9 Best Crypto Exchanges in Germany For 2025

Crypto exchanges enable investors to trade crypto assets and augment their trading and investment strategies using facilities on the platform. Crypto exchanges that serve German investors are expected to adjust their mode of operation accordingly and also cater to their users’ security and UX. Here, we review some of the best crypto asset service providers (CASPs) in Germany.

ChangeNOW is among the best crypto exchanges for German users who value privacy and simplicity. First, It offers fast, and reliable instant swapping features.  In terms of coverage, there are over 1,000 supported cryptos around 2,250,000 trading pairs. The interface has an impressive rating, and can be easily assessed via desktop or through its popular mobile app.

Notably, Germans will find ChangeNOW’s smooth fiat on-ramp options most valuable. It supports both debit and credit card transactions. Plus, €-crypto purchases are also available thanks to partnership with Transak and Simplex. In terms of fees, ChangeNOW does not charge deposit, withdrawal or account fees. Instead, fees are transparently embedded in each transaction. So, ChangeNOW’s combination of transparency, massive crypto coverage and strong privacy features, makes it one of the best places to trade crypto in Germany.

Bitpanda is licensed to provide digital asset financial services in Germany and several other European countries. The platform was founded in 2014 and has expanded its support to over 3,000 digital assets including cryptocurrency, Stocks, and ETFs. Bitpanda has special support for the Euro and European banking facilities and enables investors in the region to invest in digital assets through their banks and other financial institutions.

In addition to regular crypto trading, Bitpanda also offers extra services like the Bitpanda card with Bitcoin cashback for expenses, passive income through crypto staking, and a crypto savings program. It also offers enterprise-grade financial solutions and exclusive services to high-net-worth individuals. The premium for trading crypto assets on Bitpanda is up to 1.49% of the traded volume.

Coinbase is a US-based crypto asset service provider available in over 100 countries. It allows European investors, including ones in Germany to trade crypto assets and leverage other investment utilities.  According to the platform, it is compliant with the European crypto operation regulations and adjusts its services for investors in Germany.

On Coinbase, investors gain access to spot and derivatives trading services for over 200 crypto assets, it also supports the USD, EUR, and GBP fiat currencies. Coinbase is a highly liquid trading platform and is viable for trading strategies such as day trading and swing trading. It also offers institutional crypto solutions and passive income opportunities through crypto staking.

Kraken is a top crypto trading platform. It supports over 300 crypto assets including fiat currencies. Dutch traders can access the spot and derivative trading platform. The maximum leverage on the derivatives trading platform is up to 50X. Kraken is one of the cheapest platforms to trade cryptocurrencies, trading fees are as low as 0.02% from makers. The Kraken mobile application is also available for portable crypto trading and asset management.

Bitcoin.de was founded in 2013 by Bitcoin Group SE based in Herford, Germany, to serve the European crypto market exclusively. Crypto assets listed on the platform have EUR pairings to simplify trading for European investors. Bitcoin.de supports about 10 crypto assets including Bitcoin, ETH, and XRP. On the platform, users can purchase crypto instantly using their traditional banking facility or trade with peers on the P2P trading platform. 0.5% of the traded volume is charged as the fee for trading on the platform.

Bison is a crypto asset service provider based in Stuttgart, Germany, and managed by the Boerse Stuttgart Group. Bison offers instant trading services for over 30 crypto assets including UNI, BTC, and ETH. Bison is licensed to operate in Germany. It supports the Euro and allows users to purchase crypto using their traditional banking services.

Crypto.com is available to investors in Germany and over 100 other countries worldwide. The platform supports over 200 crypto assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, over 20 Fiat currencies, and stablecoins. Spot and derivatives trading services are available for supported assets. the derivatives trading platform allows up to 10X leverage. Thanks to its support for the Euro and traditional banking facilities in Germany, Crypto.com allows German investors to purchase crypto using their traditional banking facilities through its on-ramp trading outlet. However, trading fees on the platform can be as high as 0.075% of the traded volume.

Bybit shines in its support for numerous crypto assets, the custodial crypto trading platform is available to traders in Germany and over 120 other countries. It features a spot and derivatives trading platform with high leverage. Bybit is a sufficiently liquid trading platform and is suitable for arbitrage and day in addition to spot and derivatives crypto trading.

Bybit also features a P2P crypto platform where investors can trade their assets with peers and in EUR fiat currency.  Other services on the platform include institutional crypto-based financial solutions and passive income opportunities.

