Best Crypto Futures Trading Platforms for 2025

Crypto futures trading lets you speculate on price movements and hedge your positions with leverage. There’s dozens of exchanges on offer now, all competing for users. Some are ideal for beginners, others work for institutional traders, and a few even provide decentralized trading. Below, you’ll find a comprehensive review of the best crypto futures trading platforms.

MEXC is a global crypto exchange aiming to make crypto simple and accessible. Launched in 2018, it offers an ultra-fast futures trading engine with a huge asset selection and vast liquidity. The platform is often the fastest to list new trending tokens for trading, combined with some of the lowest fees in the industry. Futures trade for 0.0010%, plus special offers on hot trading pairs are even available to trade 0% fees.

The platform is packed with features that enable you to trade perpetuals against stablecoins like USDT or wider crypto-to-crypto swaps. For newer traders, copy trading and demo trading allow you to hone your trading strategy. You can follow and replicate the strategies of top traders or practice with a simulation account.

Within the order book, there is everything you expect in a leading crypto trading platform with intuitive limit and market orders along with stop triggers. Adding to this, you can enjoy up to 400x leverage to boost profits on your positions. The only major downside is its global availability. Although it claims to be worldwide, there is no support for the US, UK, Canada, and Singapore, among others.

Why did we choose MEXC:

MEXC has established itself as a leading name in the crypto futures trading market with a track record of high-speed execution since2018. The platform is consistently the first to list trending tokens, staying ahead of the curve in a fast-moving industry. 

Extremely low fees are complimented by huge global liquidity, so you can enjoy seamless transactions in volatile asset classes. Transparent asset security with 100%+ reserves, cold storage, and a crypto futures insurance fund complements the professional trading platform on offer here. 

Bitget is one of the most user-friendly crypto futures platforms, especially for users who value variety and ease of use. Bitget supports over 500 futures pairs, including notable names like Bitcoin and Ethereum and mid-cap altcoins, meaning everyone can find an opportunity regardless of their strategy. For users, such flexibility is important as they get access to varieties on a single platform, rather than jumping from exchange to exchange.

For fees and leverage, Bitget keeps things competitive. Maker fees start at 0.02% while taker fees are at 0.06%, which is similar to what most futures exchanges offer. Traders get up to 125x leverage, which is enough flexibility to scale their positions based on their risk appetite. Beyond fees and leverage, Bitget also ensures risk management tools like stop-loss and take-profit are simple and easy to navigate. Overall, Bitget doesn’t feel too technical which is a win for both new and experienced users.

Another notable advantage of Bitget futures is accessibility across different regions. Bitget is available in over 100 countries, including parts of Europe, Asia and Latin America, making it a global platform. This global coverage makes Bitget a good entry point for users in emerging markets where futures are not easily accessible. It also offers 24/7 multi-lingual customer support, making it an exchange that’s user-focused.

Why Did We Choose Bitget?

We chose Bitget as one of the best futures trading platforms because it strikes a good balance between accessibility, product depth and user protection. Unlike some exchanges that appeal to only advanced traders, Bitget is used by both experienced and new traders. It offers a simple interface, risk management tools and a wide range of futures pairs. Bitget also emphasizes security, and transparency, offering a proof-of-reserve to provide an extra layer of confidence for users.

Binance is one of the biggest names in the crypto world. The massively popular exchange has stood the test of time since its arrival in 2017. It now proudly owns the tag of the largest digital asset exchange by global trading volume. Its crypto futures platform lives up to the name, too, with derivatives trading volumes often double that of the nearest competitors. That’s good news for its users as it delivers massive liquidity across more than 340 trading pairs. The wide token choice is matched with the flexibility of contracts, which includes both perpetual and options in either stablecoin or underlying crypto settlement. 

Leverage options are decent with a 125x maximum on trades under 50,000 USDT. The fee structure is appealing at 0.02% for level 1 traders, although this can drop right down to 0% for the VIP level 9 traders working with more than $25 billion in 30-day trade volumes…

If you’re familiar with the Binance trading platform already, you won’t have any trouble diving into Binance Futures. It works in a familiar manner with traditional order book, limit and market orders, and stop limits to complement the in-depth charting analysis tools. If you are honing your strategy, then the copy trading feature shows off the results and tactics from several of the world’s leading traders based on 30-day profitability. You can copy their trades at the click of a button.  

A unique set of functions are the built-in trading bots. For free, you can build your automated trading bots in any number of styles, including grid, algo, arbitrage, and TWAP. So you can predefine your strategy and execute trades instantly, no matter if you’re online or not. 

