It is only a matter time before cryptocurrency becomes mainstream and is recognized everywhere. As such, marketplaces where people can buy, sell, exchange and trade digital assets have become crucial places.
To address this market demand, cryptocurrency exchanges were created.
By definition, a cryptocurrency exchange is an online marketplace where users can exchange one kind of digital asset for another. These exchanges will be based on the market value of the given assets.
In the real world, banks are financial institutions that are licensed to receive deposits, transfer funds, and store money for their clients. The banks regulate money. They are the only legal institution that can offer customers the ability to exchange fiat currencies for another.
Stock brokers can trade securities and stocks on a stock exchange. Stocks can only be bought or sold only if they are listed on an exchange. As such, stock exchanges are basically marketplaces where stock buyers and sellers do their business.
In the digital world, cryptocurrency exchanges provide similar services to banks and Stock exchanges.
Still, as with there are people who still treat cryptocurrencies with trepidations and agitations. For some people, cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency exchanges are treated as borderline illegal online marketplaces.
They believe that these places can facilitate the trade of unregistered securities. They believe that crypto exchanges can be places where suspicious people can launder money and have limited AML/KYC to evade the law.
Of course, some of these claims are not entirely unfounded. Just as with dealing with cryptocurrencies in general, using cryptocurrency exchanges come with its own inherent risks.
For example, there is a good chance that law enforcement may shut down an exchange. These exchanges may not be able return your money if they are shut down by law enforcement because they operate in grey areas.
There is also the possibility of your funds getting locked in the exchange, leaving you with no way of withdrawing or even selling your cryptocurrency and other digital assets. This can happen especially when the cryptocurrency exchange you are using has been seized by law enforcement or is under investigation by the proper authorities.
Lastly, there is a very big possibility of you losing your money from speculating cryptocurrency and then having the rug pulled under you by the founders or founding team of these exchanges. This is especially true if these founders are scammers or hustlers who excel at what they do.
Remember, when working with cryptocurrency and anything related to them, everything is always a gamble. Always be cautious. As with gambling, there is a greater chance of losing than winning. High-risk, high-reward.
If you prefer to see the experience in a more visual way, Mark Farfan’s YouTube video review is for you. To get a comprehensive overview of Binance, you may still want to check out our article below, which compares it to some competitors.
Binance Exchange Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
Binance Overview
Binance is the most popular cryptocurrency exchange in the entire world. It offers the largest number of trading pairs and has the highest trading volume among all crypto exchange services.
Binance was founded in 2017 by Chinese-Canadian entrepreneur and business executive Changpeng Zhao. The company was initially based in China, but with the growing crypto restriction on crypto in the country, it was moved to Japan and soon to Malta.
Back then, the company had no place to call home.
However, there is current news that the company was headed to Malta, where it is said to be currently based. Binance is available in most countries, with the exception of the United States where Binance.US was created.
Binance’s popularity with its user base is because of its low fees, a large number of available cryptocurrencies, as well as its innovative products. Binance has many products that are based upon cryptocurrency.
Some of these products/services include the chance to earn, exchange, stake, derive, and NFTs. You can even get loans, do payments, and even avail of credit cards from the service.
Cryptos Under Binance
Binance also has its own set of tokens and cryptocurrencies. There are actually two.
The first one is called BUSD. It is a stablecoin fiat-backed issued by Binance and Paxos. Each token of this stablecoin is backed 1:1 with US dollars in reserve. BUSD was created by the company to offer a stable alternative to the volatile digital asset market.
The second is called BNB. Formerly called Binance Coin, it was launched in 2017 through an initial coin offering (ICO) as an asset for users when Binance was still in its infancy. It was originally an ERC-20 standard token that was built on the Ethereum blockchain.
It is currently a native token in Binance, where it powers operations. It is used to pay listing, exchange, trading fees, and other expenses users incur on the platform.
Binance Perks
- Low Fees
This is the main reason Binance is the largest crypto exchange platform worldwide. Binance trades can be done for free. The platform charges a maker/taker fee. The trading volume and Binance Coin balance will determine the fees.
Despite this, fees are still charged by the platform for certain services, including withdrawals and payment types.
- Large Crypto Selection
The number of cryptocurrencies on the market will determine how good a crypto exchange platform is. Binance is the largest crypto exchange platform. This means that it has a lot of digital currencies.
Decentralized finance tokens (DeFi) are also available.
Some of the available currencies include:
- Binance Coins (BNB)
- VeChain (VET)
- VeThor (VTHO)
- Harmon (ONE)
- Matic Network (MATIC)
- Dogecoin (DOGE)
- Litecoin (LTC)
- Cosmos (ATOM)
- Cardano (ADA)
And many more.
- Multiple ways to Earn
Binance is a platform that allows users to make more money from their crypto assets. Customers can earn income by adding liquidity to token pairs. You can also try on some staking options available on the platform.
That said, most of these opportunities carry great risk, so it is up to users to discern and weigh these risks. That said, trading and dealing with crypto is already risky in itself.
- Advanced trading tools
Lastly, Binance would not be called a crypto exchange platform if it were without trading tools.
Binance has advanced trading tools that allow users to customize trading options easily. It is easier to place limit orders to buy or sell crypto at a certain price.
Then there are charting tools that can be very useful for veteran traders making decisions. There are even features that allow users to sell leveraged tokens and make trade easier.
Binance Trading Experience
The overall trading experience with Binance is pretty good. You can trade with Binance using a variety of trading tools, which allow for faster and more efficient transactions. Some even have real-time charting tools with moving averages which makes everything convenient and accessible.
When trading, you do not need to be stuck to your computer. Rather, you can use Binance however you want. It’s possible to do this through the Binance App or the Binance website.
Traders will not need to use multiple platforms or other tools to keep track of their portfolios as the platform already does it for them. Even those who want to keep track of their trades will only need to access their trade history, which is also available on the exchange platform.
Even how they view their trading can be customized. This makes it easier to understand data. In fact, users can choose how they prefer these data to be presented, which makes it easier to pinpoint the more important ones.
Binance Trading Fees
Binance fees are based on customers’ trading history, and the trading volume over the last 30 days. Another thing that will matter is the amount of BNB the user has.
The fees you pay will depend on whether you are a taker or a maker. Takers, who remove liquidity orders from a market, tend to get higher fees than makers (those who add liquidity to it).
As Binance has its own native currency, the platform encourages using its payment for transactions. You get 25% off your trading fees when you use BNB to make trades. Binance also offers 0% trading on selected Bitcoin and Binance USD (BUSD) pairs.
The chart below can be used as a quick reference for Binance’s fees.
| VIP | 30-Day Trade Volume (BUSD) | Maker/Taker |
| 0 | Below 1,000,000 | 0.10%/0.10% |
| 1 | 1,000,000 to 4,999,999 and at least 25 BNB | 0.09%/0.10% |
| 2 | 5,000,000 to 19,999,999 and at least 100 BNB | 0.08% / 0.10% |
| 3 | 20,000,000 to 119,999,999 and at least 250 BNB | 0.07% / 0.10% |
| 4 | 120,000,000 to 199,999,999 and at least 500 BNB | 0.07% / 0.09% |
| 5 | Between 200,000,000 and 499,999.999,999 with at least 1,000 BNB | 0.06% / 0.08% |
| 6 | 500,000,000 to 999,999,999 and at least 1,750 BNB | 0.05% / 0.07% |
| 7 | 1,000,000,000 to 2,499,999,999 and at least 3,000 BNB | 0.04% / 0.06% |
| 8 | 2,500,000,000 to 4,999,999,999 and at least 4,500 BNB | 0.03% / 0.05% |
| 9 | More than 5,000,000,000 and at least 5,500 BNB | 0.02% / 0.04% |
Binance Issues
Binance is a crypto-currency company that has many problems and controversy, despite being the most prominent.
