Home » Best Bitcoin Trading Platform UK 2021 – Top 5 Platforms Reviewed

Best Bitcoin Trading Platform UK 2021 – Top 5 Platforms Reviewed

Jay Leonard

Last Updated: 30, May 2022

Fact Checked by Gary McFarlane

Please note that we are not authorised to provide any investment advice. The content on this page is for information purposes only.

With Bitcoin making headlines all over the world, you might be wondering what the best Bitcoin trading platforms are. Well, luckily for you, we’ve got you covered! We’ve curated this list of the 5 best Bitcoin trading platforms so you can start trading without any hassle. We based our choices on the needs of the average investor, analyzing several key factors, security, fees, features, ease of use, and of course reputation.

With countries like El Salvador adopting Bitcoin as legal tender and lifting trading restrictions, there’s no better time to start investing in Bitcoin. After reading this guide you’ll have all the information required to start trading today!

Table of Contents

#1 Bitcoin Trading Platform UK – eToro

Min Deposit$50

Mobile AppYes

Invest in a wide range of cryptocurrencies
Ability to copy more experienced investors and their decisions
eToro crypto wallet included which makes it beginner-friendly

0% CommissionVisit WebsiteOur score 10

Cryptoasset investing is unregulated in most EU countries and the UK. No consumer protection. Your capital is at risk. CFD crypto trading is unavailable for clients residing in the UK and US.

Best Bitcoin Trading Platform UK – Our Top 5 Best UK Bitcoin Trading Platforms

If you want to know our top 5 picks at a glance, then you’re in the right place! We’ve briefly summarized each of our choices for the best Bitcoin trading platform by stating who could best benefit from them. If you would prefer to read an in-depth review for each platform you can find that below.

eToro – Best All-Round UKBitcoin Trading Platform
Kraken – Most Secure Bitcoin Trading Platform
Coinbase – Best Bitcoin Trading Platform For Beginners
Gemini – Buy Bitcoin in Any State
KuCoin – Feature Rich Bitcoin Trading Platform

Trade Bitcoin From $50 Now

Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products. No EU investor protection. 67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

Best Bitcoin Trading Platforms UK – In-Depth Reviews

For anyone wanting to take a deeper dive into our choices for the top 5 Bitcoin trading platforms, you can see the full reviews for each below. We’ve painstakingly researched the merits and detriments of each platform and explained who could best benefit from them. It’s crucial you weigh your individual needs against each platform to find which suits you the best.

1. eToro – Best UK All-Round Bitcoin Trading Platform

By far the best overall Bitcoin trading platform, eToro is great for both new and experienced users. If you want to get the most for your money then you’re in good hands with eToro, they offer commission-free trading, charging only a small spread fee, making it the cheapest Bitcoin trading platform on our list in terms of trading fees.

Launched in 2007, eToro has been continuously upgrading its security, ensuring their customers don’t have to worry about security, instead, allowing them to focus more on trading.

eToro is regulated by the FCA and CySEC, this gives users peace of mind knowing their money isn’t going to vanish overnight, even in the event of eToro getting hacked, your USD balances are FDIC insured, so you’re covered. Because eToro is regulated you’ll have to verify your identity, some people can be apprehensive about handing over sensitive information, luckily eToro SSL encrypts all sensitive data, so nobody can get their hands on your information. As a customer, you’re putting your faith in eToro to make sure your money is safe, so I’m sure you’ll be happy to hear they store 95% of funds offline, in cold storage – so no matter what happens you won’t be left out of pocket.

As we touched on earlier, eToro makes an excellent platform for beginners and experienced traders alike, this is because it has a streamlined onboarding process and a range of features appealing to both groups. For those with less experience, you have access to copy trading, something quite rare on Bitcoin trading platforms. With copy trading you can automatically mirror more experienced traders, allowing you to start earning a passive income without any trading know-how. You can also make use of eToro’s managed portfolios, they let you invest in diversified groups of assets, meaning the amount of risk you’re taking on is massively reduced. For anyone coming from a trading background, you can invest in a wide range of assets, rather than just cryptocurrency, you can trade commodities, indices, and ETFs.

eToro Fees

Coin Name	Spread Amount
Bitcoin (BTC)	0.75%
Ethereum (ETH)	1.90%
Cardano (ADA)	2.90%
Binance Coin (BNB)	2.45%
Ripple (XRP)	2.45%

