With the surge in the popularity of cryptocurrencies over the past few years, there has been an explosion of different cryptocurrency exchanges to choose from. But with so many options available, it can be difficult to know which is the safest crypto exchange to date.
Ever since FTX, one of the biggest crypto exchanges in the world crashed earlier this year, there have been increased concerns about the safety and reliability of crypto exchanges. Investors saved millions and billions worth of assets inside FTX due to its promised security, only to see its downfall in a matter of days. As a result, many investors are looking for alternatives that can provide a more secure and trustworthy trading experience.
Fortunately, several different crypto exchanges have emerged as top contenders in terms of safety and reliability. Let’s dig deeper into the safest crypto exchanges, their advantages, disadvantages, and long-term outlook which would prevent the occurrence of an FTX-like tragedy.
What is a crypto exchange and what are the different types available today?
A crypto exchange is a platform where users can buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and many others. There are two main types of crypto exchanges: centralized and decentralized.
Centralized exchanges use a centralized server to manage order books and transactions between buyers and sellers.
Decentralized exchanges operate on smart contract technology that connects buyers and sellers directly without the need for an intermediary party. As stated in a blog in Algory titled ‘CEXs Vs DEXs – Which One to Choose?’, “Since most CEXs offer custodial wallets, they own the private keys of the assets. The problem here is that in case the exchange gets hacked, the hacker can steal the users’ assets. This isn’t an issue for DEXs’ users because they own the private keys of their wallets.”
Crypto fans find it annoying to use centralized exchanges since these run contrary to the decentralized ethos of cryptocurrency. To make matters worse, the company or organization behind them may enforce Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements which means that each user must reveal their identity to prevent illicit activities like money laundering and fraud – just as one would do when applying for a bank account.
In contrast, decentralized exchanges present particular challenges for users. The user experience is not ideal from a technical standpoint and oftentimes doesn’t allow you to convert USD into cryptocurrency directly. This means that to buy or trade crypto on these types of platforms, you need an account with another exchange first where you can purchase the desired asset and then move it over to the DEX of your choice. Additionally, you will likely be participating in peer-to-peer transactions. This implies that it may take more time to find a user interested in buying what you have for sale; if the liquidity of your crypto asset is low, it could require accepting price discounts just to sell or buy a low-volume digital currency rapidly.
Some of the safest crypto exchanges today include centralized platforms like Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, and Huobi, as well as decentralized options like Uniswap, Pancakeswap, IDEX, and Kyber Network. These exchanges are known for their robust security features, advanced trading tools and software, and intuitive user interfaces. Each exchange offers different features, levels of security and reliability, and trading experience. Let’s take a closer look at these top contenders for the title of safest crypto exchange.
How do you decide which one is right for you? When it comes to choosing a crypto exchange, there are several factors to consider. Some of the key considerations include trading volume, liquidity, security features, user-friendliness, and transaction fees. If you’re looking for the safest crypto exchange available today, you can’t go wrong with Binance or Coinbase. Both exchanges have built up a solid reputation as reliable and secure platforms that prioritize their users’ safety and security above all else. They also offer high levels of liquidity and low transaction fees compared to other alternatives in the space. But obviously, there are more and more exchanges that will eventually catch up or even take over the throne as the “Safest crypto exchange”. This is possible because of the constant innovation of crypto technology and safety authentication processes. Let’s rank them up below.
The safest exchanges to use today
The following are the top centralized cryptocurrency exchanges, according to traffic, safety, liquidity, and trading volumes.
1. Binance
As one of the globe’s most advanced trading platforms, Binance supports over 200 coins for deposits and withdrawals. Every experienced trader and novice interested in crypto trading will find it beneficial to use this platform because of its highly competitive rates that offer unbeatable comfortability. With an international customer base providing rave reviews about their experience with crypto-trading on Binance, you can be sure you’ll have a great time too.
Recently, Binance has joined forces with external companies such as Simplex to grant users the ability to purchase cryptocurrencies through wire transfer and credit card payments at a premium rate. Additionally, individuals living in the United States are now able to trade via Binance-US since it adheres to American trading regulations.
To protect itself against cyberattacks, Binance has established a few security measures; one of them being cold wallets. The Mt. Gox hack serves as a reminder that exchanges must store most of their crypto off the internet to keep it safe from hackers. True to this advice, Binance proudly declares that they store “the vast majority” of their crypto in offline storage systems known as cold wallets – making sure these coins stay out of harm’s way.
Binance offers two-factor authentication (2FA). If you activate this option, whenever logging into your account or making a deposit and withdrawal transaction, you will be asked to enter the code sent from either SMS text messages or the authenticator app. As an even better measure of protection than using only mobile applications, Binance also provides users with an additional choice – a Yubikey hardware device.
Binance actively monitors all transactions across the platform, and with its algorithm, can detect any suspicious activity. If this occurs, a 24-to-48-hour freeze is quickly implemented to protect your account from potential hackers. And if you are the one who authorized it? No problem! You could just wait for the period to end or opt for contacting customer service instead to lift the restriction promptly. But more importantly, these couple of days will serve as an ample warning should someone else have accessed your data without permission— giving you valuable time to alert Binance staff accordingly.
Binance is still crowned as one of the safest crypto exchanges to date, with additional features such as:
– Access control. For ultimate security, Binance grants you the power of “access control” that limits your withdrawals to certain IP addresses or wallet addresses.
– Organizational Security. Binance employs sophisticated safety protocols to protect its crypto assets, such as Threshold Signature Schemes (TSS)2 which mandate multiple persons sign off on any wallet-to-wallet transfers.
– Security notifications. Binance is constantly vigilant, proactively monitoring your account for any fraudulent activity. In the event of suspicious behavior being detected, you will be immediately notified via email.
– Data encryption. Personal information such as Social Security numbers and addresses are securely kept in encrypted form, making it virtually impossible for malicious hackers to obtain it.
– Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU). Binance has allocated a billion-dollar fund to ensure customers are reimbursed in the event of a major security breach. This unparalleled reserve serves as an assurance that, no matter what happens, Binance will be able to fulfill its monetary obligations and remain solvent for years to come.
2. Coinbase
Coinbase is a reputable and reliable cryptocurrency exchange, established in 2012 in the U.S., with its stocks now listed on Nasdaq under “COIN”. Boasting an astounding 56 million users throughout more than 100 countries worldwide, Coinbase assures those questioning whether it’s safe to trade there. Both beginners and experienced traders can trust this crypto exchange, as it has successfully traded over a staggering $150 billion of digital assets. Even more noteworthy is the fact that the company is now publicly-traded on Nasdaq – an indication of its credibility and reliability among users. However, some customers have complained about issues with customer support services.
Coinbase stands apart from other exchanges by offering superior security measures that safeguard user funds. Their commitment to protection means that 98% of customer funds are kept in cold storage. This means that even if there were a security breach, the majority of funds would remain safe and secure. Furthermore, Coinbase uses industry-standard security practices such as two-factor authentication (2FA) and biometric authentication to prevent unauthorized access to user accounts.
In terms of regulatory compliance and adherence to KYC requirements, Coinbase is highly regarded. They comply with regulations in the countries in which they operate, which provides users with an added layer of protection against illicit activities. Additionally, Coinbase monitors all transactions to identify any suspicious activity and prevent money laundering or fraud.
While both Binance and Coinbase have their unique advantages and disadvantages, they are consistently ranked among the safest crypto exchanges available today. However, it’s important to conduct thorough research and consider your specific needs and preferences before choosing a crypto exchange.