The world of Web3 grows every year. With more and more projects launching an increasing number of cryptocurrencies, it can be difficult to keep up with all the latest developments and investment opportunities.
Luckily, crypto swap exchanges offer a central location where users can track the latest market movements as well as execute asset swaps both quickly and easily. This article lists the 8 best crypto swap exchanges available right now, including both CEX and DEX options.
The best crypto swap sites in 2024:
Binance
MaxSwap
KuCoin
Uniswap
Jupiter
Coinbase Pro
Kraken
1Inch
How to find the best platforms to perform crypto swaps
Selecting the best crypto swap exchanges can involve various considerations, including whether you prefer to trade directly on the blockchain or use centralized service providers. Either way, there are some great options available at the moment.
Users should always consider a platform’s security record when executing crypto swaps. Typically, the longer a platform has been in operation, the more robust its backend processes have become. Longevity is always a great indicator for crypto exchanges, demonstrating that they can be trusted as a secure and reliable solution for swapping crypto assets.
Likewise, some other features to look out for are liquidity levels and fee structure. Both of these characteristics can make a big difference when it comes to the user experience, directly influencing the cost-effectiveness of performing asset swaps.
The 8 best crypto swap sites
This section will dive into the best crypto swap exchanges in 2024, highlighting each platform’s key features and demonstrating why they’re a great choice.
1. Binance
Binance is the largest crypto asset exchange in the world, with more than 30 million sign-ups since it first launched in 2017. The platform offers several standout features that have contributed to its rapid growth, including a wide range of cryptocurrencies and rapid trade execution.
Binance is known for its high liquidity, which allows users to execute trades quickly and at competitive prices. This liquidity is particularly advantageous for traders looking to enter and exit positions on lower timeframes, or for crypto whales seeking low-slippage order fills.
The platform supports a range of fiat currency on-ramps which are typically confirmed both quickly and efficiently. Its low trading fees — especially on major crypto markets such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) — offer an attractive user experience when combined with the broad selection of trading tools that the platform has at its disposal.
Pros:
Rapid trade execution
Broad selection of cryptocurrencies
High liquidity
Cons:
Involves counter-party risk
Swap Crypto on Binance
2. MaxSwap
MaxSwap is a cryptocurrency platform that allows customers to easily convert one cryptocurrency to another. It supports numerous cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, BNB, Dogecoin, Ethereum, and Tether, among others. In addition to the web interface, which is akin to other similar platforms, MaxSwap can be accessed via the Telegram messenger app, which introduces a degree of accessibility that few other platforms possess.
In addition to the swap functionality, MaxSwap features a custodial wallet (called MaxWallet), a number of passive income products, and even the ability to exchange crypto for fiat and vice versa. It’s worth noting that most transactions don’t require users to complete the KYC process, but some do, so keep that in mind.
Another interesting feature of the MaxSwap ecosystem is the MaxProfit Scanner product, which lets users analyze cryptocurrency wallets using artificial intelligence. This can be useful when trying to identify the investment moves of prominent investors and to track what crypto whales are doing.
Pros:
Low fees and fast crypto swaps
Support for a wide range of cryptocurrencies and fiat options
Earn products and MaxProfit feature
Cons:
Some transactions require KYC
Swap Crypto on MaxSwap
3. KuCoin
KuCoin is a popular cryptocurrency exchange that's best known for its massive selection of tradeable altcoins. While the exchange has a wide range of advanced trading products, KuCoin also has a simple to use crypto swap feature, which allows users to swap between different crypto tokens through a straightforward interface. This feature is known as KuCoin Convert.
KuCoin Convert doesn't charge a transaction fee for swaps, although there is a market spread. Depending on the swap you're trying to make, KuCoin convert could be less or more efficient than using an equivalent spot trading pair. If you want to save as much on fees as possible, make sure to check both KuCoin Convert and the corresponding spot trading pair.
Please note that not all cryptocurrencies listed on KuCoin can be swapped through KuCoin Convert. However, the feature still provides a lot of flexibility as it can be used to swap between more than 100 different cryptocurrencies.
Pros:
Simple user experience
Users can swap between more than 100 different cryptocurrencies
Rapid trade execution
Cons:
Involves counter-party risk
Swap Crypto on KuCoin
4. Uniswap
Uniswap is a decentralized exchange (DEX) that processes a higher volume of on-chain transactions than alternative platform. Originally based on Ethereum (ETH) mainnet, Uniswap now supports all EVM-compatible blockchains including ETH layer-2s such as Polygon (MATIC), Arbitrum (ARB), Optimism (OP), and Base.
Uniswap operates on decentralized finance (DeFi) principles, meaning it runs on blockchain technology without relying on centralized intermediaries. This decentralization offers increased security, with no counter-party risk because the platform utilizes smart contract technology to execute on its features.
