10 Best UK Crypto Exchanges in 2025

Since crypto has been recognized by the FCA as an asset, the fear around investing in crypto has since softened. With so many options available on the market, finding the best crypto exchange in the UK that is secure and easy to use is not as easy as it seems. First, you need to consider if the exchange has SAFU, then a formidable double-encrypted security system.

To help make your decision-making easier and faster, we asked around, researched, and tested dozens of exchanges first-hand, and narrowed your choices down to the top 10 most reliable platforms.

When you read through, you will learn more about our recommendations, and we will also show you which key areas to focus your research on when choosing the best place to buy crypto in the UK. Even though there are some of the best crypto tax software to make taxation easy, we will discuss crypto taxation in the UK, walk you through the process of joining a crypto exchange, and how to get your account ready for trading.

Key Takeaways

• The best UK crypto exchanges in 2025 are LBank, eToro, Gemini, Cex.io, PrimeXBT, Kraken, ECXX, Changelly, BitoPro & Binance.
• Choosing the ideal exchange is an important decision that can affect every aspect of your trading experience.
• The quickest way to separate the good from the bad picks is to only look at licensed crypto exchanges.
• As crypto exchanges don’t provide insurance, you also need to look for platforms that provide adequate security measures.
• To maximize your crypto trading returns, you want to trade on a highly liquid exchange with minimal trading fees.
• Mobile crypto apps provide valuable additional features, so be sure to consider them when making your choice.
• In addition to reading about them, be sure to test out the exchanges in practice before making your final choice.

Best Crypto Exchanges UK 2025 Are…

Compare UK Crypto Exchanges

How to Choose a Good Crypto Trading Platform in the UK?

Your choice of crypto exchange can have a great impact on your overall trading experience. A great exchange is one that is easy to use, secure, and offers a wide range of features without feeling overly complicated or cluttered. It can support your trading strategy and give you a fair chance of being profitable.

A lousy exchange may not meet your standards in terms of security, support, or charge you excessive fees. What’s more, a shady exchange may even be shut down by the authorities, or even steal your funds and disappear without a trace.

This is why, when we look for the best crypto trading platform in the UK, we pay special attention to the key criteria that make all the difference, including:

• License & Regulation Compliance
• GBP Payments
• High Standard Security
• Minimal Trading Fees
• High Liquidity
• Modern Trading Software
• 24/7 Customer Support
• Large Choice of Crypto Assets
• Any Kind of Insurance
• Reputation and History

To help you understand what to look for when choosing the best UK cryptocurrency exchange for your needs, we will break down each of these factors and explain why they are important.

License & Regulation Compliance

The first thing you should verify when considering any crypto trading platform is its licensing and regulatory status. Crypto licenses are official stamps of approval, issued by the relevant financial authorities to exchanges that meet the regulatory requirements in terms of security, financial stability, and user protections within their operation.

In other words, not every crypto platform can qualify for the license, and this can help you filter out the potentially risky or unreliable exchanges from the start. Granted, there are some exchanges that are licensed in other countries but lack the specific permits for operating in the UK, but even trading on them is risky as they can close your account for non-compliance.

GBP Payments

Another key feature to watch out for when looking for the best UK cryptocurrency brokers is support for direct GBP deposits. Support for the local fiat currency suggests a commitment to serving the local market and catering to the specific needs of UK-based crypto traders.

Crypto exchanges that accept direct deposits in GBP typically also support faster and more convenient transfers with local UK banks, as well as e-wallets popular with British users, such as PayPal, Revolut, and Skrill.

What’s more, by allowing them to deposit directly in GBP, these exchanges help users avoid currency conversion fees and make the process cheaper, quicker, and more accessible.

High Standard Security

It goes without saying that the best digital currency exchange in the UK has to be safe, secure, and equipped with advanced technological safeguards that can help users protect their funds from cyberthreats. Some of the key features to watch out for include:

• Biometric verification (face scanning, fingerprint ID)
• Options to move coins to cold storage
• Two-factor authentication (2FA)
• Suspicious behavior alerts and notifications
• Security key integration
• Withdrawals, whitelisting, and IP address restrictions
• End-to-end encryption

Activating these features can drastically improve your account’s security posture and make it more resilient to hacking, phishing attempts, and unauthorized access breaches.

Minimal Trading Fees

Trading fees are another important factor that traders must consider when choosing which crypto exchange is the right fit for them. While all platforms charge some type of fee to cover the costs of their operation, their fee structures differ and align differently with various trading styles and strategies. For example:

• Flat fees, which charge the same rate for every trade, may be the better option for traders who appreciate their transparency and predictability.
• Taker/maker models, which charge lower fees when you add liquidity and higher fees when you take it, are sometimes preferred by advanced traders.
• Tiered fee structures, which provide discounts based on monthly trading volume, are usually the better option for active traders.

