9 Best Crypto Exchanges In Somalia

August 29, 2022
Blog

Choosing the best cryptocurrency exchange in Somalia 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 Somalia, and have made my selections below based on years of research and personal experience.

Okcoin is the favorite among knowledgeable Somali crypto investors, both for its high level of security and for its ease of use. Okcoin's fees are also extremely low, so if you’re looking for a secure, cost-effective way to buy and sell crypto in Somalia, I recommend Okcoin.

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 Somalia 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 Somali shilling, and is compatible with the biggest financial institutions in Somalia, you’ve come to the right place.

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

1. Okcoin

Launched in 2013, Okcoin is a California-based American exchange with over 100,000 crypto investors across 190+ countries. It supports 70+ crypto assets, including the biggest like Bitcoin and Ethereum, but also altcoins and lesser-known blockchain protocols.

Okcoin doesn’t charge trading fees – instead, it uses a volume-based fee system, where makers are charged 0.1% – 0.0% (based on the last 30-day trading volume) and takers are charged 0.2% – 0.02%, also based on volume. 

Okcoin is available worldwide and supports SEPA payment deposits in Europe and electronic fund transfers (using the ACH network) in the U.S. One of Okcoin’s best features is its staking platform, where investors can lock in one of the supported cryptos (for a fixed term) and earn up to 17% APY, depending on the asset (10% for BTC).

Fiat deposits using debit cards are on the high side – you can end up paying up 3.99%, so it’s recommended, whenever possible, that you use a different deposit method. Okcoin is licensed in the US and registered with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

Features

  • Supports 70+ cryptocurrencies
  • Quick verification process
  • Set up automatic purchases using dollar-cost averaging
  • Available on Android (4.1/5 rating) and iOS (4/5 rating)
  • Okcoin Earn (Up to 10% APY on BTC deposits)

Cost

  • Trading Fees: Free
  • Spread: 1% – 1.5%
  • Maker’s Fees: From 0.1% to 0.0% (based on trading volume)
  • Taker’s Fees: From 0.2% to 0.02% (based on trading volume)
  • Debit Card Deposit Fees: 3.99%

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%

3. Quidax

Quidax is one of the largest crypto exchanges in Africa, and a trailblazer in the crypto industry on that continent. Headquartered in Malta, it is the first and only African crypto exchange to be listed in CoinMarketCap, the largest and most trusted source of cryptocurrency news, often cited by major players like CNBC and Bloomberg.

Quidax supports 20 cryptocurrencies and dozens of crypto pairs, and its highly-rated mobile app is available for Android (4.1/5 rating) and iOS (4.5/5 rating). It uses a maker/taker fee system and charges a flat 0.1% for makers and 0.3% for takers. Trades usually take less than 10 minutes to complete, and the signup process is instant for customers in Africa.

Since its launch in 2018, Quidax surpassed $4 billion in transactions, just in Africa, and in 2021 they launched their own native token, the QDX. The QDX token can be staked and exchanged for any other token listed on the exchange, and they have plans to add new features and functions as well as reduced fees for holders.

Some of the new features to be released include Quidax EARN (a DeFi market-aggregator), the Quidax NFT Marketplace, and a decentralized swapping platform, Quid SWAP

Features

  • Supports 20+ cryptocurrencies
  • Available on Android and iOS
  • Quick sign-up process for African users
  • Access to a flexible staking platform
  • Trades completed in less than 10 minutes

Cost

  • Maker’s Fees: 0.1%
  • Taker’s Fees: 0.3%
  • Instant Buy: 1%
  • Deposit Fees (Crypto): Free
  • Withdrawal Fees (Crypto): Depends on the crypto (0.0002 BTC for Bitcoin) 
  • Deposit Fees (Naira): From 100 NGN to 2,250 NGN (based on deposit size)
  • Withdrawal Fee (Naira): From 200 NGN to 5,000 NGN

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. Huobi Global

Huobi Global is the sixth largest crypto exchange, based in the island nation Seychelles but with strong ties in the Asian market, with offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Japan. It also has a strong presence in Europe in countries like Italy and Portugal.

Huobi offers competitively low fees starting at 0.2%. Additionally, it offers plenty of tools veteran investors will appreciate: interactive charts, limit and stop orders, and margins and futures trading. Huobi supports over 400 cryptocurrencies.

New Huobi users will receive a $150 bonus in point cards and will get the chance to start earning Huobi Tokens (HT) for additional discounts—the more Huobi Tokens you hold, the higher the tier and the lower the fees. In terms of security, it offers 2FA authentication and the option to freeze your account.

Features

  • 24/7 customer support available via live chat or email
  • Instant account verification
  • Supports over 400 cryptocurrencies
  • 98% cold storage policy keeps your crypto extra secure
  • Earn crypto rewards through staking
  • Huobi Tokens, earn discounts and rebates just by holding the token

Cost

  • Trading Fees: From 0.20% to 0.07% based on HT tier
  • Maker’s Fees: From 0.0362% to 0.0097% based on HT tier
  • Taker’s Fees: From 0.0462% to 0.0193% based on HT tier

Signup Bonus

$150 in Huobi Point Cards bonus

Best For

Veteran investors looking for the very best investing tools and access to some of the newest cryptocurrencies.

