Best Altcoin Exchange 2024 – Best Place to Buy Altcoins

Finding the best altcoin exchange is essential if you’re looking to diversify your cryptocurrency portfolio and trade with other digital assets.

This guide covers the top altcoin exchanges based on their fees, safety features, and user-friendliness to help you make an informed decision.

Let’s get started!

If you’re searching for the best altcoin exchange, you might also be interested in the best DeFi exchanges out there.

Best Altcoin Exchange Reviewed and Compared

When searching for the best altcoin exchange in the market, we looked at the following factors:

• Regulation and trust
• Supported altcoin markets
• Availability of leverage and margin
• Fees and commissions
• Trading tools and features
• Minimum deposit requirements.

1. Kraken — Best Altcoin Exchange for US Traders

Kraken is the best altcoin exchange in the US. It supports 200+ altcoins and charges low trading fees that range between 0.9% for stablecoins and 1.5% for altcoins. Kraken users can use multiple payment options, such as debit/credit cards, SEPA, and ACH. However, credit and debit card payments come with a 3.75% fee.

This platform is suitable for beginners and professionals. It supports technical charts and indicators and has a native wallet and app. For example, traders can find lists of the biggest gains and dips, trending assets, and recently listed coins. In addition, they can stake their altcoins for an APR that ranges from 1% to 10%, depending on the coin.

What makes this platform stand out from other crypto exchanges is its NFT marketplace, OTC service, account management program, and API trading option. High-frequency traders will benefit most from this option.

2. OKX — Low Fee Altcoin Exchange with 340 Tokens to Trade

OKX is one of the best altcoin exchanges for traders searching for a wide coin selection and low fees. At OKX, traders have access to more than 340 tokens to trade, including many new crypto projects listed for the first time. Most trades on OKX cost just 0.10%, and high-volume traders can even qualify for discounts.

OKX offers various tools for trading altcoins, including a comprehensive charting platform. Traders can view the exchange’s order book for any token and use multiple technical indicators. OKX supports limit, stop, and conditional trade orders for better risk management.

OKX has over 20 million users across 200+ countries but isn’t available in the US. The exchange accepts credit cards, debit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers for payments and doesn’t require a minimum deposit to create a new account.

OKX is one of the best crypto apps for buying altcoins. It features a built-in crypto wallet to store purchased altcoins securely with a P2P decentralized crypto exchange.

3. MEXC — Best for Pro and Beginner Traders, Supports Over 2,000 Altcoins

MEXC is the best exchange for altcoins for two reasons. First, it supports over 2,000 altcoins and 2,350 trading pairs. Investors can trade the best meme coins, AI-powered and Web 3 tokens, gameFi coins, etc. Second, it offers competitive fees that are fixed at 0.2% per trade. All deposits are free, while withdrawal fees will depend on the network and cryptocurrency used.

This platform is also suitable for both pro and beginner traders. Beginners will be able to practice their skills through its demo trading option, while advanced traders will be able to use its copy trade feature. MEXC also has a native wallet that can be described as a cold and hot wallet hybrid.

MEXC is available in over 170 countries and supports multiple payment options, from debit/credit cards to global bank transfers and P2P trading. Investors can also use this platform to invest in crypto projects on Launchpad and Kickstarter.

4. Margex — Best Altcoin Exchange for Ethereum, Provides Liquidity From 12 Providers

Margex is the best altcoin exchange for Ethereum. This platform provides liquidity from 12 providers, enabling traders to buy ETH at the best possible price. Moreover, this exchange has over 500K registered users and conducts more than 180K daily trades. In addition to Ethereum, traders can buy 55+ altcoins.

Its user-friendly interface makes it suitable for novice traders. Plus, it has a native mobile app compatible with Android and iOS devices. Likewise, Margex supports a one-click buy option, which allows traders to convert their altcoins into fiat without the need to use order books.

Its trading fees for ETH start from 0.06% per transaction. Investors can also use up to 100x leverage on their trades and earn up to 4.7% APY by locking their ETH tokens.

Margex implements strict security tools, such as cold storage wallets, SSL encryption, and two-factor authentication. It lacks the KYC policy, which makes it suitable for traders who want to remain anonymous.

5. Binance — Popular Altcoin Exchange With Low Commissions

Binance is well known in the crypto world because it gives you access to hundreds of markets and is one of the best P2P crypto exchanges. You can buy trending altcoins, like mining-based altcoins, meme coins, stablecoins, and security tokens.