The year 2019 was a terrible year for the exchange platform.
Binance was the victim of a large-scale security breach on May 7, 2019. It was discovered that hackers stole 7,000 Bitcoins worth $40 million. That said, the site reimbursed customers through its “Secure Asset Fund for Users(SAFU).
It wasn’t as bad as 2021. In fact, saying that Binance had a rough year in 2021 is an understatement.
The United States Department of Justice and Internal Revenue Service, on allegations of money laundering and tax offenses, investigated the company.
It also had to cancel the planned launch of its own digital asset marketplace in Britain. Their application did not meet anti-money laundering requirements.
It was again in trouble the next year when it was revealed that Binance had shared client data with Russia. These said data included names and addresses of users in a bid to fight crime.
Then in October of the same year, it suffered another hack on its network. The company had to temporarily suspend transactions and fund transfers after detecting an exploit between two blockchains. As soon as the issue was discovered, it was resolved.
However, about $100m in funds remained unrecovered from a total of $570m that was stolen.
Binance Pros & Cons
Pros
- Low fees
- Easy Access to Passive Income Opportunities
- Large Selection of Cryptocurrencies
- Trading tools that are sophisticated
- Multiple ways of Depositing Money
- Flexible Trading Options and Order Types
Cons
- Non-beginner friendly. For beginners, many features can be difficult to access and use.
- Regulation issues with many countries, including major ones such as the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom.
- Not available in the United States because of regulatory issues. The US-specific service Binance U.S., which is a limited version of the service, is not available in all states.
- There is no built-in digital wallet
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Binance Versus Coinbase
There are two cryptocurrency platforms that can be used, and they have different approaches. Coinbase and Binance are the best examples.
The one is an American-based exchange and is suitable for beginners. It has a simple interface with limited transaction types and is best suited for veterans.
The crux of the difference between Coinbase and Binance is who their main audience is and how they cater to these people.
Coinbase Overview
Coinbase, also known as Coinbase Global, Inc, a publicly traded American company that acts as a cryptocurrency exchange platform. It is a distributed company, and as such, all people employed by the platform operate via remote work.
The company doesn’t have a physical headquarters. The company used to have its headquarters in San Francisco. However, this palace was demolished and the company moved to remote-first.
Coinbase was founded in June 2012 by Brian Armstrong, a former Airbnb engineer. He started coinbase by enrolling in the Y Combinator startup incubator program, where he received a $150,000 cash infusion.
After seeing Armstrong’s Reddit post, Fred Ehrsam became his co-founder. This was back when bitcoin was worth only $6 and only known by ” a few nerds on the internet” (Ehrsam’s words, not mine).
The two guys believed that bitcoin was a crazy idea that would revolutionize money and finance. They both shared a confident view that bitcoin will be very big. As such, they wanted to bring crypto to the mainstream and make it easy to use. This was the impetus behind Coinbase.
While Coinbase now sits among the pantheon as the biggest crypto exchange in the United States and one of the biggest worldwide, its beginnings were not glamorous. In truth, Coinbase launched out of a two-bedroom apartment that was shared with another company. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
Cryptos Under Coinbase
Coinbase doesn’t have any original coins or cryptocurrency. That said, the platform does support over 100 cryptocurrencies. They also regularly add more cryptocurrencies as the need arises.
As such, here is a glimpse of the different cryptocurrencies coinbase has to offer:
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Cardano (ADA)
- Solana (SOL)
- Polkadot (DOT)
- USD Coin (USDC)
- Dogecoin (DOGE)
- Uniswap
- Litecoin (LTC)
- Shiba Inu (SHIB)
- Algorand (ALGO)
- Stellar Lumens (XLM)
- Polygon (MATIC)
- DAI (DAI)
- SushiSwap: SushiSwap (SUSHI)
Coinbase Perks
- A wide selection of cryptocurrency
There is a reason why coinbase is the biggest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States. The market offers a wide range of cryptocurrencies.
From a Bitcoin (BTC) focused exchange. Coinbase now offers over 150 different cryptocurrency types. In fact, you can trade currencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and other major coins for smaller and newer digital tokens.
In fact, few cryptocurrency exchanges could compete with Coinbase in terms of selection in the U.S. Market.
- Simple and advanced trading
Coinbase offers two trading tools to make it easier for users to access their accounts. You can choose from a simple or advanced trade option.
The simple trading option features a straightforward design that is easy to use, especially for beginners. The only downside of this option is that it takes higher fees, which might be counterintuitive to crypto investing’s philosophy of keeping fees to a minimum.
Meanwhile, advanced trading offers more features, such as charts, a live order book, and even the ability to limit orders. While this option has lower fees, the trade-off is that it is less intuitive, more complex, and intimidating to new users.
With that said, placing your trades in advanced trading is highly advisable just to maintain low fees.
- Get Free Crypto
Coinbase offers a cool feature to help customers earn more cryptocurrency. Coinbase Earn allows users to earn crypto for learning more.
Users are encouraged to read more about crypto through educational modules, and when one has completed one module, coinbase allows them to earn more.
While the feature does not give much, it still doesn’t hurt. Even a few crypto bits can be a blessing in this economy. Besides, whoever declines free money is always a fool. Even if that amount is
- Educational Content
Coinbase’s library is an educational resource, as we have already mentioned. These resources range form the basics of crypto, tips, and tutorials to more complex stuff and even market updates. Coinbase is the best platform to start investing in crypto.
- Mobile App
Coinbase up its accessibility factor by allowing users to access their accounts with a mobile app. Their mobile app, which is similar to the web platform, allows users to manage, buy, and sell cryptocurrency.
This Coinbase App is not just something that is not some garbage or bloatware. It is legit and has high ratings on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
- Crypto Rewards
You can earn interest on many cryptocurrencies through your Coinbase Account. This is because Coinbase pays interest on specific stables, like USD Coin (USDC), automatically.
This allows you to stake certain cryptocurrencies like Solana (SOL) and Ethereum (ETH).
Staking is how many cryptocurrencies verify their transactions and allows participants to earn rewards on their holdings. You commit your crypto assets to support a blockchain network and confirm transactions when staking in cryptocurrencies. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
You will receive certain rewards for staking cryptos. Of course, not all cryptos are eligible for this. It depends on where you live and the cryptocurrency.
- Coinbase Debit card
Aside from trading, Coinbase allows users to access and spend their hard-earned wealth using the Coinbase card.
If you have a Coinbase account, you can apply for a Coinbase card, a prepaid Visa debit card linked to your Coinbase account balance. It allows you to spend cryptocurrency to purchase certain services, especially those that accept Bitcoin or other crypto payments.