Why did we choose Binance Futures:

Binance will always make an appealing choice when it comes to crypto trading. Its crypto futures functionality is impressive and trumps many of the ‘futures only’ platforms, too. Binance’s fiat support means you can deposit, buy crypto, and then start trading crypto futures all on one user-friendly platform. Sure, the fees aren’t as low as some competitors, but with a long-standing security and liquidity track record, a wealth of functionality, and regulatory compliance, Binance is a leading contender.

Bitfinex is known as the original Bitcoin exchange, dating way back to 2012. The company devotes itself to enabling people to transact and interact with the world freely. It does this through state-of-the-art blockchain technology. A significant part of this mission involves derivatives trading. Advanced traders are able to use Bitfinex Derivatives to access perpetual contracts. Collateral can be defined as USDT, EURt, or BTC with a maximum 100x leverage. Generally, fees are set at 0.0200%, but this can drop in specific scenarios with an increased volume of use of the native LEO token.

You can work with more than 60 perpetual trading pairs within the graphical, user-friendly interface. Asset choices include all the major cryptos like BTC, ETH, LTC, SOL, and DOGE. Uniquely, the perpetual swaps extend to fiat currencies, including GBP, EUR, and JPY. If you’re still getting to grips with the platform, then paper trading is available to demo your strategies. This is handy for getting a feel for advanced features like The Honey Framework, which enables you to build custom order types with automated trading strategies. 

Bitfinex is an advanced trading platform, but the development team has done a robust job of making it accessible to less experienced users, too. It should be noted that the inclusion of fiat currencies on the platform requires users to pass KYC checks to validate an account – something that’s not always required with crypto-only platforms. But this is a confidence boost to know that the company continues to comply with regulatory requirements. 

Why did we choose BitFinex:

Bitfinex is a staple in the crypto world as a whole. It has a long, successful history for crypto trading, which now extends to trading crypto futures for professionals. The company has been robust over the years, including the survival of a major hack in 2016. Security has been beefed up and monitored ever since. Advanced user verification for withdrawing funds is matched with real-time database backups and DDoS protection. Plus, the majority of funds are stored offline in multi-sig wallets, leaving only 0.5% of assets exposed to hot wallets in daily operations. 

KuCoin is the most accessible globalized exchange which first launched during the 2017 crypto boom. Since then, it has grown to over 27 million users. Its driving mission is to enable the free flow of digital value across the globe. The platform boasts an extensive range of derivatives trading products. When you first access KuCoin, you’ll notice the enormous choice of crypto futures contracts available to trade – 375 to be exact. These cover USDT-margin, USDC-margin, and Coin-margin contracts. 

This asset choice is paired with high liquidity across perpetual, options, and delivery trades. Of course, there is the potential for heavy volatility across such a variety of assets, but the proprietary advanced order-matching technology delivers users with a smooth and reliable trading experience. What about fees? Well, futures have a refreshing, simple flat fee structure, which sits at a base of 0.02%. It’s also worth noting that there is an added 0.025% charge when a contract is settled. Leverage varies depending on the assets, the maximum is 125x, although most alternative tokens max out at 50x leverage.   

Inside the trading view, users get a clean and enjoyable user experience. The layout is familiar for traders as the order book updates in real-time while limit and market orders are instantly accessible. Plus, there is the option to buy crypto using the futures trading function. Perp contracts are easily searchable, so you don’t have to sift through a long list. The added categories are a nice touch, with ‘Degen’ and ‘Trending’ accompanying AI, Meme, Politic, and DeFi asset classes. 

Why did we choose KuCoin:

KuCoin is regarded as a trustworthy, safe, secure, and transparent operator. It ticks all the boxes with high liquidity and features a rich platform to give advanced traders flexibility. You can quickly move between hundreds of assets and contract types, from Politifi coins to newly added options contracts. The technology backing up the experience is fast, with near-instant trades for smooth reliability. KuCoin keeps transparent proof of reserves and works to meet regulatory compliance like KYC and AML. Plus, user safety is always top of the list with anti-wallet tampering measures and data backups matched with cold and hot wallet fund separation. 

ByBit’s vision is to unleash the full power of crypto with the next generation of opportunities, tools, and support. Its story runs back to 2018, a year in which it debuted its first BTC/USD inverse perpetuals contract within 2 months of launching. Crypto futures trading has soared since then. Over the following years, the platform would continue to innovate with USDC-settled options contracts and surpass 20 million users. 