7. KuCoin

KuCoin is a cryptocurrency exchange that began operations in Hong Kong in 2017 and bills itself as “The People’s Exchange.” Its objective was to offer a simple and secure platform for crypto investors, and it has been a success: in just four years it has attracted over 8 million users.

Besides buying and selling crypto, KuCoin supports four market order types as well as margins, futures, and P2P trading. KuCoin Trading Bots are one of its biggest features, allowing users to invest on autopilot using dollar-cost averaging.

New KuCoin users will receive a $10 sign-up bonus, and if you’re willing to freeze your crypto for a short period you can earn up to 10% in interest. KuCoin takes security seriously, with features like multi-factor authentication, encryption, and an additional trading password.

Features

  • Users can also get trading fee discounts based on their KuCoin Token (KCS) balance.
  • Margin Trading
  • Crypto Staking, earn up to 10% interests
  • KuCoin Trading Bots, invest on autopilot using dollar–cost averaging
  • Supports 600+ cryptocurrencies
  • Supports market, limit, stop-limit, and stop-market order types

Cost

  • Trading Fees: From 0.0125% to 0.1%
  • Makers Fees: From 0.0125% to 0.1%
  • Takers Fees: From 0.0125% to 0.1%
  • Deposit Fees: Free
  • Withdrawal Fees: Depends on the coin (For BTC: 0.0005 BTC)

Signup Bonus

$10 signup bonus

Best For

Investors looking for a very secure platform, different market tools, and trading bots.

8. Kraken

Founded in 2011, Kraken supports 87+ cryptocurrency assets and various order types (including stop loss and stop-limit orders). As a US-based exchange, Kraken has to meet extremely demanding security protocols, making it a highly secure exchange.

Intermediate and Pro users can trade futures contracts and use up to 5x leverage on 30+ cryptocurrencies. It keeps 95% of its crypto holdings offline in cold storage and has a Global Settings Lock (GSL) and Master Key system that blocks unauthorized changes to your account, even if your password and 2FA are compromised.

Kraken's fees range from 0.16% for makers to 0.26% for takers and decrease if you've traded more than $50,000 in the previous 30 days. It provides price data for digital assets to the Bloomberg Terminal and is accessible in more than 175 countries, making it one of the most international crypto exchanges worldwide.

Kraken offers a staking platform on 17 assets (including the US dollar). However, at a maximum APY of 23%, it pays lower interest than some other staking providers (e.g., just 0.25% APY on Bitcoin).

Features

  • Supports 87+ cryptocurrencies
  • 95% cold storage policy
  • Well-rated mobile app (4.7/5 on iOS, 4.2/5 on Android)
  • 24/7 live chat and email support
  • Cryptowatch and custom alerts make tracking the entire market easy
  • 24/7 customer support via phone, live chat, and email
  • Deposit methods include bank transfers (PayID), wire transfers, OSKO, Apple Pay, Google Pay, SWIFT, SEPA, and cryptocurrency

Cost

  • Maker fees: 0.16%
  • Taker fees: 0.26%
  • Crypto credit card purchases: 3.75% + €0.25
  • ACH crypto purchases: 1.5%

Best For

Cryptocurrency investors looking for crypto exchanges with a wide array of supported altcoins and stablecoins.

Why you should trust me

  • Experienced
    I bought my first cryptocurrency (Bitcoin) in 2013, bought Ethereum in 2017, and have held active accounts with at least 5 exchanges since 2018.
  • Unbiased
    All of my selections are supported by multiple data points, including crypto thought leaders, security experts, and Trustpilot reviews.
  • Deep Research
    My 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 Somali Crypto Exchange

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

  • Supported coins: The best Somali 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 Somalia 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 Somalia, and have made my selections below based on years of research and personal experience.

Okcoin is the favorite among knowledgeable Somali crypto investors, both for its high level of security and for its ease of use. Okcoin's fees are also extremely low, so if you’re looking for a secure, cost-effective way to buy and sell crypto in Somalia, I recommend Okcoin.

Best Crypto Exchange Somalia FAQs

Which Somali crypto exchange has the lowest fees?

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

What’s the best crypto wallet in Somalia?

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 Somalia?

The best altcoin exchange in Somalia is one of Okcoin or Pursa. All of them support a wide variety of cryptocurrencies and regularly add more of the altcoins Somali investors are looking for.

What is the safest crypto wallet in Somalia?

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 Somalia?

The safest cryptocurrency exchange in Somalia is Okcoin. 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 Somalia and are known for being a reputable, trustworthy exchange.

How Can I Sell Bitcoin In Somalia?

There are several different ways to sell Bitcoin in Somalia, 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 Somalia?

The best crypto exchange for beginners in Somalia is Okcoin. They're 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 Somalia?

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

What’s the best crypto app in Somalia?

The best crypto app in Somalia is Okcoin. 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 South Africa or Solomon Islands instead, you’ll have to double-check to ensure you can get the Okcoin app in your local app store.

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

The best crypto exchange for day trading in Somalia is Okcoin, 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 Somali government track cryptocurrency?

Yes. Just like in places such as Sierra Leona, Serbia, Saudi Arabia and Slovenia, Somali 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 Somalia 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.

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