Pros and Cons of the Top 4 Best Cryptocurrency Exchange Platforms for 2019

Cryptocurrency exchanges and platforms allow users from around the world to exchange their fiat dollars, such as USD, EUR, JPY, etc., for cryptocurrency tokens. Exchanges can also be used to trade one cryptocurrency for another. The best cryptocurrency exchanges are able to bring a new level of innovation that the traditional financial system has not been able to achieve in decades. This writeup will detail the top 4 best cryptocurrency exchanges and platforms. But before we dive into the advantages and disadvantages of each platform, let’s establish a set of criteria detailing what you should look for in a reliable, hassle-free cryptocurrency exchange.

 

What to Look for In Cryptocurrency Exchanges

FEES

Most token exchanges charge a service fee for converting fiat money and crypto tokens into other cryptocurrencies. Fees alone should not dictate which exchange you decide to use, but if you plan on moving large volumes of money back and forth between accounts, you definitely need to compare fees for each exchange. Credit card fees tend be about 4%, while bank transfer fees are typically in the 1% to 1.5% range. Most exchanges tend to charge anywhere from 0.01% to 5% fees for deposits and withdrawals. This is a wide net, but just make sure to not sacrifice quality for a few extra dollars.

LIMITS

Most crypto exchanges do have a maximum limit for how much money can be deposited at any one time, as well as how much of a specific cryptocurrency you can purchase. If you plan on depositing and trading large amounts of tokens, you need to make sure the platform is able to support the amount you have in mind. Some platforms will also have limits to how much money any one user can withdraw in a single day. This can be a problem for people who deal in large amounts, as they will be forced to spread out their withdrawals over a period of days or weeks.

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QUICKNESS

When you’re trying to profit in a game of inches, it’s vital to utilize an exchange that delivers coins in a timely manner. With this said, exchanges cannot guarantee coins will be delivered in a specific time period due to the nature of tokens and their blockchains, wherein each transaction must be verified. When a blockchain is congested, you can expect the verification process to take longer (or shorter) than usual. Aside from this, transactions can also take longer than usual due to the slow nature of the legacy banking system, depending on the withdrawal method. Buying cryptocurrencies with credit cards doesn’t take too long, while bank transfers can take several days. PayPal deposits and withdrawals can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several days to complete.

PRIVACY

Despite what you may have heard about cryptocurrencies and blockchains, digital tokens and their exchanges are not bulletproof. Hackers look for opportunities, and unscrupulous buyers and sellers will look to take advantage of certain payment methods. This is why it is critical to deposit your money into an exchange that takes your personal privacy and security seriously. Consider the following: How much personal information is required to set up an account? Do you need to verify your address, identity, or phone number? While many people are put off by the idea of sending a cryptocurrency exchange their ID, the more layers of protection you have, the better. Secure exchanges will use two-factor authentication and may require some form of identity proof. This is enough to ward off most scammers and makes it harder for hackers to infiltrate individual user accounts.

REPUTATION

What are other users saying about the platform? Are reviews mixed, positive, or predominantly negative? Are hacks and identity theft a problem? Check if the exchange is regulated. While a non-regulated crypto exchange doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad, having some form of government oversight is a clear bonus. What is the exchange’s customer support like? Do they have a 24-hour live chat system, or do they only have email support tickets? Is there a telephone number you can dial to connect with a real person? Also consider the number of years the platform has been operational.

TOP 4 BEST WordWide CRYPTOCURRENCY EXCHANGES

1) KRAKEN

About Kraken

Kraken was established in 2011 in San Francisco by entrepreneur Jesse Powell, a well-known figure within the cryptocurrency world thanks to his security contributions to MtGox. In a way, Kraken is the successor to MtGox, the former exchange that went bankrupt. Kraken’s international exchange is highly popular within Europe, as they have the highest trading volume for the Bitcoin/Euro pair and have low fees for EUR users. Unlike many other cryptocurrency platforms, Kraken accepts various fiat currencies, including: USD, CAD, JPY, and EUR. They currently offer 15 different cryptocurrencies to trade, including tokens such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dash, Zcash, Litecoin, and more. Kraken gives its users multiple trading tools, run on a highly secure environment with reliable cold storage, and offer advanced order types, such as buy limit and stop loss orders.

Kraken Pros

• Up to 5x leverage on Bitcoin
• Use 2-factor-authentication and PGP email encryption
• Have a iOS and Android app for mobile devices
• Moderate to high liquidity, specifically for EUR and JPY pairs
• Support margin trading and short selling
• Support custom order types
• No limits on deposits
• Low fees for European users
• Quick and easy account setup, no ID required
• Long standing crypto exchange trusted by hundreds of thousands of international crypto traders
• Suitable for both beginners and professionals

Kraken Cons

• Because of the high volume of traders using the platform, expect a few site errors every now and then
• Could benefit from more crypto pairs
• Customer support can occasionally get overwhelmed, leading to long response times
• Complex fee structure, high fees for USD users moving small quantities of coin (i.e. $7 BTC withdrawal fee, $5 USD bank wire withdrawal fee, and $5 bank wire deposit fee)

Kraken Final Remarks

Overall, Kraken is a great crypto platform that offers several useful features to day traders. If you live in Europe, Kraken was probably your first and most enticing choice, and for good reason: The company is one of the oldest and largest exchanges, which has allowed them produce a long track record of happy traders without having to deal with any major issues, scandals, or negative publicity. In the end, if you’re a beginner based in Europe, go with Kraken.

