Updated 9th Feb 2022.
UK investors of all shapes and sizes now have access to a wide range of crypto exchanges. This means that from the comfort of home – you can buy and sell digital assets like Bitcoin and Dogecoin at the click of a button.
In this guide, we help clear the mist by reviewing the best crypto exchanges in the UK right now – in terms of safety, fees, supported coins, and more.
The best crypto exchanges in the UK – as per our in-depth research, can be found below.
Read on to find out which of the above UK crypto exchanges are right for your requirements.
When researching crypto exchanges that align with your personal needs – you need to consider which markets the provider supports, how much you will be charged to trade, and whether or not the platform is safe.
To locate the very best crypto exchange in the UK for your investment goals – consider the five platforms reviewed below. 
The overall best crypto exchange in the UK right now is eToro. You can buy and sell digital currencies securely here – as eToro is authorized and regulated by the FCA. It also holds regulatory licenses in other jurisdictions – including the US and Australia. You can open a verified crypto account with this exchange in less than five minutes.
In doing so, you can then instantly deposit funds with a UK debit/credit card or e-wallet, or wait a few days for a bank transfer to process. Either way, after you have made a deposit you can then buy and sell over 40+ cryptocurrencies via a spread-only pricing model that starts from just 0.75% per slide. GBP deposits are cheap too – with eToro charging just 0.5%. We also like that eToro allows you to buy any of its supported coins from just $10. 
eToro is also one of the best crypto exchanges in the UK for passive investment tools. For instance, there is a professionally-managed Smart Portfolio that gives you access to a diversified basket of digital assets. Alternatively, if you want to actively trade cryptocurrencies – you might consider the Copy Trading tool. As the name suggests, this allows you to copy an expert trader with solid experience in the digital currency arena.
If you’re looking to invest in financial products other than just cryptocurrencies, eToro also allows you to buy thousands of UK and international stocks and ETFs at 0% commission. You can also trade forex, commodities, indices, and more. In terms of user-friendliness, eToro is ideally suited for beginners. You can access your eToro investment account via the provider’s website or by downloading the iOS/Android app.
Pros
Cons
Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No UK or EU investor protection.
Newbies will like Coinbase – not least because it is home to one of the best crypto exchanges for beginners You can also access Coinbase via a native mobile app that is compatible with iOS and Android. Both the web and app version of Coinbase allows you to buy dozens of cryptocurrencies instantly with a debit or credit card.
Unlike eToro – which charges 0.5% on card payments, Coinbase has a standard transaction fee of 3.99%. You can also transfer funds from your UK bank account for free – and once the money arrives, pay a standard commission of 1.49%. Both options are, however, considered expensive when compared to other crypto exchanges in the UK.
Nevertheless, some investors are happy to pay a higher fee to benefit from Coinbase’s user-friendliness and enhanced security features. Regarding the latter, you’ll find that this UK Bitcoin exchange keeps 98% of client funds in cold wallets and it is mandatory to set up two-factor authentication. When logging into your account from a new IP address – you need to confirm this via email.
Additional features at Coinbase that are worth noting include a highly comprehensive research facility that offers lots of educational guides. Coinbase also offers a fully-fledged cryptocurrency wallet that you can download to your phone. Not only does the wallet give you full control of your private keys – but you can directly exchange tokens without leaving the app.
Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No UK or EU investor protection.
Next up on our list of the best crypto exchanges in the UK is Binance. This platform won’t suit all investors in the UK – as since the FCA began its investigation into the exchange, it can no longer directly support GBP deposits and withdrawals via a bank transfer. Moreover, although you can still buy crypto in the UK with a debit card, you will need to go through a third-party – which is expensive.
On the other hand, Binance is the world’s most popular exchange – dwarfing its competitors in terms of markets, trading volume, and registered account users. In fact, the platform is now used by over 100 million people globally. Once you have funded your Binance account, you can trade more than 1,000+ digital asset pairs at a commission of just 0.10%.
If you’re an active trader or you own some BNB tokens, Binance will reduce your trading commission further. Binance comes packed with lots of advanced trading tools and charting features – which will suit experienced investors that wish to perform technical analysis. You can also set up custom orders – and even elect to receive pricing alerts via the Binance app.
Another core feature at this popular Bitcoin exchange is that it offers crypto savings accounts. You simply need to deposit some tokens and in return – you’ll earn interest. Ultimately, the key issue with Binance is that many question how long the platform can continue to operate without the correct regulatory framework in place – especially in the UK.
Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No UK or EU investor protection.
Mode is a great option if you are looking to deposit funds into a cryptocurrency exchange via a UK bank transfer. Not only are deposits processed near-instantly, but bank transfers at Mode are fee-free. The minimum GBP here is £50 for both new and existing clients.
