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.
A cryptocurrency exchange, by definition, is an online platform where users can trade one type of digital asset for the other. These exchanges will be determined by the market value of the 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 place offering the right to exchange one fiat currency for another to its customers.
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.
The digital world offers cryptocurrency exchanges similar services as banks and stock exchanges.
Still, as with there are people who still treat cryptocurrencies with trepidations and agitations. Some people view cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency exchanges as illegal online marketplaces.
These people believe these places could facilitate the trading of unregistered securities. They fear that crypto exchanges could be used by criminals to launder money, and they have limited AML/KYC capabilities 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.
You may also be unable to withdraw or sell your cryptocurrency and digital assets due to your funds being locked in an exchange. 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.
There is also the possibility that you will lose your money by speculating in cryptocurrency, and then have the rug pulled under your feet by the founders of these exchanges. Especially when these founders are hustlers or scammers who are too good at what they are doing.
Remember, when working with cryptocurrency and anything related to them, everything is always a gamble. It is smart to always proceed with caution. 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 Visa Card
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.
The company didn’t have a place to call home back then.
However, there is current news that the company was headed to Malta, where it is said to be currently based. That said, Binance serves most countries around the globe, except for the United States, where a specific version of the platform, Binance.US, had to be established.
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. The service allows you to get loans, make payments and even apply for credit cards.
Cryptos Under Binance
Binance also has its own set of tokens and cryptocurrencies. There are actually two.
The BUSD is the first. 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.
BNB is the second. 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 why Binance is the most popular crypto exchange platform in the world. Binance trades are as good as free. The platform charges a maker/taker fee. Fees will vary depending on trading volume and Binance Coin (BNB) balance.
Despite this, fees are still charged by the platform for certain services, including withdrawals and payment types.
- Large Selection of Cryptos
A crypto exchange platform will only be as good as the selection of cryptocurrencies available in its market. Of course, being the biggest one there is, Binance carries a lot and other digital currencies available.
Decentralized finance tokens (DeFi) are also available.
Some of the currencies available include:
- Binance Coins (BNB)
- VeChain (VET)
- VeThor (VTHO)
- Harmon (ONE)
- Matic Network (MATIC)
- Dogecoin (DOGE)
- Litecoin (LTC)
- Cosmos (ATOM)
- Cardano (ADA)
There are many other options.
- Multiple ways to Earn
For those wanting to get more mileage out of their investments, Binance allows you to earn more from your crypto assets. Customers can earn income by adding liquidity to token pairs. There are also staking options on the platform.
However, these opportunities come with a lot of risk. Users must be able to recognize and weigh the risks. Trading and dealing in crypto is risky enough.
- 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 makes it easier to set limit orders to buy and sell crypto at a specific price.
Charting tools can also be extremely useful for veterans traders when making trade decisions. You can even sell leveraged tokens to make trading 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. You can even use real-time charts with moving averages, which makes it easy and accessible.
When trading, you do not need to be stuck to your computer. You can use Binance in any way you like. You can do it through the Binance App, the Binance website, or even the Binance desktop app.
The platform will keep track of traders’ portfolios for them, so they won’t need to use any additional tools or platforms. Anyone who wants to track their trades can access their trade history on the exchange platform.
Even how they view their trading can be customized. This allows for easier comprehension of 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. The amount of BNB that the user has will also be important.
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).
Binance uses its native currency to facilitate transactions. Whenever you use BNB for your trades, you get a 25% discount on the trading fee. Binance offers 0% trading for selected Bitcoin and Binance USD pairs (BUSD).
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 | Between 5,000,000 and 19,999,999 with 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 with 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 99,999,999999 and at most 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
Despite being one of the biggest names in crypto, Binance has its issues and controversies.
The year 2019 was a bad year for the exchange platform.
On May 7, 2019, it was revealed that Binance became a victim of a “large-scale security breach.” It was reported that hackers had stolen 7,000 Bitcoin worth $40 million then. That said, the site reimbursed customers through its “Secure Asset Fund for Users(SAFU).
However, it wasn’t as rough as the year 2021 was. It’s not true to say that Binance had a difficult year in 2021.
The United States Department of Justice and Internal Revenue Service, on allegations of money laundering and tax offenses, investigated the company.
It was also forced to cancel its planned launch in Britain of a digital asset marketplace. Their application did not meet anti-money laundering requirements.