2) BITTREX

About Bittrex

Bittrex is a regulated crypto exchange that is based in the United States and was formed in 2014 out of Las Vegas, Nevada. Bittrex caters to crypto traders, as they currently support the buying and selling of over 200 different tokens, and the platform is often one of the first exchanges to list new emerging cryptocurrencies. To keep their customers secure, Bittrex performs compliance audits against new cryptocurrencies to ensure their traders make safe transactions with legitimate ventures. While some exchanges accept fiat currency, Bittrex uses Bitcoin as their cornerstone currency. They do not accept any type of fiat money. Adjusting to the Bittrex platform can take some time to get used to, but the company is highly professional and offers speedy transactions and is a frequently used platform by seasoned crypto-investors.

Bittrex Pros

• Anonymous function – no ID required for basic accounts
• No minimum deposit
• Utilizes 2-factor-authentication
• Quick and simple account setup
• Makes 1-minute price charts available
• Perfect platform for those doing arbitrage
• Flawless data connections – service interruptions are rare

Bittrex Cons

• No app support
• Only email and ticket customer support
• Do not accept USD or any fiat currencies
• No margin available
• Low liquidity can be a problem from time to time
• No dollar value assigned to cryptocurrencies
• Advanced user interface (not beginner friendly)
• High trading fees of 0.25%

Bittrex Final Remarks

Although Bittrex does not currently enable leverage, the company has stated that they expect to implement a leverage functionality later this year or in the beginning of 2018. The maximum withdrawal amount allowed for users with basic accounts is 1 BTC, while enhanced account holders who have been verified can withdraw up to $50,000 at any one time. Overall, Bittrex is a great cryptocurrency exchange for seasoned arbitrageurs, but isn’t the most ideal option for professional daytraders due to the limited amount of immediate liquidity and the inability to trade with margin. But, as Bittrex has witnessed a staggering rise in new accounts in 2017, the platform’s liquidity woes may soon come to an end.

3) COINBASE

About Coinbase

Coinbase is arguably the most popular cryptocurrency exchange in the United States. Coinbase was launched in 2012 and, after financial backing from major banks and venture capital firms, set the standard for cryptocurrency exchanges around the globe. Coinbase is a P2P platform that supports the buying and selling of Bitcoin, Etherum, and Litecoin tokens. Coinbase also has an Android and iOS wallet app. They have over 8 million users from over 30 countries and have housed over $6 billion in cryptocurrency transactions. A few major companies who have invested in Coinbase include the likes of the Bank of Tokyo, the New York Stock Exchange, Andressen Horrowitz, and more. Customers from the United States, Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Singapore are able to buy crypto tokens with a verified credit card or through bank transfer. Credit card purchases come with a 3.99% fee while bank transfers have a 1.49% transaction fee.

Coinbase Pros

• Sleek intuitive design
• Support credit and debit cards
• Instant purchases from verified cards
• API tools for developers
• Bitcoin deposits are insured
• Partnered with major banks

Coinbase Cons

• Caught monitoring their customers spending habits. Apparently, Coinbase has signed a contract with its stakeholders that force them to ensure Bitcoins are spent ‘responsibly’. This means that if you send BTC to adult entertainment or gambling websites, your account may be shut down without warning.
• Coinbase has made a move against the philosophy of the crypto-community by applying for a patent for the rights to crypto wallet technology.
• There have been some complaints from Coinbase affiliates that their earnings have been withheld due to ‘technical issues’.
• Only offer three tokens

Coinbase Final Remarks

Although Coinbase does appear to have a slight problem with greed and a sense of dissonance with its users, it’s still a great cryptocurrency exchange for buyers. Coinbase’s main advantage is its large client base. If you do buy tokens through Coinbase, it is highly advised that you relocate your coins to a hardware wallet. But, overall Coinbase is a solid platform.

4) LOCALBITCOINS

About LocalBitcoins

LocalBitcoins.com was founded in 2012 by Jeremiah Kangas in Helsinki, Finland. LocalBitcoins takes a slightly different, free market approach to the buying and selling digital tokens. The platform operates as a P2P exchange that allows users to find and quickly connect with other buyers and sellers, either internationally or locally. In a way, LocalBitcoin is like the Craigslist of crypto exchanges. The platform supports all markets from around the world, allowing anyone from any country to connect with local people. This is especially helpful to those who are only legally allowed to physically transfer BTC. The platform charges a flat 1% fee on all transactions. Deals made locally with cash come with no fees. Although there are no ID requirements, it’s a good idea to verify your identity so that other traders are more likely to trust you.

LocalBitcoins Pros

• No bank account required
• Available in over 190 countries
• Instantaneous transfers with other humans (trade requests made with other users are cancelled if a deal has not been completed within 90 minutes)
• Very simple user interface
• No buy or sell limit on transactions
• Supports dozens of payment methods
• Easy fee structure
• With LocalBitcoin’s filter, finding the right buyer or seller is easy

LocalBitcoins Cons

• You have to deal with people, unlike with other major exchanges, which will cause varying experiences among users
• Only support Bitcoin
• Possibility of being scammed, specifically with PayPal transactions, although LocalBitcoin does have a grievance process that allows those wrongfully scammed to get their money back depending on the circumstance
• No leverage or trading tools are applicable in this P2P platform

LocalBitcoins Final Remarks

While a majority of people have had a positive experience with LcoalBitcoin, including the writer of this review, there are definitely scammers on the site. To stay safe, check your buyer or seller’s star ratings, make sure they’re using a verified account, and check out the forum every once in a while to block known scammers. This type of mistrust can make LocalBitcoin not the best option for traders dealing in large volumes of crypto. But, in the end LocalBitcoin is a unique and viable alternative to Coinbase – highly recommended.

What are your thoughts about these top cryptocurrency platforms? Is your own experience positive, negative, mixed? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.