Crypto Exchanges: Where to Trade, What to Avoid, and How to Stay Safe

When you buy or sell cryptocurrency, you’re using a crypto exchange, a platform that lets you trade digital assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, or newer tokens by matching buyers and sellers. Also known as crypto trading platform, it’s the gateway between your wallet and the market — but not all of them are trustworthy. Some are giant, regulated businesses with bank-level security. Others are ghost apps with no team, no audits, and a history of disappearing with users’ funds.

There are two main types: centralized exchanges, like CoinDCX or Binance, where the platform holds your crypto and handles trades for you, and decentralized exchanges, like Uniswap or Aerodrome Finance, where you trade directly from your wallet without giving up control. Centralized ones are easier for beginners but come with risks — if they get hacked or shut down, your money might vanish. Decentralized ones give you full control, but you’re responsible for everything: gas fees, slippage, and avoiding fake tokens.

India banned unregistered exchanges like Binance and KuCoin, while places like the UAE became global hubs after fixing their compliance rules. FTX Turkey collapsed because it operated without a license. Arbidex promised automated profits but forced users to hand over their keys — and now it’s dead. Libre Swap has almost no volume. MochiSwap has no team and wild price swings. These aren’t accidents. They’re warnings. The best exchanges don’t just list coins — they protect your money with audits, insurance, and clear rules.

You’ll find reviews here of platforms that actually work, scams that look real, and hidden dangers in cross-chain bridges and fake airdrops. We don’t just list exchanges — we show you which ones are still alive, which ones are traps, and how to tell the difference before you send a single dollar. Whether you’re trading on Base Chain, using THORChain for native swaps, or just trying to avoid getting hacked, this collection gives you the facts — no fluff, no hype, just what matters.