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Best of

Best Bitcoin Exchanges of January 2026

Updated: Jan 1, 2026

Alex Lewin

Written by Alex Lewin

Founder & Director of Content

BitcoinRamp's Best Bitcoin Exchanges of January 2026

Strike logo
5.0

StrikeBest Overall

Instant Bitcoin Payments and Lightning App

Key Details

Trading Fee:
0.39% - 0.99%
KYC Required:
Full KYC
Min. Deposit:
$0.01
Sign-up Bonus:
Referral BTC rewards

Pros & Cons

✓ Top Pros:

  • Low trading fees
  • Lightning support

✗ Consider:

  • Limited regional support
River logo
5.0

RiverRecommended

Bitcoin-only Exchange with Zero-Fee Recurring Buys

Key Details

Trading Fee:
0% - 0.99%
KYC Required:
Full KYC
Min. Deposit:
$1
Sign-up Bonus:
Up to $100 in BTC

Pros & Cons

✓ Top Pros:

  • Zero fees on recurring purchases
  • Bitcoin-only focus

✗ Consider:

  • US only
  • One-time purchases have fees
Unchained logo
4.9

UnchainedRecommended

Multisig Custody and Financial Services

Key Details

Trading Fee:
0.50%
KYC Required:
Full KYC
Min. Deposit:
$100
Sign-up Bonus:
Referral rewards

Pros & Cons

✓ Top Pros:

  • Client retains control of keys
  • Secure multisig setup

✗ Consider:

  • US only
  • Higher entry cost

BitcoinRamp's Best Bitcoin Exchanges of January 2026

Our top picks based on fees, security, and user experience

Recommended
Fold logo
4.6

Fold

Bitcoin Rewards and DCA App
Trading Fee:0% - 0.95%
Spread:~0.88%
Sign-up Bonus:Spin wheel sats rewards
BTC rewards card
Auto stack
Direct deposit to BTC
Recommended
Pocket Bitcoin logo
4.6

Pocket Bitcoin

Swiss Bitcoin-only DCA Service
Trading Fee:1.5% - 2%
Spread:None
Sign-up Bonus:Referral rewards
Direct-to-wallet DCA
Hardware wallet integration
Swiss regulation
Recommended
Relai logo
4.6

Relai

No-KYC European Bitcoin Investment App
Trading Fee:0.99% - 1.49%
Spread:Minimal
Sign-up Bonus:Referral sats
No-KYC buys
DCA plans
Instant SEPA transfers
Recommended
Robosats logo
4.6

Robosats

Lightning Network P2P Exchange with Maximum Privacy
Trading Fee:0.20%
Spread:Varies by offer
Sign-up Bonus:None
No registration
Lightning Network
Tor support
Recommended
Swan Bitcoin logo
4.6

Swan Bitcoin

Bitcoin-only Exchange Focused on Long-term Investing
Trading Fee:0.99% - 1.49%
Spread:Included in fee
Sign-up Bonus:$10 in BTC
Bitcoin-only
Auto-DCA
Self-custody focus
Recommended
Bisq logo
4.5

Bisq

Decentralized P2P Exchange for Privacy-focused Users
Trading Fee:~1.3%
Spread:None (market-determined)
Sign-up Bonus:None
Decentralized trading
Tor privacy
Multisig escrow

Detailed Comparison

Side-by-side comparison of fees, pricing, and requirements

ExchangeTrading FeeRegionsKYCSign-up BonusReview
StrikeStrike0.39% - 0.99%US, El Salvador, select EU regionsFull KYCReferral BTC rewards5.0
UnchainedUnchained0.50%US onlyFull KYCReferral rewards4.9
FoldFold0% - 0.95%US onlyFull KYCSpin wheel sats rewards4.6
Pocket BitcoinPocket Bitcoin1.5% - 2%EU, SwitzerlandLight KYCReferral rewards4.6
RelaiRelai0.99% - 1.49%EU, Switzerland, UKNo KYCReferral sats4.6
RobosatsRobosats0.20%GlobalNo KYCNone4.6
Swan BitcoinSwan Bitcoin0.99% - 1.49%US onlyFull KYC$10 in BTC4.6
BisqBisq~1.3%GlobalNo KYCNone4.5
CoinCornerCoinCorner1%UK, EU, Isle of ManFull KYCReferral program4.5
CoinbaseCoinbase0.50%US, EU, UK, 100+ countriesFull KYC$10 in BTC4.5
KrakenKraken0.16% - 0.26%US, EU, UK, Canada, 190+ countriesFull KYCNone4.5
AmberAmber0% - 0.99%US, AustraliaFull KYCReferral rewards4.4
Cash AppCash App3%–0.75%US onlyFull KYCReferral and BTC bonuses4.4
Onramp BitcoinOnramp Bitcoin0.75%–0.32%US onlyFull KYCExclusive member perks4.4
Peach BitcoinPeach Bitcoin~1.5%Global (focus on EU)No KYCReferral sats4.4
PaxfulPaxful1%GlobalOptional KYCReferral rewards4.3
ShakepayShakepay0%Canada onlyFull KYCReferral bonuses and Shake feature4.3
Hodl HodlHodl Hodl0.50% - 0.60%GlobalNo KYCNone4.3
AztecoAzteco~10%GlobalNo KYCNone4.2
Binance.USBinance.US0.10%US only (43 states)Full KYCUp to $1004.2
RiverRiver0% - 0.99%US onlyFull KYCUp to $100 in BTC5.0
lnp2pbotlnp2pbot0.6%GlobalNo KYCNone4.5
MostroMostroVariableGlobalNo KYCNone4.4

Note: Prices and fees are subject to change. Trading fees may vary based on volume. Spread represents the difference between buy and sell prices. Always verify current rates on the exchange platform before trading.

How We Chose These Exchanges

The best overall Bitcoin exchanges for beginners and experienced traders

Frequently Asked Questions

How do we rate Bitcoin exchanges?

Our ratings are based on a comprehensive evaluation of fees, security, ease of use, customer support, and additional features. We test each exchange ourselves, making real purchases and evaluating the entire user experience from sign-up to withdrawal.

Are these exchanges safe?

All exchanges listed here have strong security track records and implement industry-standard security measures. However, no exchange is 100% risk-free. We recommend using two-factor authentication, withdrawing to your own wallet for long-term storage, and never investing more than you can afford to lose.

How often do you update these rankings?

We review and update our rankings monthly to reflect changes in fees, features, and user experience. We also update immediately if there are significant security incidents or major platform changes that affect our recommendations.

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