The next year, it was once again put in hot water as it was reported that Binance was said to have shared client data with the Russian government. In an effort to combat crime, these data contained names and addresses.
In October the same year, another hacker attacked its network. After discovering an exploit between two different blockchains, the company had to suspend transactions and funds transfers temporarily. The issue had been contained as soon as it popped up.
From the total $570m stolen, approximately $100m of funds were not recovered.
Binance Pros and Cons
Pros
- Low Fees
- Simple Access to Passive Income Opportunities
- Wide Selection of Cryptocurrencies
- Sophisticated trading tools
- Multiple ways of Depositing Money
- Flexible Order Types and Trading Options
Cons
- Non-beginner friendly. For beginners, many features can be difficult to access and use.
- Regulation Issues with many countries, including major ones like the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Thailand, and many more.
- Due to regulatory issues, the service is not available in the United States. Even the US-specific service, Binance U.S. (a more limited version), is unavailable in some states.
- There is no built-in digital wallet
> > Click Here to Sign Up and Get 100 USDT Trading Fee Rebate < <
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, or Coinbase Global, Inc, is an American publicly traded company that operates 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. It used to have a company headquarters in San Francisco, but this palace was abandoned, and the company changed operation 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. Both men shared the belief that bitcoin would be huge. 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. Coinbase was actually founded in a shared two-bedroom apartment. Binance Visa Card
Cryptos Under Coinbase
Coinbase doesn’t have any original coins or cryptocurrency. The platform supports over 100 cryptocurrencies. As the need arises, they add new cryptocurrencies regularly.
Here’s a look at the various cryptocurrencies that coinbase offers:
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Cardano (ADA)
- Solana (SOL)
- Polkadot (DOT)
- USD Coin (USDC)
- Dogecoin (DOGE)
- Uniswap (UNI)
- Litecoin (LTC)
- Shiba Inu (SHIB)
- Algorand (ALGO)
- Stellar Lumens (XLM)
- Polygon (MATIC)
- DAI (DAI)
- SushiSwap (SUSHI)
Coinbase Perks
- Extensive Selection of Cryptocurrency
Coinbase is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in America. The market offers a wide range of cryptocurrencies.
A Bitcoin (BTC-focused exchange. Coinbase has grown to offer over 150 types of cryptocurrency on the platform. In fact, you can trade currencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and other major coins for smaller and newer digital tokens.
Coinbase is the only cryptocurrency exchange that offers a wide selection of products 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.
Simple trading options are easy to use for beginners. This option has one drawback: it charges higher fees. This is contrary to the crypto investing philosophy of keeping fees low.
Advanced trading, on the other hand, offers more options such as charts and a live order list, as well as the ability to limit orders. This option is cheaper, but it comes with a tradeoff: it’s more difficult to use, more complicated, and more intimidating for new users.
With that said, placing your trades in advanced trading is highly advisable just to maintain low fees.
- Get Free Crypto
For those wanting to earn more crypto, Coinbase gives a cool feature that allows customers to do so. 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.
Although the feature doesn’t offer much, it is still useful. Even a few crypto bits can be a blessing in this economy. Also, anyone who declines to pay for money is 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. It is for this reason that Coinbase is the ideal platform for those just starting to invest 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’s legit and gets high ratings from both the Apple App Store as well as Google Play Store.
- Crypto Rewards
You can earn interest on many cryptocurrencies through your Coinbase Account. Coinbase automatically pays interest on certain stables like USD Coin (USDC).
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 Visa Card
As said, staking on cryptos will give you certain free rewards. This is not possible for all cryptos. It depends on where you live and the cryptocurrency.
- Coinbase Debit card
Coinbase lets users trade, but also allows them to access their hard-earned wealth and use it with 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.
What’s more, using the Coinbase card gives you a chance to win crypto rewards. This rewards program allows you to choose the crypto that you want from a rotating list.
Coinbase Trading Experience
Coinbase offers a different kind of service than Binance, which has lower fees and more advanced training tools. 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. Coinbase Pro is the perfect platform for you. This platform is designed for experienced traders. Binance Visa Card
Coinbase Pro is different in that it was made for professional traders and gives them more tools, allowing for better 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. No, there is no need for that. Anyone with a Coinbase account can already access and use the pro version.
Coinbase Trading Fees
Coinbase doesn’t disclose their fees and pricing. Their entire fee schedule was removed from the online help section. However, you won’t have to pay all fees at once. Costs are still shown when entering a trade, so you still know how much you will 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.
