The Best Bitcoin (BTC) Exchanges for Beginners in 2023

Crypto adoption is accelerating rapidly, and Bitcoin remains a top priority within it. That's why many who are only now entering the crypto industry need a Bitcoin buying guide

Crypto adoption is rapidly accelerating, and Bitcoin remains a top priority within it. That’s why many who are only now entering the crypto industry need a Bitcoin buying guide that explains which key factors to pay attention to and how to choose the most beneficial and trusted Bitcoin exchanges.

We’re here to help you navigate this world. Let’s dive into the best Bitcoin brokers for beginners in 2024.

But first, it’s crucial to understand that any financial product, especially in the dynamic realm of crypto, can be risky. We recommend considering all aspects carefully and making a decision that aligns with your financial goals and risk tolerance.

Now, to help you make an informed choice, we’ve prepared a table summarizing the pros and cons of each platform:

Each platform has its strengths, and the best choice depends on your individual needs and priorities.

We’ve also ranked the platforms according to several criteria to provide a more visual comparison:

As we mentioned earlier, we’ll be focusing on the platforms available in Europe, the UK, and the US, highlighting the differences in functionality and pricing.

Let’s start with a veteran of the European market—one of the oldest crypto exchanges, founded back in 2011 in Slovenia, later based in the UK, and now registered in Luxembourg. Despite starting in Europe and focusing on European users, it has offices in both London and New York. It was also among the first to receive a BitLicense in New York State. This gave it a significant edge in growing its platform and gaining a reputation as one of the most well-known and respected crypto platforms.

Naturally, such a long history—especially as an industry pioneer—couldn’t go without incident. In 2015, the platform was hacked and suffered major losses. However, as a result, it implemented a number of mandatory security measures like two-factor authentication, multisig hot wallets, and storing about 98% of assets offline with regular security audits. So Bitstamp meets key safety standards and certainly deserves the title of one of the most trusted Bitcoin exchanges.

What also makes Bitstamp one of the best Bitcoin brokers for beginners is its conservative approach to available features and listed coins, which makes it compliant and accessible even under the strictest jurisdictions like the EU, UK, and US. For example, it offers Spot Trading, FX Trading, Staking and Lending Features, proprietary Market Analysis Tools, and just 131 listed trading assets. It may not seem like much functionality compared to many other platforms, but remember—Bitstamp focuses on reliability and accessibility, all wrapped in a clean and simple interface that has been tested over years through millions of user interactions.

As for deposit and withdrawal methods, thanks to operating legally in many jurisdictions, you can use Instant Purchase via Debit Cards, Credit Cards, GooglePay, ApplePay, PayPal, and bank transfers like SEPA, Faster Payments, and ACH.

Talking about spot trading fees, Bitstamp uses a simple tiered model:

These may not be the most profitable fees, especially for beginners, but the unique value of this platform lies elsewhere. It’s one of the oldest, most respected, accessible, and beginner-friendly platforms where you can buy Bitcoin safely.

Later in 2014, another American crypto exchange was launched with a huge focus on both technical and legal security. We’re talking about Gemini, which is also one of the most secure platforms to buy Bitcoin.

It was also one of the first platforms to obtain a BitLicense in New York and be registered as a trust company. On top of that, it has successfully passed SOC 1 Type 2 and SOC 2 Type 2 audits—these are independent certifications of operational and data protection reliability.

Gemini took technical security seriously from the very beginning, implementing features such as withdrawal address whitelisting, hardware-based 2FA keys, and cold storage for the majority of user assets. The remaining funds in hot wallets are covered by insurance policies.

In terms of functionality, Gemini offers much more than just basic Bitcoin purchasing, spot trading, and staking. It also provides access to derivatives, OTC crypto buying for institutions, institutional-grade cold storage, and more advanced features. All of this is delivered through a clean and responsive interface, which is split between a standard layout and a more advanced interface called ActiveTrader.

Among available deposit methods besides crypto, you have Instant Paying via Debit Cards & PayPal and Bank Transfers via ACH and Wire Transfer. As for withdrawals, you can use ACH, USD Wire Transfer, and Non-USD Bank Transfer.

As you can see, the fee is already included in the quoted price shown to you before purchase.

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