We should note that Mode is the only crypto exchange on this list that supports just one digital token – Bitcoin. As such, Mode is only going to be suitable if you are looking to buy Bitcoin quickly and easily. Nevertheless, you can buy and sell Bitcoin here at a standard commission of 0.99%. You also need to keep an eye on the spread – which is the mark-up that Mode makes on the difference between the bid and ask price.
Moving on to features, Mode doesn’t offer anything noteworthy when it comes to trading tools, educational guides, or research materials. In fact, Mode pretty much offers a skin and bones service. Moreover, Mode is only accessible through a mobile app that is compatible with iOS and Android. And as such, if you prefer buying and selling digital currencies on your laptop – you’ll need to look elsewhere.
In a similar nature to Binance, Huobi is one of the best crypto exchanges in the UK if you’re looking to earn passive income. Through its crypto savings accounts, you will deposit funds that are used to facilitate loans. In return, you will be paid an attractive rate of interest. For example, many supported tokens pay an APY of over 100%. With that being said, Huobi offers a lot more than just a crypto savings account. On the contrary, the crypto exchange is home to hundreds of markets. This covers a broad range of digital assets – from large-cap projects and ERC-20 tokens to DeFi coins. When it comes to fees, Huobi will charge you 0.20% at both ends of your trade.
This is competitive – and your commission will be reduced further should you increase your 30-day trading volumes or hold the Huobi Token. Perhaps the main issue with Huobi is that the platform does not clearly state what it charges to use a Visa or Mastercard to buy crypto in the UK. Moreover, the Faster Payments button is now grayed out – so it’s likely that GBP bank transfers are no longer supported.
Below you will find a comparison table of the best crypto exchanges in the UK – in terms of the number of supported coins, fees, and wallet functionality.
Crypto exchanges allow you to buy, sell, and trade digital currencies. The exchange that you choose to open an account with will effectively sit between you and other market participants. In turn, crypto exchanges collect commissions from the traders that use their platform.
Moreover, the best crypto exchanges in the UK will also offer cypto investment tools – such as the Copy Trading feature at eToro. This allows you to trade crypto assets passively – as you will mirror the orders of an expert trader.
As noted above, Bitcoin exchanges facilitate trades between buyers and sellers. This is no different from a traditional stock trading site – which allows market participants to buy and sell shares in the open marketplace.
The specific process of using a Bitcoin exchange in the UK is as follows:
The above process is much the same at all of the UK crypto exchanges that we reviewed today.
It goes without saying that it can be a headache to choose the best crypto exchange in the UK for your needs. The overarching reason for this is that UK residents now have so much choice.
During the research process, you might want to consider the core factors outlined below.
Make no mistake about it – you wouldn’t buy shares from a stock broker that wasn’t regulated by a financial body like the FCA. And as such, you also should avoid opening an account with a crypto exchange that does not hold a regulatory license.
This is one of the many reasons why we found that eToro is the best crypto exchange in the UK – as the platform is not only regulated by the FCA, but bodies in Cyprus, Australia, and the SEC.
Moreover, if you also decide to invest in stocks or ETFs – your money will be covered by the FSCS.
While the best UK crypto trading platforms in this space will offer a huge selection of digital currencies, providers like Mode only support one token – Bitcoin. This is perfectly fine if you are solely looking to add BTC tokens to your crypto portfolio.
However, shrewd cryptocurrency investors will never put all of their eggs into one basket. After all, this will leave them overexposed to just one digital asset. Instead, it’s best to diversify across plenty of different cryptocurrencies.
For example, let’s suppose that you deposited the GBP equivalent of $200 into eToro. As eToro supports over 40+ digital currencies and requires a minimum trade size of just $10 – you could essentially invest in 20 different coins such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, XRP, Shiba Inu and many more.
When attempting to assess fees at a UK crypto exchange, the process can be complex. This is because fees can vary depending on the market you are trading, the account type you have opened, and the amount traded in the prior month.
With that said, many exchanges will offer a simple commission system that remains constant. For instance, if you trade digital currencies at Coinbase, you will pay a standard fee of 1.49% per slide. At eToro, you only pay the spread – which starts at 0.75%.
However, you then have crypto exchanges like Binance and Huobi – both of which utilize a maker-taker system. Moreover, the commission is reduced when certain trading milestones have been met – so again, this makes things confusing.
Whether or not you require a crypto wallet will ultimately depend on your chosen exchange and your personal preferences.
For example, some crypto investors do not feel comfortable leaving their digital tokens stored in an exchange. Rather, they want control over their private keys.
With that said, if you’re a complete newbie and don’t understand how private keys work – then you likely won’t want to take responsibility for your own wallet.
Instead, you might consider buying crypto from an FCA-regulated exchange like eToro and leaving the tokens there until you cash out. This is a lot more convenient for inexperienced investors.
Crypto exchanges will vary by some distance when it comes to tools and features. At one end of the spectrum, Mode offers virtually nothing in the way of trading tools. Instead, the app simply allows you to buy and sell Bitcoin.