You can also use the Coinbase card to earn crypto rewards. This rewards program allows you to choose the crypto that you want from a rotating list.
Coinbase Trading Experience
If Binance provides low fees and more advanced training tools, Coinbase is geared towards a more different type of user. Coinbase targets people just starting their crypto journey.
The platform offers tools that allow investors new to crypto trading a fast, easy, and secure way to trade. This is linked to their original goal of “making Bitcoin easier to use.”
They are determined to realize this vision and allow users to earn cryptocurrency by watching tutorial videos that are geared towards beginners.
This doesn’t mean veteran traders only have beginner tools to play with. For that, Coinbase offers Coinbase Pro. This platform is designed for experienced traders. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
Coinbase Pro is different because it was designed for professional traders. It gives them more tools that allow for greater customization of their trades. Examples include the ability to choose among several order types, such as stop or limit order and margin order.
You can also view real-time charts, trade history and order books, as well as price charts. This will allow them to make better decisions about how they move their positions or trades.
Although it states pro on the can, that doesn’t necessarily mean users will need to pay a fee for Coinbase Pro. There is no such fee. Anyone can access the pro version of Coinbase by creating an account.
Coinbase Trading Fees
The thing with Coinbase is that they do not give away their pricing and fees. Their entire fee schedule was removed from the online help section. However, you won’t have to pay all fees at once. You will still be able to see the cost of entering a trade so that you are aware of what you will have to pay.
This is where coinbase falls short of the rest. Its fee structure can be too complex and a little hard for the mind to wrap around. The fee structure is based on three factors that can be confusing:
- Coinbase charges a spread on cryptocurrency sales and purchases. The spread is significant because rates can fluctuate depending on market conditions.
- Coinbase claims fees are also based on factors such as the selected payment method, market conditions (volatility and liquidity), and even the order size.
- Coinbase charges fees for transactions executed on external blockchain networks that support cryptocurrencies. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
That said, Coinbase Pro’s pricing model is more straightforward. It is based on the customer’s monthly trading volume and liquidity of the asset at the time of purchase. Also, Coinbase pro users are required to make deposits and withdrawals through a bank account.
Below is a chart that shows you the fees you can expect from the main coinbase platform.
| Trade Size | Coinbase Fee |
| $10 or less | $0.99 |
| $10 to $25 | $1.49 |
| $25 to $50 | $1.99 |
| From $50 to $200 | $2.99 |
Trades over $200 are subject to a percentage-based fee instead of a flat fee.
The chart below gives an overview of Coinbase Pro’s fees.
| Pricing Tier | Taker Fee | Maker Fee |
| Get up to $10K | 0.60% | 0.40% |
| $10K – $50K | 0.40% | 0.25% |
| $50K – $100K | 0.25% | 0.15% |
| $100K – $1M | 0.20% | 0.10% |
| $1M – $15M | 0.18% | 0.08% |
| $15M – $75M | 0.16% | 0.06% |
| $75M – $250M | 0.12% | 0.03% |
| $250M – $400M | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| $400M+ | 0.05% | 0.00% |
Coinbase Issues
There is a good chance that cryptocurrency will be a legal issue because it is still a new area of technology.
Coinbase acknowledged that customers were being charged more for cryptocurrencies they purchased with debit and credit cards than they originally intended. This was due to problems that started when banks and card issuers charged the merchant category code (MCC) of crypto purchases earlier that month.
The issue stemmed from the fact that crypto payments were categorized as “cash advances” and that banks and credit card issuers could begin charging cash advance fees for these purchases.
In a Financial Times article, Visa, the credit card company, blamed Coinbase at first. However, it later rescinded those statements and clarified on the Coinbase blog that the “issue was not caused by Coinbase”
Coinbase received more customer complaints than ever in 2018, with an increase of over 100%. These complaints were mostly referred to as “money not available when promised.” Coinbase solved the problem by increasing customer service staff to decrease wait times.
Coinbase was also involved in the first-ever case of insider trading regarding cryptocurrency. A former product manager of the company as he shared information about certain tokens listed by the company. The company provided prosecutors with the right information for an internal investigation.
Pros and cons of Coinbase
Pros
- Easy to use and very friendly for those just starting in cryptocurrency
- Supports a large number of cryptocurrencies
- Provides opportunities to earn cryptocurrency while, at the same time, learning about them.
- Offers simple and advanced trading depending on user preference
- Offers coinbase debit card, which allows for easy withdrawing of funds Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
Cons
- Complex and convoluted fee structure that is also not transparent
- High fees on some transactions
- Limited staking and interest opportunities.
- There are a bunch of altcoins missing from their selection
- Problems with customer service
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Binance or Kraken?
Both Binance and Kraken are giants of the cryptocurrency world, with both platforms amassing millions of users. It might seem that there is a big gap between these two platforms if we compare their ranks (Binance at the top and Kraken at the bottom), but there are more to it.
For example, US-based Binance users are severely hampered by the fact that they can only access Binance’s U.S. platform (Binance.US.) Kraken, however, is readily available in the country.
These two platforms share many similarities, including both offering advanced trading options and low fees as well as mobile apps. Their target audiences are the same as they are geared towards seasoned or even veteran and advanced cryptocurrency traders.
Customers will ultimately decide which platform they prefer by choosing the most important features. Binance will be the one to choose with their lower fees, large selection of coins and extra way of managing funds. Kraken or Binance with their high security standards that won them a Wyoming bank charter approval in 2021. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
Kraken Overview
Kraken is a fully functional crypto exchange characterized by its low fees and a good selection of tokens, coins, and cryptocurrencies. This platform is unique in that it offers advanced trading tools such as margin.
Kraken’s primary goal is to be the most secure and reliable crypto trading platform. In fact, users and traders have praised Kraken for being one of the only crypto exchanges that “has been probably the only exchange that hasn’t been involved in some kind of shady activity against its users…that doesn’t indulge in questionable corporate policies,”
Jesse Powell, Kraken’s founder and former CEO, tweeted that the November 2022 FTX Controversy was a “”…Happy life, pay a fee for matching trades” A balance sheet is mostly Bitcoin and some ETH.”
Kraken was co-founded in 2011 by the aforementioned Jesse Powell, who was an alumnus of California State University, Sacramento, with Thanh Luu. However, it was only launched in September 2013, offering Bitcoin, Litecoin, and euro trades. Further currencies and margin trading would follow.
Powell started working on Kraken to replace Mt.Gox (another bitcoin exchange, based in Shibuya Tokyo, Japan). Before its 2014 collapse due to failed security audits, Powell was a consultant to the exchange.
Kraken had also joined other US Bitcoin players to form the “Committee for the Establishment of the Digital Asset Transfer Authority” as the industry’s self-regulatory group. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
The year 2014 was very big for Kraken. The company received a Series A investment of $ 5,000,000 from Hummingbird Ventures in March 2014.
It was later listed on Bloomberg Terminal as one of the first bitcoin exchanges. It has since chosen to help with the investigation of Mt. Gox, CEO Powell’s former employer. Kraken was relied upon because of its proven operating history of not being breached by hackers.
