Best crypto brokers and exchanges compared (2026): fees, custody and regulation

Crypto broker checklist

• Product type — Spot coins vs CFDs/derivatives. Different custody and risk.
• Security & custody — Who holds the keys? How are client assets kept apart from the company's? Is two-factor authentication available and switched on?
• Fees — Trading fees, spreads, deposit/withdrawal and network costs.
• Liquidity & pairs — Major pairs (BTC, ETH) vs thinly traded altcoins with wider spreads.
• Regulation & residency — Availability depends on your country. Read the fine print.

Crypto exchange vs crypto CFD broker: what is the difference?

• Spot exchange or broker — you buy the actual coins, for example bitcoin or ether. The provider usually holds them for you (custody), and you can often withdraw them to your own wallet. Your maximum loss is the money you put in.
• Crypto CFDs — you trade a contract on the price and never own the coins, so you cannot withdraw them. Retail leverage on crypto CFDs is capped at 2:1 in the EU and Australia, and crypto CFDs cannot be sold to retail clients in the UK. You pay overnight financing on positions you hold, which adds up over weeks and months.
• Exchange-traded notes and products — listed securities that track a crypto-asset, bought through a stock broker. In the UK, retail clients can buy crypto ETNs only if they are traded on a UK recognised investment exchange.

If you are not sure which you are buying, read the product name and key information document: “CFD”, “contract” or a leverage setting means you do not own the coins.

Crypto regulation in the EU and UK: what to check in 2026

• European Union: MiCA — Under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, firms that offer crypto services in the EU must be authorised as crypto-asset service providers (CASPs). The transition period for firms working under older national rules ended on 1 July 2026. ESMA says unauthorised providers must stop taking on new EU clients and wind down in an orderly way, and it asks clients to check their provider on the ESMA register and move their assets if it is not authorised.
• Custody rules under MiCA — Authorised CASPs must protect clients' ownership rights, must not use client crypto for their own account, and must keep client holdings legally and operationally separate from their own.
• United Kingdom — Crypto firms that provide in-scope services in the UK must register with the FCA under the money-laundering rules before they start, and since 8 October 2023 crypto promotions to UK consumers must meet the FCA's financial promotion rules. FCA registration is an anti-money-laundering check, not an endorsement: the FCA says that for most cryptoassets you are unlikely to have FSCS protection or access to the Financial Ombudsman Service if something goes wrong.
• No compensation safety net — MiCA requires crypto-asset white papers to state that the crypto-assets are not covered by investor compensation or deposit guarantee schemes. If a provider fails or is hacked, getting your coins back can take years or may not happen.

Crypto fees explained: how to compare the real cost

Crypto platforms charge in several places, and the cheapest-looking one is not always the cheapest:

• Spread — “Simple” buy buttons often build a markup into the price instead of showing a separate fee.
• Trading fee — order-book exchanges usually charge a percentage per trade, often lower for orders that add liquidity (maker) than for orders that take it (taker).
• Deposit and withdrawal fees — card payments are usually dearer than bank transfers. Withdrawing coins to a wallet adds a network fee that changes with blockchain congestion.
• Financing on CFDs — a daily charge for holding a leveraged position overnight.

Compare a full round trip: if you buy 1,000 euros of bitcoin and sell it later, a combined spread and fee of 1% each way costs about 20 euros before any price change, plus any withdrawal or network fee. Check each provider's own fee page for the figures that apply to your country and payment method.

Custody and security: keeping your crypto safe

• Custodial accounts — the provider holds the keys. It is convenient, but you rely on the provider's security and solvency.
• Self-custody wallets — you hold the keys. Nobody can freeze your coins, but if you lose your recovery phrase nobody can restore them.
• Account security — use a unique password, turn on two-factor authentication with an authenticator app or security key, and turn on withdrawal address allow-lists if the provider offers them.
• Scams — nobody legitimate will ask for your recovery phrase. Be wary of “guaranteed” returns, unsolicited messages and fake support accounts on social media.

How to choose a crypto broker: 7 steps

1. Pick the product. Decide between owning coins, a listed note or a CFD before you compare providers.
2. Find the legal entity for your country. It is usually in the website footer or terms of service.
3. Check its authorisation. In the EU, search the ESMA register of MiCA-authorised CASPs; in the UK, check the FCA register.
4. Read the custody terms. Find out who holds your coins, whether you can withdraw them and what happens if the company fails.
5. Price a round trip. Add spread, fees, deposit, withdrawal and network costs for the amount you plan to use.
6. Lock down the account. Turn on two-factor authentication and withdrawal allow-lists before you deposit.
7. Start small. Make a small deposit and withdrawal first, and only invest money you can afford to lose completely.

For a broader checklist that also covers forex and stock brokers, see how to choose a broker. If you also trade currencies, compare costs and leverage in our forex brokers guide.

OpenBook crypto shortlist

Brokers from our comparator that mention crypto markets. Some offer crypto only as CFDs. Always confirm the product type, supported assets, entity and availability in your country yourself.