Choosing the best cryptocurrency exchange in Germany 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 Germany, and have made my selections below based on years of research and personal experience.
Capital is the favorite among knowledgeable German crypto investors, both for its high level of security and for its ease of use. Capital's fees are also extremely low, so if you’re looking for a secure, cost-effective way to buy and sell crypto in Germany, I can’t recommend Capital highly enough.
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 Germany 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 Euro, and is compatible with the biggest financial institutions in Germany, you’ve come to the right place.
Here are my top picks for the best crypto exchanges Germany has to offer.
1. Capital – Best Overall
Zero Fees |
Trading fees: 0% |
★★★★★ 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.Â
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. Kraken – Extremely Narrow Spreads
Best Overall |
Fees: 0.16% |
★★★★★ Rated 4.9/5 |
Based in the United States, Kraken is a highly transparent exchange with a longstanding history of reliability. As one of the largest crypto exchanges in the world, Kraken outperforms smaller exchanges for a number of reasons.
For starters, Kraken's fees are far lower than most other exchanges, with most users paying 0.16% per transaction (fees decrease down to 0% if you trade high volumes). Kraken's spreads are also absurdly low, typically around $0.10 per Bitcoin, which is 0.0003%. Compare that with other exchanges—which routinely charge up to 2% in trading commissions plus an additional 2% or more in spreads—and it's easy to see why Kraken is such a popular exchange.
Kraken also has better customer support than most other exchanges, and is one of the only exchanges out there that still offers telephone support (available in English, French and Spanish). It supports 100+ cryptocurrencies and has a world-class trading platform and mobile app that's powerful yet easy to use.
If that wasn't enough, Kraken's trading platform is professional and robust, offering features like NFT trading, staking and support for a wide range of fiat currencies including USD, EUR, and more.
Overall, Kraken is an excellent fit for many crypto investors because it has lower fees, better support and a better trading platform overall. If you're looking to start trading crypto, we strongly recommend Kraken.
Features
- Extremely low trading commissions (0.16%)
- Extremely low spreads (0.0003%)
- Trade 100+ cryptocurrencies
- Stake 100+ cryptocurrencies
- Simple, intuitive user interface
- Kraken Crypto Watch allows you to keep track of the crypto market
- NFT trading inside the Kraken app
- 24/7 customer support via phone, email and live chat
- Plenty of free educational resources available to users
- 95% cold storage policy
Cost
- Trading Fees: 0.16% (spot trades cost 0.26%)
- Spreads: 0.0003%
- Fiat Deposit Fee: 0%
- Fiat Withdrawal Fee: $0 – $5 USD
Best For
Cryptocurrency investors looking to trade with extremely low fees.
Start trading in the next 6 minutes
Click below to skip the waitlist and open your free account. Offer closes October 5, 2024.
SKIP THE WAITLIST
Offer ends October 5, 2024.3. Plus500
Plus500 is a leveraged trading platform headquartered in Israel. It's one of the largest investing platforms in terms of volume, with millions of active traders worldwide. Plus500 supports 20+ crypto assets, including a mix of the largest cryptos like Bitcoin and Ethereum and promising altcoins like Polygon, Solana, and Cardano.
Plus500 Markets aggregates crypto prices from tens of data sources to offer very competitive prices. They also offer up to 2x leverage on all crypto investments. Investors can also set up price alerts and two types of stop orders: Stop Loss and Trailing Stop, to mitigate the risk of losing assets.
Plus500 doesn't charge trading fees – in fact, the only fees they charge are Overnight Funding, which applies when holding a position after a certain time, and Currency Conversion fees, if you trade in a different currency denomination than that of your account.
Plus500 users can also access most financial instruments, including shares, stocks and ETFs, CFDs, and even FX. Their mobile app is available on Android (4.3/5 ration) and iOS (also 4.3/5 rating), and they have excellent reviews on Trustpilot, averaging a rating of 4.2/5.
Features
- Supports 20+ cryptocurrency pairs
- Access to global markets for shares, ETFs, stocks, CFDs, FX, and crypto
- Demo account
- Supports 2x leverage for crypto assets
Cost
- Trading Fees: Free
- Overnight Funding: Depends on the asset (from 0.02% – 0.05% for BTC)
- Spread: Depends on the asset (0.3% for BTC)
4. CMC Markets
CMC Markets is a leveraged trading platform headquartered in the UK. It’s one of the largest investing platforms in terms of volume, with over 1 million active traders across all their markets. CMC Markets supports 18 crypto assets, including a mix of the largest cryptos like Bitcoin and Ethereum and some up-and-coming altcoins with potential like NEO, Cardano, and TRON.