Trading fees are super low here, too, as commissions start at just 0.1% per slide. Like Huobi and Crypto.com, Binance offers reduced trading fees when you hold its native token, BNB.

For more on how to buy Binance Coin you can read our guide here.

Regarding trading tools, Binance offers an advanced platform that allows you to perform in-depth technical analysis. Newbies can, however, buy altcoins via a simple interface with US dollars. Fees on deposits will depend on your chosen payment type. ACH and bank wires, for instance, are free of charge.

If you wish to use a debit or credit card, US clients will pay a 4.5% fee. This is charged in addition to an instant buy fee of 0.5%. You can also deposit funds with Bitcoin, which typically takes 20 minutes to be credited to your Binance account.

In terms of storage, Binance offers a decentralized wallet called Trust.

Binance offers access to DApps like Pancakeswap. Beginners can store their altcoins in a secure web wallet with 2FA and IP whitelisting.

For more on Binance alternatives, check out our guide.

6. Bybit – Altcoin Exchange Offering Derivative Markets

Bybit is a derivatives exchange that’s available as a web extension and mobile app. Both enable spot and margin trading and buy future and perpetual contracts, inverse perpetual contracts, and USDC options. 

Users can trade their coins 24 hours daily since Bybit handles 100 trades per second. As for trading fees, spot traders will pay 0.1% maker and taker fees; trading fees for perpetual and future contracts range between 0.02% (maker) and 0.05$ (taker), while maker and taker fees for USDC options amount to 0.02 %. On the other hand, P2P trading is free.

Bybit’s market also expands to ApeX trades, NTFs, DeFi, metaverse coins, and Ethereum staking. Furthermore, users can stake new tokens and take crypto loans. A VIP program also brings many benefits to active users, such as a dedicated VIP ambassador, access to live chat, exclusive trading fee rates, and invites to special events.

Active users can also use the referral program to earn $25, a Mystery Box worth up to $1,000 USDT, and up to 30% commission for every trade.

7. PrimeXBT — Best for CFDs and Crypto Futures, 100x Leverage on Altcoins

If you’re looking for the best crypto exchange for altcoins that offers CFDs and crypto futures, opt for PrimeXBT. When it comes to the former, this platform enables traders to access more than 100 CFD markets, including commodities, indices, and forex. As for the latter, PrimeXBT offers competitive maker and taker fees that amount to 0.01% and 0.02%, respectively.

This trading platform is tailored for advanced traders. It offers a wide range of advanced trading tools, such as price charts, economic calendars, and customization options. PrimeXBT users will be able to access up to 100x leverage on altcoins and up to 200x leverage on ETH and BTC CFDs.

That said, PrimeXBT supports 30+ altcoins and various crypto-fiat pairs, such as DOGE/USD and SHIB/USD. All purchased coins can be stored in the PrimeXBT cold wallet. Traders on the go can use its native mobile app, which is compatible with iOS and Android devices. The app is user-friendly and utilizes a face and fingerprint biometric authentication feature.

8. BingX — Best Crypto Exchange for Staking Tether

BingX is the best altcoin trading platform for staking tether. This staking option will be available during specific events, during which investors will be able to stake USDT for 7 days for an APY of up to 80%. Moreover, the staining option comes with flexible terms. For example, the lock-in period can be set to 7, 30, 60, or 90 days.

BingX was also awarded the Best Crypto Broker/Exchange by TradingView in 2021, 2022, and 2023. This platform is also available in the US, which is not often the case with most crypto exchanges.

Its standout features include the price analyzer, currency converter, and P2P merchant application. Moreover, traders can use its AI arbitrage bot to find the best prices. BingX supports over 700 altcoins and trading pairs, and fiat deposits. Its daily trading volume amounts to $1.7 billion, while its number of active users exceeds 10 million.

BingX supports multiple trading options, from spot to derivatives and copy trading, which makes it a good option for traders who want to diversify their investments.

9. KCEX — Best for Altcoin Futures

KCEX is the best altcoin trading platform for futures. All new future pairs that will be listed on KCEX will come with zero fees for the first 7 days. After that, fees on all futures pairs will amount to 0% (maker) and 0.02% (taker), respectively. Traders will also be able to claim a 2 USDT futures bonus for completing a single futures trading volume of 2000 USDT. This platform supports over 70 altcoins, and it offers up to 200x leverage on futures.

KCEX has over 1 million users and is regulated in the US and Canada. This platform is suitable for both beginners and professional traders. It has a native mobile app and supports TradingView charts. KCEX has recently launched a zero-trading fee event for spot trading, which will apply to all spot trading pairs.

