Top 10 Crypto Trading Sites 2023
The act of speculating on cryptocurrency price fluctuations via a CFD trading account, or buying and selling the underlying coins via an exchange, is known as cryptocurrency trading.
Bitcoin investing is all the rage these days, but how does a novice get started?
Is it necessary to have Bitcoin in order to invest?
Or do you move funds from your bank account to a third party and then convert them to Bitcoin? So, how does that look?
We'll answer all of these questions and include a list of 10 famous Bitcoin investment websites.
We'll be using BTC, which is the symbol for Bitcoin on exchanges and trading platforms, going forward.
A crypto savings account is a good option if you only want to receive a quick return with crypto. These accounts pay up to 12%, but there are risks involved (just like regular crypto investing).
Top 10 Crypto Trading Sites
1. Coinbase
2. Gemini
3. BlockFi
4. Kraken
5. Robinhood
6. eToro
7. Bitcoin IRA
8. Crypto.com
9. Binance
10. Hodlnaut
How To Invest In Bitcoin
Investing in BTC is close to investing in stocks, except that the regular fluctuations in BTC make it much more unpredictable. The following steps to begin investing in stocks:
Open a brokerage account at a firm that allows crypto investments
- Deposit funds from your bank into the brokerage account.
- Buy a stock using deposited funds (cash balance).
- Later sell the stock for a gain or loss. Funds are returned to your cash balance.
The key difference with BTC is that instead of stock, you buy BTC or another cryptocurrency.
In most cases, the above flow applies to BTC, but it varies depending on the exchange or trading platform. You can buy BTC with your credit card or by withdrawing funds from your bank account in some situations.
You must pass BTC directly to other platforms. This is referred to as a BTC direct deposit.
We'll go over how US people can invest in Bitcoin. Because of variations in laws and regulations, the approaches differ from country to country. To check your legitimacy, some countries need more personal details than others.
How To Deposit USD To Buy Bitcoin And Crypto
Coinbase is one of the most common websites, and the process is easy. This process will be followed by some of the websites mentioned below. We like Coinbase because you get $5 just for signing up.
You sign up for a Coinbase account and then add your bank account or credit card to it. Then either move funds from your bank account or use your credit card to buy BTC. BTC transactions made with a credit card are the most costly.
The process of buying BTC entails entering either a USD or a BTC number. After that, the website will convert the other currency.
If you enter 500 USD, for example, the website will fill in the BTC side with 0.0357. (or what ever the current BTC exchange rate is).
Click to buy your BTC once you've filled in the number. Although credit card purchases are the most expensive, they are also the quickest to complete.
It can take up to a few days for a bank account to be opened. Keep in mind that the exchange rate at the time you bought BTC would apply.
You'll miss out on the increase if BTC rises to 1000 by the time your transaction is completed three days later.
What happens to the BTC you've purchased? After all, you haven't put any money into it yet. Your bitcoins are stored in a digital wallet. Almost every exchange has its own wallet that you can use to store your BTC.
Top 10 Most Popular Crypto Investing Sites
Here is our list of the 10 most popular Bitcoin and Crypto sites.
1. Coinbase
As previously mentioned, Coinbase is by far the most common because it allows you to invest directly in US dollars. On the website, you can buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin, as well as more than 30 other coins and tokens. You can also gain interest on your USDT and token incentives by participating in different activities.
Plus, you'll get a $5 bonus when you sign up for a Coinbase account!
What Do They Offer?
The success of Coinbase stems from the fact that it has one of the simplest and quickest purchasing methods. It also helps that they are a licensed corporation in the United States.
Since Coinbase is based in the United States, residents of the United States would not be required to file IRS Form FBAR (Report of International Bank and Financial Accounts) for foreign accounts worth more than $10,000.
You can exchange Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin on the Coinbase platform without first converting your base currency into another cryptocurrency.
Is My Money Safe?
Cryptocurrency exchanges are a popular target for cybercriminals. Coinbase, on the other hand, takes pride in being one of the few exchanges that has never been hacked. They also claim to keep less than 2% of their customers' funds online.