CMC Markets aggregates crypto prices from 15+ exchanges and data sources to offer very competitive prices. They also offer another way to gain exposure to crypto: Crypto Indices. Crypto Indices are diversified crypto baskets – by purchasing a crypto basket, you gain access to the crypto sector as a whole.
In terms of pricing, CMC Markets is ahead of many exchanges – for starters, it doesn’t charge trading fees; you will only pay very small spreads (0.02% for purchases, 0.09% for selling).
They also have a program called Alpha: if your monthly trading volume reaches the minimum, you will immediately gain access to additional features like a dedicated account manager, VIP service, and preferential pricing on crypto assets.
CMC Markets users can also access global markets, including commodities, shares, indices, CFDs, and FX – all in one place. Their mobile app is available on Android and iOS, and they have excellent reviews on Trustpilot, averaging a rating of 4.2/5.
Features
- Supports 18+ cryptocurrencies
- Access to diversified Crypto Baskets
- App available for Android (3.5/5 rating) and iOS (4.1/5 rating)
- Demo environment
- For Alpha users: Data analysis and In-depth market insights
Cost
- Trading Fees: Free
- Spread: 0.07%
5. Crypto.com
Best For Altcoins |
Trading fees: 0.4% |
★★★★ Rated 4.3/5 |
Crypto.com is a major global player that brings a mature, proven exchange to experienced crypto investors. It supports 100+ cryptocurrencies, making it an ideal fit for anyone looking to invest in undiscovered altcoins before the masses.
Crypto.com offers some unique features that no other cryptocurrency exchange can match. Users can trade options and futures contracts, earn interest by staking their coins, and make trades with up to 10x leverage when they feel particularly confident in a coin.
Crypto.com also has invested an enormous amount of money into its platform's security, making trading with them extremely safe. The exchange is lightning quick (prices update dozens of times per second), which gives day traders an upper hand over the rest of the market.
Overall, Crypto.com is a solid exchange for investors looking to cash in on brand-new altcoins.
Features
- Average trading fees (0.4%)
- Supports 100+ cryptocurrencies
- Allows up to 10x leverage
- Trade crypto derivatives (futures and options contracts)
- Earn daily interest by staking your coins
- Purchase newly-listed coins at up to 50% off
- Free deposits from all cryptocurrencies
Cost
- Account Opening: Free
- Trading Fees: 0.4%
Best For
Investors looking to buy altcoins and other new crypto assets before they go mainstream.
Start trading in the next 6 minutes
Click below to skip the waitlist and open your free account. Offer closes October 5, 2024.
SKIP THE WAITLIST
Offer ends October 5, 2024.6. Bitcoin.de
Bitcoin.de is a European-based crypto exchange, with over 1.5 million users. It supports seven of the biggest cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, and XRP. Bitcoin.de offers many research, trading, and charting tools for the more advanced investors.
Bitcoin.de offers two marketplaces: fiat-to-crypto and crypto-to-crypto, which makes it ideal for new investors looking to buy their first crypto; afterward, you can swap one of the seven coins available for your favorite crypto.
If you are a client of Fidor Bank of Munich, you can enjoy complete integration with Bitcoin.de: you can buy crypto directly from the Fidor Bank dashboard, and as a new Bitcoin.de user you will receive a 10% rebate off your trading fees for the first six months.
Features
- 2FA Security
- Bitcoin Miner
- Native online crypto wallet
- Fiat money to crypto marketplace
- Crypto to crypto marketplace
- Supports 7 cryptocurrencies
- Accepts SEPA transactions
- Pay using Express Trade, through your Fidor Bank of Munich account
- 98% of portfolios are kept in cold storage
Cost
- Account Opening:
- Buying Fees: 0.5%
- Selling Fees: 0.5%
- Express Bitcoin Trading: 0.4%
Signup Bonus
10% off trading fees for the first 6 months
Best For
New and experienced investors looking to buy their first crypto, or looking for advanced trading tools.
7. Bitstamp
Bitstamp is one of the world's largest and oldest crypto exchanges; it is geared towards experienced traders and has over 4 million active users worldwide. It offers competitively low fees ranging from 0.1% to 0.5% and many payment options; you can use credit or debit cards and SEPA transfers.
