With cryptocurrency going mainstream and getting legitimized here and there, it is only a matter of time before a huge population wants to get in on the action. Marketplaces that allow people to trade, buy, and sell digital assets are becoming crucial.
And right on cue, to fulfill the adage: “If there’s a demand for it, someone will try to fill up that demand.” As for this case, cryptocurrency exchanges came into the picture to remedy this marketplace demand.
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 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. Only stocks that are listed on an exchange can be purchased or sold. 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. Some people view cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency exchanges as 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.
Some of these claims may not be entirely true. 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. When this happens, these exchanges might not be able to return your money because some operate illegally in gray 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. Like with gambling, there are more chances of losing than winning. High-risk, high-reward.
For those of you who prefer a more visual experience, here is a video review from Mark Farfan’s YouTube channel. You can still check our article below for a complete overview of Binance. It also compares it with some other competitors.
Binance Exchange Crypto Card vs Binance Card
Binance Overview
Binance exchange is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world. It has the highest trading volume of any crypto exchange service and offers the most number of cryptocurrency trading pairs.
Binance was established in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao, a Chinese-Canadian entrepreneur. Initially, the company was based in China. However, due to growing crypto restrictions in China, the company moved to Japan and then to Malta.
The company didn’t have a place to call home back then.
The company is currently based in Malta. 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. The platform has a lot to offer in terms of products that are based on cryptocurrencies.
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. In fact, there are two.
The BUSD is the first. It is a fiat-backed stablecoin issued by Binance and Paxos. Each token of this stablecoin is backed 1:1 with US dollars in reserve. The company created BUSD as a means to provide a more stable cryptocurrency alternative for traders and investors wanting to avoid the volatile nature of the 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 began as an ERC-20 standard token built on the Ethereum blockchain.
It is currently a native token in Binance, where it powers operations. It’s used to pay trading, listing and exchange fees as well as other expenses that 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 can be done for free. The platform charges a maker/taker fee. The trading volume and Binance Coin balance will determine the fees.
That said, the platform still charges fees for some services, such as withdrawal 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)
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 try to earn income via adding liquidity to pairs of tokens. 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.
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. 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. You can use Binance in any way you like. 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.
You can even customize how they view trading. 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 trading fees will depend on the customers’ trading history and trading volume in the past 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. Makers (those that add liquidity to the market) tend to be favored and get lower fees than takers (those that remove liquidity orders from the market).
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 | Less than 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 | 200,000,000 to 499,999,999 and 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 | Between 1,000,000,000 and 2,499,999.999999 and at most 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 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).
However, it wasn’t as rough as the year 2021 was. 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.
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
- Large 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 such as the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom.
- Not available in the United States because of regulatory issues. Even the US-specific service, Binance U.S. (a more limited version), is unavailable in some states.
- No built-in digital wallet available
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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, or Coinbase Global, Inc, is an American publicly traded company that operates as a cryptocurrency exchange platform. The platform is a distributed business, so all employees work remotely.
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.
Brian Armstrong, an ex-engineer at Airbnb, founded Coinbase in June 2012. He joined the Y Combinator incubator program and received a $150,000 cash injection.
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. They wanted to make crypto more mainstream and easy to use. That was their impetus for making Coinbase.
Coinbase is now the largest crypto exchange in America and the world, but its humble beginnings are not glamorous. In truth, Coinbase launched out of a two-bedroom apartment that was shared with another company. Crypto Card vs Binance Card
Cryptos Under Coinbase
Coinbase does not have its original coin 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: 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.
A Bitcoin (BTC-focused exchange. Coinbase has grown to offer over 150 types of cryptocurrency on the platform. You can even trade Bitcoin (BTC), and other major currencies, for smaller or 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
To make the platform more accessible, Coinbase provides two separate trading tools that users can access in 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.
Meanwhile, advanced trading offers more features, such as charts, a live order book, and even 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 is Coinbase’s feature that lets users earn free crypto in exchange 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. Besides, even a few crypto bits are always a blessing, especially 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 include tips and tutorials, as well as information about crypto basics. Market updates are also available. 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. Like the web platform, their mobile app provides user-friendly ways to buy, sell, and manage your 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 Reward
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 stake certain cryptocurrencies such as 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. Crypto Card vs Binance Card
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.
