Best Crypto Exchanges in the USA: 115 Platforms Ranked
Updated October 5, 2026. We checked 115 platforms that accept US residents and 47 well-known exchanges that do not. Each is scored on seven published criteria, and each has its own review with the sources behind every value.
By Vahe Hakobyan Updated How we rank No affiliate links · no paid places · Disclosures
Which crypto exchange is best in the US?
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#1
8.0/10
Coinbase
All-in-one US platform
Taker fee1.20%
StatesAll 50 + DC
Coins360
Read review
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#2
8.0/10
Robinhood
Commission-free crypto with transfers
Taker fee0.95%
StatesAll 50 + DC
Coins100
Read review
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#3
7.8/10
Crypto.com
Crypto, stocks and predictions
Taker fee— Not verified
States50 of 51
Coins400
Read review
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#4
7.6/10
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley
Existing E*TRADE clients
Taker fee— Not verified
States— Not verified
Coins3
Read review
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#5
7.4/10
Kraken
Margin and perpetuals traders
Taker fee0.80%
States49 of 51
Coins— Not verified
Read review
There is no single best exchange for every American; the right one depends on your state, what you trade and how much you pay in fees. In our October 2026 data, Coinbase has the highest overall score (8.0/10), followed by Robinhood and Crypto.com. Coinbase and Kraken are the two names that appear most often across other published rankings: 25 of the 27 roundups we reviewed include each of them.
All 115 platforms, ranked
Scores out of 10 from seven published criteria. A dash means the value is not verified yet.
How we rank
This ranking is desk research. We read each platform's fee schedule, terms, license pages and regulator records, and we record the page and date behind every value. We did not open accounts or place trades, and we say so rather than imply testing we did not do.
A blank cell means we could not verify the value. It does not mean "no" or "zero". Scores are recalculated from the data file whenever it changes, and the formula is published with the dataset.
- US access20%
- Regulation20%
- Security record15%
- Cost15%
- Range10%
- Popularity15%
- Data quality5%
How to choose
- Your state. Licensing is state by state. New York is the most restricted: 22 of the 115 platforms here do not serve New York residents.
- How you buy. The same platform can charge very different amounts for an instant purchase and for an order on its advanced screen.
- Who holds the coins. Crypto held on an exchange is not covered by FDIC or SIPC insurance.
Six kinds of platform, and who each one suits
Centralized exchanges hold your funds and match orders on an order book. They offer the lowest trading fees and the widest choice of coins, and they need state licenses, so availability varies.
Brokers and investing apps add crypto next to stocks. They are simple and often available in every state, but they list fewer coins, charge a spread or a percentage fee, and some do not let you withdraw coins to your own wallet.
Bitcoin-only services sell one asset and usually encourage you to hold it yourself.
Derivatives venues list regulated crypto futures and options. Most are reached through a futures broker.
Decentralized exchanges and wallets let you trade from a wallet you control, with no account. You carry the full risk of smart-contract bugs and of your own mistakes, and there is no support desk that can reverse a transaction.
On-ramps, kiosks and IRA providers cover narrower jobs: card purchases, cash purchases and retirement accounts. Kiosk fees are the highest in this list; one operator publishes fees of about 13% to 22.5%.
How crypto exchanges are regulated in the US
There is no single federal license for a spot crypto exchange. A platform serving US retail customers registers with FinCEN as a money services business and then needs a money transmitter license in most states where it operates. New York adds its own regime, the BitLicense or a limited purpose trust charter.
Congress has not yet changed that structure. The CLARITY Act passed the House on July 17, 2025, and failed a Senate cloture vote, 49 to 50, on September 15, 2026. The GENIUS Act on payment stablecoins was signed on July 18, 2025, and takes effect by January 18, 2027 at the latest.