In the event that Coinbase's physical or cyber protection is breached, the company has an insurance scheme in place to cover any damages. In addition, FDIC insurance covers your USD wallet up to $250,000.However, none of these forms of insurance will cover damages caused by a breach of your own Coinbase account, which is why it's important to use a secure password and limit access to your login credentials.
When logging into your Coinbase account and depositing/withdrawing money, you can use 2-step verification. Its Universal 2nd Factor (U2F) uses a security key or a Time-based One Time Password (TOTP) to authenticate users using a smartphone authenticator app like Duo or Google Authenticator.
Coinbase is a custodial operation, so keep that in mind. This assumes you don't have easy access to your funds or the private keys that go with them. Remember that Coinbase can and has frozen user accounts without warning, but this has only occurred in extreme circumstances.
2. Gemini
Because of its focus on security and transparency, Gemini is a successful cryptocurrency investment platform. Unlike some exchanges that appear insecure, Gemini prioritizes customer security.
Gemini is one of the few exchanges that provides FDIC-insured deposits in US dollars. They now accept DOGE as well.
Plus, if you deposit $100 and open a Gemini account, you'll get a $10 bonus!
What Do They Offer?
Gemini has over 20 cryptocurrencies, including its own Gemini dollars currency (GUSD). Gemini allows you to exchange and store cryptocurrencies.
Gemini drives the Samsung Blockchain thanks to a collaboration with Samsung. Customers in the United States and Canada can exchange currencies by connecting their Samsung Blockchain Wallet to the Gemini app.
Is My Money Safe?
Gemini has never been hacked in its entire life. USD in your Gemini account is FDIC insured, much like Coinbase.
Gemini began with a "security-first" mindset. They use protection and enforcement by adhering to SOC 1 Type 1, SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 standards. When you open an account, you must be willing to give up some of your personal information, such as your email address, bank account information, phone number, and some sort of identification.
3. BlockFi
BlockFi is a cryptocurrency investment network that allows you to lend your cryptocurrency and gain interest in it. You may also borrow against your holdings rather than selling your coins and tokens.
If you just want to keep your tokens, you can let them earn interest on their own.
Bonus Offer: Get a bonus of up to $250 when you deposit $25 and keep it for the agreed amount of time.
What Do They Offer?
BlockFi helps you to earn interest on your cryptocurrency while also allowing you to borrow money in US dollars. BlockFi also allows you to exchange cryptocurrencies. They currently only trade a small number of cryptocurrencies, including BTC, ETH, LTC, USDC, and GUSD.
Is My Money Safe?
Money held in a BlockFi account is not as secure as money held in a bank account. The FDIC or SIPC insure neither BlockFi nor its custodian, Gemini.
Gemini, on the other hand, takes precautions to safeguard your funds. The bulk of funds are kept in cold storage as part of these steps (i.e., offline).In the event of a loss, BlockFi claims that its client assets are prioritized above any equity or employee funds.
Gemini is a registered depository trust and a New York trust firm controlled by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYSDFS). Gemini is also SOC 2 Type 1 compliant in terms of compliance.
4. Kraken
Kraken is one of the first cryptocurrency exchange sites, with a wide range of coins and tokens to trade and invest in. They also allow you to trade on margin. It is, however, a real exchange that is not as user-friendly as some of the top sites on this list.
Kraken is one of the few platforms on this list that lets you trade DOGE and other riskier tokens.
Notice that US customers have access to a smaller selection of coins and tokens than foreign customers.
What Do They Offer?
Kraken lets you convert fiat currencies like the US dollar, Canadian dollar, Euro, and British pound into cryptocurrency. You can also trade your cryptocurrency for another. Kraken offers over 50 cryptocurrencies for purchase or exchange using fiat currency.
Ocean Protocol (OCEAN) and Energy Web Token are two new cryptocurrencies that have recently been introduced to the Kraken network (EWT). As of March 3, 2021, both currencies can be deposited and exchanged. It should be noted, however, that citizens of the United States and Canada are currently unable to exchange EWT.
Is My Money Safe?
