7 Best Licensed Crypto Exchanges in Europe

After testing Crypto.com in late 2025, it became one of my go-to exchanges as someone living in Europe. It offers all of the features you’d ever need, with everything from trading and buying crypto to staking and cashback rewards with its famous Visa card. No wonder it’s trusted by over 150 million users globally. If you live in Europe and want a single platform that meets all your crypto needs, look no further than Crypto.com.

• As an all-in-one ecosystem, Crypto.com caters to everyone, regardless of your experience level. If you’re new to crypto, you can download the Crypto.com app for its intuitive interface and easy buy crypto options. But if you’re an experienced trader, you can use the Crypto.com Exchange for its advanced features like TradingView charting and complex conditional order support.
• The Crypto.com Visa Card lets you spend your crypto like cash, both online and in-person. You’ll get up to 8% cashback on purchases you make, while also getting airport lounge access and rebates on your Spotify and Netflix subscriptions.
• Strong security and EU/UK regulatory compliance make Crypto.com a safe option, regardless of where you live. Having security features like 2FA and biometric passkeys helps protect your account, while its $750m insurance policy gives you that added reassurance. It also holds MiCA and MiFID licenses in the EU, alongside a crypto asset and electronic money institution license from the FCA in the UK. 

I find Coinbase to be the first platform most people think of when they’re asked to name a crypto exchange. It’s built a strong reputation as one of the best exchanges if you’re new to crypto, thanks to its beginner-friendly interface and secure trading experience. You can make deposits easily or use its quick buy services to instantly buy crypto or set up recurring buys. If you’re new to crypto, using the Coinbase app is a great way to start investing.

• I’ve found that Coinbase offers the most intuitive, user-friendly interface, which makes it perfect if you’re buying crypto for the first time. It simplifies the process of making trades, so it’s accessible to everyone. The mobile app also lets you easily create recurring orders and stake your crypto for passive returns.
• Strong support for the EUR makes Coinbase a great option if you live in Europe. You can make free, instant deposits using SEPA transfers, or instantly buy crypto with a bank card or Apple Pay using EUR. It also supports EURC stablecoins, so you can store your money securely without having to cash out and convert to fiat money.
• An EU MiCA license and strong security measures help make Coinbase a platform you can trust with your hard-earned money. It’s fully licensed to operate across the EU with security features like 2FA and biometric passkeys to help stop hackers from getting into your account. Coinbase also has third-party insurance coverage on assets in its custody to protect you against cybersecurity breaches and theft.

Kraken is one of my go-to exchanges as someone who lives in Europe and prioritizes security. During our testing in mid-2024, it received the highest rankings for safety and security in the industry. It offers all the features you could want from a crypto exchange without compromising on security, transparency, or regulatory compliance. Having dedicated Lite and Pro apps makes Kraken great for both beginners and experienced users, especially if you prioritize security above all else.

• Kraken’s flawless security track record with no loss of user assets makes it the best in the industry. I like that it offers strong security measures like 2FA and biometric passkeys to help secure your account, whilst also keeping your coins in guarded cold storage with full Proof of Reserves for total peace of mind.
• Support for several European currencies like EUR, GBP, and CHF means you can easily make direct deposits using bank transfer, even if you live outside SEPA or the Eurozone. You can make secure bank transfer deposits using SEPA, FPS, and SWIFT, or use a bank card, Apple/Google Pay, and PayPal if you want to instantly buy crypto without waiting for bank transfers to process.
• Regulatory compliance is where Kraken really excels; it was one of the first platforms to be granted a MiCA license to operate across Europe. It’s also regulated by the FCA in the UK as a cryptoasset firm. Even before MiCA, it was licensed by most central banks across Europe, meaning it has operated in compliance with European regulations for a long time.

OKX is a top-tier exchange with a loyal following of users across Europe. I found its intuitive interface makes it great for both experienced users and beginners, with a Lite mode for first-time investors. It’s popular for its wide range of trading instruments and tools, along with features like flexible and liquid staking, which make it a perfect fit if you want to make some passive income on your idle holdings.

• A range of fixed and flexible staking plans gives you the option to choose between locking your tokens for higher APYs or maintaining liquidity with lower APYs. It also lets you start staking with as little as $1 worth of crypto, making it more accessible than staking directly on the blockchain network in most cases.
• OKX’s Liquid Staking products are perfect if you want to stake coins like ETH while maintaining your liquidity. The exchange will issue a staking token like BETH, which you can use for trading while earning passive income on staked ETH.
• Regulatory compliance and transparency are key when you’re locking up your tokens on an exchange. I consider OKX to be a safe option due to its MiCA licensing and fully transparent Proof of Reserves. You can relax knowing OKX complies with the latest crypto regulation in Europe and holds enough in reserves to back your deposits.

I’ve frequently ranked MEXC as the best exchange for low fees, with the exchange building a reputation for being one of the most cost-effective platforms to trade with. It’s also got a cult following among futures traders thanks to its high leverage, deep liquidity, and advanced trading platform. If you want the lowest fees in the industry without compromising on trading features or security, MEXC is the ideal platform for you. 

• Over 680 trading pairs with no fees at all means MEXC offers the lowest trading fees of any top-tier exchange. On these selected trading pairs, covering both spot and futures, you pay zero trading fees regardless of whether you use limit or market orders. It also covers the major coins like BTC, ETH, SOL, and TradeFi markets like Oil, Silver, and Gold.
• Zero maker fees on both spot and futures trades make MEXC one of the most cost-effective platforms to trade on. Maker fees are still extremely competitive, at just 0.05% for spot and 0.02% for futures. During testing, I found its funding fees on futures trades were also among the lowest in the industry.
• A $100m insurance fund, full Proof of Reserves, and strong security demonstrate MEXC’s commitment to safety and security. Whilst most platforms advertising zero fees can be a bit sketchy, MEXC has made every effort to reassure you that your trading capital is safe on its platform.