Choosing a crypto exchange in Germany is easier than it used to be. Platforms serving clients in the European Union must now hold a licence under MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets), the EU’s crypto regulation. In Germany, the transition period for existing providers ended on 30 December 2025, and since 1 July 2026 unlicensed platforms can no longer legally serve clients anywhere in the EU.
That licence doesn’t protect your crypto if the exchange fails, so it is still important to compare fees, security and services. In this article, we compare the best crypto exchanges available in Germany in 2026.
Best cryptocurrency exchanges in Germany for 2026
Crypto.com
With hundreds of cryptocurrencies, Crypto.com offers a wide range of services around crypto, including a prepaid crypto card and staking. It is licensed under MiCA in Malta.
Coinbase
US exchange founded in 2012, known for its simplicity and its educational content. EU clients are served by Coinbase Luxembourg, licensed under MiCA. New users can earn a signup bonus.
Kraken
One of the oldest crypto exchanges (founded in 2011), known for its 24/7 customer support, low fees for high-volume traders on Kraken Pro and a crypto debit card for EEA clients. Its European entity is licensed under MiCA by the Central Bank of Ireland.
#ad This article includes our Kraken affiliate link. We earn a commission if you sign up with it. Availability varies by location.
| Exchange | Trading fees | MiCA licence | Cryptos | Minimum deposit | Card | Staking |
| Crypto.com | 0.25% maker / 0.50% taker at entry level, down to 0.08% / 0.18% (app purchases 0.80%) | MFSA (Malta) | 400+ | €20 (app, bank transfer) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Coinbase | 0.40% maker / 0.60% taker at entry level on Advanced Trade, higher on simple buys | CSSF (Luxembourg) | Hundreds | None stated | X | ✔ |
| Kraken | 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker at entry level on Kraken Pro, down to 0% / 0.05% (instant buy 1% plus spread) | Central Bank of Ireland | 600+ | €1 (SEPA) | ✔ | ✔ |
Source: Crypto.com, Coinbase and Kraken fee pages. Data as of October 2026. Fees depend on your 30-day volume and on how you buy.
Worked example: this is what a €1,000 purchase costs in trading fees at each exchange’s entry-level rates, before spreads and deposit or withdrawal costs.
| Exchange | Pro platform (market order, taker fee) | Simple buy in the app |
| Crypto.com | €5.00 (0.50%) | €8.00 (0.80%) |
| Coinbase | €6.00 (0.60%) | Not published (varies by payment method and asset) |
| Kraken | €8.00 (0.80%) | €10.00 (1%) plus spread |
Source: investingintheweb.com calculations based on each exchange’s published fees. Data as of October 2026.
Best cryptocurrency exchanges in Germany reviewed
Crypto.com at a glance
Founded in 2016, Crypto.com is one of the largest crypto platforms in the world and a popular choice in Germany thanks to its wide range of services. Its European entity, Foris DAX MT Limited, has been authorised under MiCA by the MFSA (Malta Financial Services Authority) since January 2025, which lets it serve clients across the EU.
Besides buying and selling crypto, Crypto.com offers a crypto wallet, a prepaid card that lets you spend your crypto and earn rewards, and staking on around 25 assets in the EEA. Crypto.com itself notes that staking is not regulated under MiCA. Holding its native token, Cronos (CRO), gives a small discount on Exchange trading fees and better card rewards.
Beginners may find the app overwhelming at first, as it packs many products into one interface. However, its fees on the Exchange, which fall with volume, and its long list of assets make it a strong option. Buying in the app costs more (0.80%), and card purchases can cost up to 4%.
Coinbase at a glance
Coinbase was founded in 2012 and is one of the few crypto exchanges listed on a stock market (Nasdaq: COIN), which means it publishes audited accounts. It combines a simple interface with a large library of educational content, so it suits beginners well. More experienced users can switch to Advanced Trade, which has lower fees (from 0.40% maker and 0.60% taker) and more order types.
Since June 2025, Coinbase’s European clients are served by Coinbase Luxembourg S.A., authorised under MiCA by the CSSF (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier). This licence passports across the EU, so German clients are covered by the same rules as the rest of the bloc.
Coinbase keeps most client crypto in cold storage and holds crime insurance that protects a portion of the crypto held across its storage systems against theft. It does not cover falls in the price of your crypto or losses from unauthorised access to your own account.
Its main downsides are its fees, which are higher than those of several rivals, especially on simple buys, and the Coinbase Card, which is currently only available to US residents.
Kraken at a glance
Founded in 2011, Kraken is one of the oldest crypto exchanges still operating. It offers more than 600 cryptocurrencies (some are restricted in the EEA), tiered fees on Kraken Pro that fall to 0% maker for high-volume traders and 24/7 customer support via live chat. SEPA deposits start at €1. Its educational content includes guides, videos and a podcast.
In June 2025, Kraken’s European entity, Payward Europe Solutions Limited, became the first major global crypto platform to receive MiCA authorisation from the Central Bank of Ireland.
Kraken offers a Mastercard debit card to clients in the UK and the EEA, with up to 2% cashback. It also offers staking on selected cryptocurrencies in Germany, which pays rewards for locking up your coins. Rewards vary with the asset and market conditions, and staked coins can be locked for a period, so read the terms before you commit.
Kraken keeps most client crypto in cold storage. Keep in mind that, as with any exchange, your crypto is not covered by an investor compensation scheme.
Staking and rewards rates are variable, are not guaranteed and may change at any time. Staking and rewards are not available in all states. Staking involves risks, including the loss of value of staked assets, and bonded assets cannot be withdrawn during the unbonding period. Kraken is not a bank; rewards are not interest and are not FDIC insured.
