Top 10 Crypto Exchanges of 2021: Security & Liquidity

Explore Bitaigen's list of the top 10 cryptocurrency exchanges of 2021, judged on security, liquidity, trading pairs and daily volume to guide investors.

Our Bitaigen editorial team has carefully compiled a list of the ten cryptocurrency exchanges that stood out in 2021, focusing on security, liquidity, and technical services. By comparing key metrics such as total asset size, the breadth of trading pairs, and daily trading volume, we aim to help investors quickly identify the exchange that best fits their needs. To learn about each platform’s unique strengths and potential risks, please continue reading the full article.

Top 10 Crypto Exchanges of 2021: Security & Liquidity flowchart

Introduction to the 2021 Top‑Ten Virtual Crypto Exchange Ranking

Amid the rapid growth of digital assets, the safety of an exchange, its liquidity, and the overall user experience have become the primary factors investors consider when selecting a platform. Below we review the ten exchanges that performed notably well in 2021, evaluating them based on total assets, number of trading pairs, 24‑hour turnover, and technical capabilities, so users can compare each one's advantages.

1. Kraken

Kraken, headquartered in San Francisco and founded in 2011, is a leading Bitcoin exchange in Europe and North America. The platform supports multiple fiat currencies, including EUR, USD, CAD, GBP, and JPY, and is praised for its rigorous compliance audits and for being the first exchange to display market data on the Bloomberg Terminal. Several media outlets have labeled Kraken as “the safest Bitcoin exchange.” As of 2021, Kraken held assets worth $10.547 billion, offered 190 trading pairs, and recorded a 24‑hour trading volume of $1.309 billion.

2. Binance

Binance (https://accounts.binancezh.io) serves users in more than 190 countries and regions worldwide, with assets of $17.864 billion, 1,060 trading pairs, and an average daily turnover of $81.205 billion. The platform employs a core in‑memory matching engine capable of processing 1.4 million orders per second, keeping transaction speeds among the fastest in the industry. In addition to spot trading, Binance offers a wide range of services such as blockchain education, project incubation, and token issuance. U.S. residents should use Binance.US rather than the global Binance platform.

3. OKEx

OKEx reported total assets of $9.835 billion, covering 703 trading pairs, with a 24‑hour turnover of $27.951 billion. The exchange utilizes advanced technologies such as Global Server Load Balancing (GSLB), distributed server clusters, and a high‑speed in‑memory trading engine. Combined with a cold‑wallet and an offline‑private‑key hot‑wallet architecture, OKEx provides users with a secure and stable environment for digital asset trading and continuously iterates its product features based on user feedback.

4. Huobi

Huobi (https://www.huobi.li/) reported assets of $13.548 billion, offering 1,048 trading pairs, and a 24‑hour turnover of $38.368 billion. Since its launch in September 2013, Huobi quickly became one of the world’s largest Bitcoin trading venues, recording a historic daily volume of over 260,000 trades and a turnover of ¥1 billion (≈$10 million) in 2014. That same year the exchange added Litecoin spot trading, further expanding its market coverage.

5. Coinbase Pro

Based in the United States, Coinbase Pro held assets of $2.217 billion, listed 162 trading pairs, and achieved a daily turnover of $2.548 billion. The platform features a clean user interface that integrates real‑time order book data, charting tools, trade history, and one‑click order execution, providing a secure and user‑friendly channel for digital asset investment.

6. BitMEX

BitMEX’s asset base is roughly $3.2 billion, with 14 trading pairs, and a 24‑hour turnover of $2.7 billion. The exchange specializes in derivatives contracts and is one of the largest perpetual‑swap platforms globally. Its long‑standing stable operation and a record of zero thefts have earned it broad recognition both within and outside the industry.

7. Bitfinex

Bitfinex manages assets of $641 million, provides 260 trading pairs, and records a daily turnover of $1.276 billion. The platform supports both crypto‑to‑crypto and fiat‑to‑crypto trading for major coins such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Ethereum Classic. Single‑day trading volumes often exceed ¥30 billion (≈$4.3 million). Although a past security incident briefly depressed Bitcoin’s price, Bitfinex has since continuously upgraded its security infrastructure.

8. Bittrex

Bittrex, founded in 2014, holds assets of $3.264 billion, lists 639 trading pairs, and generated a 24‑hour turnover of $267 million. The exchange offers both crypto‑to‑crypto and USD OTC trading, enjoys high user activity, and is known for quickly onboarding new tokens. Its team includes alumni from Microsoft, Amazon, Qualys, and BlackBerry, bringing extensive technical and operational expertise.

9. bitFlyer

bitFlyer’s assets total $1.555 billion and, despite offering only four trading pairs, it still achieves a 24‑hour turnover of $224 million. Established in 2014 and headquartered in Japan, bitFlyer is the country’s largest Bitcoin exchange by volume. Its founding team includes former Goldman Sachs professionals; the company has completed two financing rounds with investors such as Mitsubishi UFJ Capital and Dentsu Digital.

10. ZB

ZB (ZB.com) reports assets of approximately $300 million, supports 203 trading pairs, and records a 24‑hour turnover of $2.716 billion. Since 2013, the platform has served more than 10 million users worldwide, with an average daily transaction volume exceeding $3 billion. ZB offers a diversified suite of services, including spot trading, fiat gateways, leveraged trading, collateral‑backed borrowing, and staking‑based mining.

Friendly Reminder: When choosing an exchange, the speed of deposits and withdrawals is a crucial factor that directly impacts user experience. Even if a platform processes withdrawals smoothly today, that does not guarantee the same performance in the future. Investors are advised to observe a target exchange over a period of time before committing significant funds, tracking average block times and on‑chain confirmation speeds to make a more prudent decision.

The above comparison provides a detailed overview of the ten leading virtual crypto exchanges in 2021. For more information on exchange rankings and ongoing coverage, please follow Bitaigen (比特根) for future reports.

Top 10 Crypto Exchanges of 2021: Security & Liquidity