- Lastly, Coinbase also charges fees to cover the costs of executing transactions on the external blockchain networks that support the cryptocurrencies in which it deals. Binance Visa Card
Coinbase Pro’s pricing structure is simpler. It is based on the customer’s monthly trading volume and liquidity of the asset at the time of purchase. Coinbase Pro users must have a bank account to make withdrawals and deposits.
The chart below gives an idea of the fees you can expect on 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.
For Coinbase Pro, a general idea of the fees is shown in the chart below.
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.
According to a Financial Times article Visa, the credit card company, initially blamed Coinbase. However, it later rescinded those statements and clarified on the Coinbase blog that the “issue was not caused by Coinbase”
In 2018, customer complaints against Coinbase jumped more than 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 also participated in the first ever case of insider trading in 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
- It supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies
- Offers the opportunity to earn cryptocurrency and learn about them.
- You can trade simple or advanced depending on your preference
- Offerings a coinbase debit card that allows easy withdrawal of funds Binance Visa Card
Cons
- Complex and complicated fees structure, which is not transparent
- High fees on some transactions
- There are limited staking opportunities and interest possibilities.
- A lot of altcoins are missing from their selection
- Customer service issues
> > Click Here to Sign Up and Get 100 USDT Trading Fee Rebate < <
Binance or Kraken?
Binance and Kraken, both giants in the cryptocurrency industry, have 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.
Binance.US users, for example, are severely limited by the fact that they cannot access Binance’s U.S.-based platform (Binance.US). while Kraken is widely available in the country.
These two platforms share many similarities, including both offering advanced trading options and low fees as well as mobile apps. Both platforms are targeted at experienced or veteran cryptocurrency traders.
Ultimately, it will be up to customers to choose which platform by choosing what they value most. Will it be Binance and their offers of slightly lower fees, a huge variety of coins, and additional way of managing your funds. Kraken or Binance with their high security standards that won them a Wyoming bank charter approval in 2021. Binance Visa Card
Kraken Overview
Kraken is a fully functioning crypto exchange that offers low fees and a wide selection of tokens and coins. One of the most defining characteristics of this platform is that it is one of the only U.S. crypto exchanges to provide advanced trading tools like margin.
Kraken’s main cause is to become the best and most secure 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,”
In connection on the November 2022 FTX Controversy, Kraken founder and former CEO Jesse Powell tweeted: “…Happy to live simply, take a fee for matching trades. A balance sheet is mostly Bitcoin and some ETH.”
Jesse Powell (alumnus from California State University, Sacramento) and Thanh Luu, co-founded Kraken in 2011. 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). He was a consultant for that exchange before its collapse in 2014 due to failing security audits.
Kraken also joined with other US Bitcoin players in the formation of the “Committee for the Establishment of the Digital Asset Transfer Authority”, the industry’s selfregulating group. Binance Visa Card
Kraken was very successful in 2014. The company received a Series A investment of $ 5,000,000 from Hummingbird Ventures in March 2014.
Later, it became one of the first bitcoin exchanges to be listed on Bloomberg Terminal. It has since chosen to help with the investigation of Mt. Gox, Powell’s former employer. Because of its track record of being secure, Kraken is trusted.
After Wyoming granted such a charter, Kraken was the first cryptocurrency exchange to have a special purpose deposit institution (SPDI), charter in September 2020.
September 21, 2022, saw CEO Powell stepping down as CEO of the platform citing “spending more of his time on the product of the company, user experience, and broader industry advocacy.
Dave Ripley replaced him as CEO.
Cryptos under Kraken
Kraken supports at most 110 cryptocurrencies. Some of the more popular and well-known currencies include:
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Cardano (ADA)
- Dogecoin (DOGE)
- Litecoin (LTC)
- Polkadot (DOT)
- Polygon (MATIC)
- Ripple (XRP)
- Stellar Lumens (XLM)
- Solana (SOL)
- Sushi (SUSHI)
- Uniswap
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. This includes converting US dollars into Canadian dollars, Japanese yen, and Swiss francs. Binance Visa Card
Kraken Perks
- Beefy Security
Kraken has been an integral part of the cryptocurrency market since its inception in 2011 and its launch in 2013. Since its inception, Kraken’s focus was on security. It has never stopped focusing on it over the years. In fact, it is the only cryptocurrency exchange that has not had any major hacking accounts.
