Review
Updated
With reasonable commissions that are lower than what many competitors charge, Bitstamp is an excellent choice for fee-conscious investors. This crypto exchange is also easy to use, so it works well for everyone from beginners to advanced users. However, there are a few major cryptocurrencies missing from its lineup. Check out our detailed Bitstamp review to see if you should open an account.
Ratings Methodology
Bottom Line
Low trading fees, an easy-to-use interface, and tools for advanced users all show why this exchange has been able to stand the test of time.
Fees:
0%-0.50%
Account Minimum:
$10 min. order
Full Bitstamp review
This cryptocurrency exchange is a good fit for: Crypto investors who want to keep trading fees to a minimum.
Pros
- Competitive trading fees
- Easy to use
- Advanced platform available
- Highly rated mobile app
- Solid cryptocurrency selection
- Earn rewards with crypto staking
Cons
- Missing major cryptocurrencies
- Hacked in 2015
Top perk
Competitive trading fees
Bitstamp is one of the better cryptocurrency exchanges in terms of trading fees. It has a straightforward fee structure, in which your trading fees are based on your 30-day trading volume.
The highest trading fee on Bitstamp is just 0.50% for those with under $10,000 in 30-day trading volume. Fees drop quite a bit for users who trade higher amounts per month. That's similar to or better than what other popular exchanges charge.
COMPARE TOP OPTIONS: See The Ascent's list of the Best Cryptocurrency Apps and Exchanges
Easy to use
There's not much of a learning curve to trading crypto on Bitstamp. It offers a straightforward platform where you can quickly learn how to buy and sell cryptocurrency. If you're new to crypto, Bitstamp is one of the more user-friendly exchanges.
Advanced platform available
In addition to its regular platform, Bitstamp also offers Tradeview, an active trading platform. This has more advanced charting features and trading forms.
One of the nice things about Bitstamp is that trading fees are the same whether you use its regular platform or Tradeview. Other major exchanges, such as Coinbase and Gemini, have lower trading fees on their advanced platforms. With Bitstamp, there's no difference in cost, so it's just a matter of which platform you prefer.
Highly rated mobile app
A quality mobile app is a big plus, as it allows you to check your portfolio and make trades when you're not at your computer. The Bitstamp app provides full trading functionality and has positive reviews on the App Store and Google Play.
Solid cryptocurrency selection
Bitstamp lets you trade more than 60 different cryptocurrencies. There are exchanges that offer more, but Bitstamp's roster should have more than enough to satisfy most investors. Whether you're looking for the best places to buy Bitcoin (BTC) and other market leaders or you want to invest in smaller projects, you can do it on this exchange.Earn rewards with crypto staking
This exchange offers a crypto staking program called Bitstamp Earn. You can stake cryptocurrency that you have in your Bitstamp account to earn rewards on it. Bitstamp Earn started with two cryptocurrencies, Ethereum (ETH) and Algorand (ALGO), and it offers competitive rewards rates on both.
Want to learn more about staking? Check out:
Lengthy track record
You won't find a longer-tenured crypto exchange than Bitstamp. Launched in 2011, it was one of the first crypto exchanges, and it has outlasted the competition to become the longest-running exchange. That stability is a nice selling point in a market where many exchanges don't last, or run into serious regulatory issues.
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What could be improved
Missing major cryptocurrencies
While Bitstamp has a good selection, there are some notable cryptocurrencies that are missing, including Solana (SOL) and Polkadot (DOT). The exchange has also refused to list Dogecoin (DOGE), a meme coin that Bitstamp CEO Julian Sawyer criticized in 2021.
That would at least make sense if it were a consistent Bitstamp policy, but the exchange went on to list Shiba Inu (SHIB), a meme token inspired by Dogecoin. That's an odd choice, and although Dogecoin isn't recommended as a cryptocurrency investment, there's no denying that there are many people who want to buy it.
Hacked in 2015
The Bitstamp cryptocurrency exchange has had one notable security mishap. In 2015, hackers succeeded in a phishing attack targeting Bitstamp employees and stole nearly 19,000 Bitcoin, worth about $5 million at that time.
It bears mention that Bitstamp rebuilt its trading platform after the hack and hasn't had any data breaches since. The exchange also ensured that no clients lost their own funds.
Alternatives to consider
If you want a larger cryptocurrency selection: Coinbase offers over 200 cryptocurrencies, including most of the market leaders and plenty of smaller cryptos that could move up the charts. This exchange is extremely popular in part because it's so beginner-friendly, and it also offers an advanced trading option with more features.
