It's been a heck of a ride over the past few years for digital asset markets. The November 2022 collapse of once-dominant cryptocurrency exchange FTX had a chilling effect on investor enthusiasm, and harsher regulatory scrutiny in the sector became the norm. But thanks in large part to the long-term promise of "Web 3.0" technology and fintech innovations – not to mention a significant bump in the value of closely watched cryptocurrency Bitcoin (BTC) – we have seen digital assets come back into favor in 2024.

of crypto markets, however, there is a list of top crypto players who are noteworthy for their management of the infrastructure of this asset class. These exchanges are the points where transactions happen, and in some ways influence whether an individual buyer or seller makes a profit on a specific cryptocurrency. The volume of transactions taking place can be a proxy for investor interest.

Because the global and often decentralized nature of crypto is juxtaposed with the very specific local regulations of each jurisdiction, some of these exchanges have restricted use for U.S. investors. Sometimes that means products limited by the exchange itself as operators look to limit liability, and sometimes that means an outright ban from the regulators themselves. But if you care about crypto, then you