Pros

Easy onboarding process
Copy Trading
Managed portfolios
$50 minimum deposit
Stellar reputation
Variety of assets

Cons

Lacking support for MetaTrader
Technical traders may not have enough indicators

Visit eToro & Trade Bitcoin Now >

Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products. 67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

2. Kraken – Most Secure Bitcoin Trading Platform UK

Kraken was launched in 2011 and has since risen to fame by offering its users an extremely secure, fully-featured Bitcoin trading platform. As a regulated platform, Kraken has to abide by strict rules surrounding the protection of customers and their data, so you don’t have to worry about them misusing any of your information. They also offer educational material for new traders, as well as a variety of order types, and a diverse range of indicators for those with previous trading experience.

The title of most secure Bitcoin trading platform doesn’t come easily, Kraken comes equipped with all the industry-standard features you’d expect, while also going the extra mile to ensure their servers are safe. In a unique approach, Kraken physically secures their servers by ensuring they are protected by armed guards 24/7, so if someone was to attempt to gain unlawful access to the servers they would quickly be stopped in their tracks. All customer data is protected with SSL encryption, so even if an individual was to somehow gain access to the servers, they wouldn’t be able to use the data. As is standard these days, Kraken keeps 95% of customer funds in cold storage, ensuring their customers won’t lose out if they get compromised. To ensure customer’s USD balances remain safe, Kraken has a US banking license and is, therefore, able to store USD securely.

While Kraken’s interface won’t be out of the ordinary for those with experience in the cryptocurrency space, it could definitely pose a challenge for newcomers. They do, however, offer a good amount of educational material for new traders to make use of, covering the majority of well-known coins. The only negatives are Kraken’s slow response to support requests and a long wait for verification, meaning if you’re looking to take advantage of a quick dip in the market, it might be worth looking into a different platform. On top of this, Kraken’s fee structure is based around trading volume, meaning those looking to invest smaller sums won’t be able to take advantage of any fee reductions.

Kraken Fees

Fee Type	Amount
Trading Fee	0-0.26% (based on trading volume)
Credit/Debit Card Fee	3.75% + €0.25
Online Banking Fee	0.5%

Pros

Great security
Regulated
US banking license

Cons

Slow support
Volume-based trading fees

Visit eToro & Trade Bitcoin Now >

Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products. 67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

3. Coinbase – Best UK Bitcoin Trading Platform For Beginners

As the largest Bitcoin trading platform in the states, for our US readers, I’m sure Coinbase doesn’t need any introduction. They focus on delivering a safe and reliable experience for those new to crypto, although they also have a “Pro” platform, which caters more toward those with previous experience. Coinbase is regulated by the SEC and has some of the most strict requirements when it comes to listing new coins, this ensures their customers are well protected and safe from any rug-pulls.

In terms of security, Coinbase doesn’t do anything new, instead, they focus on making sure the industry standards are done to a high level, clearly this is working for them because they’re one of the only trading platforms that haven’t been breached in some way. Although they haven’t been branched previously, this doesn’t mean Coinbase’s security is infallible, but you needn’t worry about the safety of your funds, as Coinbase has insurance in case they get compromised. However, it’s important to note this insurance is only valid if Coinbase themselves get breached, if your account gets compromised through a fault of your own, you could be left out of luck. Coinbase makes sure that customers’ wallets and funds are safe by using AES-256 encryption to secure your wallet, 98% cold storage to keep funds safely offline, and 2FA as an additional layer of protection.

Coinbase is aimed at beginners, this is clear from their interface and the type of features they offer. Something hugely beneficial for anyone new to crypto is Coinbase’s rewards system, which lets users earn crypto rewards for learning about various cryptocurrencies. Typically, users will have to watch a short video and then answer a series of questions correctly to earn a reward, usually taking about 10-15 minutes. Although you won’t get rich from this, you can increase your holdings by a reasonable amount. It’s crucial to note the difference between Coinbase and Coinbase Pro, the “Pro” platform offers more indicators and a slightly more complex trading experience overall. While this might not sound ideal for a new user, it also comes with a fee structure geared toward higher volume traders, making it a far cheaper alternative to the standard platform.

