rate or potentially place a limit order.
- Take a moment to review your transaction, including checking the exchange rate and fees that apply.
- Click "Sell BTC".
- Once the transaction has been processed, the currency you have purchased will be deposited into your exchange wallet.
It's now time to withdraw those funds from your exchange account, but the exact process you'll need to follow depends on whether you've purchased crypto or fiat currency:
- If you've purchased fiat currency, look for the "Withdraw AUD" option from your account dashboard. Select your desired payment method, for example bank transfer or PayPal transaction, and enter all the necessary account details so your payment can be processed.
- If you've purchased another cryptocurrency, you'll need to first set up a secure wallet where you can store your coins. Copy the address of this wallet, log into your exchange account and select the currency you want to transfer. Remember to double-check that you're sending the funds to the correct wallet before submitting the transaction.
How to pay for your cryptocurrency
You'll need to deposit funds on your cryptocurrency exchange. Exchanges accept all sorts of deposit methods, including the following:
- Credit and debit cards
- PayPal, Neteller, Skrill and other online payment services
- Cash deposits
- Bank transfers
- POLi payments
- Prepaid cards
- Cryptocurrency transfers
- PayID
- Wire transfers
The payment types accepted will vary between exchanges though, so it's worth checking to ensure your preferred payment method is supported before signing up.
The different types of cryptocurrency exchange
The term "exchange" can be used to refer to a variety of crypto trading platforms:
Brokers
- Best for: Crypto novices, those looking for a quick and easy way to buy cryptocurrency
- The downsides: Costs more than other options; may not offer as wide a selection of cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrency brokers often offer the simplest and most convenient way to buy cryptocurrency. Buying Bitcoin or any altcoin from a broker is essentially like purchasing from a cryptocurrency shop – the broker buys digital coins or tokens at wholesale rates, adds their own margin on top and then sells the currency on to you.
Brokers offer a quick and straightforward entry into the world of cryptocurrency. Their platforms are designed to be easy to use and you can pay for your crypto purchase with your everyday fiat currency, often even by using a credit or debit card.
The main downside of using a broker is the cost, as you'll not only need to buy your crypto at a price above the market rate but also pay transaction fees.
Trading platforms
- Best for: Buying and selling a wide range of currencies; lower fees
- The downsides: Intimidating for new users and it may not be possible to directly exchange the currencies you want
Cryptocurrency trading platforms are the most widely used platforms for buying and selling digital currency. They connect crypto buyers with crypto sellers and take a fee for facilitating each transaction. You can use these platforms to exchange cryptos at the current market rate or at a specified limit, while some sites also offer more advanced features like stop-loss orders.
Crypto trading platforms tend to provide access to a more diverse range of currencies than brokers, and often feature charting tools to help you plan your trades. These platforms also tend to offer lower fees and better exchange rates when compared with brokers.
However, it's not possible to directly exchange one crypto for any other digital currency you want – you're limited to the trading pairs supported by your chosen platform. Bitcoin and Ether are the most commonly traded currencies and feature in pairs alongside a wide range of altcoins. Crypto trading platforms can also be intimidating and confusing for new users.
Peer-to-peer exchanges
- Best for: Anonymity, giving you more control over how you trade
- The downsides: Prices usually higher than market rates; a certain level of risk involved
These platforms allow direct peer-to-peer trading between people all around the world. The exchange acts as the middleman, with the seller able to set their own price and accepted payment methods.
The main advantage of peer-to-peer exchanges is that they let you quickly and anonymously buy or sell coins with almost any kind of trade or payment method you want. The downside is that you'll often pay above market prices, and it can also be riskier than other options.
To help offset the risks, some platforms have built-in escrow features and reputation systems to identify reliable and legitimate buyers and sellers.
Next steps
Not all crypto exchanges are created equal, and not all crypto buyers and sellers have the same trading needs. The best exchange for one person might not necessarily be the right choice for someone else, so it's essential that you do your own research.
Check out our reviews on a range of leading cryptocurrency exchanges in Australia and around the world. Compare the features, fees and pros and cons of each exchange and consider how they align with your trading requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrencies are speculative, complex and involve significant risks – they are highly
volatile and sensitive to secondary activity. Performance is unpredictable and past performance is no guarantee of
future performance. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before relying on this information.
You should also verify the nature of any product or service (including its legal status and relevant regulatory
requirements) and consult the relevant Regulators' websites before making any decision. Finder, or the author, may
have holdings in the cryptocurrencies discussed.