UK-based crypto exchange – Bitstamp was founded in 2011 and has expanded to several countries including Germany and the Netherlands. The platform offers spot crypto trading services for over 100 assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP. USD, EUR, and GBP fiat currencies are also supported on the platform. Liquidity on Bitstamp is sufficient for low and medium trading volumes, and the platform’s interface is also intuitive for new users. Bitstamp supports the Euro and allows users to purchase crypto assets using their native banking service.

Miscellaneous services on the Bitstamp exchange include passive income opportunities through crypto staking crypto lending programs, and enterprise-grade financial solutions. Bitstamp also offers efficient API connectivity and support to crypto trading bots, which enables users to automate their trading strategies. Bitstamp however, charges a relatively low trading fee. Fees could be up to 0.4% of the traded volume.

Here are some important factors to consider before choosing an exchange for your cryptocurrency trading in Germany.

Legal Compliance

Crypto is tightly regulated in Germany. Regulatory procedures are targeted toward user and national protection. As an investor, it is recommended that you trade your assets on an exchange that adheres to the legal specifications of the region. Some exchanges operate in the region before they are duly licensed, while this might not go against the rules, it is important to evaluate the platform’s compliance before using them. Note that legal compliance doesn’t guarantee quality and asset security, therefore it is advised that you always apply risk-management precautions and hold your assets in a trusted personal wallet.

Platform User Interface And Experience

Ensure that you understand how to use the platform before you start trading. Digital trading platforms are complicated and are designed to handle significant financial activities. Erroneous operations might lead to significant losses. It is therefore important that you study the platform’s user interface before conducting any activity or select a simplified platform. Also, evaluate other factors that could contribute to your experience on the platform.

Security Of Assets And Customer Support.

Asset security is paramount. Review the security records or history of the exchange before depositing your funds. Cases of security breaches and mismanagement of users’ funds by crypto exchanges are rampant. Verify the exchange’s security architecture and Proof Of Reserves (POR). A reputable crypto trading platform is expected to make this information accessible to users. Also, evaluate the customer support system to ensure that adequate assistance will be provided to you in case.

Supported Assets And Liquidity

To be able to conduct your trading or investments on an exchange, the platform must support the asset(s) you wish to trade. This is the first factor to consider. Check available assets and services for each asset. The listing process varies across exchanges and this leads to differences in supported assets. Ensure that the platform offers the desired services for the asset you wish to trade. Also, review the viability of the market. Use metrics like daily trading volume, spreads across order levels, and volume of order to ascertain the liquidity on the exchange. Poor liquidity causes significant slippage, which could affect your profitability.

Miscellaneous Services And Features

Apart from the crypto trading primary services, look out for other services available on the platform. Additional features like passive income programs (crypto staking and promotional programs), IEOs, and crypto lending are handy opportunities that could contribute to your investment journey. While these features might not be immediately important, they are solid points to consider before choosing a crypto trading platform.

While cryptocurrency is not banned in Germany, Crypto-related operations are tightly regulated in the region. Crypto Asset Service Providers (CASPs) in Germany are required to obtain a proper operational license from the German Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). The licensing process scrutinizes the operational process of exchanges to ensure users’ security and compliance with anti-money laundering policies and customer identification.

The Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) monitors financial activities related to cryptocurrency and blockchain to ensure continued compliance with set rules. Cryptocurrency is not a legal tender in the European nation, however, businesses that adopt crypto assets as a means of payment must operate in accordance with the rule set by the MiCA. Crypto assets are also covered in the national tax laws.

Crypto Tax in Germany

Cryptocurrencies are considered a relevant asset class in Germany. They are not accepted as legal tender but fall under the taxable category in the Capital gain tax laws. Profits from crypto assets bought and sold within a year are taxed if the profits exceed $600. However, if the asset is held for over a year, profits generated after the sale are not taxed.

According to a 2023 report, at least 310,000 users from Germany interact with centralized crypto exchanges daily. Cryptocurrency is penetrating the German business and tech sectors at a commendable speed and investors in the region resort to custodial financial service providers as an avenue to conduct their investment or routine trading activities. Centralized exchanges, therefore, play a key role in the mass adoption of cryptocurrency and the satisfaction of investors in Germany.

As an investor, it is important to select an exchange that satisfies your User experience and security goals. This contributes significantly to your success as an investor. However, keep in mind that the security of your assets is paramount, it is therefore recommended that you select a secure and regulatory-compliant exchange that offers the services you desire.