Best Crypto Exchanges for UK Users in 2024

Trading crypto in the UK in 2024 means navigating one of the strictest regulatory frameworks in the world. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has made its stance clear: only firms registered under the Money Laundering Regulations (MLR) can legally offer cryptoasset services to British residents.1 That's a good thing — it means every platform worth using has passed AML and counter-terrorism financing checks. But it also means the market has winnowed down to a handful of trustworthy players.

We tested the platforms that made the cut. Here are the things actually worth buying — the exchanges and tools that combine FCA compliance, reliable GBP support, and real-world usability for UK traders.

The Shortlist

�� Pick #1: Coinbase — Best for Everyday UK Traders

Coinbase is the most straightforward FCA-registered exchange for UK residents, and it's not hard to see why. It holds a registered VASP (Virtual Asset Service Provider) status with the FCA, meaning it has passed the UK's anti-money laundering checks and can legally operate here.1

What makes it work for UK users: Coinbase supports GBP deposits via Faster Payments — the UK's instant bank transfer system — so your funds land in minutes, not days. The interface is clean enough for someone buying their first £50 of Bitcoin, yet the advanced trade view (Coinbase Advanced) offers real order books for those who want limit orders and charting.2

Security: 98% of digital assets held in cold storage, with 2FA and biometric login. As an FCA-registered firm, Coinbase also undergoes regular AML audits.

The trade-off: Spread-based pricing on the standard interface can be slightly higher than pro-tier platforms. For very large trades, you'll want to use the Advanced view for maker-taker fee structure.

Bottom line: If you want one account that does everything — buy, sell, stake, store — and you want it fully compliant with UK law, Coinbase is the pick.

�� Pick #2: Uniswap — Best for DeFi and Self-Custody

For UK users who want actual ownership of their assets — not just an IOU on an exchange's ledger — Uniswap is the gold standard. As a non-custodial decentralised exchange (DEX), Uniswap lets you swap tokens directly from your own wallet. No account, no KYC, no one holding your coins but you.1

How UK users access it: You'll need a self-custody wallet (like MetaMask or Rainbow) connected to the Ethereum, Arbitrum, or Optimism network. Uniswap itself is a smart-contract protocol — it's not an FCA-registered firm because it doesn't hold customer funds. That's the point.

The trade-off: You need ETH in your wallet to pay gas fees. And you'll need a fiat on-ramp (see Pick #3) to get that first ETH in the first place.

Bottom line: Uniswap is essential for anyone serious about DeFi. It's the most liquid DEX across the most chains, and for UK users who value self-custody, it's non-negotiable.

�� Pick #3: Transak — Best Fiat On-Ramp for UK Users

Transak solves the chicken-and-egg problem of crypto: you need crypto to use DeFi, but you need fiat to buy crypto. Transak is an FCA-compliant fiat-to-crypto on-ramp that plugs directly into wallets and dApps, letting UK users buy crypto with GBP via Faster Payments or debit card.1

How it works: Instead of signing up for another exchange, you use Transak inside your existing wallet (MetaMask, Trust Wallet, etc.). Select "Buy," choose Transak as the provider, and pay with GBP. The crypto lands directly in your wallet — no exchange middleman.

Why it matters for UK users: Transak supports Faster Payments, so GBP deposits clear instantly. It also handles FCA-mandated KYC/AML checks at the point of purchase, meaning every transaction is compliant without you needing a separate exchange account.

The trade-off: Fees are higher than a dedicated exchange — you're paying for the convenience of direct-to-wallet delivery. For regular DCA (dollar-cost averaging), a CEX like Coinbase is cheaper.

Bottom line: Transak is the best way to get your first £50 of ETH into a wallet for DeFi use. It's the bridge between UK banking and the on-chain world.

How We Chose

We evaluated every platform against three criteria that matter for UK users:

1. FCA registration or compliance — Is the firm registered with the FCA under MLR? If it's a DEX, does it use an FCA-compliant on-ramp?1
2. GBP deposit methods — Does it support Faster Payments? How fast do funds clear?
3. Fee transparency — Are fees disclosed clearly, or buried in spreads?

Only platforms that passed all three made the list.

The Verdict

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