Best Crypto Exchanges in the United Kingdom (October 2026): 17 Ranked
We checked which crypto exchanges, brokers and apps accept residents of the United Kingdom, which hold a local licence, and which exclude the country in their own terms. 17 are ranked below; 6 well-known platforms are not available there.
By Vahe Hakobyan Updated How we rank No affiliate links · no paid places
Which crypto exchange is best in the United Kingdom?
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#17.8/10
Crypto.com
FCA-registered cryptoasset firm (MLRs), Foris DAX UK Ltd (company 12843841); FCA e-money institution
Taker fee0.50%
LicenceRegistered
App ratings86K
Read review
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#27.6/10
Coinbase
FCA-registered cryptoasset firm (MLRs), CB Payments Ltd, FRN 900635; FCA e-money institution (same FRN); MiFID investment firm FRN 1045733
Taker fee0.50%
LicenceRegistered
App ratings185K
Read review
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#37.6/10
Revolut
FCA-registered cryptoasset firm (MLRs), Revolut Ltd, FRN 900562; FCA e-money institution (same FRN)
Taker fee0.09%
LicenceRegistered
App ratings1.1M
Read review
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#47.2/10
CEX.IO
FCA-registered cryptoasset firm (MLRs), CEX.IO Markets UK Ltd, FRN 1007192
Taker fee0.25%
LicenceRegistered
App ratings2K
Read review
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#57.2/10
Kraken
FCA-registered cryptoasset firm (MLRs), Payward Ltd, FRN 928768; Payward Services Ltd FCA EMI, FRN 1010381
Taker fee0.80%
LicenceRegistered
App ratings6K
Read review
All 17 platforms for the United Kingdom, ranked
Scores out of 10 from seven published criteria. A dash means the value is not verified yet.
| # | Platform | Score | Taker fee | Local licence | App ratings | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crypto.comExchange |
7.8 | 0.50% | Registered | 86K | Review of Crypto.com |
| 2 | CoinbaseExchange |
7.6 | 0.50% | Registered | 185K | Review of Coinbase |
| 3 | RevolutBroker / app |
7.6 | 0.09% | Registered | 1.1M | Review of Revolut |
| 4 | CEX.IOExchange |
7.2 | 0.25% | Registered | 2K | Review of CEX.IO |
| 5 | KrakenExchange |
7.2 | 0.80% | Registered | 6K | Review of Kraken |
| 6 |  UpholdBroker / app |
7.1 | — Not verified | Registered | 4K | Review of Uphold |
| 7 |  Blockchain.comBroker / app |
7.0 | 0.45% | Registered | 18K | Review of Blockchain.com |
| 8 |  Bitstamp by RobinhoodExchange |
6.9 | — Not verified | Registered | 3K | Review of Bitstamp by Robinhood |
| 9 |  eToroBroker / app |
6.9 | — Not verified | Registered | 18K | Review of eToro |
| 10 |  BitpandaBroker / app |
6.8 | — Not verified | Registered | 1K | Review of Bitpanda |
| 11 |  IGBroker / app |
6.6 | — Not verified | — Not verified | 34K | Review of IG |
| 12 |  CoinJarExchange |
6.4 | — Not verified | Registered | 2K | Review of CoinJar |
| 13 |  OKXExchange · limited service |
6.4 | 0.10% | No local licence | 3K | Review of OKX |
| 14 |  BitgetExchange · limited service |
6.1 | 0.10% | No local licence | 2K | Review of Bitget |
| 15 |  BybitExchange · limited service |
6.0 | 0.10% | No local licence | 5K | Review of Bybit |
| 16 |  WhiteBITExchange · limited service |
5.7 | 0.10% | No local licence | — Not verified | Review of WhiteBIT |
| 17 |  KuCoinExchange · limited service |
5.6 | 0.10% | No local licence | — Not verified | Review of KuCoin |
Crypto regulation and how we rank in the United Kingdom
Buying and holding crypto is legal for UK residents. Since 10 January 2020 any cryptoasset exchange or custodian wallet business carried on in the UK must be registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017; this is an anti-money-laundering registration, not consumer protection, so crypto holdings have no FSCS or Ombudsman cover. Since 8 October 2023 crypto marketing to UK consumers must come from, or be approved by, an FCA-authorised or registered firm (financial promotions regime); offshore exchanges without their own registration (OKX, Bybit, Bitget) serve the UK on promotions approved by Archax, and crypto derivatives remain banned for retail clients. A full FSMA authorisation regime for cryptoasset firms starts on 25 October 2027 (application window 30 September 2026 – 28 February 2027); existing MLR registrations will not convert automatically.