In addition to the trading fees, it is also important that you consider the other types of fees the exchange may be charging, such as withdrawal fees, as these can also eat away at your earnings.

High Liquidity

Another one of the most essential factors you want to take into account when choosing a crypto exchange is liquidity. The best UK crypto exchange has to be a highly liquid platform that is capable of filling your orders without any delays or price slippage.

For those that may not be familiar with its concept, liquidity is the difficulty or ease with which an exchange can execute trades at the market price. Because crypto exchanges use a matchmaking system to fill the users’ orders, they must have enough active buyers and sellers at any given time to operate smoothly.

Illiquid exchanges that don’t have enough volume or active users can struggle to fill orders at the market price, so they delay their execution or adjust the price to match what’s available for the requested trade. You want to avoid such platforms.

Modern Trading Software

After accounting for the essentials, like reliability and affordability, you can focus your research on usability and functionality. As we mentioned earlier, the best UK crypto trading platform must offer a comprehensive set of features and tools, but still be easy to use.

When evaluating an exchange’s software, you want to focus on:

• Its interface and overall design - is it intuitive and easy to use
• Its market monitoring features - real-time data, price alerts, live order book tracking
• Its analysis and charting tools - indicators and overlays
• Its portfolio management features - performance tracking, transaction history
• Its order execution system - does it provide advanced order types, like limit, stop-loss, and take-profit
• Its customization options - how much you can adjust to best fit your preference

In addition, you ideally want the exchange to deliver the same user-friendly experience on both PCs and mobile devices, so that you can stay connected at all times.

24/7 Customer Support

Customer support is another important, but often overlooked, consideration when picking out a crypto exchange. Delayed withdrawals, failed transactions, or other types of technical issues associated with your funds can be very frustrating. To avoid stressful situations, we suggest you take customer support quality into account when making your choice.

As even the best digital platforms are not immune to occasional hangups, delays, and bugs, having access to a responsive and helpful customer support team is more than necessary. Try to opt for a reliable platform that offers 24/7 assistance through multiple channels to ensure you get the help when you need it the most.

Large Choice of Crypto Assets

A wide range of supported cryptocurrencies is another key quality that defines the best cryptocurrency exchanges in the UK. In order to allow investors to create a well-rounded and diversified portfolio, the platform must grant them access to all types of coins, including:

• Major coins like BTC and ETH
• Legacy altcoins like BCH, BSV, and LTC
• Stablecoins like USDT and USDC
• Popular altcoins with great utility like BNB, SOL, ADA, and DOT
• Coins essential for DeFi activities like ATOM, AVAX, and UNI
• Meme coins like DOGE, SHIB, and PEPE

Each of these coins has its own value and serves different purposes, like price appreciation, hedging, paying lower trading fees, making fast and cheap transactions, staking, providing liquidity, cross-chain bridging, and others. A successful trader knows how to use all of them to maximize their returns.

Any Kind of Insurance

Crypto exchanges are not regulated by the same consumer protection frameworks like traditional financial institutions, such as banks and credit unions. As virtual asset service providers, crypto exchanges are not legally obligated to provide any coverage in case of a loss to their users, so most crypto exchanges don’t have any insurance policies.

Only the absolute best UK cryptocurrency brokers voluntarily offer limited coverage against certain types of incidents, such as large-scale hacks or internal security breaches. In other words, breaches that the platform itself is responsible for.

Not even these platforms cover individual losses caused by account credential mismanagement or phishing attacks, so be sure to keep your account as safe and secure as possible.

Reputation and History

In addition to the platform’s practical qualities, finding the best UK digital currency exchange will also require a bit of digging into its background. Doing some research on important details like:

• Who is behind the exchange, and are their credentials and affiliations public?
• Has the exchange been involved in lawsuits, regulatory actions, or any other controversies?
• Has it experienced security breaches in the past, and how has it dealt with such issues?

can be very revealing and have a massive impact on your decision.

Additionally, you should also look for user feedback and see what other traders have to say about the exchange. The crypto community is not shy to point out its concerns and complaints about a platform’s operations, so checking trusted review websites, social media groups, and crypto forums can also reveal valuable insights.

Crypto Apps in the UK - Why Are They Important?