Investors will also be able to use its Verify portal to avoid phishing. On this page, they’ll be able to check whether a certain URL, phone number, or email address comes from KCEX.

10. KuCoin — Altcoin Exchange With the Lowest Fees

If you want to find the best platform to buy altcoins for minimum fees, KuCoin should be on your go-to list. The standard fee rate on this centralized crypto exchange is 0.1%. What’s more, KuCoin supports 700+ altcoins, and its services are available in over 200 countries.

This platform has a native token called KCS, whose total supply is 100 million. Traders will be able to use it to get a 20% discount on their fees. This discount applies to both margin and spot trading.

KuCoin’s daily trading volume exceeds $2.13 billion. This exchange offers a wide range of trading options and a native trading bot. This bot automates different pre-built strategies to enable traders to benefit from market fluctuations.

Investors will be able to earn passive income by staking their altcoins for an interest rate that varies between 1% and 25%, depending on the crypto. They’ll also be able to use KuCoin’s lending feature, which offers an APY of up to 17.61%.

11. Paybis — Best for Debit/Credit Card Users

Paybis is a well-known centralized exchange that’s available in 180+ countries and 48 US states. It supports 90+ altcoins and multiple payment methods, the most prominent of which are debit/credit card payments. On that note, Mastercard and Visa payments are instant, and they come with a low transaction fee of 2.49%. However, the first transactions come with zero fees.

Moreover, all transactions will take place on the chain, which means they can be verified at any time.

Paybis allows its users to sell altcoins to credit cards for zero fees and buy partial BTC for a mere $5. This platform has an intuitive interface, which makes it suitable for beginners. Plus, it includes real-time charts and an online crypto calculator. Paybis also has a native custodial wallet with on-chain verification. This crypto wallet uses the MPC (Multi-Party Computation) model to provide enhanced security. 

Advanced traders may find Paybis limiting since it doesn’t offer spot, margin, and futures trading options. Moreover, there’s no crypto-to-crypto trading.

12. Pionex — Best Platform to Buy Altcoins With the Help of Trading Bots

Pionex is one of the first crypto exchanges that integrated crypto trading bots to simplify the trading process. On that note, traders will be able to buy over 379 altcoins with the help of 16 free built-in bots. These bots use advanced analyzing algorithms to help investors execute trades during volatile market movements. This centralized exchange also has a large monthly trading volume that goes up to $50B. Plus, it shares liquidity with Binance, which allows traders to get access to multiple pools.

This platform is suitable for beginners and experienced traders. It offers a demo trading tool and an AI-powered option called PionexGPT, which enables users to create their own trading strategies. It also has some of the lowest trading fees, which amount to 0.050% (maker/taker) for the spot market and 0.020% (maker) and 0.050% (taker) for the futures market.

In addition, traders can use its staking option, which has a flexible locking period that can be set to 30, 90, or 180 days.

13. Coinbase — Good Altcoin Exchange for Beginners

One of the best altcoin exchanges for 2024 is Coinbase. This platform is beginner-friendly and allows you to buy altcoins with debit and credit cards.

Although not quite as costly as Binance, debit/credit card payments are charged at 3.99%. This is also the case should you wish to buy altcoins with PayPal. With that said, ACH transfers are fee-free, so you will need to cover only the standard commission of 1.49%. Crypto deposits are supported, too – so this is another payment method to consider.

Regarding supported altcoins, Coinbase typically focuses on medium and large-cap coins. Examples include Ethereum, Shiba Inu, Dogecoin, Cardano, and USD Coin. Notable exceptions at Coinbase include XRP and BNB. Nevertheless, Coinbase is great for security, too – as 98% of client tokens are kept offline in cold storage.

At Coinbase, you must use two-factor authentication to add your funds’ security.

After buying your preferred altcoin tokens, you can keep them in your Coinbase wallet. Additionally, you can transfer them to the non-custodial wallet Coinbase offers through its iOS and Android app.

14. Crypto.com — Great Altcoin Exchange for Earning Interest

Crypto.com is home to over 250+ altcoins – so if you’re looking to diversify with the best long term crypto investments, this exchange is well worth considering. Opening an account with Crypto.com is a quick and easy process, and once you are verified, you can buy cryptocurrencies using your debit card. While there is a fee of 2.99%, this is often waived for new customers. Alternatively, you can reduce your costs by transferring funds through ACH or a domestic bank wire, which is fee-free.