This exchange, which is based in the United States, is the industry’s leader in terms security. As such, some in the industry have affiliated Kraken with physical security and financial stability. This is a claim Kraken is too proud to make.
- Healthy Range of Available Cryptocurrencies
Kraken has over 160 coins and seven fiat currencies available to trade on its platform. While it’s not the biggest amount, it is still a healthy number and is comparable to some of the best crypto exchanges. Binance Visa Card
Kraken’s liquidity is high, which allows Kraken to make it easier for users to buy and sell at fair prices.
Kraken works using currency pairs, a one-to-one equivalency between two currencies. It is the price quote of the exchange rate of two different currencies traded in 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 the only exchange that offers margin, stop orders and crypto short sales. Kraken also offers a dark pool, where high volume investors can trade anonymously.
Kraken allows you to leverage a currency pair by up to 5x. Pro clients who are eligible can get up to $500,000 in margin. Margin trading is still risky.
- The fees are affordable.
Although it’s not the most expensive on the market, Kraken’s fees remain competitive and comparable to other exchanges. It’s even less expensive than other exchanges.
There are no set trading fees, which will differ from exchange to exchange. Your monthly trade history will determine how much you pay. We will discuss fees in detail in another segment. However, it is important that you know that instant buy features are more expensive than the pro platform.
- Strong Staking Options
Staking options within Kraken are pretty good. Users have the opportunity to stake over 15 different cryptos. Users can earn as much as 20%, up to 0.25%.
Staking is the act that involves tying up your coins to contribute to the overall security of a particular blockchain and can be a great way for investors to earn a passive income.
Kraken Trading Experience
Kraken users can choose between Kraken and Kraken Pro. Between these exchanges, Kraken Pro offers lower pricing. Both platforms are available to anyone 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. It is suggested that they start with the central Kraken platform to learn the ropes. Binance Visa Card
Kraken allows verified accounts to quickly buy cryptocurrency from linked bank accounts. From there, selling or converting your crypto into your account is just a simple process. The website has a simple form that allows you to place orders. It usually takes a few seconds.
It is easy to purchase cryptocurrencies with your bank account balance. You don’t even need to fund your account first.
In terms of security, you can keep your Kraken account safe by enabling two-factor authentication (2FA). As such, you will need your device to log in to your account.
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. It is well worth the effort. Binance Visa Card
Some features added to it are more detailed asset information, active charts, and even a view to 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
Kraken’s fees fall in the middle of the market, as we have already stated. It’s not the lowest in the market, and it is also not the highest. Other factors may affect the price of the fees you are about to pay.
Prices and fees may vary depending on the platform. Kraken Pro will always have cheaper fees than the normal Kraken.
In normal Kraken, fees for instant purchases include 1.5% for most cryptocurrencies and 0.9% for stablecoins using the U.S. dollar or another stablecoin.
Additional fees will vary depending on how you fund your purchase. 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 Visa Card
Kraken Pro’s pricing however is quite different. The fees for Kraken Pro are generally lower than those on the main Kraken platform. Your fees will also be based on your total trading volume over the last 30 days. Remember that transactions are subject either to a 0.16 maker fee or 0.26% taker fees.
Below is a general chart of their maker-taker fees in a 30-day volume 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
There really are not many issues concerning Kraken aside from disagreement with a work culture which is something the company has already worked on and moved on
Kraken’s security record has been excellent and Kraken is the only major cryptocurrency exchange not to be hacked.
Kraken does have its share of problems with 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 believes that this would be a bad business decision.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control began investigating the exchange in September 2021 for possible violations of sanctions by allowing trade with Iranian customers. Kraken was fined $1.25million by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in September 2021 for allowing unregistered margin trades.
Kraken Pros & Cons
Pros
- Advanced features such as margin trading and stakestaking are available.
- Excellent and reliable customer service
- Relatively low Bitcoin (BTC) withdrawal fees
- Provides a wide range of educational material.
- The most secure exchange on the market
- Simple user interface
Cons
- The Base Kraken platform is more expensive than Kraken Pro. Luckily both modes can easily be accessed as long as you have a Kraken account.