A-Z of cryptocurrency exchanges
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Ask an Expert
I have for several years been informed by email that I have 10.2 Bitcoins. Recently I have also been informed that this balance is worth some $18,000 plus and that I can withdraw the money at any time. Is this likely to be true or is it a scam?
Hi Wisebanc.com
Thanks for your inquiry and sorry for the delay.
Well, we can’t really tell if that is true or a scam. Have you traded bitcoins before or do you have any deals with cryptocurrencies? That could be ads from the exchanges you’re with. However, if didn’t engage in any of the bitcoin trades, then you should have a second thought and start to investigate yourself. I’d suggest that you read this guide on common bitcoin scams and how you can avoid them which you might useful.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
May
Now is a large selection of exchangers, but not all of them meet the requirements of users. For example, I used shapeshift earlier, but they made an account. I think you know what kind of hate this has caused among users. Then I used changelly, but they recently delay the execution of applications. This is inconvenient, because I need an exchange in a short time. Now I found changenow, in my opinion it meets the requirements of the crypto community, so I look forward to your review. Thanks!
Hi Emily,
Thank you for reaching out to finder.
Let me go and forward your comment over to our publishers. Definitely, this is something that would be checked by the team. Please follow our pages and check for updates regarding this. Again, thanks for your comment.
Cheers,
Reggie
Agree with Almore. Changenow should rank on this list. Using it recently, I found a service that completely suits me. Hope I will see it here.
Hi Ricko,
Thank you for reaching out to finder.
I have already forwarded your suggestion to our publishers for validation. Thank you for your interest in helping finder.
Cheers,
Reggie
Could you please add changenow to this list? I wanna to compare it with other services. They are writing about their best rates
Hi Almore,
Thank you for reaching out to finder.
I will forward your request to our team who publishes these articles and this would be validated. Once we have enough information about this Crypto Exchange, we will have it published on our site. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
Hello
Here is a new cryptocurrency exchange(BITKER which founded in Singapore), we would like to link our information on your cryptocurrency plate. Also as the cooperation exchange condition, we would offer BITKER media resource, BITKER exchange has over 100K user and attention in China market. Now is continue to increase the overseas market. including but not limited to Southeast Asia, Middle East, Africa and North America.
If you are interested for our cooperation.
Please, Email me
Thank you
Mibo
Hi Mibo,
Thank you for your interest in finder.
Please click on this link to be routed to our partner with us page. Once there, please fill in the form provided and once submitted. Our client services team will get in touch with you to discuss your proposal. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
How come Huobi is not shown in your list of Exchanges?
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for leaving a question on finder.
Although we cover a wide range of products, providers and services we don’t cover every product, provider or service available in the market so there may be other options available to you. Thanks for bringing it up, I will forward your message to our team for review and consideration to list Huobi on the page. Our page gets updated every now and then so just continue to check.
If you need anything else, please send us a message anytime.
Cheers,
Joel
Is Luno a wallet? You can buy Bitcoin/ETH on that site. Then do I use one of the exchanges?
Hi Laura,
Thanks for your inquiry.
Yes, Luno is a wallet where you can buy and store Bitcoin and Ethereum (ETH). Then you may look for an exchange where you can sell your Bitcoin/ETH and withdraw your funds when ready.
Some exchanges only sell bitcoin, while others might let you trade dozens of different cryptocurrencies.
Luno is also an exchange where they can sell, buy and withdraw. Check this pages:
https://www.luno.com/help/en/articles/1000168398-how-do-i-buy-or-sell-digital-currency
https://www.luno.com/help/en/articles/1000168403-how-do-i-withdraw-money-to-my-bank-account
You can read more about Cryptocurrency Exchange above this page and compare your options.
Best regards,
Rench
I WANT TO NO HOW DO I PURCHASE RIPPLE AND WHERE I WANT TO BUY A COUPLE OF SHARES OF IT BUT FIDELITY DOESN’T HAVE IT AVAILABLE TO BUY RIGHT NOW SO HOW DO I BUY THE STOCK OF RIPPLE?
Hi Tony,
Thank you for visiting finder, we are a financial comparison website and general information service.
You may visit this page to compare exchanges where you can buy Ripple. This guide goes through what Ripple is, how XRP works, where to buy and what to consider when investing.
Cheers,
Joanne