In this article, I will tackle the Safest Licensed Crypto Exchanges Across Europe, focusing on those that meet stringent MiCA compliance, provide clear reserve transparency, and have the best-of-the-best in security features.
When it comes to reliability, access, and on trading innovations in Europe’s digital asset market, these Exchanges have become trusted entryways for trade and institution clients — Kraken, Coinbase, Binance, Bitget, Bitpanda, Bitvavo, Bybit, KuCoin, BingX, and Gemini.
Key Points & Europe’s Safest Licensed Crypto Exchanges
| Exchange | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Kraken | Best overall compliance: Licensed under MiCA, transparent Proof-of-Reserves, supports EUR/GBP/CHF |
| Coinbase Exchange | Beginner-friendly: Strong EU compliance, fiat support, rewards for new users |
| Binance | Wide services: Spot trading, staking, P2P, Earn; licensed in France under MiCA |
| Bitget | UK-regulated: FCA-compliant via Archax, low fees, robust 1:1 asset backing |
| Bitpanda | Austria-based: Licensed broker, strong EU compliance, easy Euro deposits |
| Bitvavo | Netherlands exchange: MiCA-compliant, low fees, growing European user base |
| Bybit | Derivatives leader: Expanding in Europe with MiCA licensing, strong security features |
| KuCoin | Global reach: Increasing EU compliance, wide crypto selection, Euro deposits supported |
| BingX | Social trading: Licensed in Europe, copy-trading features, strong MiCA compliance |
| Gemini | US-regulated presence: Expanding into Europe with MiCA compliance, strong institutional focus |
10 Europe’s Safest Licensed Crypto Exchanges
1. Kraken
Kraken was established in 2011 in San Francisco and began its operations with one of the most industry-compliant business models. Kraken’s maker fees are set at 0.16% and taker fees at 0.26% (with decreases for high-volume merchants).
That they support almost 50 cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stable coins. Kraken was the first exchange to undergo Proof-of-Reserves audits and to offer cold storage and advanced trading options such as spot, margin, and futures trading, and now is known for their high standards of transparency and to be the most secured exchange in Europe.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Strong compliance under MiCA and Proof-of-Reserves audits | Higher fees (0.16% maker, 0.26% taker) compared to some rivals |
| Advanced trading options: spot, margin, futures | Limited coin selection (~50+) |
| Excellent security with cold storage | Interface may feel complex for beginners |
2. Coinbase Exchange
The other licensed crypto exchange in Europe is Coinbase. It is a public company on NASDAQ and one of the first in the crypto industry to go public.
It is also one of the first licensed under MiCA. Its fees range from 0.00% to 0.40% depending on the volume in a maker/taker trading system which is also great for a volume trader.
It also supports over 200+ cryptocurrencies such as BTC, ETH, SOL, and many other stable coins. It also has an excellent reputation for compliance, security, storage, and custody. Coinbase is one of the trusted gateways for European traders, having more than 100 million users and retaining their clients.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Beginner-friendly interface and educational rewards | Relatively high fees (up to 0.40%) |
| Wide crypto support (~200+) | Limited advanced trading tools compared to Binance/KuCoin |
| Strong compliance and institutional custody | Customer support sometimes criticized for slow responses |
3. Binance
Changpeng Zhao founded Binance, the largest worldwide crypto trading service, in 2017. In the European region, especially France, it runs with MiCA licensing.
Binance, 0.1% (maker/taker) trading fees for trades, and even cheaper regulation in the block chain of binance (BNB) is used. Spot, futures, staking, and P2P trading are all available in the more than 800 crypto currencies.
Binance is well knows for deep liquidity, wide trading and fiat currencies. Despite all of the turmoil with regulation, Binance is compliance and efforts in Europe. Trust Wallet and Binance Earn, it broad setups est. for Bigger retail and institutions.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Largest selection (~800+ cryptocurrencies) | Ongoing regulatory challenges in Europe |
| Low fees (0.1% maker/taker, discounts with BNB) | Complex ecosystem may overwhelm beginners |
| Deep liquidity and advanced trading tools | Past scrutiny over transparency and compliance |
4. Bitget
Bitget, an exchange in Singapore founded 2018 is also into Europe, is also has an UK FCA compliant license, and offers products on derivatives and is a leader on copy trading on the market.
With BGB block chain, maker and taker fees are lowered in Spot aper/taker, 0.02 for maker, and 0.06 for taker on futures. The site has over 500 cryptocurrency available.
Bitget has 1:1 and strong security. Ins not on trading and copy trading people who are more novus, while established systems for people trading more. With fusion of active trading, bitget enlarged it’s users on the Europe market as trading is more safer and offers more innovative trading steps.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Strong derivatives trading and copy-trading features | Newer exchange (founded 2018), less established reputation |
| Competitive fees (0.1% spot, 0.02% maker futures) | Smaller fiat support compared to Coinbase/Bitpanda |
| 1:1 reserves transparency | Focus on derivatives may not suit casual investors |
5. Bitpanda
Bitpanda is a licensed broker from Vienna, Austria, that started operating in 2014. Bitpanda deals with crypto, stocks, ETFs, and commodities. The and is at 0.99% of Bitcoin, and the spreads depend on the asset.
More than 250 cryptocurrencies are supported, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, and some new altcoins. They are fully licensed in Austria and is fully MiCA compliant, which makes it one of the safest platforms across Europe.