Regulators have moved faster than Congress. The SEC dismissed its cases against Coinbase, Kraken and Binance in 2025. A joint SEC and CFTC interpretation effective March 23, 2026 treats most crypto assets as outside securities law. CFTC-registered exchanges have been able to list spot crypto since December 4, 2025.
What protects your money, and what does not
- Cash. US dollars held for you at a partner bank can be covered by FDIC pass-through insurance if the platform has set the account up that way. Ask the platform; do not assume.
- Crypto. The FDIC does not insure crypto, and SIPC does not protect crypto that is not a security.
- Bankruptcy. When Celsius, Voyager, BlockFi, Genesis and FTX failed in 2022 and 2023, customers waited for court-run plans to get anything back.
- Fraud. The FBI recorded $11.37 billion in crypto-related losses reported by Americans in 2025.
Proof of reserves shows that a platform held certain assets on a certain day. It does not show what the platform owes elsewhere.
Taxes in one minute
The IRS treats crypto as property, so selling, swapping and spending it are taxable events. US brokers report sales on Form 1099-DA: gross proceeds for 2025 trades, with cost basis added for assets acquired from January 1, 2026. This is general information, not tax advice.
Popular exchanges that do not serve US residents
Many of the world's largest exchanges exclude the United States in their own terms. They are listed here 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.
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BinanceExchange
DOJ release (Nov 2023): Binance announced in 2019 it would block U.S. customers and launch a separate U.S. exchange; Binance's own prohibited-countries page exists but its text could not be read
US alternative: Binance.US (separate US exchange; its current state coverage was not checked here)
Source: justice.gov/opa/pr/binance-and-ceo-plead-guilty-federal-c… · checked Oct 5, 2026
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BybitExchange
Help-center list of excluded jurisdictions begins "the United States, the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, North Korea, Cuba, Iran"
Source: bybit.com/en/help-center/article/Service-Restricted-Cou… · checked Oct 5, 2026
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KuCoinExchange
Terms, Restricted Locations: "the United States (including its territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, etc)"
Source: kucoin.com/legal/terms-of-use · checked Oct 5, 2026
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MEXCExchange
Terms: "MEXC does not provide Services, nor do we accept registration of Users... in the following countries: ... the United States"
Source: mexc.com/terms · checked Oct 5, 2026
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BitgetExchange
Terms, Prohibited Countries: "the United States (including the following U.S. Territories: Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa...)"
Source: bitget.com/support/articles/360014944032 · checked Oct 5, 2026
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Gate (global, gate.com)Exchange
User agreement: "Restricted Locations include but are not limited to the United States of America, Mainland China, Singapore, Canada"
US alternative: Gate US (separate US entity; named on Gate's About page with its own compliance leadership - licensing and state coverage not checked here)
Source: gate.com/legal/user-agreement · checked Oct 5, 2026
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BingXExchange
Customer Agreement requires the user to represent they "are not a U.S or Canada user"
Source: bingx.com/en/support/articles/360033286474 · checked Oct 5, 2026
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BitfinexExchange
CFTC order requires systems "reasonably designed to prevent non-ECP U.S. persons from engaging in retail commodity transactions"
Source: cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8450-21 · checked Oct 5, 2026
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BitMEXClosed
Terms: "BitMEX ceased exchange operations on 23 September 2026"; the US is listed under "Previously restricted jurisdictions — now open for withdrawal"
Source: bitmex.com/www-assets/documents/hdr-global-trading-terms… · checked Oct 5, 2026
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PhemexDerivatives
Terms define Restricted Territories as including "United Arab Emirates, United States of America, United Kingdom, Ontario (Canada)"
Source: phemex.com/help-center/phemex-terms-of-use · checked Oct 5, 2026
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WhiteBITExchange
Terms s.3.5 exclude anyone who is "a citizen and/or a resident of the United States of America"
US alternative: WhiteBIT US, Inc. (NMLS ID 2715589, FinCEN-registered MSB) - pre-launch, waitlist only
Source: whitebit.com/terms · checked Oct 5, 2026