In September 2020, Kraken became the first cryptocurrency exchange to hold a special purpose depository institution (SPDI) charter in the United States after Wyoming granted such a charter to the company.
Chief Executive Officer Powell resigned as CEO of the platform on September 21st, 2022. He said that he had spent more time on the product, the user experience and industry advocacy.
He was replaced as CEO by Dave Ripley.
Cryptos under Kraken
Kraken supports at least 110 cryptocurrencies. The most well-known and popular currencies are:
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Cardano (ADA)
- Dogecoin (DOGE)
- Litecoin (LTC)
- Polkadot (DOT)
- Polygon (MATIC)
- Ripple (XRP)
- Stellar Lumens (XLM)
- Solana (SOL)
- Sushi (SUSHI)
- Uniswap (UNI)
Aside from that, Kraken also supports some stablecoins which include Tether, USD Coin, as well as Dai. Kraken also has a limited currency exchange that is available in select territories. You can convert US dollars into Canadian dollars, Japanese Yuen and Swiss Francs. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
Kraken Perks
- Beefy Security
Kraken has been an integral part of the cryptocurrency market since its inception in 2011 and its launch in 2013. Its eyes were focused on security from its first day, and it never kept its eyes off it after all these years. In fact, it is the only cryptocurrency exchange that has not had any major hacking accounts.
As such, this United States-based exchange is the consistent leader in terms of security in the industry. Some in the industry associate Kraken with financial stability and physical security. This is a claim Kraken is too proud to make.
- A healthy range of available cryptocurrencies
Kraken offers trades on its platform with over 160 coins and seven fiat currency. It’s not the largest amount but it’s still quite healthy and comparable to the top crypto exchanges. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
This amount helps Kraken maintain high liquidity, making buying and selling at a fair price easier on the platform.
Kraken works using currency pairs, a one-to-one equivalency between two currencies. It is the price of the exchange rate between two currencies that are traded on FX markets.
In the case of Kraken, one currency pair would be using dollars to buy Bitcoin and vice versa. You will always swap one currency for the other if you use dollars to buy Bitcoin, and then Bitcoin to purchase Ethereum.
Kraken’s currencies cannot be exchanged for each other.
- Advanced trading features
Kraken is one of the few exchanges offering margin, stop orders, and crypto short sales. Kraken also has a dark pool where high-volume investors can trade without their names being known.
Kraken lets you leverage currency pairs up to 5x. Pro clients who are eligible can get up to $500,000 in margin. This does not remove the risk that margin trading inherently brings.
- Fees are reasonable.
Although it’s not the most expensive on the market, Kraken’s fees remain competitive and comparable to other exchanges. It is even cheaper than other exchanges.
There are no set trading fees, which will differ from exchange to exchange. One sure factor, though, is that your fees will depend on your monthly trade history. While we will talk about fees in depth in another segment, it is important to know that fees are higher when using the instant buy feature rather than the pro platform.
- Optional Strong Staking
Kraken offers a variety of stake options. You can stake in over 15 cryptos. They can earn between 0.25% and upwards of 20%.
Staking refers to the act of holding your coins in order to make a contribution to the security of a specific blockchain. It can be a great way to passively earn an income.
Kraken Trading Experience
Kraken users can choose between Kraken and Kraken Pro. Between these exchanges, Kraken Pro offers lower pricing. Anyone can access both platforms with a Kraken Account.
Kraken is a trading platform geared toward intermediate to veteran users in mind. However, beginners can still use the platform if they want. To learn the ropes, it is recommended that they begin with the Kraken central platform. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
Kraken allows verified accounts with linked bank accounts to purchase cryptocurrency quickly. From there, selling or converting your crypto into your account is just a simple process. Inside the website, orders are done using a straightforward form, which will mostly only take a few seconds.
Their system makes it easy to buy cryptocurrencies using your bank account balance. Your account doesn’t need to be funded first.
In terms of security, you can keep your Kraken account safe by enabling two-factor authentication (2FA). To log in to your account, you’ll need to have your device.
Kraken Pro, on the other hand is Kraken’s most advanced trading platform. It appears more complicated than the regular Kraken exchange. This makes Kraken Pro very intimidating, especially to trading newbies. However, it is worth learning. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
It includes more detail about assets, active charts and the ability to view open orders.
As stated above, Kraken also allows for lower fees. If you feel confident, you can trade the same trade with Kraken Pro. You will pay less but earn more in the end.
Kraken Fees
As stated above, Kraken’s fees are in the competitive middle. It is not the lowest on the market and it is not the highest. Other factors may affect the price of the fees you are about to pay.
Also, prices and fees will differ depending on your platform. Kraken Pro will always be cheaper than regular Kraken.
Fees for instant purchases are 1.5% for most cryptos and 0.9% for stablecoins that use the U.S. Dollar or another stablecoin.
There are also additional fees that depend on how you fund your purchases. These prices range from 0.5% for funding with a bank account. For a digital wallet, you can get a 25-Euro cents debit card, credit card or card at 3.75% plus 25 Eurocents. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
Kraken Pro’s pricing however is quite different. Generally, fees are lower than the main Kraken platform. Your fees will also be based on your total trading volume over the last 30 days. Another fee to remember is that most transactions are subject to a 0.26% taker fee or 0.16% maker fee.
Below is a chart showing their maker-taker fees for a volume of 30 days in US dollars.
| 30- Day Volume (USD) | Maker | Taker |
| $0 – $50,000 | 0.16% | 0.26% |
| $50,001 – $100,000 | 0.14% | 0.24% |
| $100,001 – $250,000 | 0.12% | 0.22% |
| $250,001 – $500,000 | 0.10% | 0.20% |
| $500,001 – $1,000,000 | 0.08% | 0.18% |
| $1,000,001 – $2,500,000 | 0.06% | 0.16% |
| $2,500,001 – $5,000,000 | 0.04% | 0.14% |
| $5,000,001 – $10,000,000 | 0.02% | 0.12% |
| $10,000,000+ | 0.00% | 0.10% |
Kraken Issues
Kraken has not had to deal with any issues other than disagreements about its work culture, which the company has worked on and is now ready to move on.
Kraken’s security record has been excellent and Kraken is the only major cryptocurrency exchange not to be hacked.
That said, Kraken has its fair share of issues regarding government regulations.
Kraken refused to cooperate with an investigation by New York Attorney General’s Office in April 2018 on questions about crypto exchanges’ measures to protect customers from market manipulation and money laundering.
Kraken’s main reason is that doing so would be bad for business.
Approximately a year after, the Office of Foreign Assets Control investigated the exchange for potential violation of sanction regimes by allowing trade for customers based in Iran. In late September 2021, Kraken was ordered to pay a fine to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for $1.25 million allowing unregistered margin trading.
Kraken Pros and Cons
Pros
- Advanced features such as margin trading and stakestaking are available.
- Excellent and reliable customer service
- Relatively low Bitcoin (BTC) withdrawal fees
- Offers a variety of educational materials.
- Most secure exchange in the market
- Simple user interface
Cons
- The Base Kraken platform is more expensive than Kraken Pro. Both modes can be accessed as long you have a Kraken account.
