When it comes to cryptocurrency trading, there are dozens if not hundreds of exchanges to choose from. It all depends on what one is looking for exactly when trading cryptocurrencies, and whether or not fiat currency support is desired. When it comes to USD trading and Bitcoin, there are plenty of exchanges to choose from as of right now. These exchanges are not ranked in a specific order.
#6 Bitfinex
Despite having somewhat of a troubled reputation, Bitfinex is still one of the biggest exchanges in the world today. It is one of the global leaders for Bitcoin trading, but the company also supports USD trading for most of the major alternative cryptocurrencies one can think of. The company also survived a major hack, which is a further testament to its position in the industry.
#5 Coinbase Pro/Coinbase
The recently rebranded Coinbase Pro – formerly known as GDAX – is mainly targeted at individual investors. It is also a great service for wealthier people who want to get their feet wet with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Since the rebrand, Coinbase Pro has not made the biggest of impacts, but it is still too early to draw any real conclusions in this regard. Normal users can always trade on Coinbase, which remains one of the key USD gateways to the cryptocurrency industry.
#4 Bitstamp
One of the older cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, Bitstamp used to be one of the bigger competitors prior to Bitfinex and company taking over. Bitstamp is still a very reliable exchange, mainly because it supports USD trading for a handful of the top cryptocurrencies.
#3 Kraken
Although often overlooked a bit among cryptocurrency traders, Kraken is still a pretty solid exchange. Ever since its major trading engine overhaul, the service has improved significantly. It hasn’t had much of an impact on the liquidity of the company’s USD markets, which span Bitcoin and a few select altcoins. Even so, it’s still a viable option for novice traders.
#2 Gemini
Institutional investors are a key demographic for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Gemini is one of the platforms catering to these users specifically. It is a pretty well-known exchange, even though its overall trading volume often tells a different story. Its daily auctions of Bitcoin and Ethereum have not gone by unnoticed.
#1 BitMex
By far the exchange associated with most of the USD trading volume for Bitcoin these days is BitMex. Although CoinMarketCap seems to exclude its volume quite regularly, one cannot deny that this company has made a very meaningful impact. Do keep in mind that this only applies to Bitcoin derivatives trading, as that is BitMex’s main bread and butter. It is a good alternative for users who do not want to own any Bitcoin directly.
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