You then have the likes of Binance, which offers a highly advanced trading platform that comes packed with charting tools, technical indicators, custom order types, and more.
We also like the Copy Trading feature offered by eToro – which as we noted early, promoted passive investment. eToro also offers a crypto-centric Smart Portfolio that is managed and rebalanced on your behalf.
Not only do you need to ensure your chosen exchange supports your preferred deposit and withdrawal method – but you need to be aware of what fees apply.
We found that the best crypto exchanges in the UK allow you to deposit funds instantly with a debit or credit card at competitive fees.
Over at Mode, you won’t be able to deposit funds with either a debit or credit card. You can, however, transfer funds via a UK bank transfer for free.
If you’re looking to buy crypto with an e-wallet, eToro supports Paypal, Skrill, and Neteller.
It is hoped that you will not require the services of a customer support agent when trading at a crypto exchange. However, there might come a time when you need some assistance with your account.
The best crypto exchanges that we reviewed today offer a live chat feature – which means that you can speak with a human agent pretty much instantly. This includes both eToro and Mode.
However, we also came across exchanges that only offer a support ticket system – which means you might need to wait up to 48 hours before receiving a reply.
More and more investors in the UK are preferring to trade crypto via a mobile app – as opposed to using a laptop or computer. This affords you more in the way of flexibility, as you can place trades on the move – as well as check the value of your investments at the click of a button.
However, not all of the crypto trading apps that we came across today offer a suitable user experience. On the contrary, oftentimes, it was difficult to navigate around the respective app. As such, if you are looking for a crypto exchange app – make sure it’s user-friendly.
In this final section of our guide on the best crypto exchanges in the UK – we are going to show you how to get started with an account and subsequently place your first trade.
This walkthrough uses eToro as our example exchange – as this FCA-regulated platform offers a low-cost and user-friendly way to buy crypto from just $10 – or about £7.
In order to trade crypto at eToro, you first need to register an account. You can load up the registration form by clicking on ’Join Now’. Then, enter your personal information as requested, alongside your email address and mobile number.
Make sure that your mobile number is correct – as eToro will send you a verification number via a text message. You will also need to verify your email address.
Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No UK or EU investor protection.
Now that you have an eToro account, you can proceed to deposit up to €2,000 (about £1,700) without needing to immediately upload any ID.
However, withdrawals will be restricted until you do this – so it’s worth quickly uploading a copy of your passport or driver’s license now.
eToro supports instant deposits via Visa, MasterCard, Paypal, and Skrill. UK bank transfers are also accepted – but this can take 1-2 days to clear.
All payment methods on eToro are charged a small FX fee of 0.5% – as your GBP payment will be converted to USD.
In terms of the minimum deposit required, UK clients can get started with just $10 (about £7).
You should now have a funded eToro account. The next step is to search for the cryptocurrency that you are interested in buying.
You can do this via the search bar. Once you see your desired digital currency appear – click on the ‘Trade’ button.
You can also browse what digital assets are available on eToro by clicking on ‘Discover’, followed by ‘Crypto’.
The final part of the investment process at eToro is to enter the amount of money that you wish to risk on your chosen cryptocurrency.
First, this needs to be stated in US dollars – which isn’t an issue as your deposit was converted to USD at the point of the transaction.
Second, you can invest any amount from just $10 – regardless of how much the digital token is trading for. In our example above, we are looking to invest $50 into Bitcoin. To complete your crypto investment at eToro – click on the Open Trade’ button.
By reading this in-depth guide from start to finish – you now know how to choose the best crypto exchange for your trading goals. To recap, the key metrics to focus on include regulation, fees, payments, user-friendliness, and more. Ultimately, we found that eToro is the overall best crypto exchange in the UK.
The eToro platform is regulated by the FCA, and you only need $10 to get started with your first crypto purchase. Moreover, you can open an account in less than five minutes and instant debit card payments are supported.
Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No UK or EU investor protection.
You can buy crypto in the UK from an online exchange or broker that is regulated by the FCA. If your favorite cryptocurrency is supported – be sure to check what fees apply to buy it. The best UK Bitcoin trading platforms offer low commissions.
The best crypto exchange in the UK right now is eToro – which is FCA-licensed. eToro offers low fees on crypto purchases and account minimums start at just $10.
If you’re looking to trade digital assets, eToro is home to over 40+ tokens that can be purchased on a spread-only basis.
As long as your chosen Bitcoin exchange is authorized and regulated by the FCA – you should feel confident that it is a legitimate provider.
We found that eToro is the overall cheapest crypto exchange – both in terms of deposits and trading fees. The former will cost you just 0.5% across all supported payment methods. And, trading fees are charged on a spread-only basis – from just 0.75%.
This article was written for Business 2 Community by Dassos Troullides.
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