- Kraken only accepts a few fiat currencies
- Some users have complained about having their accounts hacked. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
- Not available in all U.S. States
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Binance versus crypto.com
Binance and Crypto.com have become some of the most popular cryptocurrency exchanges. Both provide a variety of features such as low fees and staking as well advanced trading. It does not necessarily mean that they are identical.
While one exchange is better than another, that doesn’t mean you should always choose the highest-ranking exchange just for numbers. Plenty of factors are at play for why one is ranked higher than the other.
It is better to look at both options before you choose the crypto exchange that appeals to your needs. Will you choose the more investor-friendly Binance with its wider selection of cryptocurrencies to invest in, or will you take Crypto.com’s side, which offers a more user-friendly experience and lower fees. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
Crypto.com Overview
Crypto.com was founded in Hong Kong back in 2018. It was originally called Monaco by founders Bobby Bao, Gary Or, Kris Marszalek, and Rafael Melo. When Crypto.com purchased the domain of Matt Blaze, a cryptography researcher, it became Crypto.com.
Domain sellers might sell the domain for a larger sum, with the domain being valued at between US$5 and 10 million.
As for the overall platform, Crypto.com does what most cryptocurrency exchanges does. It allows users to trade, invest, put a stake in some currency and much more.
You can also choose from over 250 currencies. There are reasonable fees and discounts for some customers, such as those who have large stakes in Crypto.com’s own coin, the Cronos (CRO).
Crypto.com’s main selling point and focus is in their exchange. They offer many crypto services, including their own crypto wallet and an NFT shop. Shopify has partnered with the company to accept cryptocurrency as a payment method.
Overall, we can consider Crypto.com as an all in one cryptocurrency platform that is perfect for investors and traders who want to do more than buy and hold. Crypto.com allows cryptocurrency to be used as currency.
Cryptos under Crypto.com
Crypto.com offers a wide selection of currencies. You can trade spot with more than 250 currencies, and you can also staking. The platform supports the following currencies:
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Cardano (ADA)
- Dogecoin (DOGE)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Polkadot (DOT)
- Litecoin (LTC)
- USD Coin (USDC)
- Chainlink (LINK)
- Polygon (MATIC)
- Cardano (ADA)
- Uniswap (UNI)
As mentioned above, Crypto.com also has its coin called Cronos (CRO). Having a significant stake in this coin rewards you with lower trading fees, higher stalking interest rates, and higher credit card rewards. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
Crypto.com Perks
- One-Stop Shop
Crypto.com is more than a trading platform. It allows you to buy and sell cryptocurrencies on the exchange and swap said cryptocurrencies with others through your DeFi wallet.
Crypto.com lets you spend your crypto with a prepaid Visa Card. Basically, Crypto.com puts weight on the currency part of cryptocurrency.
- Low Fees
Crypto.com’s low fees are comparable to many other sites.
There are many transactions on Crypto.com that don’t require fees. You can deposit your money via wire transfer or electronic bank to your account.
Crypto.com allows you to buy and sell cryptocurrency at the true price, which is why you should know that “what you see is what your get”.
That said, the platform does charge you a fee for crypto purchases made with a credit card or a debit card. As an added reminder, payments made with a credit card may also have an added charge of a cash advance fee when buying crypto
- Convert your Money Easily
While this is not a feature unique to Crypto.com, it bears being listed here. Users can convert fiat currencies to crypto with the Crypto.com app. Crypto.com only supports 20 fiat currencies.
These fiat currencies include USD, GBP, and EUR, among others. But, just because a fiat currency is listed on Crypto.com, does not necessarily mean it will be available for you to trade. Your country of residence will still be a big factor limiting your ability to trade in certain fiat currencies.
- Cashback Cards
One of the best perks you can get as a member of Crypto.com com is the availability of Visa Cards connected to your Crypto.com account and its crypto currency.
Crypto.com currently offers five types of prepaid Visa cards to its customers. These cards must be charged before they can be used fully.
Your CRO stake in the platform will determine which Card you can get.
The lowest available tier for those planning to access this card would be their Ruby Steel card, which also offers a 1% money back from your contribution. Of course, you will need to have at least a $400 stake to be able to avail of this.
For those with deeper pockets, Obsidian tier is available. This earns you 5% cash or crypto back, along with loads of extra bonuses. That said, you must have at least $400,000 worth of stake for CRO to qualify for this. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
Other cards available include Midnight Blue, Jade Green/ Royal Indigo, and the Frosted Rose Gold/ Icy White. All these cards have no annual fee and give you a set number of free ATM withdrawals and foreign transactions each month.
- Earn Interest
As a one-stop shop for everything crypto, Crypto.com isn’t just a place to buy coins and tokens. Crypto.com accounts can earn high interest rates. In fact, Crypto.com have some of the best high-yield savings accounts in the market.
You may have to keep a lot of cash in CRO to benefit from this perk, but the maximum interest you can earn is below 10%.
You can get a rate of interest depending on many factors, including the time you spend with your money, how much currency you have saved, and how much CRO you stake.
The app allows you to increase your interest rate in many ways. One of them includes Staking more than 4,000 CROs. You can even get more if your stake exceeds 40,000 CROs, but this may seem excessive.
You can also increase the interest rate if you deposit for a one-month term to three-month terms. Between these choices, depositing for one-month terms might be more flexible, but three-month term deposits yield better rates.
Lastly, investing in stablecoin also increases your interest rate. Stablecoins usually peg their values to an external reference. Some can even be tied to the U.S. Dollar. These stablecoins can help you earn more interest.
Stablecoins, being stable, are less likely to appreciate in value than normal cryptocurrencies. That also means they are also less likely to depreciate in value.
In the end, keeping your savings in crypto is still risky. Cryptocurrencies can be volatile and your savings could be cut if they fail.
- Gift cards and phone top ups
Crypto.com also offers phone top-ups and gift cards. Buy gift cards from popular brands to earn cash back benefits.
Crypto.com offers gift cards from popular brands covering different industries like hotels, general retail, games, airlines, education, and even entertainment from at least 41 countries. You can also find gift cards from the United Arab Emirates, Norway, Singapore and Spain.
Brands include Macy’s, Barnes & Noble, Airbnb, and many more.
How much CRO you stake and what kind of company you are will determine how much cashback you receive.
Crypto.com Trading Experience
Your trades with Crypto.com will largely revolve around the mobile app. This serves as the platform’s central hub. For those who have been trading stocks on their phone or tablet before, the experience will be easy and similar to what you would expect. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
This app shows the user their portfolio and lists of their most popular assets. It includes everything needed that Crypto.com says it offers. With it, you can trade currencies, earn through staking in crypto, make payments with cryptocurrency, and even sign up for a Crypto.com credit card.
Where would you pick up a trading application without its chart tools. The Crypto.com app shares a simple set of data which aims to not overwhelm or intimidate users. The charts just contain enough information needed for users to learn how the blockchain and the currency work, something they might need before buying.
In terms of fiat currencies, Crypto.com has a fair selection. The most popular are the Australian (AUD), Canadian (CAD), and the euro (EUR) dollars, as well as the British pound sterling and the U.S. Dollar (USD), which are all very popular. This allows users in multiple countries to purchase and get into crypto using their local currency.