Coinbase Fees

Fee	Coinbase	Coinbase Pro
Debit/Credit Card	3.99%	0%
Bank Deposit	1.49%	0%
Wallet	1.49%	0%
Conversion	0.5% to 2%	0.5% to 2%
Trades	$0.50	$0 to $0.50
Coinbase fee	$0.99 to $2.99 Based on size of transaction	0.04% to 0.50% taker fee and a 0% to 0.50% maker fee

Pros

Largest US trading platform
Great rewards system
easy-to-use
Insured in the event of a hack
Great track record

Cons

Slow verification & support
Confusing fee structure
High fees on ‘regular’ Coinbase

Visit eToro & Trade Bitcoin Now >

Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products. 67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

4. Gemini – Buy Bitcoin in Any State

If you’re a US-based investor, understandably, you may be annoyed by confusing cryptocurrency regulations that change from state to state. Founded by the Winklevoss twins (yes, the Facebook Winklevoss twins) Gemini aims to solve this issue, by creating a Bitcoin trading platform that’s available in all 50 states.

The team at Gemini takes your security very seriously, the vast majority of funds are held offline in cold storage, however, Gemini takes this one step further than usual, by only using hardware security modules that have achieved a FIPS 140-2 Level 3 rating or higher. For the rest of Gemini’s funds stored in a hot wallet, the same is true, they use FIPS 140-2 Level 3 or higher hardware security modules to create and store private keys. When it comes to securing your account you have a range of options, the first and most expected is 2FA, which adds a layer of security by requiring a code sent to your mobile for any important actions. You can even use a hardware security key via WebAuthn to give your account the strongest possible 2FA protection.

From its interface and range of features, it’s clear that Gemini is aimed at beginners, although, through their “ActiveTrader” platform, users with more experience won’t be limited. The ActiveTrader program provides users with a far greater range of indicators and charting tools, as well as a more in-depth order book. As we mentioned Gemini is one of the only Bitcoin trading platforms available in every state, while this is great for US users, it comes with the drawback of Gemini often being one of the first trading platforms to implement new government regulations, something that certainly detracts from the platform’s stability in the current regulatory climate. The fees are also a bit harsher than some of the other platforms on this list, so you’ll have to decide if the increased fees are worth the features.

Gemini Fees

Fee Type	Fee Amount (%)
Convenience Fee	0.5%
Transaction Fee	1.49%

Pros

Platform for beginner and experienced traders
Excellent security
Available in every state
easy-to-use

Cons

High fees
Often first to implement new regulations

Visit eToro & Trade Bitcoin Now >

Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products. 67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

5. Coinmama – Best Bitcoin Trading Platform for Card Purchases

If you’re looking for a convenient way to invest in Bitcoin, then Coinmama may be the best Bitcoin trading platform for you. Instead of focusing on a whole heap of advanced trading features, Coinmama focuses on making your experience buying Bitcoin as simple and speedy as possible. This is achieved by having some of the highest card limits out of any trading platform, making it simple to invest small and large amounts alike, but does come at the cost of hefty fees.

Despite being predominantly used for card transactions, Coinmama doesn’t take any shortcuts when it comes to security. In contrast to most trading platforms on this list Coinmama doesn’t store any funds directly, instead, they facilitate the transaction and deposit your coins to an address you provide. Because Coinmama doesn’t store any of your coins themselves, you’re free to use a non-custodial or hardware wallet to improve the security, which although maybe more work, provides users with a greater level of control. In addition to this, you’ll have to confirm every wallet address via email, which is a nice touch in case someone got access to your account.

As we mentioned, Coinmama is aimed primarily at people new to cryptocurrency and therefore forgo advanced features for a streamlined and simple user experience. While this isn’t inherently negative, it would still be nice to see some useful basic features like a range of order types. The main draw to Coinmama, other than the incredibly simple onboarding process, is the extremely high card limits, allowing you to purchase between $5000-$7500 per day depending on your account level. A big downside to this is the extortionate card fees, which are far higher than any other platform on this list, but as they say, convenience comes at a cost.

Coinmama Fees

Fee Type	Fee Amount (%)
Transaction Fee	5.5%
Debit/Credit Card Purchase fee	5%

Pros

Simple to use
High card limits
Good security

Cons

High fees
Lack of features

Visit eToro & Trade Bitcoin Now >

Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products. 67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

How to Find the Best Bitcoin Trading Platform UK

There are a lot of different Bitcoin Trading platforms out there and as such it can be confusing when trying to sift through them all. If you’re still trying to decide on the best Bitcoin trading platform for your individual needs, we’ve broken down some of the most important factors when it comes to making your decision.

Featured Broker

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CFDs are complex instruments and carry a high risk of losing money quickly through leverage. 75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs from this provider.