Kraken has never been compromised and is regarded as a trustworthy cryptocurrency exchange. However, it's still a good idea to switch your cryptocurrency to an off-site wallet.
Kraken offers its users different levels of security. For trading and funding, it employs Google Authenticator 2FA. A Masterkey (Yubikey recommended) level of protection is also available. If you misplace your phone or Yubikey, Masterkey will help.
Note: During our research, both the Yukikey and Authenticator apps had problems with Kraken's two-factor scheme. With these methods, you risk being locked out of your account, which is a major problem. Kraken should be able to fix it, but be warned.
Only after the above three levels have been set is Global Settings Lock (GSL) open. If your username is compromised, GSL prevents you from changing your Funding 2FA or Trading 2FA.
5. Robinhood
On their website, Robinhood provides free crypto trades. They're just in a few states right now, and they're just using Bitcoin and Ethereum, however they hope to grow rapidly. There are some restrictions, but it's completely free!
Plus, when you sign up for a Robinhood account, you'll get a free stock share!
What Do They Offer?
- Commission-free investing for stocks, ETFs, and options
- Commission-free limited cryptocurrency trading
- Fractional Share Investing
- They offer a premium subscription called Robinhood Gold that offers low-priced margin trading
- Robinhood Cash Management - which is a cash management account with a debit card
How They Make Money
When I see an organization promising anything for free, I'm still wary. This is not a non-profit organization. It has venture capital backing and plans to go public and make people wealthy. But they need to make money in order to do so, so how do they do it?
There are two versions available. They offer your details to third-party firms, for starters. This is a significant source of income for them, but it may result in individual investors losing money on trades.
Second, they have their Robinhood Gold account, for which you must pay a monthly fee to gain access to features such as margin trading.
These don't really matter to a long-term investor. A long-term buy-and-hold investor shouldn't be affected by paying $0.01 more per share (potentially). This could be expensive if you're a trader (which Robinhood's platform isn't designed for).
6. eToro
eToro has been around for a while in the United Kingdom and Europe, but it is now open to traders in the United States. They have a large selection of digital assets to buy and sell on their website, and they even have a practice trading account so you can check it out before investing real money.
eToro is currently providing a $50 bonus to new customers who sign up and trade $1,000 in cryptocurrency before May 15, 2021.
What Do They Offer?
Please note that we will only be evaluating eToro for customers in the United States. Non-US consumers have access to more trading instruments, such as stocks, indexes, and CFDs.
On eToro, US customers can only trade cryptocurrencies. eToro has a large selection of cryptocurrencies.
You must check your account before you can use eToro. Uploading proof of identity (POI) and proof of address is needed for verification (POA). You can upload documents using the eToro mobile app.
Is My Money Safe?
The funds you deposit with eToro are not covered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). However, eToro's website and mobile app are both secure. Users who want to add an extra layer of protection to their accounts should opt for two-factor authentication.
7. Bitcoin IRA
Bitcoin IRA isn't like the other platforms on this list. Unlike other exchanges and wallets, you're essentially trading money and must pay taxes on your profits (learn how taxes on your cryptocurrencies work here).
As a result, Bitcoin IRA blends the best of all worlds: a crypto wallet and trade, as well as an IRA. This ensures that any gains you make inside the portfolio are either tax-free or tax-deferred.
What Do They Offer?
Bitcoin IRA is a one-stop shop for trading cryptocurrencies from your retirement account. The firm is a full-service, self-directed IRA provider, as opposed to the several other firms that provide similar services but require you to put together many bits.
Bitcoin IRA provides its customers with the following:
- Transfer of an existing IRA to Bitcoin IRA
- 24/7 cryptocurrency trading
- Custody
- Reporting — performance and financial statements
Is My Money Safe?
BitGo Trust is the custodian for Bitcoin IRA. BitGo Trust is the world's largest Bitcoin transaction processor. Furthermore, all properties held by BitGo Trust are covered up to $100 million. Assets are also held offline in bank-grade class 3 vaults using 100% cold storage technology. SOC 2, Type 2 is the ranking for BitGo Trust storage.