What MiCA changed for crypto investors in Germany
MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) is the EU regulation that created a single rulebook for crypto companies. The licensing regime for crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) has applied since 30 December 2024. Each country could let existing providers keep operating for a transition period of up to 18 months, until 1 July 2026. Germany chose 12 months, so its transition period ended on 30 December 2025. Since 1 July 2026, a platform without a CASP licence cannot legally serve clients anywhere in the EU.
What this means in practice:
- One licence covers the EU: a licence from one EU regulator passports across the EU, so a Maltese, Luxembourg or Irish licence is valid in Germany.
- More transparency: licensed platforms must publish clear information about fees, risks and how they hold client assets.
- No compensation scheme: MiCA does not create an investor compensation scheme for crypto. If the exchange fails or is hacked, you can still lose your crypto.
- Fewer stablecoins: exchanges have restricted stablecoins that don’t meet MiCA’s rules for EU clients, including USDT, so you may find USDC or EURC instead. Coinbase, for example, set 30 October 2026 as the deadline for EEA clients to withdraw restricted stablecoins before they are converted automatically.
Before depositing money, you can check whether a platform is licensed in ESMA’s interim MiCA register (ESMA is the European Securities and Markets Authority) of crypto-asset service providers.
How crypto is taxed in Germany
Germany is one of the friendliest countries in Europe for long-term crypto investors:
- Held for more than one year: gains on crypto held as a private asset for more than 12 months are tax-free under § 23 of the German income tax act (EStG), no matter how large.
- Held for one year or less: gains are taxed at your personal income tax rate, plus the solidarity surcharge and church tax where they apply. A €1,000 exemption limit (Freigrenze) per year applies since the 2024 tax year (it was €600 before). It is a threshold, not an allowance: if your total private-sale gains reach €1,000, the whole gain is taxable.
- Staking and lending rewards: taxed as other income at their value when you receive them, with a separate €256 exemption limit (also a threshold). Staking does not extend the one-year holding period to ten years.
- Crypto-to-crypto swaps count: exchanging one coin for another is a disposal, so the one-year clock starts again on the new coin.
- Exchanges now share data with the tax office: under the Kryptowerte-Steuertransparenzgesetz (KStTG), which implements the EU’s DAC8 directive, crypto providers record their clients’ transactions from 2026. The first reports, covering 2026, are due to the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) by 31 July 2027.
These rules are set out in the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) letter of 6 March 2025.
Example: you buy €5,000 of bitcoin and sell it for €8,000. If you sell after eight months, the €3,000 gain is added to your taxable income (at a 30% personal rate, that is €900 of income tax). If you sell after 13 months, the gain is tax-free.
This is general information, not tax advice. Rules can change, so check your situation with a Steuerberater.
How to choose the best crypto app in Germany
Consider the following when comparing crypto exchanges:
- Licence: check that the platform holds a MiCA licence and which legal entity you are contracting with.
- Range of cryptocurrencies: some platforms only list the largest coins, others hundreds of them.
- Fees: compare trading fees, spreads and deposit or withdrawal costs, and remember that simple buy buttons usually cost more than the pro interface.
- Ease of use: a simpler app can be worth a slightly higher fee if you are starting out.
- Deposits: check which methods are available (SEPA transfer, card, instant payments) and the minimum amount.
- Extra services: staking, a crypto card, savings products or derivatives, depending on what you actually need.
- Security: look for cold storage, two-factor authentication and a clean track record.
Bottom line
To sum it up, these are our top picks for the best crypto platforms in Germany:
Crypto.com
Best for the crypto card and extra servicesCoinbase
Best for beginnersKraken
24/7 customer support
All three platforms are licensed under MiCA and can legally serve clients in Germany. Which one suits you depends on what you need: Crypto.com for its card and extra services, Coinbase for its simple app and educational content, and Kraken for its regulatory track record, 24/7 support and low fees for active traders.
Crypto-assets are highly volatile and, even under MiCA, there is no investor compensation scheme covering them. You can lose all the money you invest. Only invest what you can afford to lose, and remember that tax may apply on your gains.
Take your time to compare the platforms and check the current fees and licences before opening an account.
FAQs
What is a crypto exchange?
A crypto exchange is an online marketplace where you can buy, sell and swap cryptocurrencies, usually against euros or other crypto. Most exchanges are centralised, which means the platform holds your crypto and matches buyers with sellers. Decentralised exchanges let users trade directly with each other through smart contracts, without an intermediary holding the assets.
Do crypto exchanges need a licence in Germany?
Yes. Since 1 July 2026, any platform serving EU clients needs a MiCA licence as a crypto-asset service provider (CASP). In Germany, the transition period for existing providers ended on 30 December 2025. A licence from any EU regulator, such as Malta, Luxembourg or Ireland, is valid in Germany. You can check a platform’s status in ESMA’s public register.
Is my crypto protected if the exchange fails?
No. MiCA sets rules on how exchanges hold and segregate client assets, but it does not create a compensation scheme like the ones for bank deposits or investments. If an exchange fails or is hacked, you may lose your crypto. Some exchanges hold private insurance, which covers the company against certain losses, not your investment against price falls.
What are the best crypto exchanges for beginners?
All the platforms in this list are suitable for beginners, with Coinbase usually the simplest to start with. You can also read our article on the best exchanges for beginners.
Can I use Binance in Germany?
Since 1 July 2026, only platforms licensed under MiCA can serve EU clients. Binance was not among the platforms we could find with a MiCA licence as of October 2026, so check ESMA’s register before using it in Germany. You can also read our article on where Binance is available.
