Select the Best Cryptocurrency Exchange for Your Goals
What Is a Cryptocurrency Exchange?
Cryptocurrency exchanges are platforms that allow traders to buy and sell cryptocurrencies, derivatives and other crypto-related assets. Nowadays, there is a wide variety of crypto exchanges to choose from, and they all have advantages in one aspect or another. Find out more about the best crypto exchanges, and select the one to help you meet your crypto-related investment goals.
Top Crypto Exchanges Globally
Crypto exchanges first started emerging with the release of the Bitcoin white paper in 2008. Ever since the original cryptocurrency launched globally, crypto exchanges began looking for ways to make crypto-trading legal and accessible to more people.
The first couple of years after the release of Bitcoin were quite turbulent, with many exchanges tumbling under legislative pressure. However, some of the top crypto exchanges of the time managed to persevere and become leaders, holding their position to the present day.
One of the most prominent names in the crypto exchanges industry is Binance . Founded in 2017, the exchange quickly reached the number one spot by trade volumes, registering more than USD 36 billion in trades by the beginning of 2021.
Gemini is another big name in the cryptocurrency exchange sphere. Founded in 2014 by none other than the Winklevoss twins, Gemini has managed to solidify its position in the charts with more than USD 175 million in trading volume generated. Not only that, but the Winklevoss brothers also launched the Gemini Dollar token .
Last but not least, there is Coinbase , the largest exchange by trading volume in the United States, and probably the most prominent name out there. Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam founded Coinbase in 2012, and today it has customers in more than one hundred and ninety countries globally. The exchange processes large trading volumes, reaching a total of more than USD 2 billion at the beginning of 2021.
How Do Crypto Exchanges Make Money?
There are several different methods in which cryptocurrency exchanges can make a profit. All of these involve the introduction of fees for processing transactions.
Probably the most popular transaction fee is percentage-based: this means that the exchange charges the trader a percentage of the traded value to complete the transaction. Percentage fees vary significantly between platforms, which is why it is essential to do your research before selecting an exchange to work with.
Some exchanges also offer a flat-fee charge, which does not take into account the amount of traded cryptocurrency but charges a set amount for every successful transaction. This might be a good choice for big-time traders looking to exchange large amounts of cryptocurrency, as a percentage-based fee would probably be higher.
Best Crypto Exchanges for Trading Derivatives
Crypto derivatives and exchange-traded notes (ETNs) are assets backed by different cryptocurrencies. Exchanges started introducing derivative trading as the cryptocurrency market grew and started attracting more customers. Options and futures are two of the most common types of derivatives.
ETNs, on the other hand, are unsecured debt securities, with a fluctuating price following an underlying index of securities. Much like stocks, ETNs are an attractive trade option, which is why exchanges started introducing them to their platforms.
Huobi Global , founded in 2013, is one of the top crypto exchanges to trade derivatives. It offers a percentage fee charged on each trade, with a takers fee of 0.04%. Huobi is one of the longest-lasting exchanges globally, surviving through China’s ban on Bitcoin trading. The platform launched several international exchanges in 2017, and 2018, including ones in Japan and Singapore. Huobi is also the second-largest exchange in terms of traded derivatives, following behind Binance.
Another option is FTX , which was solely created to facilitate the trade of crypto derivatives. FTX has maker and taker fees similar to those of Binance and Huobi; however, an impressive fact about the exchange is that it has been operational for only about two years as of 2021. Founded in 2019, FTX has quickly made a name for itself in the crypto derivatives niche.
Trading crypto derivatives has never been easier. With cryptocurrency’s rise in popularity, derivatives and ETNs become increasingly sought after as well. Crypto exchanges have progressively started launching derivative trading options on their platforms. However, one thing to keep in mind is that trading crypto derivatives comes with a certain amount of risk, just like with any other type of investment.
Play-to-Earn Tokens on Exchanges
Play-to-earn (P2E) games are one of the latest and biggest trends to emerge in the crypto space. Unlike traditional gaming models, players now have the opportunity to earn an income by participating in these games.
One of the most popular P2E games is Axie Infinity, a Pokémon-inspired game. Players collect Axies (NFTs of digital pets), breed and battle them against other players to earn Smooth Love Potion (SLP) — the in-game reward token. This is extremely popular in developing countries like the Philippines, where players can earn a decent income. Players in the Philippines can find out the SLP value today and cash out their earnings on crypto exchanges that support the SLP trading pair — such as Binance.