8. Crypto.com
Crypto.com is one of the most famous and rapidly expanding cryptocurrency exchanges. It's headquartered in Hong Kong, but it provides a lot of service to consumers in the United States.
Right now, you can choose from over 90 tokens and coins around the world, as well as 50 tokens and coins in the United States. In addition, their crypto savings accounts have competitive rates.
What Do They Offer?
People can buy/sell, exchange, and gain interest on their cryptocurrencies on Crypto.com. Crypto.com is only available as a mobile app. There is no connection to a computer. The following are some of the platform's most prominent features:
- Buy and sell crypto
- Send funds to other crypto.com users
- Included crypto wallet
- Staking platform — earn interest
- Visa card
Is My Money Safe?
Crypto.com takes precautions to safeguard the assets and cryptocurrency. It is not, however, FDIC or SIPC insured. Crypto.com is also not based in the United States. It's based in Hong Kong, which has its own set of rules. There is also no contact information, such as a phone number or a mailing address.
9. Binance
A fantastic way to get started with cryptocurrencies like Cardano or Neo. While not as user-friendly as some of the other platforms on this list, they do offer one of the most comprehensive trading platforms available. They do have a good smartphone app, but it's not as easy to use as the desktop version, and we've been disappointed with it.
Notice that compared to the foreign edition of Binance, Binance.us has a smaller selection of coins and tokens to invest in.
What Do They Offer?
Users can exchange, purchase, and store cryptocurrency on Binance. Individuals can choose between basic and advanced trading services. It also has a volume-based fee system for institutional trading.
Binance provides its US customers staking (with annual incentives ranging from 0.5 percent to ten percent) and mining pools in addition to crypto trading.
Is The Platform Secure?
In May of this year, the global Binance website was hacked. Hackers made off with 7,000 Bitcoins, which were worth $40 million at the time. Binance said that all of its customers had been made whole. It's worth noting that the American site has never been compromised.
Binance, like other cryptocurrency exchanges, is not insured by the FDIC or SIPC. It does, however, have SAFU, an emergency asset fund that compensates users if the exchange's funds are stolen. SAFU is supported by a ten percent cut of all network trading fees. SAFU funds are held in a separate cold wallet.
10. Hodlnaut
Hodlnaut stands out as a cryptocurrency lending network that allows you to gain a high rate of interest on your crypto holdings. It doesn't support as many tokens as some of the others on this list, but it pays out at some of the highest rates when compared to the others. Additionally, they provide digital asset loans through their website.
What Do They Offer?
On cryptocurrency deposits, Hodlnaut pays interest. These funds are used to provide margin to cryptocurrency traders. Cryptocurrency loans are a form of loan/margin. Hodlnaut accepts and pays interest on the following deposits:
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Dai (DAI)
- USD Coin (USDC)
- Tether (USDT)
There is no provision for a minimum deposit, and funds can be withdrawn at any time.
Is My Money Safe?
Hodlnaut is a Singaporean fintech firm that adheres to the country's financial regulations. Deposit accounts in the United States are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). With Hodlnaut deposits, there is no such defense (or SIPC protection either). However, keep in mind that no cryptocurrency accounts provide this service.
Holdnaut runs on AWS and all traffic is SSL-encrypted, so there's no platform security risk. Furthermore, all cryptocurrencies held in Hodlnaut's custody are kept in cold storage. It doesn't use any hot wallets at all. They also have a whitelisting function that ensures that only authorized addresses are used for withdrawals.
Users can buy additional insurance from Nexus Mutual to reduce their chance of being hacked. Holdnaut, unfortunately, would not account for this insurance coverage. The coverage limit is $6.7 million, and the premium is 2.6 percent if you buy insurance through Nexus Mutual's Hodlnaut Custody Cover smart contract.
Final Thoughts
Investing in Bitcoin is similar to investing in stocks. To use BTC, you must first open an account with a cryptocurrency exchange. When it comes to stocks, you need to open an account with a brokerage firm. Then you make a deposit.
The only difference between investing in BTC and trading it is that you must first buy BTC with deposited funds before you can sell it. Your initial purchase of BTC is, however, your first trade.