As for trading specifically, the high user count delivers stellar trading volume and liquidity, so there is rarely an issue with exiting positions on contracts. Fees are set to 0.0200% for the lowest tier ‘non-VIP’ users with the ability to drop as low as 0% for the highest volume traders. The maximum leverage available is 100x when coupled with a 0.5% maintenance margin rate. It’s not clear the exact number of assets to trade as crypto futures, but it is into the hundreds. You can trade hundreds of perps to settle as USDC or USDT, while expiry and options are limited to BTC, ETH, and SOL in the main part. 

The trading interface is busy but detailed. You’ll get an instant overview of an asset including the using advanced charting tools, live order book, and order toolbar. Added tools are easily accessible, too, with TWAP, Iceberg, and Webhook Signal Trading if you want to run more complex automated strategies. Keep exploring and you’ll find further in-built bots like Grid and Martingale. Plus, there is copy trading to mirror the results of the platform’s top traders. 

Handily, customer support is always on hand, with live chat available at the click of a button alongside industry news announcements, so you’re always in the loop. You can even add trading view alerts so you never miss a beat.

Why did we choose ByBit:

With a diverse range of derivatives trading options, strong security track record, and an in-depth user interface, ByBit checks all the boxes of a high-quality exchange. It is why the platform has risen to become one of the top names in the crypto market. Cold storage and multi-sig wallet protect funds with an added insurance fund to protect traders during shortfalls in liquidation. It’s a perfect choice for advanced traders with such a rich set of trading features to run complex strategies. 

Hyperliquid is a fledgling decentralized exchange for trading crypto futures perpetuals contracts. Via Arbitrum, traders can deposit USDC and begin trading over 130 crypto assets with 50x leverage. Hyperliquid is building a decentralized trading platform that feels and performs like any of the major centralized exchange like MEXC. 

The design means there aren’t regular wallet approvals impeding your trading flow. You sign your trading wallet to initiate a trading session, then continue entering and exiting positions without interruption. Advanced order types are available alongside a complete on-chain order book. So you can work in a professional style with all the benefits of decentralization and no KYC requirements.

Fees are attractive, set as low as 0.0100%, coupled with zero gas fees and substantial trading volume, ensuring robust liquidity to move in and out of positions.

The platform launched in 2022 on a bespoke chain called Hyperliquid L1. This means it hasn’t been tested as extensively as major chains like Ethereum or Solana. Smart contracts run the exchange, which adds a new risk that needs to be regularly audited to protect from vulnerabilities. Oracle manipulation is another potential risk to consider. So far, the DEX has stood up to the challenge and is a leading light in the DeFi Web3 world that knits together trading crypto futures, smart contracting, and Oracle solutions on the blockchain. That’s cool.  

Why we chose Hyperliquid:

Hyperliquid is a powerful futures trading platform that is leading the way for DEX crypto futures trading. The majority of top futures crypto exchanges are made up of centralized exchanges. If you want to trade in an anonymous, decentralized manner, then you’ll need a robust DEX. The other benefit is geographical restrictions. Many crypto futures trading platforms are not available for US and UK users, so Hyperliquid gives you a way to trade using self-custody in this situation. Fees are attractive, liquidity is strong, and security remains in the user’s control. It might not be ideal for crypto newcomers who aren’t sure about how to trade on a DEX.

There are three main types of crypto futures markets:

Perpetual Futures

Perpetual contracts are the most common type of crypto futures market. These contracts have no expiry date, allowing traders to keep positions open indefinitely. Perpetual futures often cover a wide range of markets, offering flexibility to traders.

Delivery Futures

Delivery futures come with a predetermined expiry date. These contracts typically expire in 1, 3, 6, or 12 months. Unlike perpetual futures, delivery futures must be settled upon expiry. However, they can also be sold before the expiration date for risk management purposes.

Inverse Futures

Inverse futures are non-linear contracts settled in the underlying cryptocurrency. This characteristic increases both potential rewards and risks associated with trading.

Cryptocurrency funding rate is a mechanism that aligns futures prices and spot market prices of underlying assets. This rate can be positive or negative, implying the fees for long positions or compensations for short. The funding rate helps ensure a market equilibrium, which impacts the traders’ profitability. Thus, it is crucial to understand the mechanism and experience effective strategies in the volatile cryptocurrency futures market.

