The Ascent’s 2022 Cryptocurrency Exchange and App Awards Winners
Cryptocurrency exchanges and apps ratings methodology
Ratings methodology
To determine the Best Cryptocurrency Exchanges and Apps awards for 2022, The Ascent’s experts evaluated accounts with our ratings model, focusing on industry factors and user benefits, including:
- Competitive fees
- Cryptocurrency selection
- Security and transparency
- Know your customer rules
Top-rated offerings were selected that we think represent the top pick for most people. Our final awards winners were determined by vote to ensure objectivity, with a final Golden Rule check: would we recommend them to a family or friend? Special attention was also paid to:
- Customer reviews
- Wallet availability
- Deposit and withdrawal fees
For 2022, we’ve introduced an exciting update, our Editors’ Choice awards. These awards are favorites from our experts, tailored to unique consumer needs, allowing us to explore a more diverse range of offerings and user experiences.
Best Cryptocurrency Exchange Overall
Gemini Exchange
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = PoorGemini checks all the boxes for a cryptocurrency exchange: great selection, affordable fees, easy to use, good educational resources, and excellent security. We also love the Gemini Earn program that offers high yields on cryptocurrency holdings.
Editors' Choice: Cryptocurrency Exchange for Earning Interest
Gemini Exchange
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = PoorGemini’s Earn program nails the essentials. First off, Gemini offers competitive yields for the most popular cryptocurrencies. Second, the Earn platform is simple to use -- and that's reflected in Gemini’s high app ratings.
Best Cryptocurrency Exchange for Crypto Selection
Coinbase
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = PoorIt’s hard to beat Coinbase’s deep bench of available cryptocurrencies for U.S.-based exchanges. Combine this best-in-class cryptocurrency selection with a robust app experience and Coinbase is a shoe-in for this award.
Best Cryptocurrency Exchange and App for Bitcoin
Binance.US
Binance.US secured our pick as the best exchange to buy Bitcoin not only because of its rock-bottom trading fees, but also because of its nice selection of other cryptocurrencies and ways to earn passive income.
Best Cryptocurrency Exchange and App for Ethereum
Binance.US
Binance.US should be a go-to cryptocurrency exchange for users wanting to buy Ethereum. But it’s not a one-trick pony. We think an award-worthy pick should also offer access to a good selection of cryptocurrencies and be easy to use. And Binance.US shines in these two categories.
Best Cryptocurrency Exchange and App for Altcoins
Coinbase
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = PoorWhile some cryptocurrency exchanges can rival Coinbase’s altcoin selection, few can match the robustness of its platform. The latter is the determining factor in why Coinbase secured a podium position when it comes to altcoins. What’s more, Coinbase offers great educational tools to inform users about altcoins, and it rewards users with free crypto for learning more about cryptocurrencies.
Editors' Choice: Cryptocurrency Exchange for Low Fees
FTX.US
FTX offers some of the lowest trading costs of the cryptocurrency exchanges we review. But it takes more than just low fees to secure this award. FTX also offers a wide selection of cryptocurrencies, good staking options, and advanced trading features that many users will find valuable.
Best Cryptocurrency App for Beginners
Gemini Exchange
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = PoorGemini shines for beginners with a well-designed interface that makes it easy to get started investing in cryptocurrencies, which can be daunting for people new to the topic. Gemini also shines when it comes to overall educational resources and the security of its platform.
Editors' Choice: Best Cryptocurrency App for Enthusiasts
KuCoin
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = PoorKuCoin is a great exchange for cryptocurrency enthusiasts who value a few key features. The exchange has a wide selection of available cryptocurrencies, an advanced trading platform, low fees, and good customer service.
Editors' Choice: Best Decentralized Exchange
Uniswap
One of the largest decentralized crypto exchanges, Uniswap is a quality trading platform with a variety of liquidity pools earning competitive interest rates. The user-friendly design also stands out among a pack of apps and exchanges that can prove difficult to navigate.
Best Cryptocurrency App for Education
Coinbase
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = PoorCoinbase continues its reign as the go-to cryptocurrency platform for education. Its educational resources are not only robust and written in a manner that simplifies the education process, but users are rewarded with free cryptocurrencies for educating themselves on the topic through Coinbase.
Editors' Choice: Cryptocurrency App for Payments
Crypto.com
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = PoorCrypto.com leads the pack of exchanges and apps that offers the ability to make payments in cryptocurrency via its Crypto.com prepaid card. Account holders just need to top up their card with cryptocurrency or fiat currency to make payments wherever Visa is accepted. What's more the card offers a nice rewards program.
*A complete list of 2022 award winners, from credit cards to stock brokers, can be found here.
**You can also find more cryptocurrency exchanges to compare by checking out The Ascent's best cryptocurrency exchanges and apps page.
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.