The ranking · verified August 2026
Best crypto exchanges, ranked by evidence
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| # | Exchange | Score | Spot taker | Proof-of-reserves | Founded | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | OKX | 8.4 | 0.1% | Yes ✓ | 2017 | VisitNot available in your region |
| 02 | Bybit | 8.4 | 0.1% | Yes ✓ | 2018 | No partner link: we have no relationship with Bybit |
| 03 | Coinbase | 8.1 | 0.6% | Not published | 2012 | VisitNot available in your region |
| 04 | Kraken | 8.0 | 0.4% | Yes ✓ | 2011 | VisitNot available in your region |
| 05 | Binance | 7.6 | 0.1% | Yes ✓ | 2017 | No link: no MiCA licence, EU sign-ups suspended since July 2026 |
| 06 | KuCoin | 7.1 | 0.1% | Yes ✓ | 2017 | No link: guilty plea in the US (2025), one licence only |
Fees depend on how you trade. Try the fee calculator to see the real cost on your volume, take the 30-second match quiz, or read our 2026 fee & transparency report.
The verdict on each
Among the lowest base spot fees (0.08% maker / 0.10% taker). US guilty plea and $505M penalty in 2025 over unlicensed money transmission.
Low 0.10% base spot fee and competitive derivatives fees. Suffered the largest exchange hack on record ($1.5B) in Feb 2025.
Publicly listed, US-regulated and audited — strong transparency and compliance posture. Higher base trading fees than most competitors (especially on the retail interface).
Long operating history (since 2011) with no customer-fund hack. Base spot fees (0.25%/0.40%) higher than the cheapest competitors.
Deepest liquidity and largest spot trading volume globally. Significant regulatory history including a $4.3B US settlement and guilty plea by its founder.
Very large selection of altcoins and early listings (~900+ assets). Pleaded guilty to US charges and exited the US market (2025).
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FAQ
How did you rank these exchanges?
Purely by our published five-pillar score (Fees, Security, Regulation, Assets, UX). Ranking order equals score order — commissions never change the order. See our methodology.
What's the safest crypto exchange?
On our security pillar, the highest scorers publish proof-of-reserves, use cold storage, and have clean or fully-reimbursed incident histories. Check each review's security score. For long-term holdings, a hardware wallet is safer than any exchange.
Which exchange has the lowest fees?
Base spot taker fees among our reviewed exchanges range from 0.10% to 0.60% (OKX's maker fee is lower still, at 0.08%). The comparison table above shows each one — but the cheapest headline fee isn't always the best overall once security and regulation are weighed.