A Coinbase account allows you to apply for a Coinbase Card, which is a prepaid Visa debit credit card that can be linked to your Coinbase balance. Through it, you can spend your cryptocurrency to pay for some services (especially those services and establishments that welcome Bitcoin and 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
Coinbase offers a different kind of service than Binance, which has lower fees and more advanced training tools. Coinbase’s target market is those just beginning their crypto journey.
The platform offers tools that allow investors new to crypto trading a fast, easy, and secure way to trade. This is in line with their original goal to “make Bitcoin easier to use.”
They have provided their determination to achieve this vision by letting users earn cryptocurrency just for watching tutorial videos geared towards beginners.
However, this doesn’t mean that veteran traders have only beginner tools to use. For that, Coinbase offers Coinbase Pro. This platform is designed for experienced traders. Crypto Card vs Binance Card
Coinbase Pro is different because it was designed for professional traders. It gives them more tools that allow for greater customization of their trades. You can choose from several order types such as stop, limit or margin orders.
Users can also access real-time charting tools, trade history, order book, and 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. That said, this doesn’t mean you will pay your fees blindly. Costs are still shown when entering a trade, so you still know how much you will pay.
To be honest, this is where coinbase falls off from the competition. Its fee structure can be too complex and a little hard for the mind to wrap around. It is said that the fee structure depends on three confusing factors:
- Coinbase charges a spread for cryptocurrency purchases and sales. There is a huge charge that rates will vary depending on market fluctuations.
- Coinbase claims that fees are based on a variety of factors, including the chosen payment method, market conditions (volatility or liquidity) and 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. Crypto Card vs Binance Card
That said, Coinbase Pro’s pricing model is more straightforward. It is determined by the customer’s monthly trading volume as well as the liquidity of the asset at purchase. Also, Coinbase pro users are required to make deposits and withdrawals through a bank account.
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.
On February 16, 2018, Coinbase admitted that some customers were charged more than originally intended for their credit and debit purchases of cryptocurrencies. This was due to problems that started when banks and card issuers charged the merchant category code (MCC) of crypto purchases earlier that month.
This was due to the fact that cryptocurrency payments were classified as “cash advances”, and banks and credit card issuers may 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”
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 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. Prosecutors were provided with all the information necessary for an internal investigation by the company.
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.
- Offers simple and advanced trading depending on user preference
- Offerings a coinbase debit card that allows easy withdrawal of funds Crypto Card vs Binance Card
Cons
- Complex and convoluted fee structure that is also 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
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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.) while Kraken is widely available in the country.
There are a lot of similarities between these two platforms, with both offering advanced trading options, low fees, and even 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. Crypto Card vs Binance Card
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 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,”
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. It was launched in September 2013 and offered bitcoin, Litecoin and euro trades. Additional currencies and margin trading were to 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 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. Crypto Card vs Binance 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. Kraken was relied upon because of its proven operating history of not being breached by hackers.
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.
He was replaced as CEO by Dave Ripley.
Cryptos under Kraken
Kraken supports at least 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. Crypto Card vs Binance 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.
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.
- 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. Crypto Card vs Binance 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.
Kraken would use 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.
- 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. Margin trading is still risky.
- The fees are affordable.
While it is not the lowest in the market, the prices of Kraken’s fees are pretty competitive and on par with several 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. 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 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. Anyone can access both platforms with a Kraken Account.
Kraken is a trading platform that’s geared towards intermediate-to-experienced users. The platform is accessible to beginners if they wish. To learn the ropes, it is recommended that they begin with the Kraken central platform. Crypto Card vs Binance Card
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. Kraken Pro is intimidating for new traders. However, it is worth learning. Crypto Card vs Binance Card
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
Kraken’s fees fall in the middle of the market, as we have already stated. It is not the lowest on the market and it is not the highest. There are other factors that could affect the cost of the fees you will be paying.
