Best Crypto Exchanges in Europe 2026
14 min read
The European crypto exchange market has changed more in the past 18 months than in the previous five years. MiCA, the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, is in full force, and most of the major exchanges Europeans actually use now hold a full MiCA CASP licence rather than a transitional national registration. This guide ranks the seven best crypto exchanges available to European users in 2026, with a column for MiCA status, fees, and EUR deposit method in the table at the top. Last verified: 2026-05-12.
| Rank | Exchange | Best for | MiCA status | EUR deposits | Trading fees (maker/taker) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bitvavo | Dutch and Belgian retail users | DNB Crypto Service Provider Registration (MiCA application in progress) | iDEAL, Bancontact, SEPA Instant | 0.15% / 0.25% |
| 2 | Kraken | Active traders, advanced order types | Full MiCA CASP licence (Central Bank of Ireland, June 2025) | SEPA, SEPA Instant | 0.16% / 0.26% |
| 3 | Bitpanda | Crypto plus stocks and ETFs in one account | Full MiCA CASP licences (BaFin Germany, FMA Austria, MFSA Malta) | SEPA Instant, PayPal, cards | Spread-based, varies |
| 4 | Coinbase | Beginners wanting a familiar US brand | Full MiCA CASP licence (CSSF Luxembourg, June 2025) | SEPA free, withdrawals EUR 0.15 | Up to 1.49% standard, lower on Advanced |
| 5 | Binance France | Lowest fees, broadest coin selection | AMF PSAN (MiCA pending) | SEPA via partner, P2P | 0.10% / 0.10% |
| 6 | Crypto.com | Crypto debit card and ecosystem rewards | Full MiCA CASP licence (MFSA Malta, January 2025) | SEPA, cards | 0.05–0.50%, tiered |
| 7 | Bitstamp | Long-term holders, deep EUR liquidity | CSSF Luxembourg, MiFID II MTF (passported) | SEPA, SEPA Instant | From 0.40%, tiered |
We started with every crypto platform on Capmap available to European users. We then filtered on three criteria: regulatory standing in the EU under MiCA or a recognised national registration, the ability to deposit EUR via SEPA or a local rail like iDEAL, and a verified operational track record. Exchanges launched in the past 18 months were excluded unless backed by an established financial group such as Börse Stuttgart.
The ranking reflects fit for European retail users, weighing fee transparency, EUR liquidity, regulatory clarity, and product depth. The right exchange for a Dutch retail investor buying Bitcoin every month is not the same as the right exchange for a German active trader. Each section below explains which user a platform is genuinely best for and where it falls short.
Bitvavo has been the dominant Dutch crypto exchange since 2018 and holds a DNB Crypto Service Provider Registration with its MiCA application in progress. Its iDEAL integration is the practical reason it leads our ranking for Benelux users: no other major exchange offers native iDEAL or Bancontact, which matters enormously for users who do most of their banking through Dutch or Belgian payment rails.
The fee structure is clean: 0.15% maker, 0.25% taker on spot, dropping further with volume. It supports 447+ assets, free SEPA deposits, and a straightforward interface that feels closer to a banking app than a trading platform.
Pros
Cons
See our Bitvavo vs Binance comparison for the head-to-head on the two most popular platforms among European retail users.
Kraken secured a full MiCA CASP licence from the Central Bank of Ireland in June 2025, becoming one of the first major global exchanges with passported EU rights. Combined with its MiFID and EMI licences, this gives Kraken the strongest regulatory standing on this list for users who want institutional-grade pedigree.
Fees are 0.16% maker and 0.26% taker on spot, with margin and futures available to qualified users. Kraken Pro is the most stable advanced trading interface among the platforms on this list, with order types and depth that genuinely matter for users running real strategies rather than buy-and-hold.
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Cons
Bitpanda is the only platform on this list that combines a MiFID II investment firm licence with full MiCAR authorisation. It holds three MiCAR licences across Germany (BaFin), Austria (FMA), and Malta (MFSA), making it the most heavily licensed European crypto platform.
What sets Bitpanda apart is breadth under a single account: 650+ cryptocurrencies, 10,000+ stocks and ETFs, fractional shares, precious metals, savings plans, and a debit card. For European users who want one platform for everything, this is the strongest option in 2026.
Pros
Cons
Coinbase became the first US-based exchange to secure a full MiCA licence (CSSF Luxembourg, June 2025), reinforcing its position as the safest familiar-brand option for European beginners. Coinbase Germany also holds a separate BaFin crypto custody licence, granted in 2021.
The trade-off is fees. Standard Coinbase fees can reach 1.49% (and up to 3.99% for card purchases) which is several times higher than Bitvavo or Binance on the same trade. Coinbase Advanced brings fees down significantly, but the default Coinbase interface prices for simplicity, not optimisation.
Pros
Cons
Binance France holds an AMF PSAN registration secured in May 2022 and serves French residents through a French entity. As of publication, the broader Binance group has a MiCA CASP application pending in Greece and operates under transitional provisions until July 2026. Fees are 0.10% maker and taker on spot, the lowest on this list, and the coin selection is the broadest of any regulated European platform at 500+ assets.
The honest caveat: Binance's parent group has had ongoing regulatory friction across multiple jurisdictions, and several EU national regulators have previously imposed restrictions on the broader entity. The French entity remains compliant, but users should verify the current status of Binance in their specific country before opening an account.
Pros
Cons
Crypto.com secured a full MiCA CASP licence from MFSA Malta in January 2025, one of the first major exchanges to do so. It holds 150 million users globally and is built around an ecosystem of crypto trading, a Visa card with rewards, staking, and prediction markets.