One final consideration you need to take into account when doing your research is the mobile experience. Mobile crypto apps are much more than mere extensions of their desktop counterparts and offer enhanced functionality to several features and capabilities, such as:

• Biometric verification using your smartphone’s camera or fingerprint sensor
• Signing transactions by scanning QR codes using the device's camera
• Monitoring market shifts from anywhere, at any time
• Quickly reacting and capitalizing on market trends
• Push notifications for price changes, trade execution, or other important events

In other words, when used right, these apps deliver additional value, so you should consider making them a part of your trading strategy.

Luckily, all the top crypto exchanges we discussed earlier have mobile apps that offer these features as a part of their service offerings, so you probably won’t have to conduct any additional research to find the best crypto app in the UK.

How To Register on a UK Crypto Exchange

Now that you know how to find the best UK crypto exchange for your trading needs, it is time you learn how to create an account with it and prepare for your first trade. We broke down the entire process into five easy-to-follow steps:

Step 1 - Registering an Account

• Go to the exchange’s official website, or download its official app from your mobile device’s app store.
• Click or tap on the “Register” or “Sign Up” button.
• Fill out the application form with the necessary information and follow the onscreen instructions to complete your registration.

Step 2 - Activating Your Account

• Most exchanges will require you to activate your new account before they allow you to log in and start using their services.
• Check your email inbox for the activation email sent from the exchange.
• Click or tap on the confirmation link attached to the activation email.
• Log in to the exchange.

Step 3 - Verifying Your Identity (KYC)

• Before you are able to make any transactions, you will also need to pass the KYC identity verification procedure.
• Initiate the KYC process from the platform.
• Submit the necessary documentation that confirms your identity.
• Await your approval.

Step 4 - Increasing Your Security

• We strongly recommend you maximize your account’s security before you start making trades.
• Go to the security settings and enable two-factor authentication.
• From the exchange’s mobile app, activate the biometric verification.

Step 5 - Funding Your Account

• Deposit either cryptocurrencies or fiat currencies into your account to start trading. If you don’t know how to:
• Here’s a guide on how to send crypto from wallet to wallet
• Here’s a guide on how to buy crypto with a credit card

After completing the above steps, your account will be secured, funded, and completely prepared for trading.

Crypto Taxes in the UK - What You Need to Know

Given that you are someone who is interested in finding the best place to buy crypto in the UK, we thought it’d be a good idea to remind you about your taxation obligations.

In the UK, the HMRC classifies cryptocurrencies as digital properties for taxation purposes, and subjects crypto users to both income tax and capital gains tax. To make it easier for you to understand which type of tax is applied when and where, we created this table breakdown with some of the most common crypto activities:

To get the most accurate and up-to-date information on your tax rates, brackets, yearly allowances, and other important details, be sure to check the official HMRC website.

How to File Taxes on Crypto in the UK

Now that you know a little bit more about crypto taxation rules in the UK, let’s see how you can go about filing your taxes. Here is a simple step-by-step guide that explains the whole process:

Step 1 - Collect your complete crypto transaction history

1. Log in to every exchange, wallet, or any type of platform you used this year.
2. Find and export your full transaction data.
3. Download your transaction history as CSV.

Step 2 - Organize your crypto transactions

1. To start, separate the taxable from the non-taxable transactions.
2. Then, categorize the taxable transactions into:
3. Transactions subject to CGT.
4. Transactions subject to income tax.

Step 3 - Add up the totals

1. Calculate the total gains of the transactions subject to CGT.
2. Calculate the total income of the transactions subject to income tax and add them to your other earnings to determine your total taxable income.

Step 4 - Calculate your taxes

1. Based on the totals, you should now know which rates apply.
2. Calculate your CGT taxes according to your income band and the CGT rates.
3. Calculate the income taxes according to your total taxable income.

Step 5 - Generate a tax report

1. Either with the help of a crypto tax software or manually using a spreadsheet
2. Generate a full crypto tax report.
3. Double-check the report and make sure all transactions are accounted for correctly.

Step 6 - File your taxes

1. Go to the HMRC website.
2. Find the Self-Assessment tax return section.
3. Submit your completed tax return.

As a final tip, keep in mind that using a capable crypto tax tool can make this process significantly easier and reduce the chances of error, so consider using one when filing your taxes. If you need any additional help with crypto taxation in the UK, be sure to consult a professional tax advisor.

Final Tips

Considering that every trader has their own personal preference, there is no single, objectively best cryptocurrency exchange in the UK. Fortunately, the UK crypto market has several options that make a strong case and meet our lofty standards in terms of security, reliability, and user experience, so you can take your pick.

As our final tip, we’d like to encourage you to try out as many crypto exchanges in practice as you can before making your decision. While gathering information and reading reviews is undoubtedly helpful, testing the exchange hands-on can give you a much better feel for its usability and features.

Frequently Asked Questions