- Kraken accepts only a handful of fiat currencies
- A few users complain about their accounts being hacked. Binance Visa Card
- It is not available in all U.S. States
> > Click Here to Sign Up and Get 100 USDT Trading Fee Rebate < <
Binance versus Crypto.com
Binance and Crypto.com have become some of the most popular cryptocurrency exchanges. Both offer a wide range of features, such as low fees, staking, and 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. You can choose to go with Binance, which has a wider range of crypto currencies, but you will also have the option to choose Crypto.com, which is more user-friendly and charges lower fees. Binance Visa Card
Crypto.com Overview
Crypto.com was established in Hong Kong in 2018 The founders of Crypto.com, Gary Or, Kris Marszalek and Rafael Melo originally called it Monaco. It only became Crypto.com when the company purchased a domain that cryptography researcher and professor Matt Blaze owned.
The sales might be on the bigger one, with Domain sellers valuing the domain at US$5 – 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.
It also has a huge selection of currencies numbering at least 250 different currencies, reasonable fees, and even discounts to some specific customers (like those with huge stakes in the Crypto.com’s very own coin, the cronos (CRO).
Crypto.com’s main selling point and focus is in their exchange. However, that is not what they all do, they also offer a variety of crypto services which include their own crypto wallet, and even an NFT shop. The company has even partnered with Shopify those in the e-commerce platform accept cryptocurrency as a valid payment.
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
In terms of selection, Crypto.com has a huge one available. It support more than 250 currencies for spot trading with a subset of 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
As mentioned above, Crypto.com also has its coin called Cronos (CRO). A significant stake in this cryptocurrency will reward you with lower trading fees and higher stalking interest rates as well as higher credit card rewards. Binance Visa Card
Crypto.com Perks
- One-Stop Shop
Crypto.com is more than a trading platform. You can trade cryptocurrencies and buy and sell them on the exchange.
Most importantly, Crypto.com allows you to spend your hard-earned crypto through a prepaid Visa card. Crypto.com places a lot of weight on cryptocurrency’s currency component.
- Low Fees
Crypto.com’s low fees can rival that of many sites.
In fact, there are transactions within Crypto.com that do not even require any 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”.
The platform charges a fee for purchases of crypto with a debit or credit 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
Although this feature isn’t unique to Crypto.com it deserves to be listed. Users can convert fiat currencies to crypto with the Crypto.com app. Provided that Crypto.com is limited to 20 fiat currencies available on the platform.
These fiat currencies include USD and GBP as well as EUR. 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 greatest perks that you can receive as a Crypto.com member is the availability Visa Cards linked to your Crypto.com account with its crypto currency.
Currently, Crypto.com has five types of prepaid Visa Cards available to its users. These cards must be charged before they can be used fully.
The type of Card available for you will also depend on how much CRO stake you have in the platform.
Their Ruby Steel card is the lowest available tier, and it also offers a 1% cash back on your contribution. Of course, you will need to have at least a $400 stake to be able to avail of this.
Meanwhile, those who own deeper pockets can avail of their top-of-the-line, Obsidian tier. This tier earns you 5% cash back or cryptoback, as well as lots of bonuses. That said, you must have at least $400,000 worth of stake for CRO to qualify for this. Binance Visa Card
Midnight Blue, Jade Green/ Royal Indigo and Frosted Rose Gold/ Icy White are some of the other cards that are available. These cards don’t have an annual fee, and you get a certain number of ATM withdrawals and foreign transaction each month for no additional charge.
- 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.
To benefit from this perk you will need to have a lot of cash in your CRO. However, the maximum amount of interest you can earn is less than 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.
Using the app, you can increase your interest rate in multiple ways. One way is to stake more than 4,000 CROs. It is even possible to get more if you stake up to 40,000 CRO, but that may be asking for too much.
You can also increase the interest rate if you deposit for a one-month term to three-month terms. While one-month terms are more flexible than three-month terms, deposits for three-month terms yield better rates.
Finally, stablecoin investments can also increase your interest rate. Stablecoins usually peg their values to an external reference. Some can even be tied to the U.S. Dollar. These stablecoins allow you to 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.
It is risky to keep your crypto savings. Cryptocurrencies can be volatile and your savings could be cut if they fail.
- Gifts Cards and Phone Top Ups
Gift Cards and Phone Top-ups are other ways that Crypto.com allows you to spend your crypto. 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. Like Spain, Norway, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.
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. So those who are already used to trading stocks on a phone or tablet will have a breeze of time and will find the experience pretty similar to that. Binance Visa Card
The app in question shows the user’s portfolio and a list of their more popular assets. It includes everything needed that Crypto.com says it offers. You can trade currencies, earn by staking crypto, make cryptocurrency payments, and even apply for a Crypto.com card.