Fees on spot are tiered from 0.05% to 0.50% depending on volume and CRO staking. The platform is mobile-first, which is good for users who do most things on their phone and less good for users who want a desktop trading experience.
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Bitstamp launched in 2011, making it the longest continuously operating European crypto exchange. It holds a CSSF licence in Luxembourg with MiFID II MTF status, meaning it is passported across the EU as a regulated multilateral trading facility, a stricter standard than VASP or MiCA CASP alone. Robinhood acquired Bitstamp in 2024 without changing its EU regulatory standing.
Bitstamp's fees start at 0.40% and tier down with volume. The coin selection is narrower than Binance or Kraken at roughly 80 assets, but the platform is built for EUR-denominated spot trading with deep liquidity. Best for users who value regulatory pedigree and EUR depth over coin breadth.
Pros
Cons
Three things matter when picking a European exchange in 2026:
MiCA full compliance deadline is 1 July 2026. Until then, exchanges operating under transitional national registrations (PSAN in France, DNB in the Netherlands) can still serve EU users. After that date, only platforms with a full MiCA CASP licence will be permitted to onboard new EU customers. Of our seven picks, four (Kraken, Bitpanda, Coinbase, Crypto.com) already hold full MiCA CASP licences. Bitstamp operates under MiFID II MTF, which is a stricter overlapping standard. Bitvavo and Binance have applications in progress.
The Travel Rule has been in force since the start of 2026. For any transfer above EUR 1,000 from an exchange to a private wallet, the exchange is legally required to collect and report data on the recipient. This is automated on all the platforms above.
DAC8 automatic tax reporting started 1 January 2026. EU-based exchanges automatically report transaction data to your national tax authority. This is not optional and affects every European user regardless of which exchange they use.
If you live in the Netherlands or Belgium: Bitvavo is the default for iDEAL and Bancontact deposits. Bitpanda if you also want stocks and ETFs from one account.
If you live in Germany, France, or elsewhere in the EU: Bitpanda for breadth and three full MiCAR licences, or Kraken if you want advanced trading features.
If you are a beginner who wants a familiar brand: Coinbase. It has the strongest brand recognition outside crypto and now holds a full EU MiCA licence. Move to Coinbase Advanced once you outgrow the standard interface.
If you are an active trader: Kraken for the combination of fees, depth, and full MiCA licensing. Binance France if you want the lowest spot fees and broadest selection and are comfortable with ongoing group-level regulatory uncertainty.
If you want everything in one account: Bitpanda. It is the only platform on this list combining a MiFID II investment firm licence with three MiCAR authorisations.
If you are a long-term holder with significant funds: Bitstamp for the longest European track record and MiFID II MTF licensing, or Kraken for proof-of-reserves and a clean security history.
For most European retail users, the right answer depends on country and use case. Bitvavo is the strongest pick for Dutch and Belgian users because of iDEAL integration and 0.15% maker fees. Kraken is the strongest for active traders and now holds a full MiCA CASP licence from the Central Bank of Ireland. Bitpanda is the strongest for users who want crypto, stocks, and ETFs in one regulated account.
Not all of them, but most major ones either hold a full MiCA CASP licence or have an application in progress. The MiCA full-compliance deadline is 1 July 2026. After that date, only fully licensed platforms can onboard new EU customers. Of the seven exchanges in this guide, four hold full MiCA CASP licences (Kraken, Bitpanda, Coinbase, Crypto.com), one operates under MiFID II MTF (Bitstamp), and two have applications in progress (Bitvavo, Binance).
Among regulated European exchanges, Binance France has the lowest spot fees at 0.10% maker and taker. Bitvavo is next at 0.15% maker / 0.25% taker, followed by Kraken at 0.16% / 0.26%. Coinbase standard fees are significantly higher at up to 1.49%, though Coinbase Advanced brings them down considerably for active traders.
Both now hold full MiCA CASP licences. Kraken is better for active traders thanks to lower fees, Kraken Pro, and a longer track record without major customer-fund losses. Coinbase is better for beginners thanks to a more familiar brand and a cleaner default interface. For European users specifically, Kraken's regulatory footprint (MiCA + MiFID + EMI) is broader.
Yes, in most EU countries, but the picture varies by country. Binance France holds an AMF PSAN registration and serves French residents. Binance has national registrations elsewhere, but the broader group does not yet hold a full MiCA CASP licence (application pending in Greece). Some EU regulators have imposed restrictions on Binance in recent years. Verify the current status in your specific country before opening an account.
After 1 July 2026, exchanges without a MiCA CASP licence cannot onboard new EU customers, and may face restrictions on serving existing ones depending on national implementation. Your existing holdings remain yours, but you may be required to withdraw to a private wallet or migrate to a MiCA-licensed alternative. To avoid disruption, use a fully MiCA-authorised platform now: the four full-licence holders on this list (Kraken, Bitpanda, Coinbase, Crypto.com) have no transition risk.
Capmap is an independent comparison platform covering 692 financial platforms across 30 European countries. Our ranking and selection logic is built on regulatory standing, fee transparency, country availability, and verified platform data. Affiliate relationships are stored separately from editorial scoring and do not influence which exchanges appear in this guide. We do not show affiliate calls-to-action on any platform flagged with a regulatory warning. See How we rate for our full methodology.
This article is informational and does not constitute investment, legal, or tax advice. Cryptocurrencies are volatile and may lose value. Always verify the current regulatory status of any exchange in your country of residence before opening an account.
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Compare Binance France and Bitpanda and Bitstamp and Bitvavo and Coinbase and Crypto.com and KrakenWritten by Capmap Editorial · Independent financial guides for expats in Europe.