The automated market maker (AMM) model allows users to trade cryptocurrencies directly with smart contracts instead of traditional orderbooks, while still allowing for instant crypto swaps and liquidity provision. On balance, Uniswap is a highly reliable crypto swap exchange that continues to refine its product offering.
Pros:
No counter-party risk
Unlimited selection of on-chain tokens
High levels of security
Cons:
Slower trade execution
High fees
Swap Crypto on Uniswap
5. Jupiter
Jupiter is a token swap aggregator on the Solana (SOL) blockchain that operates in a similar way to Uniswap. However, the Solana and Ethereum ecosystems use different virtual machines, meaning that they are not cross-compatible by default. As a result, Jupiter has rapidly become the second-most-used DEX in Web3, capturing the majority of on-chain trading activity within the Solana ecosystem.
Jupiter leverages Solana’s high-performance and low-latency network to handle a large volume of transactions with minimal fees. Jupiter works by aggregating different DeFi protocols on Solana to find the fastest and most cost-efficient way to swap between the tokens selected by the user.
Unlike other DEXs, Jupiter offers advanced order types such as limit orders. This has set it apart in many respects, offering a user experience that is closer to centralized exchanges (CEXs) without compromising on the counter-party risks that are associated with DEXs.
Pros:
Automatically finds the most efficient token swap route
Unlimited selection of on-chain tokens
High level of security
Cons:
Slightly more demanding UX than centralized exchanges
Swap Crypto on Jupiter
6. Coinbase Pro
Coinbase Pro is the advanced trading platform from Coinbase, offering several standout features that make it a popular choice for executing crypto swaps. Coinbase Pro supports a variety of cryptocurrencies, including major coins like BTC and ETH, and lesser-known assets that can provide a more pronounced risk-return ratio for traders.
For executing crypto swaps, Coinbase Pro is one of the most liquid exchanges in the cryptosphere with an impressive track record for security. As a CEX, Coinbase Pro can execute trades at a faster pace than DEX alternatives, and depending on the blockchain network in question, it can often do it cheaper as well.
Coinbase Pro is designed to meet the needs of institutional investors and professional traders, providing a robust and reliable platform with advanced features and performance. On balance, it offers more than enough to execute crypto swaps reliably and provides a great option for anyone seeking to exchange their assets.
Pros:
Rapid trade execution
Secure crypto custodian
High liquidity
Cons:
Involves counter-party risk
Limited selection of cryptocurrencies compared to certain competitors
Swap Crypto on Coinbase
7. Kraken
Kraken is a well-established cryptocurrency exchange that has been around since the early days of the crypto movement. Owing to its longevity, Kraken is well-regarded as a reliable and robust CEX solution that can support rapid crypto swaps for its users.
There is a diverse selection of cryptocurrencies available on Kraken, including major tokens such as BTC, ETH, and XRP (XRP) and smaller-cap assets as well. The exchange has high levels of liquidity, which ensures that users can execute trades quickly at competitive prices.
For those seeking more functionality compared to simple crypto swaps, Kraken offers advanced order types and additional features such as margin trading, where users can amplify their trading positions to boost their profit potential.
Pros:
Rapid trade execution
Strong reputation for security
High liquidity
Cons:
Involves counter-party risk
Swap Crypto on Kraken
8. 1inch
1inch is a decentralized exchange (DEX) aggregator that allows users to access liquidity from multiple DEXs in a single platform. It’s designed to offer the best possible rates for cryptocurrency swaps by splitting orders across various DEXs to achieve optimal prices.
To do this, 1inch employs smart contract technology to instantaneously split orders across a collection of DEXs, routing trades according to their current fee level. 1inch is also known for optimizing gas costs for transactions on Ethereum, leveraging gas tokens and other strategies to reduce transaction fees for users.
Unlike Uniswap — the leading DEX for Ethereum — 1inch supports advanced order-making via limit orders. The platform supports all EVM-compatible chains, including Binance Smart Chain (BSC) and Polygon (MATIC). Overall, 1inch’s DEX aggregation, smart order routing, and gas cost optimization make it a prime choice for users seeking to swap their crypto assets.
Pros:
No counter-party risk
Unlimited selection of on-chain tokens
Cost-effective innovations
Cons:
Slower trade execution
Swap Crypto on 1inch
The bottom line
Finding the right exchange to perform a crypto swap largely comes down to personal preference, since there are a number of great choices available. Users seeking a smoother user experience may opt for the convenience of CEXs, while people who store their assets on-chain will likely prefer to use a DEX.
These options provide broad functionality, with each one offering something different from the last. Binance is the largest CEX in the world, while Uniswap and Jupiter are the largest DEXs in the Ethereum and Solana ecosystems, respectively.
You can learn more about the differences between CEXs and DEXs here.