If you want a more robust crypto rewards program: Although Bitstamp has a quality staking program, Gemini is hard to beat in this area. Its Gemini Earn program is easy to use and offers competitive interest rates on dozens of cryptocurrencies.
Bonus read: See The Ascent's comparison of Bitstamp vs. Coinbase.
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| Rating |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
| Commissions |
Variable fees (Coinbase), 0%-0.80% (Coinbase Advanced Trade), $29.99 monthly (Coinbase One)
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$0.99-$2.99 orders < $200, 1.49% for orders at least $200 (default), 0% - 0.40% (Gemini ActiveTrader)
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| Next Steps |
How Bitstamp works
Bitstamp is a crypto exchange where you can buy, sell, and trade various types of cryptocurrency. You can deposit and withdraw money via multiple methods, including ACH transfers from a bank account, debit card and credit card payments, and international wire transfers. A bank transfer is the best payment method from a cost perspective, as there are no fees on ACH deposits and withdrawals.
The Bitstamp exchange is available as a web page and as an app for Apple and Android devices. You can buy crypto with both options. While the exchange's standard platform is sufficient for many investors, it also offers Tradeview, a trading platform for more advanced users.
For investors who want to earn crypto rewards, the exchange offers Bitstamp Earn. This allows you to stake select cryptocurrencies, which is a way of putting those digital assets to work for you.
Fees overview
Bitstamp has a tiered fee structure, with trading fees based on your 30-day trading volume. Here is the exchange's fee schedule for investors with trading volume of up to $50 million per month:
| 30-day trading volume | Fee |
|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | 0.50% |
| Under $20,000 | 0.25% |
| Under $100,000 | 0.24% |
| Under $200,000 | 0.22% |
| Under $400,000 | 0.20% |
| Under $600,000 | 0.15% |
| Under $1,000,000 | 0.14% |
| Under $2,000,000 | 0.13% |
| Under $4,000,000 | 0.12% |
| Under $20,000,000 | 0.11% |
| Under $50,000,000 | 0.10% |
| Under $100,000,000 | 0.07% |
| Under $500,000,000 | 0.05% |
| Under $2,000,000,000 | 0.03% |
| Under $6,000,000,000 | 0.01% |
| Under $20,000,000,000 | 0.005% |
| More than $20,000,000,000 | 0.0% |
Data source: Bitstamp.
ACH transfers, including deposits and withdrawals, are free. If you stick to bank account transfers, you'll only pay Bitstamp's reasonable trading fees.
Card purchases on Bitstamp include a 5% fee. Cryptocurrency exchanges almost always charge a fee for debit and credit card purchases, but a 5% fee is higher than most exchanges. Regardless, the best way to buy cryptocurrency is with an ACH transfer.
Cryptocurrency selection
Bitstamp offers more than 60 cryptocurrencies. That puts it firmly in the middle ground of cryptocurrency apps and exchanges. It has a good number of cryptos and you won't lack investing options, but there are some competitors that offer many more.
You'll have access to most of the big cryptocurrencies on Bitstamp, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and most of the other heavy hitters near the top of the market. The most notable cryptocurrencies that aren't available on Bitstamp are:
Is your cryptocurrency safe with Bitstamp?
Bitstamp has excellent security and is one of the safest cryptocurrency platforms. The exchange keeps 98% of assets offline in cold crypto storage. This is the most secure type of crypto storage, because offline storage protects funds from hackers. The small portion of funds that Bitstamp keeps in hot storage (connected to the internet) are used for everyday trading.
Bitstamp adds another layer of protection with a crime insurance policy covering theft. Its insurance applies to theft when the exchange itself is breached, but it doesn't cover your individual account if your login credentials fall into the wrong hands.
To keep accounts and customer assets safe, Bitstamp offers two-factor authentication (2FA) and address whitelisting as optional security measures. The 2FA requires that you log in with your password and another type of authentication, such as a code sent to your phone. Address whitelisting allows you to specify which addresses can receive withdrawals from your account.
Bitstamp is right for you if:
- You're looking for a user-friendly crypto exchange with low fees.
- You want to trade crypto on your computer and phone.
Our Cryptocurrency Expert
Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. He writes for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, and his work has appeared in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Lyle Daly has positions in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Polkadot, and Solana. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Apple, Best Buy, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Target. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long March 2023 $120 calls on Apple and short March 2023 $130 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.