Crypto.com Fees
When it comes to trading fees, Crypto.com is pretty competitive in its pricing. In fact, they are among those who offer the lowest trading fees in the market. Trade volume can be higher and qualify for lower fees, as low as 0.4% for makers or 0.1% for takers. This is even with no CRO.
Users who have at least 5,000 CRO in their bank account can get discounted trading fees. Higher stakes result in lower rates.
However, Crypto.com users who are newer than 25 000 USD will be charged 0.4% for trades that have a monthly volume less than $25,000.
Below is a table that shows fees for spot trades and margin trades for customers who have no CRO stake.
| 30-Day Spot Trading Volume (USD) | Maker | Taker |
| Less than 250,000 | 0.0750% | 0.750% |
| Greater than or equal to 250,000 | 0.0700% | 0.0720% |
| More than 1,000,000 or equal | 0.0650% | 0.0690% |
| More than 5,000,000 or equal to 5,000,000 | 0.0600% | 0.0650% |
| Greater than 10,000,000 or equal to 10,000,000 | 0% | 0.0500% |
The table below shows the maker and taker rates of those with less than 100 CRO (3% discount).
| 30 Day Spot Trading Volume (USD) | Maker | Taker |
| Below 250,000 | 0.0728% | 0.728% |
| Greater than or equal to 250,000 | 0.0679% | 0.0698% |
| More than 1,000,000 or equal | 0.0631% | 0.0669% |
| More than 5,000,000 or equal to 5,000,000 | 0.0582% | 0.0631% |
| Greater than 10,000,000 or equal to 10,000,000 | 0% | 0.0485% |
As said, the higher your CRO stakes are the bigger your discounts. Maker fees for those with stakes greater than or equal to 50,000 CRO become zero. People with even higher stakes may be eligible for rebates.
Crypto.com Issues
Crypto.com, like most cryptocurrency exchanges has its problems.
Crypto.com was the victim in a serious hacker attack on January 20, 2022. According to reports, the company had lost US$15 Million worth of Ether. This was after some users reported suspicious activity on their accounts. The company immediately halted withdrawals, which were then restored. The company reported that no customer funds were lost alongside the restoration of withdrawals.
Most of the problems with Crypto.com were due to the downturn of cryptocurrency in general. As such, Crypto.com had to let go of hundreds of employees, which started in May. In October 2022 alone, it was reported that the company had to lay off at least 30% to 40% of its staff.
In November of 2022, their exchange token Cronos (CRO) has lost approximately $1 billion in value. This was due in part to the collapse of FTX. Crypto.com CEO Marszalek reassured that the exchange was operating normally.
Crypto.com Pros and Cons
Pros
- Very low fees
- Provides lots of avenues for paying with crypto
- Convert money quickly
- Visa card perk with great cash back rewards
- Earn interest on crypto
- There are a lot of crypto coins and tokens available Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
- Strong security
Cons
- The exchange interface is not easy to use.
- Coins are not universally available, and availability will be dependent on country and location
- Customer service is pretty poor and lacking in some areas
- There is a shortage of educational resources.
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Binance versus Kucoin
When Comparing KuCoin and Binance side by side, the winner is pretty clear. It is Binance, and that is by a lot. KuCoin was one of the first platforms to trade cryptocurrencies. However, FTX and Kraken have taken over.
As of today, while KuCoin still has its users and most traders generally avoid the platform like the plague. Many negative reviews have been written about the exchange, with a variety of reasons. Some are semantics while others are alarming.
KuCoin Overview
KuCoin is a crypto exchange platform launched in 2017 by tech geeks Micahel Gan, Eric Don, Top Lan, Kent Li, John Lee, Jack Zhum, and Linda Lin. The company was founded back in 2013.
KuCoin started because of MichaelGan’s eagerness to learn about blockchain and its application possibilities. Eric was his boss and he told him about Bitcoin. He then got involved in the action.
The impetus came when he found out that the biggest cryptocurrency exchanges during that time were very difficult for beginners to use. They believed this was inversely proportional to how blockchain changed the world, especially with how Bitcoin and crypto changed the global financial system.
By the end of 2013, Michael and Eric wrote down the first code of what would become KuCoin in a cafe. This was the beginning of the platform that would become the “People’s Exchange”.
Cryptos under KuCoin
Since it is an older cryptocurrency exchange platform, it is not surprising that there is a pretty sizable selection of cryptocurrencies you can buy and trade in the exchange.
Veteran traders looking for a wide selection of assets may appreciate this extensive selection of coins and tokens. KuCoin’s greatest strength is its ability to mine altcoins for tokens and coins. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
It was also one of the main reasons why the company was founded in the first place, to give fewer mainstream currencies their spotlight and allow people to access them.
These lesser-known coins are riskier than the more stable and popular ones. People need to be aware of what they are getting into.
KuCoin has its token, called KuCoin Token or KCS. The following are some other popular coins that can be found on the exchange platform:
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Tether (USDT)
- Binance Coin (BNB)
- XRP (XRP)
- Chainlink (LINK)
- Filecoin (FIL)
- Internet Computer (ICP)
- Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC)
- USD Coin (USDC)
These are only a small selection of the many options available on the exchange platform.
KuCoin Perks
- A wide range of coins
KuCoin offers a wide range of tokens, coins and altcoins that are available for trading on their exchange. In fact, it ranks in the upper echelon when selecting coins available in the exchange.
It is also easier to find smaller coins than other platforms on these platforms. KuCoin is the ideal platform for traders looking to diversify into less-popular crypto.
It is a key mission of KuCoin to help smaller and more recent cryptocurrencies succeed. They even have a Spotlight section that promotes new currencies.
This is a good thing for users and the coin, as it allows them to start using a new currency earlier.
- Low Fees
KuCoin has very low trading fees. Although it’s not the lowest on the market, it’s still low enough to be competitive with other exchanges.
In KuCoin, you don’t have to pay any monthly account fees. The withdrawal fees are the same as other exchanges and deposits to KuCoin are free. That said, you will still need to pay a fee to deposit fiat money, such as U.S. dollars. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
These fees depend on the transfer method you choose and what third-party app that you use.
- Earn through interest on your crypto
Like most cryptocurrency exchanges, KuCoin lets you earn money through your deposited crypto. KuCoin Earn is the name of the KuCoin service.
With KuCoin earn, you are given two ways to earn from your crypto. You can first take your coins through Pool-X which is backed by KuCoin. The second way is to loan out your crypto and get paid the interest.
Loaning your crypto nets your interest bigger than what you’d normally get with a saving account. However, your earnings will still be affected by the demand for your coin.
According to the exchange, you can earn up to 8% to 12% on average from this way. KuCoin makes margin trading possible by using this money. Although it might seem risky, the company assures that all lenders will be fully repaid.
This repayment could be made from collateral or KuCoin margin insurance funds.
- Advanced Features
KuCoin offers veteran users a variety of toys and additional features. They allow for margin trading, which allows users to leverage their position, which means borrowing money to buy more crypto.
KuCoin also allows the use of trading bots in its mobile app. This means that you don’t have to buy and sell your cryptocurrency yourself. Instead, you can let a computer handle that task for you. This is pretty convenient as you do not always need to be online to do your business.
However, bots can pose a risk. Bots can be prone to glitches, and being too dependent on them may cost you a lot of opportunities. Then there is the fact that you mostly don’t know about their perimeters and strategies when doing their trades.