Prices and fees may vary depending on the platform. Kraken Pro will always be cheaper than regular 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.
There are also additional fees that depend on how you fund your purchases. For funding with a bank account, these fees range from 0.5% to 1.5%. For a digital wallet, you can get a 25-Euro cents debit card, credit card or card at 3.75% plus 25 Eurocents. Crypto Card vs Binance Card
Meanwhile, Kraken Pro’s pricing is pretty different. The fees for Kraken Pro are generally lower than those on the main Kraken platform. Fees will be calculated based on the volume of your trades over the past 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 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
On the security side, Kraken has lived up to customer expectations and has proven itself with being the only major cryptocurrency exchange that has not been a victim of a major hack.
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 believes that this would be a bad business decision.
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
- Provides a wide range of educational material.
- Most secure exchange in the market
- Simple user interface
Cons
- Base Kraken platform has pretty expensive fees compared to the Kraken Pro version. 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. Crypto Card vs Binance Card
- Not available in all U.S. States
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Binance versus Crypto.com
Binance and Crypto.com are some of the more popular exchanges in the cryptocurrency industry. 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. Crypto Card vs Binance Card
Crypto.com Overview
Crypto.com was established in Hong Kong 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.
Crypto.com can be described as a cryptocurrency platform that allows traders and investors to do more than just buy and hold. With Crypto.com, cryptocurrency can also be currency.
Cryptos under Crypto.com
Crypto.com offers a wide selection of currencies. It support more than 250 currencies for spot trading with a subset of staking. Some of the more popular currencies available in the platform include:
- 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). Having a significant stake in this coin rewards you with lower trading fees, higher stalking interest rates, and higher credit card rewards. Crypto Card vs Binance Card
Crypto.com Perks
- One-Stop Shop
Crypto.com has a lot going for it aside from being just a plain old trading platform. You can trade cryptocurrencies and buy and sell them on the exchange.
Crypto.com lets you spend your crypto with 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. Payments made with a debit card or credit card might also be subject to a cash advance fee for crypto purchases.
- 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. Crypto.com only supports 20 fiat currencies.
These fiat currencies include USD and GBP as well as EUR. However, just because it is available for trade on Crypto.com does not mean that a fiat currency will be available to you for 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.
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.
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. Crypto Card vs Binance Card
Other cards available include Midnight Blue, Jade Green/ Royal Indigo, and the Frosted Rose Gold/ Icy White. 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
Crypto.com is more than a place to purchase tokens and coins. It’s a one-stop shop that offers everything crypto. Those who have a Crypto.com account can also earn high rates of interest. Crypto.com offers some of the highest-yielding savings accounts on 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%.
The interest rate you can acquire will depend on factors like the duration of time you leave your money, the currency you save, and the amount of CRO you have staked.
Using the app, you can increase your interest rate in multiple ways. One of them includes Staking 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.
If you make a deposit for a term of one month or more, the interest rate can be increased to 3 months. 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 are usually tied to an external reference. Some can be pegged 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 are still a volatile entity, and if it fails, your savings may be reduced… by a lot.
- Gift cards and phone top ups
Crypto.com also offers phone top-ups and gift cards. You even earn cash-back benefits by buying gift cards from several popular brands.
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.
Macy’s and Barnes & Noble are some of the brands.
How much CRO you stake and what kind of company you are will determine how much cashback you receive.
Crypto.com Trading Experience
When using Crypto.com, your trades will mostly revolve around its mobile app, which 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. Crypto Card vs Binance 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. 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. 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.
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. They are actually among the few that offer the lowest trading fees on 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.
Discounted trading fees have become available when users hold at least 5,000 CRO in their wallet. Rates go lower with larger stakes.
That said, newer Crypto.com users without any CRO staking will pay a 0.4% fee on trades with a total monthly trading volume of 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 |
Below 250,000 | 0.0750% | 0.750% |
Greater than or equal to 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 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 stated, discounts are based on the CRO stakes. Maker fees for those with stakes greater than or equal to 50,000 CRO become zero. Those who have even more may even enjoy rebates.
