Bitaigen Research We have compiled the core concepts of cryptocurrency trading, a complete registration guide, and key selection points for mainstream platforms for readers looking to enter the digital‑asset space. By reading this article, you can quickly assess an exchange’s credibility, master essential security and compliance procedures, and later chapters will dive into practical tips to help you get a steady start in a complex market environment.
What Is Cryptocurrency Trading? How Do You Register? Which Exchanges Exist in the Domestic Market?
Cryptocurrency trading refers to the buying and selling of digital assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum on blockchain networks. Users can create an account via the official website or mobile app, complete identity verification, and then start trading.
What Is Cryptocurrency Trading?
Cryptocurrency trading is the process of buying or selling Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other tokens in the digital‑asset market. It is essentially an investment activity, similar to stock trading, but the platforms operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Traders seek profit from price fluctuations—buy low, sell high—or they may use futures, options, and other derivatives to take long or short positions. The underlying technology is the blockchain, which makes transactions transparent and decentralized, yet it also leads to high volatility and security risks. Beginners should fully understand market risk and avoid losses caused by sharp price swings.
How Do You Register a Cryptocurrency Trading Account?
The registration workflow is largely uniform across platforms and consists of the following steps:
- Choose a reliable exchange (a list of recommended platforms follows).
- Visit the exchange’s official website or download the official app and click “Sign Up”.
- Verify the captcha using an email address or mobile number, then set a strong password.
- Some platforms require KYC (Know‑Your‑Customer) verification; you will need to upload a government‑issued ID such as a passport, national ID card, or driver’s license.
- After verification, link a bank account (via SEPA, SWIFT, or local ACH) or a digital wallet, deposit funds, and start trading.
- For enhanced security, enable two‑factor authentication (2FA).
The whole process typically takes 5–30 minutes, depending on the exchange’s review speed.
Overview of Major Exchanges
Below is a snapshot of the mainstream centralized exchanges (CEX) and decentralized exchanges (DEX) that were active up to 2026, together with a brief description of each platform’s characteristics.
- Coinbase – User‑friendly interface, abundant educational resources, supports multiple fiat deposit methods (including USD via ACH/SEPA), high security, but relatively higher fees.
- Kraken – Established platform with deep liquidity, offers futures and other advanced tools, lower fees, suitable for intermediate users.
- Binance – The world’s largest exchange by volume, offers a vast array of tokens, margin trading, NFT marketplace, etc. Note: U.S. residents must use Binance.US rather than the global Binance site.
- OKX – Comprehensive feature set, low fees, DeFi integration, popular among Asian users.
- Crypto.com – Own crypto‑backed credit card and generous rewards, convenient for everyday spending.
- Gemini – Strict regulatory compliance and strong security, favored by institutional investors.
- Bybit and Bitget – Focus on derivatives, high leverage options, geared toward professional traders.
- Uniswap (DEX) – No KYC required; connect directly with a wallet, pay only on‑chain gas fees, ideal for privacy‑conscious users.
When selecting an exchange, pay special attention to security, fee structure, token coverage, and localized support.
Global Cryptocurrency Exchange Rankings (Spot + Derivatives as of 2026‑02‑18)
Latest Global Spot‑Trading Exchange Rankings
Rankings are based on a composite score from trading volume, liquidity, website visits, and other metrics compiled by CoinMarketCap.
| Rank | Exchange | 24h Volume (USD) | Avg. Liquidity | Weekly Visits | Supported Tokens | Fiat Options |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Binance](https://accounts.binance.com/register?ref=B2345) | 53,794,832,157 | 9,019,724,086 | 225,360 | 9,000+ | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, SEK, CHF, and 86 other fiat currencies via SEPA/SWIFT |
| 2 | Coinbase Exchange | 7,362,805,719 | 772 | 29,527 | 479,358 | USD, EUR, AED, ARS, and 61 other fiat currencies |
| 3 | Upbit | 6,479,376,550 | 532 | 1,724,028 | 666 | KRW (via local bank transfer) |
| 4 | [OKX](https://www.okx.com/zh-hans/join/B2345) | 10,166,772,809 | 785 | 4,823,517 | 979,356 | EUR, BRL, AUD, and 3 other fiat currencies |
| 5 | [Bybit](https://accounts.binance.com/register?ref=B2345) | 59,287,933,096 | 514 | 3,421,086 | 123,472 | BRL, CHF, CZK, and 72 other fiat currencies |
| 6 | [Bitget](https://www.bitget.org/zh-CN/referral/register?clacCode=NTBZAG9J) | 8,484,524,708 | 664 | 4,192,447 | 127,571 | EUR, MXN, ZAR, and 12 other fiat currencies |
| 7 | Gate | 13,666,180,686 | 724 | 4,294,420 | 283,020 | EUR, BRL, KES, and 61 other fiat currencies |
| 8 | KuCoin | 17,196,883,970 | 699 | 4,387,026 | 169,110 | CHF, HRK, MXN, and 67 other fiat currencies |
| 9 | MEXC | 14,928,179,016 | 723 | 4,676,114 | 311,120 | EUR, GBP, CHF, and 2 other fiat currencies |
| 10 | [HTX](https://accounts.binance.com/register?ref=B2345) | 16,575,244,038 | 427 | 2,847,417 | 897,688 | USD, EUR, AED, and 45 other fiat currencies |
Beginners are advised to prioritize exchanges that provide full‑language support (including English and Chinese) to avoid operational errors caused by language barriers.