Each platform gets a score from 0 to 10. Access and the local licence carry the most weight; security, fees, the range of coins and products, the number of ratings of its app in the local App Store and the quality of the data make up the rest. Only official sources are used: the platforms' own terms and the regulator's public register. A dash means we could not verify a value.
- Access in the United Kingdom20%
- Local licence20%
- Security record15%
- Cost15%
- Range10%
- Popularity15%
- Data quality5%
Popular exchanges not available in the United Kingdom
These platforms exclude residents of the United Kingdom in their own terms, or the regulator has barred them. They are listed for reference only, without ranks or sign-up links. Using a VPN or false details to get around a restriction breaks the platform's terms and can end with a frozen account.
BinanceExchange
Binance "will stop accepting new UK users and will no longer provide any new products and services to existing UK users".
Source: binance.com/en/square/post/1373728 · checked Oct 6, 2026
BitfinexExchange
UK residents who created an account on or after 1 November 2023 are not eligible for individual account verification (UK financial promotions regime).
Source: blog.bitfinex.com/announcements/notice-to-bitfinex-customers-uk… · checked Oct 6, 2026
GateExchange
Restricted Locations include "... Bolivia, United Kingdom, Myanmar ..."
Source: gate.com/help/guide/faq/40959/restricted-locations · checked Oct 6, 2026
GeminiExchange
"Effective 6 April 2026, Gemini has ceased operations in the United Kingdom"
Source: support.gemini.com/hc/en-gb/articles/46255474469275-Gemini-closi… · checked Oct 6, 2026
HTX (formerly Huobi)Exchange
FCA: "This firm may be providing or promoting financial services or products without our permission."
Source: fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-action-against-htx-il… · checked Oct 6, 2026
MEXCExchange
MEXC does not "accept registration of Users" in "... the United States, the United Kingdom ..."; FCA: "You should avoid dealing with this firm."
Source: mexc.com/terms · checked Oct 6, 2026
Crypto exchange rankings in other countries
FAQ
Is crypto trading legal in the United Kingdom?
Buying and holding crypto is legal for UK residents. Since 10 January 2020 any cryptoasset exchange or custodian wallet business carried on in the UK must be registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017; this is an anti-money-laundering registr…
Which crypto exchange is best in the United Kingdom?
There is no single best platform for everyone. In our data Crypto.com has the highest score, followed by Coinbase and Revolut. Compare fees, the local licence and the coins you need.
Is Binance available in the United Kingdom?
No. Binance "will stop accepting new UK users and will no longer provide any new products and services to existing UK users".
Is Coinbase available in the United Kingdom?
Yes. CB Payments Ltd is FCA-registered for cryptoasset activities (FRN 900635), an FCA e-money institution and, from 2026, a MiFID investment firm (FRN 1045733); UK user agreement in force as of 2026-10-06.
Is Bybit available in the United Kingdom?
Yes. Bybit returned to the UK in December 2025 with spot trading and P2P only, under promotions approved by FCA-authorised Archax (approval dated 19/12/2025); Bybit has no FCA registration of its own.
Are crypto exchanges insured?
Crypto held on an exchange is generally not covered by deposit insurance. Check what the platform says about client asset protection, and consider a wallet you control for long-term holdings.
How often is this ranking updated?
Monthly. Each platform shows the date its status in the United Kingdom was last checked, with the source.
Not financial advice. This page is general information. Crypto prices are volatile and you can lose everything you put in.
How we make money. World-Crypt has no affiliate links on this page and earns nothing when you open an account. No platform has paid for its place.
Corrections. Found an error? Write to us through the contact page with the platform and the source.