Ranked by overall score across usability, fees, security, and support. Every monetized link carries a disclosure.
#1 PICK
Coinbase US
spot
★★★★★
4.6
Referral program
Coinbase Affiliates (via Impact.com)
Referral reward for new joiners; earn a commission on the trading fees your referred customers generate
Trading: Maker 0.0-0.4% / Taker 0.4-0.6% (Advance trade tiers)
Withdrawal: USDC withdrawals free across all networks; network fee covered by Coinbase for most crypto
US / International
Fully available and licensed to US customers; the benchmark for US-legal crypto referral.
- Most beginner-friendly crypto on-ramp in the US
- Very wide selection of coins and a regulated US exchange
- Strong institutional backing and insurance on hot wallets
- Coinbase Earn + staking for passive rewards
- Simple-buy fees/spread are higher than pro-tier trading
- Support is slow during high-volume events
- Listing standards mean some newer coins are absent
#2
Referral program
Kraken Affiliate (in-house partnerships team OR Impact.com track)
Kraken affiliate earns on referred user activity across Spot, Futures, DEX and more
Trading: 1% instant/recurring, 1.5% custom orders (waived for Kraken+ members up to $10k/mo volume); Pro tier lower
Withdrawal: Network fee only
US / International
US-licensed with broad global reach — works for either US or international traffic.
- Strong security reputation and long operating history
- Lower base-tier fees than Coinbase on spot trades
- Broad US and international availability
- Professional trading depth (Kraken Pro) plus staking
- 23 stakeable assets including BTC (via Babylon) with higher net APY than Coinbase
- Interface is less beginner-intuitive than Coinbase
- Fewer flashy rewards than some competitors
- Customer support turnaround can vary
#3
Robinhood Crypto US
spot
★★★★☆
4.4
Referral program
Robinhood referral / crypto affiliate
Referral incentives paid when new users open an account and trade
Trading: 0% commission (spread-based)
Withdrawal: Free network withdrawal where supported
US
US-only. Best for the stock-trading crowd moving into crypto via one app.
- Zero-commission trading with a simple, clean app
- Integrated with Robinhood's broader brokerage for US users
- Great for beginners already using Robinhood stocks
- Competitive spreads
- More limited coin selection than Coinbase/Kraken
- No broad international availability
- Less advanced trading tooling for power users
#4
Crypto.com US
spot
★★★★☆
4.4
Referral program
Crypto.com Affiliate / Referral
Affiliates earn up to 50% of referred users' trading fees, paid daily in USDC; staking up to 16.23% APR
Trading: Maker 0.30% / Taker 0.40% at lowest volume band (drops with volume/staking)
Withdrawal: Network fee only
US / International
US-available with state-level licensing; a solid addition for users who want rewards on top of trading.
- Strong global brand with a real US presence
- Popular Visa card with crypto rewards
- Large staking/earn ecosystem
- Competitive base trading fees
- Staking rewards up to 16.23% APR (SOL ~4.27%)
- Rewards ecosystem can be complex for beginners
- Some features vary by US state
- Support response times can vary
#5
Referral program
Gemini Referral / affiliate programs
Affiliate earns $25 per converted account that places a trade; staking up to 7% APR for users
Trading: ActiveTrader: maker/taker tiers (Sept 2026 schedule); base higher than Coinbase/Kraken
Withdrawal: Free standard, network fee for crypto
US
US-focused (BitLicense is the gold standard). Best for conservative, security-first US beginners.
- One of the most regulated US exchanges (BitLicense)
- Gemini Earn yields on held crypto
- Strong security and insurance posture
- Clean, trusted brand for beginners
- Higher base fees than competitors at entry tier
- Narrower altcoin selection than Coinbase
- Warm-custody interest products carry some market risk
#6
Bitstamp US
spot
★★★★☆
4.3
Referral program
Bitstamp Referral / Affiliate
Referral rewards for new users; affiliate revenue-share on referred activity
Trading: Maker 0.30% / Taker 0.40% at lowest volume band (drops with volume)
Withdrawal: Network fee only
US / International
US-available; best for conservative, security-first beginners who value a long clean track record over the lowest fees.
- One of the oldest, most conservative exchanges (since 2011)
- Clean, beginner-friendly interface
- Strong security and regulatory posture
- Broad US availability
- Higher base fees than Coinbase/Kraken at entry tier
- Smaller altcoin selection
- Fewer flashy rewards