What is Crypto Exchange? A Beginner’s Guide

Abimbola Abe
BLOCK6
Published in
2 min readOct 4, 2022
Photo by Karolina Grabowska: https://www.pexels.com/photo/gold-bitcoin-coins-and-cash-in-a-miniature-shopping-cart-5980886/

If you are interested in buying digital currency but have never done so, a crypto exchange platform is a place to start. Exchanges are online markets where users can buy and sell cryptocurrencies. These markets connect buyers to sellers and facilitate the buying and selling of cryptocurrencies.

Types of Crypto exchanges:

Central Exchange:

A centralized cryptocurrency exchange is run by an independent party, the exchange operator. As a result, new users can sign up and begin making transactions without any hitches. You can instantly buy cryptocurrencies by connecting your bank account or debit card on these exchanges. However, the convenience of exchange comes with additional expenses on top of the asset’s purchase price in the form of operator charges. Many centralized exchanges allow buyers and sellers to transact in fiat cash and various cryptocurrencies.

Example: Binance, Coinbase.

Decentralized Exchange:

DEX stands for “decentralized exchange,” which refers to a cryptocurrency trading platform that is not controlled by a central authority, uses open source software, and facilitates transactions directly between users. Because of the increased technical and cryptocurrency knowledge required to operate a DEX, they are also more challenging to use than centralized exchanges.

By eliminating the need for a trusted third party, decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges stand out from their centralized counterparts. Blockchains and distributed ledgers are utilized instead. Any one institution does not keep currency in this less prevalent form of exchange, and instead, transactions are conducted directly between users via smart contracts.

Example: Uniswap, PancakeSwap.

Hybrid Exchanges:

Hybrid cryptocurrency exchanges are widely regarded as the industry’s next-generation Cryptocurrency trading platform. The goal is to merge the advantages of centralized and decentralized markets. For the most part, hybrids aim to merge the convenience and accessibility of a centralized exchange (CEX) with the anonymity and security of a decentralized one (DEX). There are a lot of people who believe this is the future of cryptocurrency trading.

Example: Quirrex

Conclusion

Because of their relative novelty, both centralized and decentralized crypto exchanges require extensive investigation before being used. Factors to consider when selecting a cryptocurrency exchange:

  1. Limits on deposits and withdrawals fees
  2. Payment methods
  3. Limits and rules for each region
  4. Reputation
  5. Verification requirements and security

Find a cryptocurrency exchange and digital assets appropriate for your goals, financial situation, level of comfort with risk, and desired level of safety. In addition, each market’s costs and security features vary widely.

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Abimbola Abe
BLOCK6
Writer for

Documenting my transition Journey into Web3 || Web3 enthusiast and digital marketer. Experienced community manager and writer.