Top 8 Crypto Exchanges of January 2026

Cryptocurrency has seen large-scale adoption in the past few years, with a global user base of 1.2 billion. This influx can be attributed to various factors, such as growing institutional adoption and integration of crypto into mainstream traditional financial systems. Although there is a growth in the number of users, there is also a need for awareness about how to navigate the space.

Exchanges are a core part of the crypto ecosystem, and for a new user, it can be intimidating to pick an exchange to start trading. Here are some of our top picks for the best exchanges in the space:

1. Coinbase

Coinbase was founded in 2012 and started out as a simple Bitcoin buying platform with the aim of making crypto accessible to everyday users. It is regarded as one of the most compliant and institution-friendly exchanges around the world for both retail and large-scale users. 

They have more than 250 cryptocurrencies and fiat support while also following a strong compliance and KYC framework. It has various services like a simple buy/sell crypto function, staking and reward options, a crypto debit card, and DeFi and dApp access. The platform is very popular for its beginner-friendly interface and simple buying process. The Advanced Trade function is great for experienced users who want more control over their trades, lower fees, and deeper market insights. 

2. MEXC

Founded in 2018 with the aim of offering an easy-to-use crypto trading platform that would meet the needs of both new and advanced traders, MEXC has established itself as one of the reputable exchanges in the space. The platform offers zero maker and competitive taker fees along with high leverage options. It is known for listing new and low-cap altcoins before many other exchanges and has more than 2000 cryptocurrency selections. 

MEXC offers futures and spot trading along with grid bots and cold wallet storage for user funds. For advanced traders, there are charting options available along with similar tools, whereas for beginner traders, they have demo trading environments. 

3. OKX

The platform originally started out in 2017 and rebranded from OKEx to OKX in 2022, unifying its global operations and broadening its focus beyond just trading. It evolved into a complete ecosystem that has grown over the years, offering a wide suite of products and services.

OKX supports spot trading, leveraged margin trading, futures, and perpetual swaps with up to 100X leverage. There are also options trading with automated strategies and APIs for algorithmic trading. The platform supports 350+ cryptocurrencies and 500+ trading pairs as well.

4. Kraken

Kraken is one of the oldest crypto exchanges in the space. Founded in 2011 with the aim of building a secure and transparent platform, it has evolved from offering basic spot trading to a full suite of services like margin, futures contracts, and much more. 

It supports 500+ cryptocurrencies and over 1000+ trading pairs. The Kraken Pro platform, designed especially for advanced and intermediate traders, also has several features and tools. This includes advanced order types that let users set stop-loss and take-profit orders. Over 95% of customer funds are held in cold storage, and regular audits are conducted by the platform.  

5. Bitget

Bitget is a global cryptocurrency exchange that was started in 2018 and works as a spot and derivatives exchange with a signature copy trading feature, which lets users follow the trades of experienced traders automatically. The platform caters to both new and experienced traders alike with tools for manual trading, automated strategies, bots, and social trading. 

Buying and selling cryptocurrencies with a standard maker/taker fee, and offers leveraged trading and token discounts. Bitget also has cold wallet storage and 2FA designed for security and transparency. 

6. WhiteBIT

WhiteBIT started out as a secure and easy-to-use blockchain trading platform. It started out in 2018 and provides spot, margin, and futures trading options. The platform has a native token called WBT that provides users with benefits such as trading fee discounts, affiliate rewards, and premium features depending on tiers.  

96% of assets are held in cold wallets, and there is also a staking and earning option available for users. WhiteBIT also has a launchpad that gives early access to new tokens, and users can also participate in community voting with the WBT token. 

7. Crypto.com 

Crypto.com is a major exchange that allows users to buy and sell 400+ cryptocurrencies and also provides up to 100X leverage on futures and perpetual contracts. Users can also earn interest on holdings and get payouts for assets like BTC, ETH, and stablecoins. They also have their own NFT marketplace where users can mint, buy, sell, and trade NFTs. 

The platform also offers Visa-powered cards with up to 8% cashback depending on the card tier. The wallet is also non-custodial, where users can hold their own private keys and interact directly with decentralized exchanges, DeFi swaps, and earning protocols. 

8. Bitpanda

Bitpanda was founded in 2014 with the mission to make investing simple and accessible for everyone. Users can buy, sell, and swap 100+ crypto assets and also have access to stocks and ETFs.

The platform also has staking options that help users earn rewards and the Bitpanda card that lets users spend crypto, stocks, or precious metals anywhere that Visa cards are accepted, along with a 1% cashback. Bitpanda also has an academy where users can learn more about finance, investing, crypto, and much more. 

Final word

Finding the right exchange can be different for everyone; rather than picking out a single best platform, it is more about selecting what is right for an individual user’s needs. All the exchanges mentioned above excel in their own ways; however, it depends on the user requirements to pick the right one.

 While our guide is comprehensive and covers the features, history, and other details about these top 10 exchanges, it is upon the user to do their own research before picking the right one.

Disclaimer. Readers are encouraged to do their own research. Ambcrypto is not liable for any outcomes related to the use of information, products, or services mentioned. This content may include affiliate or partner links.