Bitstamp is partnered with large financial institutions like Swissquote, Chicago Mercantile Exchange and Crédit Agricole. Bitstamp fully insures your assets and keeps them safe offline – in cold storage. Bitstamp provides both hot and cold storage.
New Bitstamp users receive a $20 bonus after funding their account, and you can immediately use it to buy any of the 53 cryptocurrencies available.
Features
- Extremely low trading fees (0.1%-0.5%)
- Buy crypto with fiat currency, credit cards or bank transfers
- 24/7 customer support available via phone, live chat or email
- Instant account verification
- Supports 53 of the largest cryptocurrencies
- Access to a crypto wallet
- Hot and cold wallet storage
Cost
- Account Opening: Free
- Credit Card Purchases: 5%
- Debit Card Withdrawal: Flat $10 (USD)
- SEPA Fees: €0 for deposits, €3 for withdrawals
- Trading Fees: From 0.5% to 0.1% (0.5% for trades below $10,000)
- International Wire Transfer: 0.05% for deposits, 0.1% for withdrawals
Signup Bonus
$20 signup bonus
Best For
Experienced investors looking for professional investing tools and data.
8. Bitpanda
BitPanda is an Austrian cryptocurrency exchange that was established in 2014 and has since become one of the most popular cryptocurrency exchanges in Europe for buying and selling digital currencies.
The exchange is a popular choice among many individuals since it features a user-friendly and easy-to-use design for purchasing, selling, and trading cryptocurrencies. The exchange also has a variety of payment choices that may be used by novice cryptocurrency users to acquire Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and many other crypto coins.
Features
- Easy-to-use and intuitive platform
- Wide array of crypto assets supported (+25)
- Wide array of payment and withdrawal methods
- Fast customer support available 24/7
Cost
- Trading fees: 5% per trade
Best For
Investors new to the world of cryptocurrency trading looking for an easy-to-understand crypto exchange.
Why you should trust me
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ExperiencedI bought my first cryptocurrency (Bitcoin) in 2013, bought Ethereum in 2017, and have held active accounts with at least 5 exchanges since 2018.
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UnbiasedAll of my selections are supported by multiple data points, including crypto thought leaders, security experts, and Trustpilot reviews.
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Deep ResearchMy team and I spent more than 20 hours researching exchanges before choosing our top picks, and we update them almost daily as the industry continues to change.
What To Look For In A Great German Crypto Exchange
I consider many different factors in my search for the best German crypto exchange. Here are just a few of the more prominent ones:
- Supported coins: The best German 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 Germany 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 Germany and have made my selections below based on years of research and personal experience.
Capital is the favorite among knowledgeable German crypto investors, both for its high level of security and for its ease of use. Capital's fees are also extremely low, so if you’re looking for a secure, cost-effective way to buy and sell crypto in Germany, I can’t recommend Capital highly enough.
Best Crypto Exchange Germany FAQs
Which German crypto exchange has the lowest fees?
The German crypto exchange with the lowest fees is Capital or Kraken, 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 Germany?
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 Germany?
The best altcoin exchange in Germany is either Capital or Kraken. Both of them support a wide variety of cryptocurrencies and regularly add more of the altcoins German investors are looking for.
What is the safest crypto wallet in Germany?
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.Â
What’s the safest crypto exchange in Germany?
The safest cryptocurrency exchange in Germany 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 Germany and are known for being a reputable, trustworthy exchange.
How Can I Sell Bitcoin In Germany?
There are several different ways to sell Bitcoin in Germany, 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 Germany?
The best crypto exchange for beginners in Germany is Capital, followed by Kraken. Both are 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 Germany?
Yes, cryptocurrency is legal in Germany, and you can buy, sell and use crypto without breaking the law. However, cryptocurrency is not currently considered legal tender in Germany, which means the German government and German businesses are not legally obligated to accept it as payment for goods and services.
What’s the best crypto app in Germany?
The best crypto app in Germany 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 Ghana or Georgia 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 Germany?
The best crypto exchange for day trading in Germany 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 German government track cryptocurrency?
Yes, German 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 Germany 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. This is similar in other places like China, India, and Hong Kong and Germany. If your tax returns don’t match the data the government receives from these exchanges, you may receive a fine.