Without chart tools, where would you find a trading app? In the case of Crypto.com’s app, it shares a relatively simple set of data that aims not to intimidate or overwhelm the users. These charts provide enough information for users to understand the cryptocurrency and blockchain, which might be useful before they buy.
Crypto.com offers a wide range of fiat currencies. More popular ones include the Australian (AUD) and Canadian (CAD) dollar, the euro (EUR), the British pound sterling (GBP), the ever-popular U.S. Dollar (USD), and even the Brazilian real (BRL). This allows users from multiple countries to buy and enter 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. Those who trade in higher volumes can qualify for fees as low as 0.04% for makers and 0.1% for takers, even without CRO staking.
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 250,000 | 0.0700% | 0.0720% |
Greater than or equal to 1,000,000 | 0.0650% | 0.0690% |
Greater than or equal to 5,000,000 | 0.0600% | 0.0650% |
Greater than 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 |
Less than 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% |
Greater than or equal to 5,000,000 | 0.0582% | 0.0631% |
Greater than 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
Like most cryptocurrency exchanges, Crypto.com does have its fair share of problems.
On January 2022, Crypto.com was the victim of a serious hack. It was reported that the company lost US$15 million worth of Ether. This was after some users reported suspicious activity on their accounts. The company quickly paused withdrawals which were later 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. The company was forced to lay off between 30% and 40% of its employees in October 2022.
In November of 2022, their exchange token Cronos (CRO) has lost approximately $1 billion in value. This was in part due 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
- There are many ways to pay 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 Visa Card
- Has strong security
Cons
- User interface and the exchange itself is pretty difficult to navigate
- Coins are not universally available, and availability will be dependent on country and location
- Some areas are lacking customer service and some of it is very poor.
- THere is a lack of educational resources.
> > Click Here to Sign Up and Get 100 USDT Trading Fee Rebate < <
Binance versus Kucoin
Comparing KuCoin to Binance side-by-side, it is clear who the winner is. Binance is the clear winner, and it is by quite a bit. 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. The exchange has been troubled by many negative reviews, each with different reasons ranging from semantics to highly alarming.
KuCoin Overview
KuCoin was founded in 2017 by top tech geeks Micahel Gan and Eric Don. It is a cryptocurrency exchange platform that was launched by Top Lan, Kent Li. John Lee, Jack Zhum, Linda Lin, and John Lee. The company was established in 2013.
KuCoin was founded by MichaelGan, who was eager to learn more about blockchain and the potential applications. He discovered Bitcoin from his boss, Eric, and started getting in on the action.
He was shocked to discover that some of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges at that time were difficult to use for beginners. They believed this was inversely proportional to how blockchain changed the world, especially with how Bitcoin and crypto changed the global financial system.
Eric and Michael had already written the first code for KuCoin in a coffee shop by the end of 2013. This was how the platform, which would later be known as the “People’s Exchange,” got its start.
Cryptos under KuCoin
It is not surprising that the exchange is an older cryptocurrency exchange platform. This means there are a lot of cryptocurrencies that you can trade and buy.
This extensive range of tokens and coins may appeal to veteran traders who are looking for an assortment of assets. KuCoin’s greatest strength is its ability to mine altcoins for tokens and coins. Binance Visa Card
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. As such, people need to understand what people are getting themselves into.
KuCoin has its token, called KuCoin Token or KCS. Aside from that, some of the more popular coins available in the exchange platform include the following:
- 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
As we have already stated, KuCoin has a broad selection of coins, tokens, and altcoins that can be traded in their exchange. It is actually the top echelon for coins that are available on the exchange.
As such, one of its strengths is that it is easier to find smaller coins on these platforms than on other platforms. For traders who want to branch out into less popular crypto, KuCoin will be the perfect platform for them.
It is a key mission of KuCoin to help smaller and more recent cryptocurrencies succeed. In fact, they even have a Spotlight section, which promotes new currencies.
This is advantageous for the coin and users who want to get in on a new currency early.
- 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.
KuCoin doesn’t charge any monthly fees. Withdrawal fees are in line with other exchanges, and depositing cryptocurrency to the service is free. However, depositing fiat money such as U.S. Dollars will require you to pay an additional fee. Binance Visa Card
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. In the case of KuCoin, the service is called KuCoin Earn.
