7 Best Crypto Exchanges In Ethiopia

Here’s something you may not realize: the cryptocurrency exchange you choose matters. Your choice will impact how profitable your trades are, how easily you can buy and sell coins, and whether you can use it in Ethiopia at all.

Fortunately, I've been investing in crypto for more than 9 years, and I frequently update my list of the top platforms below. So if you’re looking for a safe and secure crypto exchange that’s easy to use, supports the Ethiopian birr, and is compatible with the biggest financial institutions in Ethiopia, you’ve come to the right place.

Here are my top picks for the best crypto exchanges Ethiopia has to offer.

1. Capital

Zero Fees

Trading fees: 0% Supports: 100+ coins Customer support: Excellent Trusted by millions.

★★★★★ Rated 4.9/5

Capital allows users to trade crypto alongside stocks, commodities, forex, market indices, ETFs and more—all without any trading fees. It supports 100+ cryptocurrencies, and users can trade with 2x leverage on crypto (up to 500x leverage on other assets).

Capital charges a tight spread ranging from 0.1% – 0.3% (depending on the asset), making the overall cost of using the platform (0% trading commissions + 0.1% – 0.3% spreads) very low. It has a fully functional desktop platform, a well-rated mobile app (4.7/5 on Android and iOS), and an excellent demo account where you can practice trading with real assets in real time.

Capital is licensed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, which means it’s a safe, secure platform. Every user receives a dedicated account manager they can reach by email or phone anytime, which is part of the reason Capital’s customer support team receives such positive reviews.

Deposits and withdrawals are always free with Capital, and you’ll never pay trading commissions regardless of whether you place spot orders or limit orders. Capital is ISO 27001 certified for meeting robust information security standards, making it an extremely safe platform to trade with.

The biggest drawback of Capital is that it can take several days to have your account verified since their verifications team is overwhelmed with signups right now. If you sign up using my referral link, though, you can skip the waitlist and start trading immediately.

I’ve personally used Capital for more than 4 years, and based on my experiences and those of millions of other users, I can’t recommend it highly enough. 

Features

• Zero trading commissions
• Tight spreads (0.1% – 0.3%) 
• Supports 100+ cryptocurrencies
• Allows up to 500x leverage (2x leverage on crypto)
• Fully functional demo account for paper trading
• Free deposits and withdrawals via debit/credit cards, bank transfer, POLi, PayPal, Apple Pay, etc.
• Dedicated account manager you can reach at any time
• Excellent desktop trading platform
• Well-rated mobile app (4.7/5 on both Apple and Google)
• Licensed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
• ISO 27001-certified for meeting extremely high information security standards

Cost

• Trading fees: 0%
• Spreads: 0.1% – 0.3%
• Deposits & Withdrawals: Free

Signup Bonus

Skip the waitlist and have your account approved immediately by using my referral link below.

Best For

Investors looking for the best overall crypto trading experience with no trading commissions.

2. Pursa

Pursa is different than most crypto exchanges on this list. It is a Cameroon-based peer-to-peer (P2P) cryptocurrency exchange that was founded in 2017 by Mbuh Jude, with the goal to release a fully decentralized trading platform. When you use Pursa you don’t make any deposit to the platform – you actually trade directly with the buyer. 

Using this platform has many benefits compared to regular exchanges; for starters, Pursa doesn’t charge deposit or withdrawal fees—you only pay spreads, which range from 1% – 3%, and there's no registration process. Transactions are completed instantly and anonymously and deposited directly to your wallet.

Pursa is supported in over 200 countries and has an attractive referral program: you can earn up to 20% of all sales your referee makes – with no limits. You can invite as many friends as you want. One major downside is that you can only trade Bitcoin using this platform.

Features

• Supports (only) Bitcoin
• No deposit or withdrawal fees
• No registration needed
• Instant Bitcoin deposits directly to your wallet
• Completely anonymous
• Attractive referral program (earn 20% of your referees’ sales)

Cost

• Spreads: 1% – 3%

4. SpectroCoin

SpectroCoin was launched in 2013 and is one of the oldest crypto exchanges. It supports 49 of the biggest cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Polygon (MATIC), and Polkadot (POL). It also supports 14 of the biggest payment methods, including SEPA, Skrill, and Neteller.

SpectroCoin doesn’t charge any fees for makers – in fact, makers get paid up to 0.1% for listing their crypto in the market. Taker’s, on the other hand, pay a flat 0.1% fee for every trade. Depositing crypto is completely free, and withdrawing incurs only network fees (0.0005 BTC for Bitcoin). 

SpectroCoin supports collateralized loans with competitive APR (8.55% for BTC) and up to 75% LTV. That means you can consider other investments without ever losing your long position on crypto assets. They also released a crypto debit card, which can be topped up with fiat or crypto and is accepted anywhere Visa is.

One of SpectroCoin’s downsides is its strong ties with the BNK token – holding the tokens is a must if you want to access lower trading fees and lower APR on loans. Their fiat deposit/withdrawal fees can also be very high, going up to 5.5% depending on the payment method. 