Crypto.com Issues
Crypto.com, like most cryptocurrency exchanges has its problems.
On January 2022, Crypto.com was the victim of a serious hack. According to reports, the company had lost US$15 Million worth of Ether. After users reported suspicious activity to their accounts, the company lost US$15 million worth of Ether. 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. Crypto.com was forced to lay off hundreds of employees that had been working since May. In October 2022 alone, it was reported that the company had to lay off at least 30% to 40% of its staff.
Their exchange token Cronos (CRO), lost $1 billion in value between November 2022 and November 2022. This was due in part to the collapse of FTX. Crypto.com CEO Marszalek reassured that the exchange was operating normally.
Crypto.com Cons and Pros
Pros
- Competitively Low fees
- There are many ways to pay with crypto
- Convert money quickly
- Great cash back rewards with Visa card Perk
- Allows you to earn interest on crypto
- Pretty big selection of cryptocurrency coins and tokens Crypto Card vs Binance Card
- Has strong security
Cons
- User interface and the exchange itself is pretty difficult to navigate
- There are limited availability of coins.
- Customer service is pretty poor and lacking in some areas
- THere is a lack of educational resources.
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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.
KuCoin is still available to its users, but most traders avoid it 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 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.
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 how the platform, which would later be known as the “People’s Exchange,” got its start.
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.
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. Crypto Card vs Binance Card
This was also the reason why the company was started in the first place: to make less mainstream currencies more prominent and to 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. 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)
Bear in mind that these are just a few selections of what you can find in 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 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. Withdrawal fees are in line with other exchanges, and depositing cryptocurrency to the service is free. That said, you will still need to pay a fee to deposit fiat money, such as U.S. dollars. Crypto Card vs Binance Card
These fees depend on the transfer method you choose and what third-party app that you use.
- Earn through interest on your crypto
KuCoin, like most cryptocurrency exchanges lets you make money with your 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. You can also lend your crypto to get the interest.
Loaning your crypto nets your interest bigger than what you’d normally get with a saving account. That said, the coin and its demand still affect how much you earn.
The exchange claims that you can make a lot of money this way, with an average earning rate of 8% to 12.5%. KuCoin makes margin trading possible by using this money. It might seem risky, but the company states that lenders will always be repaid in full.
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. Rather, you can have a computer do that 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.
The convenience bots offer may not be worth the uncertainty about how they handle your assets.
KuCoin Trading Experience
KuCoin can be accessed online or via an Android and iOS mobile application. Both have an abundance of features and tools which you can use when doing trades on the platform.
After logging into your KuCoin account on mobile or desktop, you can access KuCoin’s dashboard or front page. From there, users can do whatever they want, from viewing markets, buying, trading, and lending crypto, as well as many other activities.
The platform supports four order types. These include market order, limit or stop-limit orders, and stop-market orders.
Besides orders, users also have access to 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. Crypto Card vs Binance 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. This might be a boon to veteran traders. 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: 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 showing which trading level corresponds with 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. 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
KuCoin doesn’t have the best reputation in this industry, to be honest. You can see the extent of dissatisfaction by just looking at the reviews.
Trustpilot reviews gave it an average rating of 1.7 stars out 600 reviews. Most of these negative reviews are about problems with customer support, the withdrawal process, and even making deposits Crypto Card vs Binance Card
KuCoin was also accused of manipulating the market. Some even claimed that their assets disappeared randomly from their accounts. This can be a very big problem, especially when we talk about assets, money, and finance.
Then there is an issue of security.
KuCoin, a crypto exchange that is generally safe, was hacked in 2020. About $280 million in crypto was stolen from hot wallets and sent to hackers by the exchange. This was a serious security breach, despite the fact that all assets were covered by an insurance plan.
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.
- Payment methods are limited
- New traders can find it intimidating and overwhelming
- Has limited education resources
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Binance versus Bittrex
Bittrex is a crypto exchange that has more similarities than differences than Binance. Both have similar features that users can use. Despite being similar, the two platforms have 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.