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CoinmetroClosed
Not a US ban: announcement says "Onboarding, trading, depositing and withdrawals paused" due to "a failure of one of our financial service providers"
Source: coinmetro.com/blog/announcement-onboarding-depositing-and-w… · checked Oct 5, 2026
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CoinExExchange
Secondary (Wikipedia): CoinEx "agreed to stop opening accounts for customers in the United States"
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CoinEx · checked Oct 5, 2026
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BitvavoExchange
Art. 2.1: accounts "restricted to individuals or legal entities ... resident or established in the European Economic Area"; Art. 2.3 excludes any "US Person"
Source: bitvavo.com/en/terms · checked Oct 5, 2026
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BloFinDerivatives
"may not be accessed or used by individuals and/or legal entities that is resident of, or domiciled in a Restricted Location" (list includes "United States of America")
Source: blofin.com/en/terms · checked Oct 5, 2026
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WEEXDerivatives
"WEEX does not offer services or products to Users in ... Canada, United States of America, United States Territories and Commonwealths"
Source: weexsupport.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/4417379529241-Terms-of-Use · checked Oct 5, 2026
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BYDFiExchange
"BYDFi does not provide Services, nor do we accept User registrations or trade applications, in the following countries: ... the United States"
Source: bydfi.com/support/terms-of-service/terms-of-service · checked Oct 5, 2026
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BitunixDerivatives
Restricted regions include "The United States (including all U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands ...)"
Source: bitunix.com/hub/helpcenter/article/bitunix-restricted-reg… · checked Oct 5, 2026
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BitrueExchange
"Bitrue does not provide services to users in certain countries or regions such as the United States, Canada, China Mainland"
Source: support.bitrue.com/hc/en-001/articles/4405473110681-Bitrue-Terms… · checked Oct 5, 2026
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PrimeXBTDerivatives
"The entities above do not offer services to residents of certain jurisdictions including the USA, Canada, Iran, North Korea, Russia"
Source: primexbt.com · checked Oct 5, 2026
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RevolutOther
Secondary (Wikipedia): "Revolut halted cryptocurrency trading services for its US customers in 2023, citing the 'evolving regulatory environment'"
US alternative: Revolut's US app remains available for non-crypto services (cards, savings, stock trading)
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolut · checked Oct 5, 2026
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BitMartClosed
"BitMart has made the difficult decision to commence an orderly wind-down of its trading platform operations"
Source: bitmart.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/53544595916059 · checked Oct 5, 2026
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WhiteBIT USExchange
On Oct 5, 2026 whitebit.us redirected to a pre-launch waitlist page stating that no services are available and no users are being accepted, despite a Dec 1, 2025 launch announcement.
Source: coming-soon.whitebit.us · checked Oct 5, 2026
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Alto CryptoIRAClosed
Alto sold its CryptoIRA business to Public (announced Nov 13, 2025) and no longer offers crypto directly; accounts were slated to move to Public's platform in early 2026, with Alto Trust remaining custodian.
Source: altoira.com/news/alto-announces-sale-of-cryptoira-to-public · checked Oct 5, 2026
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MeteoraDEX
Meteora's Terms of Service (read 2026-10-05) list the United States as a Restricted Territory and prohibit VPN use by restricted persons.
Source: docs.meteora.ag/resources/legal/terms-of-service.md · checked Oct 5, 2026
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OdosClosed
On 2026-10-05 both odos.xyz and app.odos.xyz served a page titled 'Odos Shutdown Information'; the shutdown date and reason could not be read.
Source: odos.xyz · checked Oct 5, 2026
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dYdXDEX
dYdX Terms of Use (last updated March 12, 2026) prohibit use of the perpetuals trading software by persons who "reside in, are located in, are incorporated in, have a registered office or principal place of business in, or are operated or controlled from, the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom"; VPN circumvention is prohibited.