If you’ve read this far, you’ll understand there are several factors that go into choosing a crypto exchange suitable for your trading requirements. Here’s a breakdown of what you should consider:

Futures Trading Platform Security

Security is always paramount. It doesn’t matter how feature-rich or if its a low fee platform. If it is exposed to a hack or is fraudulent with your fund, you could lose your stash. If you’re nervous, keep funds offline in a hardware wallet while you’re not trading. Research a company’s track record and security history to get a feel for it. Adding to this, check through the regulatory compliance and processes. In addition, there should be a sizable insurance fund to avoid liquidity issues on your positions. 

Crypto Futures Trading Experience

Think about your ability as a trader. If you’re new to crypto futures trading, then find a service that is easy to understand. The top options for beginners should have demo/paper trading so you can practice before using real funds. Adding to this, features like copy trading can help you to refine your trading strategies based on the top professionals. For more advanced traders, you’ll want a deeper technical trading experience with in-depth analysis, and automatic strategy functions like bots and bespoke order types. 

Crypto Futures Trading Platform Fees

Make sure to understand the fee structure before you start futures trading. Happily, futures fees are low across the board but they can still vary between 0.05% and 0% depending on the platform. Often, the higher your 30-day trading volume, the lower your fees become. If you’re a light trader, then find an attractive flat fee structure. Institutional investors might prefer discounts for the largest volumes. 

Futures Trading Asset Choices

With thousands of cryptos available now, there’s a massive variance in the assets listed on exchanges. Some stick to contracts for the top coins like Bitcoin and Solana. Other platforms open up trading for all manner of memecoins and newly launched tokens. Before picking an exchange, decide what you’re going to trade to aid your decision. You should also check the leverage and margin requirements. Leverage, in particular, can range from 50x to 200x maximums, which is a big difference. 

Liquidity on Crypto Futures Trading Platforms

Even the most advanced trading technology is scuppered without deep liquidity. It’s the lifeblood of an exchange. Make sure your chosen platform has high daily trading volumes to make sure there is liquidity for you to exit positions quickly. Otherwise you might get caught unfavourably with no way out. Plus, low liquidity can cause wild slippage in cases where the market is moving swiftly. That’s not a good place to be trading. 

Staying safe while using crypto exchanges is a combination of various risk management systems, and discipline to your trading strategies. Here are some good tips to help you stay safe while using crypto exchanges: 

Develop a Trading Plan

 Advanced planning of trades helps mitigate the liquidation risks. This involves profit planning while making effective exit strategies for unexpected trade outcomes. This step helps mitigate impulsive decisions influenced by emotions and falling under the greed or fear grid traps.

Secure your Positions

 No matter how many precautions you take, crypto markets are volatile and can move unexpectedly. Thus, to mitigate potential losses while enhancing effectiveness, it is recommended to implement an exit strategy reinforced by stop-loss orders. Stop losses are an effective way to avoid liquidation but require constant vigilance.

Track the Margin Ratio

The margin ratio is calculated by dividing the maintenance margin by the margin balance. Constantly monitoring it helps effectively avoid liquidation risks. If the margin balance falls below the maintenance margin rate, automatic position closure is triggered. This emphasizes the need for careful monitoring.

Practice Trading

Several popular platforms allow newbie traders to make demo accounts for practicing crypto futures trading. For example, Binance Futures allows real-time practice without putting capital under actual risk. Additionally, active traders can use exchanges with crypto paper trading to test new strategies and tools and gain valuable experience.

Risk Management Strategies

To manage risk effectively, limiting the exposure of the trading account balance to 1-2% per trade is essential. Hence, it is recommended to begin with 2x to 5x leverage and avoid large positions initially. This helps develop a crypto futures trading methodology without excessive pressure.

Most exchanges provide a convenient method to keep track of the margin ratio. Here’s how it looks on Binance:

Lower the ratio, lower the risk of liquidation.

Avoid Compounding Losses

By increasing positions in a losing trade, the liquidation risk gets even bigger. Instead, one must focus on risk management to cut losses by closing losing positions. This also involves establishing and adhering to a trading plan to avoid impulsive decisions.

Choosing the best crypto futures trading platform is all about your individual futures trading needs and experience level. Established names like Binance and MEXC offer robust platforms with deep liquidity, and newer DEX platforms like Hyperliquid are pushing the boundaries with decentralized solutions. For most, there’s a balance of security, reasonable fees, and reliability to strike. Think about starting with platforms that offer demo trading, and always ensure the exchange is compliant in your region and offers clear security precautions. Whether you’re looking for high leverage, advanced trading tools, or the lowest fees in the market, there’s a crypto futures trading platform in the list above suited to your trading style.