There was once a time when Bittrex was once among the global leaders in the cryptocurrency industry. Still, Binance surpassed them after the former implemented 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 can be found in Seattle.
In the beginning, the platform only offered crypto-to-crypto trading, but it soon introduced fiat-to-crypto trading. Crypto Card vs Binance Card
Despite their new fiat trading platform, they offer many 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 offers a variety of stablecoins and cryptocurrencies on 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
- A huge selection of cryptocurrency
As stated above, Bittrex has a rather sizable option of cryptocurrency available in their market. 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% This can get lower depending on the trade volume. It is still not the lowest on 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. Investors would love this as it allows them to capitalize on the many price movements that happen in a volatile market such as cryptocurrency.
- Cardano staking
Cardano (ADA), cryptocurrency holders would be thrilled to have this platform. Bittrex allows users to stake their Cardano crypto throughout the exchange. This can earn them up to 5.5% in rewards. Crypto Card vs Binance Card
- Educational Content
We all know how complicated and elusive finances can be. So by association, cryptocurrency is just as mind-boggling and arcane. Any way you can educate yourself about the topic is a blessing.
Bittrex has an impressive library of educational resources available 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.
While it does not fully remove the risk in cryptocurrency, at least it helps users make more informed decisions. Crypto Card vs Binance Card
- Referral Program
Bittrex operates a referral program where when someone you know signs up for an exchange account and uses your referral link, you will earn 10% on all trading commissions they pay.
This may not seem 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
Bittrex trading is simple and straightforward. Users just need to log in, and then they can access their trading dashboard. It can be accessed via a desktop or mobile app.
The desktop interface offers a simple “instantbuy/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. Users also have the option to place more complex orders. You can also choose from 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 |
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 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 & Cons
Pros
- Highly secure
- A wide range of cryptocurrency available
- Very low fees
- Advanced trading tools
- Very useful educational content
Cons
- Mediocre and mostly unhelpful customer support
- Can be challenging for beginners
Binance versus eToro Crypto Card vs Binance Card
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 is not. Rather, it is 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. The Tel Aviv-based company was actually an online forex broker originally under RetailFX. This was back in 2007.
RetailFX began offering stocks, indices and commodities. It changed its name to eToro. It later launched the innovative social trading feature, which allowed users to copy trades from successful traders on the platform.
eToro only got involved in the crypto market when it added support for BTC in 2014. This enabled users to buy and sell CFDs (to non-U.S. users). The world’s most popular digital currency. It added support for Ripple and Ethereum four years later. Crypto Card vs Binance Card
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. They were not originally set up as an exchange, but rather 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. Crypto Card vs Binance Card
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.
It is completely free, which is quite surprising. There is a need to pay an additional fee for this feature, which can be used as much as the user wants.
- Invest more than just 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.
- Deposits to Fee Debit cards
Unlike most cryptocurrency exchanges, eToro does not charge fees for users who want to do a debit card deposit. Investors can deposit fiat money using a bank transfer or debit card for no additional fees.
That said, there is a conversion fee for non-U.S. dollar transactions, so users should remember that.
eToro Trading Experience
eToro is available as a simple web-based platform and a well-designed 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.
A trading tab provides an intuitive view of the current prices, buys, sales, and 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.
eToroX now offers U.S. Dollar deposits, margin trading and trading APIs. It also allows for 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 pay a flat fee of 1% for each crypto trade. This 1% market fee is added to the market price the platform calls 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. As they can no longer return them 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.
However, one did occur during the 2021 closing of leveraged positions. Early that year, European clients of the platform were notified of the following:
“Due to extreme market volatility in the crypto markets, margin positions for all leveraged crypto positions” should be changed to non-leveraged, or they would be closed within 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 was also in a feud with Redditors of /r/wallstreetbets after the GameStop short squeeze.
eToro Pros and Cons
Pros
- An established platform
- 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.
- Fee is transparent
Cons
- Stock, ETF, and cryptocurrency trading only available in 44 U.S. states
- Margin trading not available to U.S. users
- There are a few cryptocurrencies available.
- The 1% fee is quite high in comparison to other fees.