Centralized exchanges (CEXs) are platforms where users can buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies. They act as intermediaries, handling transactions and holding user funds. CEXs are popular for their ease of use, high liquidity, and large trade volumes.
Many offer fiat-to-crypto options and advanced trading features like futures and margin trading. However, they come with risks, such as hacking and privacy issues due to identity verification (KYC) requirements. Despite these concerns, CEXs remain essential for fast and convenient crypto trading.
In this article, we’ll give you the 10 biggest and most secure centralized exchanges on the market in 2025. Enjoy!
Top 10 Centralized Exchanges in 2025
Here are the top 10 CEXs you can choose from in 2025.
Binance
Binance is the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, founded in July 2017 by Changpeng Zhao (CZ) and Yi He. It quickly became the leading platform for crypto trading due to its low fees, user-friendly interface, and wide range of features. Binance supports over 600 cryptocurrencies and nearly 1,000 trading pairs, offering high liquidity and fast transaction speeds.
Binance provides advanced trading options like futures and margin trading with up to 125x leverage. It also offers a fiat gateway, allowing users to buy crypto using over 65 fiat currencies. Binance’s ecosystem includes the Binance Launchpad for new token sales, Binance Card for real-world payments, and Binance Staking for earning passive income.
Binance’s native token, BNB, is used for trading fee discounts and other platform benefits. Despite regulatory challenges, Binance handles billions in daily trading volume and serves over 20 million users worldwide, making it a dominant force in the crypto market.
Coinbase
Coinbase is one of the oldest and most popular cryptocurrency exchanges, founded in 2012 by Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam. It allows users to buy, sell, and trade over 260 cryptocurrencies and 400+ trading pairs. Coinbase is beginner-friendly, with a simple interface that makes it easy to get started with crypto trading.
Coinbase offers three main options: the free Coinbase platform, Coinbase Advanced Trade for experienced traders, and Coinbase One, a premium service with zero-fee trading for $30 per month. Users can fund their accounts with bank transfers, debit cards, or PayPal.
Coinbase charges trading fees based on a maker-taker model, with rates ranging from 0.00% to 0.60%. Uninvested USD deposits are FDIC-insured, and the platform provides high security with two-factor authentication and encryption. Coinbase generated $2.9 billion in revenue in 2023 and has over 105 million users worldwide, with around 9.5 million active monthly traders.
Bybit
Bybit is a cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2018, known for its focus on derivatives trading, including futures, perpetual contracts, and options. It has quickly become one of the largest exchanges, attracting millions of users worldwide with its user-friendly interface and advanced trading tools.
Bybit supports spot trading, allowing users to buy and sell over 600 cryptocurrencies, and offers leverage of up to 125x on futures contracts. It also provides copy trading, letting users replicate the strategies of experienced traders.
Bybit’s security features include cold storage for funds and two-factor authentication. The platform also offers Bybit Earn, which allows users to earn passive income through staking and flexible savings plans.
Additional features include a demo account for risk-free practice, trading bots for automated strategies, and a Bybit card for spending crypto. Bybit’s competitive fees and wide range of products make it a popular choice for both beginners and professional traders.
Gate.io
Gate.io is a cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2013 (originally called Bter) and rebranded in 2017. It is now one of the top 10 exchanges globally by trading volume. Gate.io offers a wide range of trading options, including futures, spot trading, and leveraged tokens with up to 5x leverage.
The platform is known for its deep liquidity and diverse crypto offerings, including over 1,400 cryptocurrencies and 272 leveraged tokens. Gate.io also features a robust futures market with up to 100x leverage and multiple margin settings.
Gate.io Earn allows users to generate passive income through staking, lending, and structured products like Sharkfin options. The NFT marketplace supports Ethereum and Tron NFTs, offering both established and emerging collections.
The Gate Token (GT) provides trading fee discounts, powers the GateChain network, and offers voting rights for platform decisions. Despite lacking global regulation and fiat withdrawals, Gate.io remains popular for its broad trading options and advanced features.
OKX
OKX is the world’s third-largest cryptocurrency exchange by daily trading volume. Launched as OKEX in 2017, it is owned by OK Group, founded by Mingxing “Star” Xu in 2013. OKX is based in Seychelles and serves millions of users in over 100 countries.
OKX offers a wide range of trading options, including spot trading, margin trading with up to 125x leverage, and derivatives like futures, perpetual swaps, and options. Users can also stake crypto to earn rewards or provide liquidity for yield farming.
The platform has a tiered fee structure based on trading volume. Maker fees range from 0.14% to -0.010%, and taker fees range from 0.23% to 0.03%. OKX requires users to complete a KYC process for higher withdrawal limits and advanced features.