With a low fee of 0.40% per transaction, Crypto.com offers a cost-effective way to purchase cryptocurrencies. Moreover, Crypto.com’s popular altcoin CRO can help you save on trading commissions.

Crypto.com is one of the best altcoin trading platforms for earning interest on your crypto holdings. Its crypto savings accounts support dozens of altcoins, and yields depend on how long you lock the tokens. This is a choice between one and three months or no lock-up period.

Moreover, the previously discussed CRO token allows you to increase your APY. Furthermore, the exchange offers crypto loan services. This allows you to raise funds at short notice without being forced to sell your crypto tokens. And finally, Crypto.com offers a secure mobile wallet app and an NFT marketplace.

15. Gemini – Safe and Regulated Altcoin Exchange Based in the US

Gemini is one of the few crypto exchanges based in the US. This platform is available to all US residents, even those from New York. Gemini was created for both beginner and professional traders. It offers two types of services: basic and advanced. 

The basic service is straightforward. Users can find and trade 70+ cryptocurrencies through it. On the other hand, the advanced service ActiveTrader offers many more options, such as advanced charts, block trading, and crypto derivatives.

In addition to crypto trading, Gemini allows staking, earning crypto rewards, and buying and selling NTFs. This exchange also has its native coin, the Gemini dollar, which can also be used for trading. 

Regarding fees, users will have to pay 1.49% on all orders above $200, while fees for orders below $200 range between $0.99 and $2.99. Likewise, users can store their ETH in Gemini Custody – a regulated and insured offline storage system.

What is an Altcoin Exchange?

An altcoin exchange gives you access to cryptocurrencies other than just Bitcoin. Although over 18,000 altcoin projects are in circulation, top-rated exchanges in this space typically limit their offering to a few hundred. After all, many altcoins carry a tiny market capitalization and attract little interest from serious crypto investors.

The best altcoin exchanges that we reviewed today operate similarly. This is because you must first open an account and deposit funds. If opting for a deposit in US dollars, you must also provide the altcoin exchange with some government-issued ID.

All altcoin trading exchanges – irrespective of the services offered, charge fees. This means that you will pay a commission on each buy-and-sell order that you place. In most cases, you will also need to pay deposit and withdrawal fees on USD payments.

How to Choose the Best Altcoin Trading Platform for You?

According to CoinMarketCap, just over 300 altcoin exchanges exist in the market. Naturally, knowing which exchange is a good fit for you can make it challenging.

In the sections below, we help clear the mist by discussing the most important considerations when choosing the best altcoin exchange for your goals.

1. Regulation

We mentioned above that there are now over 300 altcoin exchanges. However, the one thing that most altcoin exchanges have in common is that a financial authority does not regulate them.

This means that you can never be sure that your funds are safe or that you are trading in fair market conditions. With that said, the good news is that there is a selection of altcoin trading exchanges that do things by the book – meaning that they have regulatory oversight.

For example, Coinbase is licensed by the SEC and registered with FINRA. You then have Gemini, which holds a license with the New York State Department of Financial Services.

2. Tradable Altcoins

You likely have a good idea of which altcoins you wish to trade actively. If so, you should head to your chosen altcoin exchange to ensure it supports your chosen tokens.

If you’re unsure which altcoin markets interest you – here’s the lowdown.

Altcoin-USD Pairs

When you use an exchange that is approved to offer crypto services to US clients, you will be able to trade altcoins against the US dollar.

Altcoin-USDT Pairs

If you come across an exchange that isn’t adequately licensed, you will likely notice that altcoins are traded against USDT – which is the ticker symbol for Tether.

For those unaware, Tether is a stablecoin backed by a centralized entity – meaning that it can and frequently does issue new tokens as and when it sees fit.

The consensus is that although Tether claims that every USDT token is backed 1-for-1 by US dollars, this isn’t the case.

Altcoin-Cross Pairs Pairs

If you’re an experienced trader who craves higher levels of volatility, then you might also consider an exchange that offers altcoin- cross pairs.

These pairs contain two altcoins, meaning you won’t be trading crypto against the US dollar. For example, the pair ALGO/BNB would see you trade the future value of Algorand against BNB.

3. Fees

The best altcoin exchanges that we reviewed today offer competitive fees across the board. However, fees can and will vary not only between exchanges but also depending on your required services.

Payment Fees

You might have noticed from our altcoin exchange reviews that deposit fees will vary based on your chosen payment method. Almost always – the most expensive payment method is a debit/credit card.

At Coinbase, this costs 3.99% per transaction. At Binance, this is even more expensive at 4.5% – plus a 0.5% buy fee.