As such, the convenience bots provide may not be worth the uncertainty of how they’re handling your assets.
KuCoin Trading Experience
KuCoin can be accessed online or via an Android and iOS mobile application. Each platform offers a variety of tools and features that you can use to trade on it.
YOu can access KuCoin’s front page or dashboard after logging in to your account, be it on desktop or mobile. Users can view markets, trade, buy, lend, or trade cryptos from there.
The platform supports four order types. These are market order, limit order, stop-limit order, and stop-market order.
Besides orders, users also have access to margin, futures, and P2P trading. You can stake your crypto to earn some back or get a discount on trading fees. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
Recently, the exchange has just added a Trading Bot feature to help simplify the whole trading process.
Overall, KuCoin has plenty of advanced features. Veteran traders might find this a great benefit. They can be difficult for novice traders, as they aren’t user-friendly on mobile platforms.
KuCoin Fees
KuCoin breaks down trading fees by levels. The three main factors that determine the trading fees are: The minimum KCS holding within the past 30 days and the spot trading volume within the last 30 day (BTC) are the key factors in determining the trading fees.
Below is a table that shows which trading level corresponds to which.
| Trading Fee Level | Min KCS Holding last 30 Days | Spot Trading Volume Last 30 Days (BTC) | Futures Trading Volume Last 30 Days (BTC) |
| LV0 | 0 | <50 | <200 |
| LV1 | 1000 | >=50 | >=200 |
| LV2 | 10000 | >=200 | >=400 |
| LV3 | 20000 | >=500 | >=1000 |
| LV4 | 30000 | >=1000 | >=2000 |
| LV5 | 40000 | >=2000 | >=3000 |
| LV6 | 50000 | >=4000 | >=6000 |
| LV7 | 60000 | >=8000 | >=12000 |
| LV8 | 70000 | >=15000 | >=20000 |
| LV9 | 80000 | >=25000 | >=40000 |
| LV10 | 90000 | >=40000 | >=80000 |
| LV11 | 100000 | >=60000 | >=120000 |
| LV12 | 150000 | >=80000 | >=160000 |
These levels will then decide how much you will have to pay in maker or taker fees. Spot trading fees will be charged based on the base currency of the trading pairs. Paying fees with KCS will net users 20% off.
Also, KuCoins has a 24h withdrawal limit.
| Trading Fee level | Maker/Taker | 24-hour Withdrawal Limit |
| LV0 | 0.1% / 0.1% | 200 |
| LV1 | 0.09% / 0.1% | 200 |
| LV2 | 0.07% / 0.09% | 200 |
| LV3 | 0.05% / 0.08% | 200 |
| LV4 | 0.03% / 0.07% | 200 |
| LV5 | 0% / 0.07% | 500 |
| LV6 | 0% / 0.06% | 500 |
| LV7 | 0% / 0.05% | 1000 |
| LV8 | -0.005% / 0.045% | 1000 |
| LV9 | -0.005% / 0.04% | 2000 |
| LV10 | -0.005% / 0.035% | 2000 |
| LV11 | -0.005% / 0.03% | 3000 |
| LV12 | -0.005% / 0.025% | 3000 |
KuCoin Issues
To be honest, KuCoin does not have the best reputation in the industry. You can see the extent of dissatisfaction by just looking at the reviews.
In Trustpilot reviews, it got an average of just 1.7 out of 5 stars out of 600 reviews. Most of these negative reviews are about problems with customer support, the withdrawal process, and even making deposits Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
KuCoin has also been accused of market manipulation, with some even saying their assets randomly disappeared from their accounts. This is a problem especially when it comes to assets, money and finance.
Then there is an issue of security.
KuCoin, a crypto exchange that is generally safe, was hacked in 2020. The exchange lost about $280 million worth of crypto from users’ hot wallets to hackers. This was a concerning security breach despite the assets being covered by an insurance fund.
KuCoin Pros and Con
Pros
- Low fees
- Strong user base
- Large range of coins
- Allows you to earn interest on your crypto
- Trading features
- Good customer service
Cons
- Not licensed in the U.S.
- Limited payment methods
- New traders can find it intimidating and overwhelming
- Has limited education resources
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Bittrex versus Binance
Bittrex and Binance are two crypto exchanges with more similarities than differences. Both have similar features that users can use. That said, these two platforms do have their major differences.
The key difference between the two platforms is their size. While Binance boasts about the largest amount of trading volumes among the different exchanges, Bittrex aims for a more scaled-down experience.
There was once a time when Bittrex was once among the global leaders in the cryptocurrency industry. Binance was able to surpass them despite having stricter Know Your Customer (KYC), and anti-money laundering policies.
Bittrex Overview
Bittrex is a cryptocurrency exchange that aims to operate a world-class service with focus and trust.
It was founded in 2014 by three cybersecurity engineers from Amazon: Bill Shihara, co-founder and CEO; Richie Lai, co-founder, and chief information officer; and Rami Kawach, co-founder and chief technology officer. Its headquarters are located in Seattle.
The platform initially offered only crypto-tocrypto trading. However, it quickly added fiat-tocrypto trading. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
Despite the newness of their fiat trading, they still offer a wide selection of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. They are also available in 46 states of the United States, except Hawaii, New York, Vermont, and Vermont.
Cryptos under Bittrex
Bittrex has a wide selection of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins available in their exchange. This variety, like most exchanges makes Bittrex platforms attractive to traders.
Their selections include:
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Cardano (ADA)
- Chainlink (Link)
- Dogecoin (DOGE)
- Polkadot (DOT)
- Tether (USDT)
- Polygon (MATIC)
Bittrex Perks
- Huge selection of cryptocurrency
Bittrex offers a large selection of cryptocurrency in their marketplace, as we have already stated. Customers looking for niche, but more risky trades will find it attractive.
- Low fees
Bittrex also offers low fees, which start at 0.35%. This can get lower depending on the trade volume. It is still not the lowest on the market. Some exchanges have lower fees compared to them.
- Fast trading executions
Unlike other services, Bittrex has a custom-built trading engine that allows faster trades. This engine even works well despite high demand. This is a great way for investors to take advantage of volatile markets like cryptocurrency’s price fluctuations.
- Cardano staking
Those who hold some Cardano (ADA) cryptocurrency would be overjoyed with this platform. Bittrex allows users to stake their Cardano crypto throughout the exchange. You can get up to 5.5% in reward. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
- Educational Content
We all know how complicated and elusive finances can be. So by association, cryptocurrency is just as mind-boggling and arcane. So anything that offers a way to educate yourself on the topic is a godsend.
In Bittrex’s case, it offers an impressive library of educational resources in its Discover section. You will find references and articles on a variety of crypto topics here. You will find references and lessons on topics that range from crypto taxes to crypto mining.
You can even see a breakdown of some of these cryptocurrencies on the platform, which will give you an idea about what you’re betting on and whether it is worth your time.
While it does not fully remove the risk in cryptocurrency, at least it helps users make more informed decisions. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
- Referral Program
Bittrex offers a referral program. If someone you know opens an account with Bittrex and uses your link, you’ll earn 10% on all trading commissions.