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 uses this money to finance margin trading. It might seem risky, but the company states that lenders will always be repaid in full.
That repayment might come from the borrower’s collateral or a KuCoin margin insurance fund.
- Advanced Features
KuCoin offers veteran users a variety of toys and additional features. They permit margin trading which allows users leverage their position which allows them to borrow money to purchase more crypto.
KuCoin also allows the use of trading bots in its mobile app. This allows you to trade your cryptocurrency without having to do it 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.
That said, using bots can be pretty risky. Bots are susceptible to errors and you may lose out on many opportunities. You don’t always know their strategies and perimeters when you trade with them.
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.
After logging into your KuCoin account on mobile or desktop, you can access KuCoin’s dashboard or front page. 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.
Users have access to orders as well as margin, futures and P2P trading. If you want, you can even stake your crypto with the benefit of earning some back or a discount on some trading fees. Binance Visa Card
Recently, the exchange has just added a Trading Bot feature to help simplify the whole trading process.
KuCoin is a great cryptocurrency with many advanced features. Veteran traders might find this a great benefit. However, they might be a nightmare for beginners as desktop, and mobile platforms are not user-friendly.
KuCoin Fees
KuCoin breaks down trading fees by levels. The three main factors that determine the trading fees are: To determine the trading fee level, you have to look at the Minimum KCS Holding within the last 30 days, and the Spot trading volume last 30 days (BTC), or the Future Trading Volume within the last 30 days (BTC).
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 are charged in accordance with the base currency for the trading pairs. KCS users will receive 20% off for paying fees.
KuCoins also has a 24-hour withdrawal limit.
Trading Fee level | Maker/Taker | 24h 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. Just by looking at reviews of the company, you can already see a glimpse of how bad the dissatisfaction is.
Trustpilot reviews gave it an average rating of 1.7 stars out 600 reviews. Many of the negative reviews focus on customer service, withdrawals, or even deposits. Binance Visa Card
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 serious security breach, despite the fact that all assets were covered by an insurance plan.
KuCoin Pros and Cons
Pros
- Low fees
- Strong user base
- Wide range of coins
- Allows you to earn interest on your crypto
- Advanced 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
> > Click Here to Sign Up and Get 100 USDT Trading Fee Rebate < <
Bittrex versus Binance
Bittrex and Binance are two crypto exchanges with more similarities than differences. Both offer similar features that users can enjoy. That said, these two platforms do have their major differences.
One key difference between these two platforms has to do with size. Bittrex is more focused on a scaled-down experience, whereas Binance has the highest trading volume of all the exchanges.
Bittrex was once one of the top cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. Binance was able to surpass them despite having stricter Know Your Customer (KYC), and anti-money laundering policies.
Bittrex Overview
Bittrex, a cryptocurrency exchange, aims to provide a high-quality service with trust and focus.
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 can be found in Seattle.
In the beginning, the platform only offered crypto-to-crypto trading, but it soon introduced fiat-to-crypto trading. Binance Visa Card
Despite the newness of their fiat trading, they still offer a wide selection of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. Also, they are available in 46 U.S. states, excluding Hawaii, New York, 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. This makes it pretty attractive for customers looking for new, more niche but riskier trades.
- Low fees
Bittrex offers low fees starting at 0.3% Depending on trade volume, this fee can be lower. That said, it is not the lowest available in the market. Some exchanges charge lower fees than others.
- Execution of fast trading
Bittrex offers a unique trading engine that speeds up trades, which is unlike other services. This even keeps up despite having a heavy demand. This is a great way for investors to take advantage of volatile markets like cryptocurrency’s price fluctuations.
- Cardano staking
Cardano (ADA), cryptocurrency holders would be thrilled to have this platform. Bittrex lets users stake their Cardano cryptocurrency throughout the exchange. This can earn them up to 5.5% in rewards. Binance Visa Card
- Educational Content
We all know how arcane-ish finances in general are. As such, cryptocurrency can be just as confusing and obscure. 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. There are references and lessons for topics ranging from crypto taxes to how crypto mining works.
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.
Although it doesn’t completely eliminate the risk of cryptocurrency, it can help users make better decisions. Binance Visa Card
- 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.
This may not seem like much. Referring a serious crypto whale can net you substantial rewards. It is an easy way to passively make crypto income, even though it is not reliable.