OKB, OKX’s native token, provides fee discounts, voting rights, and access to token sales through OKX Jumpstart, adding value to the platform’s ecosystem.
Bitget
Bitget is a cryptocurrency exchange launched in 2018, known for its focus on derivatives and futures trading. It offers a user-friendly platform that caters to both beginners and experienced traders. A key feature is copy trading, where users can mirror the strategies of successful traders. This allows newcomers to learn from experts while potentially earning profits.
Bitget supports spot trading for those who want to buy and hold market-priced cryptocurrencies. It offers futures trading with leverage options, allowing users to speculate on price movements. Additionally, Bitget provides staking programs that let users lock their crypto to earn passive rewards.
The platform charges competitive fees based on trading volume and user tier. Security measures include two-factor authentication (2FA) and proof of reserves to ensure asset safety. With a simple interface, flexible trading options, and innovative features like copy trading, Bitget has become popular in the crypto market.
Crypto.com
Crypto.com is a cryptocurrency platform founded in 2016 as Monaco Technologies GmbH by Kris Marszalek and rebranded to Crypto.com in 2018. It offers a wide range of services, including crypto trading, staking, and payment solutions. The platform supports over 80 cryptocurrencies and allows users to buy, sell, and store digital assets securely.
One of Crypto.com’s key products is the Crypto.com Visa Card, which allows users to spend crypto and earn cashback rewards. Crypto Earn lets users earn interest on their crypto holdings, while Crypto Credit allows users to borrow stablecoins using crypto as collateral. The DeFi Wallet gives users full control of their assets and access to DeFi features like token swaps and liquidity farming.
The platform’s native token, CRO, is used for transaction fees and staking, offering rewards and higher cashback rates on Visa Cards. With a secure infrastructure and a growing user base, Crypto.com is a major player in the crypto industry.
Kraken
Kraken is a cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2011 by Jesse Powell in San Francisco. It’s one of the oldest and most trusted platforms in the industry, known for its strong security and advanced trading features. Kraken allows users to buy, sell, and trade over 120 cryptocurrencies with low fees and deep liquidity.
Kraken supports spot trading, futures trading, and margin trading with up to 5x leverage. It also offers staking services, where users can earn up to 23% APY on select assets. Kraken Pro, its advanced trading platform, provides professional-grade tools for experienced traders.
The platform is regulated and licensed in multiple jurisdictions, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Japan. It’s also one of the few exchanges to offer support for Polkadot and Kusama parachain auctions. With strong security, a user-friendly interface, and a wide range of trading options, Kraken is popular among both beginners and professional traders.
KuCoin
KuCoin is a cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2017, known for offering a wide range of altcoins and advanced trading features. It’s popular among experienced traders due to its low fees, deep liquidity, and quick listing of new coins. KuCoin supports spot trading, futures trading, and margin trading with up to 100x leverage.
KuCoin also offers earning options through staking, lending, and its Spotlight platform, where users can invest in early-stage crypto projects. The KuCoin Burning Drop program allows users to stake tokens and earn new ones through airdrops. The platform’s copy trading feature lets users follow experienced traders automatically.
KuCoin’s native token, KCS, allows users to get trading fee discounts and earn daily rewards. Despite being unregulated, KuCoin has a strong security track record. Its mobile app and user-friendly interface make it accessible for both beginners and pros. KuCoin’s combination of advanced tools and broad token selection makes it a top choice for serious traders.
Gemini
Gemini is a cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2015 by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss. It’s based in the US but allows trading in various global currencies like GBP, EUR, and AUD. Gemini is known for its strong focus on security and regulatory compliance, making it a trusted platform for both beginners and experienced traders.
The platform offers two main trading options: Web Trader for simple trades and ActiveTrader for advanced trading with detailed charts and order types. Gemini also provides Gemini Earn, where users can earn passive income by staking their crypto, with rates over 5% APY on select assets.
Gemini’s unique features include daily auctions for price discovery and Block Trade for large orders without market disruption. Its native stablecoin, Gemini Dollar (GUSD), is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar and regularly audited to ensure transparency. Gemini’s secure and user-friendly design makes it a reliable choice for crypto trading and investment.
Closing Thoughts
CEXs remain essential for crypto trading due to their ease of use, high liquidity, and advanced features. While they offer convenience and fast transactions, users should be aware of potential risks like hacking and the need for identity verification.
Choosing a reliable and secure CEX is key to protecting your funds and ensuring a smooth trading experience. As the crypto market evolves, CEXs will likely continue to play a major role in supporting global crypto adoption.
But if you’re not into CEXs and want to choose a DEX for more trading pairs or increased security, check out our latest top 10 DEXs!
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