Decades of strong partnerships, Bitpanda`s estimated worth is over 4 billion dollars and it becomes a fraud adds up our services and a trustworthy partner in Europe with Crypto and Traditional Assets.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Licensed broker in Austria, fully MiCA-compliant | Higher premiums (~0.99%) compared to exchanges |
| Supports crypto + stocks/ETFs | Limited advanced trading tools |
| User-friendly app with Euro deposits | Smaller coin selection (~250) than Binance/KuCoin |
6. Bitvavo
The Netherlands-based Bitvavo has experienced a very rapid growth since its incorporation in **2018**. Bitvavo has over the years become one of Europes most popular exchanges.
The reason for this is the 0% maker fee and 0.02% taker fee (based upon monthly trading volume) that they introduced. When it comes to the amount of supported cryptocurrencies
Bitvavo is one of the largest in the industry, with over 390 cryptocurrencies that are nearly all paired with the Euro. MiCA regulations and crypto-Insured cold storage of your crypto. Retail traders (low fees and easy to use platform) and Institutions (high liquidity and full MiCA compliance) are both greatly attracted to Bitvavo.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Ultra-low fees (0% maker, 0.02% taker) | Less global recognition compared to Binance/Coinbase |
| Wide crypto support (~390+) | Limited advanced derivatives trading |
| Strong compliance and insurance coverage | Primarily EUR-focused, fewer fiat options |
7. Bybit
Bybit is a company operating globally and is engaged with derivatives. They are planning to move the European market as they for EU in 2018.Bybit has 0.1% maker fees and 0.1% taker fees with VIP tier discounts.
As for futures trading, fees are slightly lower with 0.02% for makers and 0.05% for takers. As of now, Bybit supports more than 400 cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and altcoins.
Bybit has streghtened compliance under MiCA and is well-known for fast execution and leveraged trading. Bybit has advanced tools wrapped in a great security framework, has copy trading and is thus a solid option for those in Europe looking for derivatives.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent derivatives platform with leverage | Riskier for beginners due to leverage trading |
| Competitive fees (0.02% maker futures) | Regulatory scrutiny in some regions |
| Advanced tools + copy trading | Smaller coin selection (~400) than KuCoin |
8. KuCoin
KuCoin is a global exchange founded in 2017 by Michael Gan and Eric Don. KuCoin has growing compliance with Europe and as for fees, maker/taker fees start at 0.1% and decrease as you hold KuCoin Shares (KCS).
They support over 900 cryptocurrencies, which is among the largest altcoin markets. KuCoin is also known as the People’s exchange and offers spot and futures trading, staking, bots, etc.
They are under regulatory scrutiny however their MiCA compliance is a good sign for their presence in Europe. KuCoin has good selection, wide range and low fees, which makes it a great option for those looking to trade altcoins but beginners should be careful
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Huge coin selection (~900+) | Regulatory scrutiny in Europe |
| Low fees (0.1%, discounts with KCS) | Complex interface may overwhelm beginners |
| Wide features: bots, staking, futures | Not as beginner-friendly as Coinbase/Bitpanda |
9. BingX
BingX is a social trading exchange based in Europe and was founded in 2018. Spot trading fees are 0.1% both for maker and taker. For futures, the fees are 0.02% for maker and 0.05% for taker. BingX supports 500+ cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and some trending altcoins.
Its distinct function of copy-trading enables novices to replicate the moves of seasoned traders. BingX is designed with transparency, compliance, and ease of use in mind. BingX is one of the safest options for European clients wanting social and professional trading due to excellent MiCA licensing and very low fees.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Unique copy-trading for beginners | Less established reputation compared to Kraken/Coinbase |
| Competitive fees (0.1% spot, 0.02% maker futures) | Smaller fiat support |
| Strong MiCA compliance | Focused more on social trading than institutional-grade services |
10. Gemini
Gemini is one of the US-regulated exchanges that is expanding to Europe under MiCA with a European branch being in development. The Winklevoss twins, who founded it in 2014 in New York, have their exchange offering maker/taker fees at 0.00%–0.40% with a fee structure depending on your trading volume.
Gemini offers over 100 coins to its clients including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and various stablecoins. Gemini is very well known for its compliance and custody offerings.
With active traders in mind, Gemini has designed a trading platform on a separate interface called ActiveTrader, which offers a full toolset for trading. With strong demand within the market and insurer backing, Gemini is one of the most secure exchanges for European clients in the industry.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Institutional-grade custody and insurance | Higher fees (up to 0.40%) |
| Strong compliance under US + MiCA regulations | Smaller coin selection (~100) |
| Beginner-friendly app + ActiveTrader tools | Less liquidity compared to Binance/KuCoin |
Conclsuion
In conclusion, Europe’s most secure licensed exchanges such as, Kraken, Coinbase, Binance, Bitget, Bitpanda, Bitvavo, Bybit, KuCoin, BingX, Gemini, etc, showcase unique traits like minimal trading fees and vast cryptocurrencies support.
All together, they establish dependable trade routes in MiCA regulation and offer start to record transparency and heightened security. Thus, giving roader accessibility and trust. These exchanges ensure innovation in Europe’s digital asset market.
FAQ
Which are Europe’s safest licensed crypto exchanges?
Kraken, Coinbase, Binance, Bitget, Bitpanda, Bitvavo, Bybit, KuCoin, BingX, and Gemini.
Why are they considered safe?
They comply with MiCA regulations, use Proof-of-Reserves, and maintain strong security standards.
Which exchange has the lowest fees?
Bitvavo offers 0% maker and 0.02% taker fees.
Which exchange supports the most coins?
KuCoin, with over 900 cryptocurrencies available.
Which is best for beginners?
Coinbase and Bitpanda offer simple interfaces and fiat support.