While this may not look like much. Referring someone who is a serious crypto whale could net you sizable rewards. It is an easy way to passively make crypto income, even though it is not reliable.
Bittrex Trading Experience
Trading on Bittrex is a no-frills, straightforward experience. Logging in is all that’s required to access the trading dashboard. Of course, it is accessible via a mobile app or desktop computer.
In the desktop interface, users have a simple “instant buy Buy/Sell” option. This option lets users quickly make trades or purchase crypto with a debit card, bank account, or Bittrex account balance.
A real-time view of all the market data available on the platform is also available to users. Besides that, users have the option for more advanced order types. Stop, stop limit, trailing stop, and laddered orders.
Bittrex Fees
Bittrex uses a simple maker/taker fee structure, making their fees more transparent than most exchanges. That said, you still get fee discounts for trades with higher volumes. Overall, these fees are pretty low but are not the lowest available in the market.
| 30-Day Volume (USD) | Maker | Taker |
| Less than $25,000 | 0.35% | 0.35% |
| $25,000 – $50,000 | 0.25% | 0.30% |
| $50,000 – $100,000 | 0.15% | 0.25% |
| 100,000 – 1 Million | 0.10% | 0.20% |
| $1 million – $5 million | 0.06% | 0.16% |
| $5 million – $10 million | 0.05% | 0.15% |
| $10 million – $60 million | 0.02% | 0.10% |
| $60 million – $100 million | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| $100 Million + | 0.00% | 0.05% |
Bittrex Issues
Bittrex has received negative reviews from users. Most of these issues stem from account lockouts, frozen assets, and problems with identity verification. These problems are widespread across all crypto exchanges.
At the very least, the platform has not seen any major controversies or setbacks.
Bittrex Pros and Cons
Pros
- Highly secure
- Extensive selection of available cryptocurrency
- Very low fees
- Advanced trading tools
- Very useful educational content
Cons
- Customer support is mediocre and often unhelpful
- For beginners, it can be difficult
Binance versus eToro Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
eToro and Binance are two pretty famous cryptocurrency platforms. They are both very well-known and have a strong market presence.
However, there is a difference that divides the two. That is, they are very different platforms. Binance is a cryptocurrency exchange. eToro, however, is not. Rather, it is a cryptocurrency broker.
Binance offers a variety of digital assets, including NFTs and services. Meanwhile, a cryptocurrency broker sells crypto alongside other investment products like stocks and fractional shares.
eToro Overview
eToro was not founded as a cryptocurrency platform, unlike most companies in this review. Rather, the Tel Aviv-based company was originally an online forex broker under the name RetailFX. This was in 2007.
When RetailFX started offering commodities, indices, and stocks, it changed its name to eToro. Later, it launched its innovative social trading feature that allowed users to copy trades of successful traders on the platform.
eToro only got involved in the crypto market when it added support for BTC in 2014. CFDs could now be bought and sold to non-U.S. users. The world’s most popular digital currency. It added support for Ripple and Ethereum four years later. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
Also, in 2018, eToro went full steam on the crypto industry. The platform was expanded with more currencies and coins. The company also launched eToroX, a digital asset platform and its crypto wallet.
Cryptos under eToro
eToro’s digital asset platform has a limited selection of cryptocurrency options. This is probably because they did not start as an exchange but as a brokerage. That said, some popular currencies found in the service include:
- Bitcoin (BTC).
- Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
- Cardano (ADA)
- Dash (DASH)
- Dogecoin (DOGE).
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Litecoin (LTC).
- Polkadot (DOT)
- Polygon (MATIC)
- Solana (SOL)
- Stellar Lumens (XLM)
eToro Perks
- CopyTrader
The CopyTrader is eToro’s signature feature. This feature existed long before the platform began to explore the crypto industry. Binance Smart Chain vs Binance Chain
This basically allows eToro users to copy trades done by their favorite traders with just one click. Users only need to set the amount of money they want to allocate for the trade.
The platform will then set the funds and attempt to match the positions of their favorite eToro traders proportionally.
What is surprising about this tool is that it is entirely free. This feature requires a fee, but it can be used as often as the user wishes.
- Invest more than crypto.
Since the platform started in foreign exchange, it was to be expected that new users could still get in on that action.
eToro is one of the few places on the internet that allows you to own cryptocurrency and stocks in one account. The platform also offers stock trading at zero commissions and the possibility to purchase fractional shares.
eToro provides a virtual brokerage account which allows you to simulate stock investing without putting any real money at risk.
- Fee Debit card deposits
Unlike other cryptocurrency exchanges that charge fees, eToro doesn’t charge users to make a debit card payment. Investors can deposit fiat money using a bank transfer or debit card for no additional fees.
Users should be aware that there is a conversion charge for transactions not in U.S. dollars.
eToro Trading Experience
eToro can be used as a web-based platform or as a mobile app.
It is easy to get started on the platform by depositing fiat currency using a bank account or debit card. Once they have done that, they can trade instantly.
An intuitive trading tab gives a view of current prices and buys, sells, and even converts crypto.
The top perk CopyTrading makes doing trades pretty simple and easy. It even allows users to do trades proportional to high-performing traders in the platform.
Overall, the platform offers many basic market and limit orders. However, it lacks some of the more advanced conditional orders and more advanced charting capabilities.
The platform is limited in its ability to offer cryptocurrency fairs due to a lack of options.
It’s also eToroX – the digital asset platform that is the most prominent.
Some of the new features included in eToroX include U.S. dollar deposits, margin trading, trading APIs, and fast execution.
eToro Fees
When it comes to fees, eToro is a breath of fresh air. Unlike other cryptocurrency exchanges that don’t list their fees, eToro lists its fees when trading crypto.
eToro users are charged a flat fee of 1% per trade in crypto. The platform refers to this 1% market fee as a bid-ask spread. It is also included in the platform’s price when users open or closes their position.
However, most users do not like that on eToro, and you pay for the “round trip” upfront. This is unlike other exchanges that only charge a fee when a purchase or sale of a crypto asset is done.
With eToro, you pay 1% for the eventual sale of the coin in advance, plus a $1 fee on the purchase.
This could be a problem when users transfer their coins to an external wallet. They can’t return the coins to the trading platform.
eToro Issues
It is not surprising that there have been many controversies about the platform due to its age. Most of these do NOT involve the cryptocurrency market.
One that does, though, happened during the 2021 closure of leveraged position. The following was notified to European clients of the platform in the early part of that year:
Margin positions for all leveraged crypto position should be changed from leveraged to non-leveraged. Otherwise, they will be closed in less than four hours.
This was a bad move and many users and lawyers expressed their intent to file a lawsuit as a group. This led to the revocation of the eToro licence in Cyprus.
eToro was also in a feud with Redditors of /r/wallstreetbets after the GameStop short squeeze.
eToro Pros and Con
Pros
- A platform that is already established
- Regulated in many jurisdictions
- CopyTrading is a unique feature that is only found in the platform.
- There’s more to it than just crypto trading.
- Transparency in the fee
Cons
- Stock, ETF, and cryptocurrency trading only available in 44 U.S. states
- Margin trading is not available for U.S. users
- There is a limited selection of cryptocurrencies.
- 1% fee is pretty high compared to others.