Source: dydx.exchange/terms · checked Oct 5, 2026
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AsterDEX
Aster Terms & Conditions (last updated February 25, 2026): the Services are "not available to, and you are expressly prohibited from using them if you reside in, are located in, are incorporated in, or have a registered office or principal place of business in ... the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, China ...".
Source: docs.asterdex.com/resources/terms-and-conditions.md · checked Oct 5, 2026
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LighterDEX
Lighter Terms of Service (Elliot Technologies, Inc., last updated December 29, 2025): "OUR SERVICES WERE NOT DEVELOPED FOR, AND ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO PERSONS OR ENTITIES WHO RESIDE IN, ARE LOCATED IN, ARE INCORPORATED IN, OR HAVE A REGISTERED OFFICE OR PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CANADA, THE UNITED KINGDOM ...".
Source: lighter.xyz/terms · checked Oct 5, 2026
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Rango ExchangeDEX aggregator
Rango Terms of Use (last updated May 7, 2025): "Our Services are NOT available to individuals or entities located in, citizens of, incorporated in, or with a registered office in the United States of America"; VPN use to bypass the restriction is prohibited.
Source: docs.rango.exchange/terms-of-use.md · checked Oct 5, 2026
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ChangellyOn-ramp
Terms of Use (read Oct 2026) require that the user is not located in, or a national or resident of, the 'United States (including all territories)'.
Source: changelly.com/terms-of-use · checked Oct 5, 2026
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SimpleSwapOn-ramp
Terms of Service (read Oct 2026) list the 'United States of America (including all USA territories...)' among prohibited locations.
Source: simpleswap.io/terms-of-service · checked Oct 5, 2026
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Hodl HodlP2P
Terms of Service (read Oct 2026) list the United States, 'including all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and all other U.S. territories and possessions', among restricted jurisdictions.
Source: accounts.hodlhodl.com/terms-of-service · checked Oct 5, 2026
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Paxos (itBit)Closed
The itBit exchange was retired effective August 9, 2026, per paxos.com/itbit; Paxos continues as a B2B brokerage, custody and stablecoin infrastructure provider.
Source: paxos.com/itbit · checked Oct 5, 2026
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DeribitDerivatives
Terms art. 2.4: use "is not allowed if you are located, incorporated or otherwise established in, or a resident of: (i) the United States of America"
Source: statics.deribit.com/files/TermsofServiceDeribit.pdf · checked Oct 5, 2026
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HTX (formerly Huobi)Exchange
User Agreement 1.2: users from listed jurisdictions, including "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", are "PROHIBITED FROM USING ALL SERVICES"
Source: htx.com/support/en-us/detail/360000298561 · checked Oct 5, 2026
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HyperliquidDEX
Terms 1.6: Restricted Persons include those who "reside in, are located in, are incorporated in, or have a registered office in the United States of America"
Source: app.hyperliquid.xyz/terms · checked Oct 5, 2026
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Drift (now Velocity)DEX
Terms notice: perpetual contracts and related services "are not offered to and may not be used by" persons in "the United States of America"
Source: assets.velocity.exchange/docs/terms-of-use.txt · checked Oct 5, 2026
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GMXDEX
Terms 1.1.3: "You are not a U.S. Person"; section 8: "no U.S. Person may enter into Perpetual Contracts using the Interface"
Source: gmx.io/terms-and-conditions · checked Oct 5, 2026
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LBankExchange
User agreement: "LBank does not provide personal account services to residents of the United States"
Source: lbank.com/support/articles/21436496711705 · checked Oct 5, 2026
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BitpandaExchange
Help center: "persons with US citizenship or who are located in the United States may not become a Bitpanda user"
Source: support.bitpanda.com/hc/en-us/articles/360019578140-Who-can-use-Bi… · checked Oct 5, 2026
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BithumbExchange