Many altcoin exchanges allow you to deposit funds via ACH or domestic bank wire. In most cases, no fees are charged with traditional banking methods – but the payment might take a few days to arrive.

Crypto.com is the exception here – as the popular altcoin exchange permits instant and free ACH deposits.

Commission Fees

Commission fees are related to trading. Meaning, on each buy and sell order you place – you will pay a commission to your chosen altcoin exchange.

For example:

• Crypto.com charges an entry-level commission of 0.40% per slide
• If you buy $2,000 worth of your preferred altcoin, you will pay just $8 in commission to enter the market
• If you cash out your altcoin investment when it is worth $3,000 – your commission amounts to just $12

In comparison, Coinbase charges a commission of 1.49%. In the above example, your buy and sell order would result in a commission of $29.80 and $44.70, respectively.

Therefore, choosing an altcoin exchange that charges low commissions is imperative.

Transfer Fees

The best altcoin exchanges in the market allow you to withdraw your crypto tokens to a private wallet. If this is something that you are planning to do yourself, it is important to check what transfer fees are in place.

In most cases, this will depend on the altcoin you are looking to withdraw.

• For example, at Binance, you will pay a fee of 0.002 ETH to withdraw Ethereum to a private wallet.
• Based on Ethereum prices at the time of writing, this amounts to a withdrawal fee of approximately $6.60.
• This is quite expensive if you plan on withdrawing small quantities.

4. Wallet

All the altcoin exchanges we reviewed today offer a native crypto wallet. However, the wallet offered by each altcoin exchange varies in terms of security, fees, supported tokens, and device type.

Both Coinbase and Crypto.com offer similar options – as does Binance. The latter, however, also offers a decentralized wallet called Trust – which gives you access to altcoins trading on the Binance Smart Chain.

5. Liquidity

Don’t forget about liquidity when choosing the best altcoin trading platform for your goals. For those unaware, liquidity refers to the capital available on a particular market at your chosen exchange.

If there isn’t enough liquidity available, then this means that you will be trading at unfavorable prices. This will be a major issue when it comes to cashing out, as you will need to sell your altcoins at a much lower price to find a seller.

All of the altcoin exchanges we reviewed today are home to huge levels of liquidity – so you’ll never struggle to enter or exit a trade favorably.

6. Tools & Features

Another disparity that we came across when compiling our list of the best altcoin exchanges for 2024 was about trading tools and features.

Notable tools and features to look for include the following:

Chart Analysis

If you’re thinking about trading altcoins on a short-term basis to take advantage of ever-changing pricing swings, you’ll need an exchange that offers chart analysis tools.

This might include technical indicators, real-time pricing data, and perhaps integration with TradingView.

Altcoin News and Market Insights

Top altcoin exchanges will provide up-to-date news and market insights on leading coins. This will allow you to keep tabs on important developments regarding specific altcoins – such as new partnerships or endorsements.

For example, when Elon Musk announced that he owned Dogecoin tokens – the altcoin went on a rapid upward pricing swing.

Alerts

The altcoin markets move rapidly – so it’s wise to choose an exchange that offers real-time alerts. For instance, you might want to be notified when Ethereum surpasses $4,000.

Pricing alerts and signals are best obtained via a mobile app – as the notification will be sent to your smartphone.

7. Payment Methods

Unless you want to deposit Bitcoin, you must fund your altcoin investments with cash.

As mentioned earlier, all the altcoin exchanges discussed on this page support debit/credit card payments and bank transfers. Coinbase goes one step further by also accepting deposits via PayPal.

In addition to fees, check how long the altcoin exchange takes to credit deposits for your preferred payment method.

8. Customer Service

Top altcoin exchanges in 2024 offer great customer support. Live chat is the preferable contact method here, as you can receive a response in real time.

Phone support is somewhat rare in this space, as altcoin exchanges accept customers from around the globe. We also prefer exchanges that offer customer support 24/7.

9. Mobile App

Finally, you should also check to see whether or not your chosen provider offers an altcoin exchange crypto app compatible with your smartphone device.

In most cases, altcoin exchange apps develop an application that is fully optimized for both iOS and Android.

Conclusion

If you’re interested in investing in altcoins, this guide on the best altcoin exchange options for this year can provide you with valuable insights.

It’s important to note that altcoin investing involves more risk than Bitcoin. Investors understand this risk and accept it for the potential of high rewards.

However, before making any investment decisions, it’s always advisable to consider the factors mentioned in this guide and conduct thorough research.

Don’t invest in crypto assets unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest.

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