Crypto Exchange: How to Choose, Avoid Scams, and Trade Safely

When you buy or trade cryptocurrency, you’re using a crypto exchange, a platform that lets you buy, sell, or swap digital assets like Bitcoin or Ethereum. Also known as cryptocurrency trading platform, it’s the bridge between your wallet and the market—whether you’re holding for years or trading daily. But not all exchanges are created equal. Some are secure, regulated, and built for real users. Others vanish overnight, steal your funds, or get blocked by your government.

There are two main types: centralized and decentralized. A centralized exchange, like CoinDCX or WazirX, acts like a bank—you deposit crypto, they hold it, and you trade through their system. Also known as CEX, these are easier to use but require trust in the company. A decentralized exchange, like Uniswap or Aerodrome Finance, lets you trade directly from your wallet without handing over control. Also known as DEX, these give you full custody but demand more technical know-how. In India, only FIU-IND registered exchanges are legal. In the UAE, compliance with FATF rules opened doors to global banking. In Turkey, FTX Turkey collapsed because it operated without a license—thousands lost money.

Why does this matter? Because scams thrive where rules are weak. Fake exchanges like Libre Swap have zero trading volume and no audits. Platforms like Arbidex promised automated profits but asked you to give up your crypto—now they’re gone. And if you’re in a country with banking restrictions, you might turn to P2P or no-KYC exchanges, but that increases your risk of fraud or frozen accounts. The best exchanges offer clear fees, strong security, real liquidity, and transparency about their legal status.

You’ll find reviews here of exchanges that actually work—and those that don’t. We cover platforms banned in India, the truth behind dead tokens tied to exchanges, how cross-chain bridges can get hacked, and why some DeFi swaps are safer than others. We also break down real cases: how North Korea steals crypto through exchanges, how UAE’s regulatory shift changed everything, and why some airdrops are just traps. This isn’t theory. It’s what happened, who got burned, and how to stay out of trouble.