Help center: non-resident Koreans abroad "고객확인이 불가" (cannot be verified); terms allow restrictions where a member is a "비거주외국인" (non-resident foreigner)
Source: support.bithumb.com/hc/ko/articles/51138614938649 · checked Oct 5, 2026
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PoloniexExchange
User Agreement: "ANY CITIZEN OR RESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OR A RESTRICTED TERRITORY IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED FROM ACCESSING OR USING POLONIEX"
Source: poloniex.com/support/terms · checked Oct 5, 2026
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ToobitExchange
Notice for Discontinuation of Services in the United States: "users in the United States will no longer be able to conduct any trading activities"
Source: toobit.com/support/notice-for-discontinuation-of-service… · checked Oct 5, 2026
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UpbitExchange
KYC policy (Korean): "국내 비거주자를 대상으로 이용을 제한" - use by non-residents of Korea is restricted
Source: support.upbit.com/hc/ko/articles/4416778013337 · checked Oct 5, 2026
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XT.comExchange
User Agreement 3.3.4: "Users located in [United States, Canada, Mainland China, ...] are prohibited from using the services provided by XT.COM"
Source: xtsupport.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/900001631023-User-Agreement · checked Oct 5, 2026
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deBridgeDEX
Terms: "Restricted Territory shall mean the United States of America, the People's Republic of China, ..."; legal page excludes "U.S. persons"
Source: debridge.com/assets/files/debridge_terms_of_service_com.pdf · checked Oct 5, 2026
Crypto exchange rankings in other countries
FAQ
Is crypto trading legal in the United States?
Yes. Buying, selling and holding crypto is legal for US residents. Platforms that serve them must register with FinCEN and hold state licenses where required.
What is a crypto exchange?
A platform where you buy, sell and trade coins. Centralized exchanges hold your funds and match orders on an order book; decentralized exchanges let you trade from a wallet you control.
How do I choose a crypto exchange?
Start with your state, since licensing is state by state and New York is the most restricted. Then compare fees for how you buy, the coins offered and whether you can withdraw to your own wallet.
What is the best crypto app in the US?
There is no single best app for everyone. Brokers and investing apps are simple and often work in every state but list fewer coins; each review shows the platform's type and who it suits.
What happens to my crypto if an exchange fails?
Crypto is not covered by FDIC or SIPC insurance. When Celsius, Voyager, BlockFi, Genesis and FTX failed in 2022 and 2023, customers waited for court-run plans to get anything back.
Is Binance available in the US?
Binance.com does not accept US residents. Binance.US is a separate company; as of its June 3, 2026 list it does not serve 12 states, including New York and Texas.
Which exchanges work in New York?
Only platforms with a BitLicense or a New York trust charter, or those that partner with one. Each platform's review shows whether it serves New York residents.
Which crypto exchange has the lowest fees?
Compare the taker fee column in the ranking, and check the fee for the way you will actually buy: instant purchases cost more than orders on an advanced screen.
Are crypto exchanges FDIC insured?
No. FDIC insurance never covers crypto. It can cover US dollar balances held at a partner bank.
Can I use Bybit, KuCoin or MEXC from the US?
No. Each lists the United States as a restricted location in its terms.
Do I have to verify my identity?
On every licensed exchange and broker, yes. Decentralized exchanges and self-custody wallets do not ask for ID for on-chain swaps.
Can I move my coins to my own wallet?
On exchanges, yes. Some brokers and payment apps limit or block withdrawals; each platform's review shows this.
Do I pay tax on crypto?
Yes, when you sell, swap or spend it at a gain. Your platform reports sales to the IRS on Form 1099-DA.
How often is this page updated?
Monthly. Each platform shows the date its data was last verified.
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, and we will check it.
Data. Every review lists the pages its values come from and the date they were checked. Full dataset: CSV · JSON.
. First publication. Fees, state lists, New York access and coin counts checked against official pages; 15 platforms added after their US status was confirmed, 13 moved to the not-available list.