Coinbase, Gemini, Binance.US: How 3 of the top crypto brokers compare

Cryptocurrencies have fallen in value from record highs late last year, but the crypto market is still worth more than Facebook. Some 17,000-plus digital coins are actively traded, with more than 400 exchanges on which to trade them. A crypto-focused exchange-traded fund (ETF) is in the works. And some 13% of Americans have bought or sold cryptocurrency in the past year, according to a survey by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. 

Still, some financial institutions are playing catch-up. While you can buy crypto from online brokers like Robinhood, several of the biggest online brokers for stock trading — think: Fidelity, Charles Schwab and Vanguard — don’t currently allow investors to directly buy or sell any cryptocurrencies (though they may allow for investing in bitcoin futures, for example). Expect that to slowly change, says Matt Schwartz, senior advisor and a certified financial planner with Great Waters Financial.“We’re starting to see more and more institutions that are establishing the ability to buy or sell cryptocurrencies on their platform,” Schwartz says. 

Until then, you can invest via online brokers like Robinhood, or on crypto exchanges like Coinbase, Gemini, and Binance. Here are how those three popular brokers for cryptocurrency exchanges compare:

Coinbase

Coinbase is the largest U.S. crypto-specific exchange and became a publicly traded company lastyear. U.S.-based investors can currently trade more than 140 different crypto assets, including bitcoin, ethereum, tether, and dogecoin. There’s also a wallet that allows customers to store (and use) cryptocurrencies, with no associated fees. There’s no account minimum for trading, but fees could add up. 

Coinbase charges a spread of about 0.5% for all transactions, in addition to fees of $0.99 and up depending on the size of the transaction. Forbes Advisor selected Coinbase as the best crypto exchange for beginners.

Gemini

You won’t be able to trade as many digital coins with Gemini (current count is 70+), but it does offer a broad suite of products that go beyond trading. These products include a wallet for storing cryptocurrencies, a payment option within its app, a crypto savings account of sorts that lets customers earn interest on their holdings and even its own digital coin. 

One fun fact: Gemini was founded by the Winklevoss twins, who are as famous for their crypto fortunes as they were for suing Mark Zuckerberg over Facebook’s founding. Gemini charges a flat 0.5% “convenience fee” for orders placed via its mobile app, plus a transaction fee that starts at $0.99 and increases incrementally to $2.99 for orders between $50 and less than $200. Mobile orders larger than $200 incur a 1.49% transaction fee.

Binance.US

The largest exchange for cryptocurrencies, Binance, has a U.S. division that now ranks in the Top 10 by trading volume. Having access to a lot of other traders could be helpful if you’re dabbling in less actively-traded coins — and Binance.US supports trading for 50+ cryptocurrencies. 

One word of caution: This exchange isn’t available to residents of six states (including big ones like New York and Texas). Binance.US charges a flat 0.1% spot trading fee (lower than competitors) or a higher 0.5% fee for instant transactions. 

Customers can  get a 25% discount on fees if they hold the Binance coin in their account. Binance.US is the top pick for both the best overall crypto exchange and best exchange for crypto enthusiasts, according to Forbes Advisor.