Featured Broker

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CFDs are complex instruments and carry a high risk of possible rapid loss of capital due to their leverage. 71% of retail investor accounts lose capital when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take high risk in losing your capital.

Buy now

83% der Konten von Privatinvestoren verlieren beim Trading von CFDs bei diesem Anbieter Geld. Ihr Kapital ist im Risiko

Rating

5.0

4.3

5.0

Mobile App Rating

10/10

9/10

1/10

Mobile App

Wallet

Number of Coins

Trading Fees

Spreads

N/A

Deposit Fees

N/A

Withdrawal Fees

5 USD

N/A

Regulated

N/A

CBI and MiFID in Europe

N/A

Min. Deposit

50$

$100

N/A

Leveraged Trading

N/A

1:2 for cryptocurrencies

N/A

Bitcoin

$30797.45

$30599.24

$30614.49

Ethereum

$2122.62

$2108.96

$2116.31

XRP

$0.53

Tether

$1.01

N/A

$1.01

Litecoin

$97.37

$96.99

$96.89

Bitcoin Cash

$133.63

$133.96

$134.03

Chainlink

$7.83

$7.87

$7.76

Cardano

$0.44

N/A

$0.45

IOTA

$0.23

Binance Coin

$332.52

N/A

$329.56

Stellar

$0.11

Bitcoin SV

N/A

$36.76

EOS

$1.26

$1.27

$1.26

Monero

N/A

$163.90

Credit Card

Paypal

Sepa Transfer

Skrill

Sofort

Neteller

Giropay

Regulation and Security

As cryptocurrency is still in its infancy, governments are yet to fully understand the best approach when creating regulations, because of this new regulations are being implemented constantly. Look at Binance for an example of why it’s crucial to select a secure and regulated platform if you’re going to be using it for the long term, due to regulatory issues UK customers were not able to withdraw or deposit fiat for months, causing havoc for many.

Nobody wants to lose their hard-earned money, which is why it’s so important to make sure your chosen platform has excellent security. The main things to look out for are 2FA, the majority of funds being held in cold storage, and some form of encryption for personal data. As long as a platform has these 3 security features you know your funds are at least reasonably protected.

Payment Methods

It goes without saying your platform of choice has to support your preferred payment method, if it doesn’t you’re going to have trouble depositing. Almost all trading platforms allow users to pay using a bank card, however, if you’re looking for the cheapest Bitcoin trading platform, you’ll need a platform that supports alternate payment methods. eToro, for example, offers its users the ability to pay using a bank card, wire/bank transfer, and e-wallet (PayPal, Skrill, etc), by having a range of payment methods they ensure customers have a convenient and secure way to invest.

Variety of Cryptocurrencies

Almost, if not all cryptocurrency trading platforms allow Bitcoin investments, if they didn’t support the world’s largest cryptocurrency, they wouldn’t be much of a trading platform. For many people, however, Bitcoin is only the tip of the iceberg. By diversifying your portfolio you greatly reduce risk, so it makes sense to pick a platform with a range of assets. If you have any investments outside of cryptocurrency it could also make sense to use a platform that supports a range of financial instruments.

Fees

Fees are the bane of any trader, a platform with a steep fee structure can quickly eat into your profits. Ideally, you want a platform with a commission-free structure, although if this isn’t viable for you try and select one with the lowest maker/taker fee possible. Unfortunately, high card fees are a fairly standard amount at the best Bitcoin trading platforms, which is why it’s a good idea to choose a platform with a few different deposit methods. If you have to use a bank card, we recommend eToro as they don’t charge any deposit fees.

Leverage

Once you have a bit of trading experience you might want to use leverage. Leverage essentially allows you to multiply the amount you would earn or lose when completing a trade, for example if you would’ve made $5 on a trade and used 20x leverage you would net $100. While this seems great on the surface, your losses are also multiplied so when trading using leverage, it’s imperative to only risk what you can afford to lose.

How to Get Started With the Best Bitcoin Trading Platform UK

When you’re trying to set up the best Bitcoin trading platform It can be difficult wading through all the information available. To help our readers get started easily, we’ve created this handy walkthrough which details every step needed to create an account with the best Bitcoin trading platforms.

Step 1: Open an Account with a Broker

If you want to take advantage of the best Bitcoin trading platform, you’ll first need to create an account. To do this all you have to do is, type “eToro.com” into your browser, click “Join Now” and provide some basic information.