Bittrex Trading Experience
Bittrex trading is simple and straightforward. Users just need to log in, and then they can access their 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.
Users can also benefit from a real-time view of the markets available on the platform. Users also have the option to place more complex orders. Stop, stop limit, trailing stop, and laddered orders.
Bittrex Fees
Bittrex has a simple fee structure that makes it easier to understand their fees than other exchanges. You still receive fee discounts for trades that have higher volumes. These fees are generally quite low, but not the lowest on the market.
30-Day Volume (USD) | Maker | Taker |
Below $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 been on the receiving end of negative reviews from its users. Many of these problems are caused by account lockouts, assets that have been frozen, and identity verification issues. These problems are widespread across all crypto exchanges.
At the very least, the platform has not seen any major controversies or setbacks.
Bittrex Pros & Cons
Pros
- High security
- A wide range of cryptocurrency available
- Fairly low fees
- Advanced trading tools
- Very useful educational content
Cons
- Mediocre and mostly unhelpful customer support
- Can be challenging for beginners
Binance versus eToro Binance Visa Card
eToro and Binance are two pretty famous cryptocurrency platforms. They are both very well-known and have a strong market presence.
But there is one thing that separates them. That is, they are very different platforms. Binance is a cryptocurrency exchange, eToro is not. It is, in fact, a cryptocurrency broker.
Binance sells a wide range of digital assets ranging from the usual cryptocurrency to NFTs and other services. A cryptocurrency broker also sells crypto along with other investment products such as 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 was only able to get involved in the cryptocurrency market after it added support BTC in 2014. This enabled users to buy and sell CFDs (to non-U.S. users). On the world’s leading digital currency. Four years later, it also added support for Ripple (XRP) and Ethereum (ETH). Binance Visa Card
In 2018, eToro also made a big push in the crypto market. The platform was expanded with more currencies and coins. The company even launched its digital asset platform, eToroX, and even its crypto wallet.
Cryptos under eToro
eToro and its digital asset platform have few cryptocurrency selections. This is probably because they did not start as an exchange but as a brokerage. Nevertheless, the service does include some of the most popular currencies:
- 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. It was a feature that existed before the platform dabbled in the crypto industry. Binance Visa Card
This basically allows eToro users to copy trades done by their favorite traders with just one click. The trade can be initiated by setting the money that the user wants to spend.
The platform will then set the funds and attempt to match the positions of their favorite eToro traders proportionally.
It is completely free, which is quite surprising. This feature requires a fee, but it can be used as often as the user wishes.
- Invest more than crypto.
It was expected that users would still be able to participate in the action since the platform began in foreign currency.
eToro allows you to have both stocks and cryptocurrency in one account. Regarding stock investing, the platform offers zero-commission stock trading with the ability to buy fractional shares.
Even for people who want to test out stock investing, eToro offers a virtual brokerage account that lets you simulate owning stocks without putting 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. As such, investors can deposit fiat money via bank transfer or debit card, all for free.
That said, there is a conversion fee for non-U.S. dollar transactions, so users should remember that.
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.
CopyTrading is the top perk that makes trading simple and straightforward. You can even trade with high-performing traders on the platform.
Overall, the platform offers many basic market and limit orders. It does not offer advanced charting and conditional orders.
Also, the lack of cryptocurrency choices limits the cryptocurrency fairs the platform can offer.
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
eToro offers a refreshing view on fees. 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 different from other exchanges, which only charge fees when an asset is purchased or sold.
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. As they can no longer return them to the trading platform.
eToro Issues
Due to its age, it is not surprising that the platform has had its fair share of controversies. Most of these do NOT involve the cryptocurrency market.
One that does, though, happened during the 2021 closure of leveraged position. Early that year, European clients of the platform were notified of the following:
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 not a good move, and many lawyers and users expressed intent to file a class action lawsuit. It even provoked actions of having the eToro license in Cyprus revoked.
eToro also found itself in an unfavorable feud against Redditors from /r/wallstreetbets following the GameStop short squeeze.
eToro Pros and Con
Pros
- A platform that is already established
- Regulated in many jurisdictions
- CopyTrading, a unique feature only available on the platform, is an exclusive feature.
- There’s more to it than just crypto trading.
- Fee is transparent
Cons
- Only 44 states in the United States allow stock, ETF and cryptocurrency trading
- Margin trading not available to U.S. users
- There are a few cryptocurrencies available.
- 1% fee is pretty high compared to others.