Features

• Supports 49 cryptocurrencies
• SpectroCoin Visa Debit Card
• Crypto loans using your crypto as collateral (8.55% APR for BTC)
• Get paid for increasing liquidity in the market
• Up to 75% LTV on crypto loans
• Available in Android (3.7/5 rating) and iOS (2.9/5 rating) 

Cost

• Maker’s Fees: From 0% to -0.1% (based on BNK holdings)
• Taker’s Fees: 0.1%
• Deposit Fees (Crypto): Free
• Withdrawal Fee (Crypto): Depends on the cryptocurrency (0.0005 BTC for Bitcoin)
• Deposit Fees (Fiat): Up to 5.5% (depending on the method)
• Withdrawal Fee (Fiat): Up to 5.5% (depending on the method)

Best For

Investors who can take advantage of collateralized loans.

5. Symlix

Symlix is a crypto marketplace where users can trade over 100 of the largest crypto assets, including Ethereum, Bitcoin, Dogecoin and BNB. It works using a very secure escrow system where crypto assets are locked before the transaction is completed – and released only when the crypto assets (or fiat) are received by the seller.

Symlix is completely free for buyers – in fact, only sellers have to pay a fee, and that is the transaction fee for listing their assets. This fee will vary with the cryptocurrency, but it’s well below 1%. Additionally, after you sign up with Symlix you will gain access to a real-time portfolio value tracker to track all your gains in one place.

Symlix supports over 100 payment methods from across the globe, and their customer support is available 24/7 to help you complete your trades. All crypto assets are stored safely in cold storage, and if you want to earn some extra crypto you can become an escrow agent and speed up transactions to earn a commission.

Features

• Supports 100+ cryptocurrencies
• Helpful customer support available 24/7
• 95% of crypto assets are stored securely in cold storage
• Over 100 payment methods
• Access to a real-time portfolio crypto value tracker

Cost

• Spreads: 1%
• Trading Fees: Free
• Maker’s Fees: 1%
• Taker’s Fees: Free

6. CEX.IO

CEX.io is a cryptocurrency exchange based in the United Kingdom that was founded in 2013 and has worldwide availability. Traders and investors may use it to buy, sell, borrow, and earn various cryptocurrencies.

There are a lot of tradable assets and sophisticated trading tools available, which will appeal to seasoned cryptocurrency traders. Beginners, on the other hand, may get lost in the plethora of advanced features offered by the platform.

Features

• Plenty of cryptocurrencies supported (100+)
• Allows you to do margin trading
• Allows you to stake cryptocurrencies and earn rewards for doing so
• Institutional services for businesses and advanced traders
• 24/7 customer support
• Mobile access

Cost

• Maker fee: Between 0.10% and 0.25%
• Taker fee: Between 0% and 0.16%
• Deposit fees: 2.99%

Best For

Cryptocurrency investors looking for an exchange with a wide array of supported altcoins and stablecoins.

7. Binance

Binance is an international cryptocurrency exchange that currently serves as the world’s largest crypto trading platform by volume of daily trading. It began operations in 2017 and is now headquartered in the Cayman Islands.

Binance was founded in Hong Kong but later moved its headquarters overseas due to increased government intervention in cryptocurrencies. It has several notable characteristics, including powerful charting tools, access to DeFi yield farming through Binance Earn, and the Binance Visa Card.

Features

• Wide array of supported cryptocurrencies (300+)
• Wide array of supported fiat currencies (50+)
• Binance Earn allows users to stake coins and earn interest on their crypto holdings
• Earn up to 8% back in BNB on every transaction made with a Binance Visa Card
• Get access to lower fees by transacting in Binance's native currency Binance Coin (BNB)

Cost

• Crypto deposit fees: Free
• Fiat deposit fees: From 0% to 3.5%
• Crypto withdrawal fees: From 0% to 2,5%
• Taker fees: From 0.04 to 0.1%
• Maker fees: From 0.02 to 0.1%
• Futures trading maker fees: 0.02%
• Futures trading taker fees: 0.04%
• Instant buy/sell trade fees: 0.5%
• Debit/credit card purchases: 4.5%

Best For

Investors looking for a secure, internationally-recognized exchange.

What To Look For In A Great Ethiopian Crypto Exchange

I consider many different factors in my search for the best Ethiopian crypto exchange. Here are just a few of the more prominent ones:

• Supported coins: The best Ethiopian crypto exchanges support a wide variety of coins—at least 20 or 30—including all the major coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin. Platforms that add new coins regularly tend to be more customer-focused overall, making this a strong indicator of a forward-thinking exchange.
• User interface: Choosing a platform with an easy-to-use trading interface is important, especially for beginners. If you're a seasoned crypto investor, you'll also want to look out for exchanges that offer more advanced features like advanced order types and transaction exports for tax purposes.
• Fees: All crypto exchanges charge fees (both in the form of trading commissions and bid-ask spreads), and they can vary by a wide margin. I've specifically chosen low-fee platforms here to help you maximize your profits.
• Regulation: It's much safer to trade with a well-regulated exchange than an unregulated one, especially when markets aren't moving in your favor. Depositors' insurance is another safeguard offered by some exchanges, which keeps your assets safe even if the platform itself faces liquidity issues.
• Deposit & withdrawal options: The exchange you choose should offer a variety of payment methods (bank transfers, debit/credit cards, PayPal, etc.) to ensure you can easily transfer funds in and out of your account. The more options you have, the better.
• Security: Look for an exchange that strictly enforces multiple layers of security, such as two-factor authentication and at least 95% cold storage. Additional security measures like daily offsite backups, third-party security audits, and email confirmations on transactions make your account even more secure.
• Customer support: The best crypto exchanges pride themselves on having well-trained, responsive support teams who can help users through any problems that come up. I pay particular attention to the channels each exchange offers support through, response times, the thoroughness and helpfulness of their responses, and user feedback on the customer support they've received.

In Summary

Choosing the best cryptocurrency exchange in Ethiopia isn’t easy, given all the options out there and the different features each of them offers. As an avid crypto investor myself, I diligently keep up with the movements of the top exchanges in Ethiopia, and have made my selections below based on years of research and personal experience.

Capital is the favorite among knowledgeable Ethiopian crypto investors, both for its high level of security and for its ease of use. Capital also doesn't charge any trading fees, so if you’re looking for a secure, cost-effective way to buy and sell crypto in Ethiopia, I can’t recommend Capital highly enough.

Best Crypto Exchange Ethiopia FAQs

Which Ethiopian crypto exchange has the lowest fees?

The Ethiopian crypto exchange with the lowest fees is generally Capital or Pursa, depending on the specific crypto assets you're trading. In most cases, Capital will be the cheapest option.

What’s the best crypto wallet in Ethiopia?

The best crypto wallet is the Ledger Nano S hardware wallet. It is the best way to keep your private keys secure and, more importantly, offline. All Ledger wallets are certified by the French National Agency of Security and are among the safest and most cost-efficient wallets out there, and they support 1,200+ crypto assets, coins, and tokens.

What’s the best altcoin exchange in Ethiopia?

The best altcoin exchange in Ethiopia is one of Capital or Pursa. Both of them support a wide variety of cryptocurrencies and regularly add more of the altcoins Ethiopian investors are looking for.

What is the safest crypto wallet in Ethiopia?

The Ledger Nano S is the safest wallet available today. All Ledger wallets far exceed industry standards for security: they use tamper-resistant Certified Secure Element (SE) with Common Criteria (CC) EAL5+ chips on their nanodevices, which means your private key stays on the secure chip. It also has a proprietary operating system called Blockchain Open Ledger Operating System (BOLOS) that's successfully undergone audits from the French National Agency of Security, many other government agencies, as well as regular audits from independent security organizations. 

What’s the safest crypto exchange in Ethiopia?

The safest cryptocurrency exchange in Ethiopia is Capital. They strictly enforce bank-level security protocols, run on servers in secure locations around the world, and undergo frequent financial and security audits to ensure all of their users’ assets are completely safe. They also have some of the lowest fees of any platform in Ethiopia and are known for being a reputable, trustworthy exchange.

How Can I Sell Bitcoin In Ethiopia?

There are several different ways to sell Bitcoin in Ethiopia, though the easiest is to sell it directly from the crypto wallet or exchange that you’re holding it on. Remember to be cautious whenever you transfer coins between wallets, since blockchain transactions are irreversible.

What crypto exchange is best for beginners in Ethiopia?

The best crypto exchange for beginners in Ethiopia is generally Capital. Capital is ideal for beginners because they verify accounts instantly, have easy-to-use trading platforms, and provide great customer support in case you need any help along the way.

Is cryptocurrency legal in Ethiopia?

Yes, cryptocurrency is legal in Ethiopia, and you can buy, sell and use crypto without breaking the law. However, cryptocurrency is not currently considered legal tender in Ethiopia, which means the Ethiopian government and Ethiopian businesses are not legally obligated to accept it as payment for goods and services.

What’s the best crypto app in Ethiopia?

The best crypto app in Ethiopia is Capital. Its mobile app is very easy to use, has a nice, modern interface, and has very good ratings and reviews on both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. If you live in a country like Fiji or Estonia instead, you’ll have to double-check to ensure you can get the Capital app in your local app store.

What is the best crypto exchange for day trading in Ethiopia?

The best crypto exchange for day trading in Ethiopia is Capital, since it has low trading fees, tight spreads, and its prices update multiple times per second, giving day traders an upper hand over the rest of the market.

Can the Ethiopian government track cryptocurrency?

Yes. Just like in places like China, India, Hong Kong and Germany, the Ethiopian tax authorities can track cryptocurrency trades and transactions—and not only when your digital assets interact with real-world institutions like banks. Some exchanges in Ethiopia are required by law to provide the government with information about their users’ transactions, including purchase price, purchase date, sale value, and all associated KYC data. If your tax returns don’t match the data the government receives from these exchanges, you may receive a fine.