Latest Global Derivatives‑Trading Exchange Rankings
CoinMarketCap ranks derivatives platforms using multi‑dimensional algorithms that weigh liquidity, standardized volume, and other factors.
| Rank | Exchange | Open Interest | 24h Volume (USD) | Maker Fee | Taker Fee | Number of Markets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Binance](https://accounts.binance.com/register?ref=B2345) | 185,760,993,821 | 298,969,902,226 | 0.02% | 0.04% | 616 |
| 2 | [OKX](https://www.okx.com/zh-hans/join/B2345) | 51,623,548,119 | 139,421,062,559 | 0.02% | 0.05% | 285 |
| 3 | [Bybit](https://accounts.binance.com/register?ref=B2345) | 87,384,856,999 | 99,263,867,297 | 0.02% | 0.055% | 607 |
| 4 | Gate | 82,852,665,722 | 84,133,987,987 | 0.015% | 0.05% | 626 |
| 5 | Bitget | 58,461,382,085 | 54,505,626,624 | 0.02% | 0.06% | 525 |
| 6 | KuCoin | 11,617,818,972 | 22,363,114,810 | 0.02% | 0.06% | 522 |
| 7 | XT.COM | 32,799,179,963 | 48,536,003,199 | 0.04% | 0.06% | 593 |
| 8 | Kraken | 2,596,923,437 | 3,839,168,665 | 0.02% | 0.05% | 301 |
| 9 | BingX | 25,705,531,625 | 54,138,345,469 | 0.02% | 0.05% | 580 |
| 10 | Deribit | 23,933,904,668 | 3,965,985,981 | 10% | 0.05% | 31 |
Derivatives trading includes leveraged tokens, futures, options, CFDs, and other contracts. The risk profile is higher than spot trading; newcomers should first become comfortable with spot markets before experimenting with derivatives.
Currently Popular Domestic Platforms for Buying Bitcoin
1. Binance
- Referral Code: `B2345` (grants a permanent 20 % fee discount)
- Official website: Binance Exchange Official Site
- App download: Binance App Download
- Provides full tutorials covering download, registration, deposit, withdrawal, and trading.
2. HTX (formerly Huobi)
- Referral Code: `b6yq8223` (also gives a 20 % fee discount)
- Official website: HTX Exchange Official Site
- App download: HTX App Download
- Includes the latest 2026 official entry points and installation guide.
3. OKX
- Referral Code: `B2345` (permanent 20 % fee discount)
- Official website: OKX Exchange Official Site
- App download: OKX App Download
- Offers end‑to‑end tutorials for account opening, trading, and withdrawal.
4. Gate.io (often stylized as “Gate.io”)
- Referral Code: `VLIWUGTFAA` (permanent 20 % fee discount)
- Official website and download links are the same as above (search for the official Gate.io page).
- Supports both centralized and decentralized modes, with a strong emphasis on asset security.
5. Bitget
- Referral Code: `vxje` (permanent 20 % fee discount)
- Official website: Bitget Exchange Official Site
- App download: Bitget App Download
- Supports trading of over 500 cryptocurrencies and holds multiple regulatory licenses worldwide.
6. Bybit
- Referral Code: `B2345` (permanent 20 % fee discount)
- Official website: Bybit Official Site
- App download: Bybit Official App Download
- Provides both spot and derivatives markets, plus copy‑trading, NFT marketplace, and other features.
Sample Exchange Comparison Table
| Exchange | Spot Trading Fee | Derivatives Fee | KYC Required | Deposit/Withdrawal Methods | New‑User Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OKX | 0.08% – 0.10% | — | ✅ | Alipay, WeChat, P2P, Bank Transfer | **Referral B2345** + 20 % fee discount |
| Binance | 0.10% – 0.05% | — | ✅ | Alipay, WeChat, P2P, Bank Transfer (U.S. users must use Binance.US) | **Referral B2345** + 20 % fee discount |
| Gate.io | 0.10% – 0.05% | — | ✅ | Alipay, WeChat | **Referral VLIWUGTFAA** + 20 % fee discount |
| Bybit | 0.10% – 0.055% | — | ✅ | P2P, Bank Card, Apple Pay/Google Pay | **Referral B2345** + 20 % fee discount |
| Bitget | 0.10% – 0.06% | — | ✅ | Bank Transfer, P2P | **Referral vxje** + 20 % fee discount |
| HTX | 0.20% – 0.06% | — | ✅ | Alipay, WeChat, P2P, Bank Transfer | **Referral b6yq8223** + 20 % fee discount |
How to Download the Android Version of an Exchange App (Bybit Example)
- Go to the official website and click the three‑line “hamburger” menu in the top‑right corner.
- Select “Download App”.
- Click “App not in store? Install APK”.
- When the system warns that the file may be harmful, tap “Download Anyway”.
- After the download finishes, open the file and choose “Allow this installation”.
- Tap “Continue Installation”; once the process completes, the app is ready to use.
Binance iOS App Re‑Installation Guide for iPhone
Why Use an Overseas Apple ID?
- Different regions of the App Store offer distinct applications. An overseas Apple ID lets you download exchange apps that are not visible in the mainland China App Store.
- We recommend creating an Apple ID registered in Taiwan or Hong Kong; the interface will be in Traditional Chinese, making it easier to access Binance, OKX, and other platforms.
Precautions When Using an Overseas Apple ID
- Register the account yourself; avoid shared credentials to protect privacy and prevent device lockouts.
- Log in through the App Store rather than the system settings to reduce the risk of account suspension.
- If regional verification fails, you can first register the Apple ID using a domestic address and later switch the region in the account settings.
Materials Required for Registration
Related Reading
- Top 10 Best Crypto Exchanges for Safe Trading in 2024
- 2026 Crypto Trading for Domestic Users on Overseas Exchanges
- BitoPro Security Review: Certified, Insured, and Not a Scam
💡 Register on Binance with referral code B2345 for the maximum trading fee discount. See Binance complete guide.
