7 Best Crypto Exchanges In Kenya

Here’s something you may not realize: the cryptocurrency exchange you choose matters. Your choice will impact how profitable your trades are, how easily you can buy and sell coins, and whether you can use it in Kenya at all.

Fortunately, I've been investing in crypto for more than 9 years, and I frequently update my list of the top platforms below. So if you’re looking for a safe and secure crypto exchange that’s easy to use, supports the Kenyan shilling, and is compatible with the biggest financial institutions in Kenya, you’ve come to the right place.

Plus, if you want to earn some free Nano (a popular cryptocurrency that's free to send/receive), here's how you can do it from Kenya:

1. Sign up with one of the crypto exchanges below (I recommend Kraken).
2. Download TipNano, the easiest way to earn free Nano.
3. Earn Nano for playing games, and withdraw your earnings to your Kraken wallet (note: the minimum payout is 4 Nano).

You can also check out these Nano faucets, these games, and these additional ways to earn.

Now here are my top picks for the best crypto exchanges Kenya has to offer.

1. Kraken — Best Overall

Best Overall

Fees: 0.16% Security: Best in class Customer Support: Excellent Top-notch security + lowest fees.

★★★★★ Rated 4.9/5

Based in the United States, Kraken is a highly transparent exchange with a longstanding history of reliability. As one of the largest crypto exchanges in the world, Kraken outperforms smaller exchanges for a number of reasons.

For starters, Kraken's fees are far lower than most other exchanges, with most users paying 0.16% per transaction (fees decrease down to 0% if you trade high volumes). Kraken's spreads are also absurdly low, typically around $0.10 per Bitcoin, which is 0.0003%. Compare that with other exchanges—which routinely charge up to 2% in trading commissions plus an additional 2% or more in spreads—and it's easy to see why Kraken is such a popular exchange.

Kraken also has better customer support than most other exchanges, and is one of the only exchanges out there that still offers telephone support (available in English, French and Spanish). It supports 100+ cryptocurrencies and has a world-class trading platform and mobile app that's powerful yet easy to use.

If that wasn't enough, Kraken's trading platform is professional and robust, offering features like NFT trading, staking and support for a wide range of fiat currencies including USD, EUR, and more.

Overall, Kraken is an excellent fit for many crypto investors because it has lower fees, better support and a better trading platform overall. If you're looking to start trading crypto, we strongly recommend Kraken.

Features

• Extremely low trading commissions (0.16%)
• Extremely low spreads (0.0003%)
• Trade 100+ cryptocurrencies
• Stake 100+ cryptocurrencies
• Simple, intuitive user interface
• Kraken Crypto Watch allows you to keep track of the crypto market
• NFT trading inside the Kraken app
• 24/7 customer support via phone, email and live chat
• Plenty of free educational resources available to users
• 95% cold storage policy

Cost

• Trading Fees: 0.16% (spot trades cost 0.26%)
• Spreads: 0.0003%
• Fiat Deposit Fee: 0%
• Fiat Withdrawal Fee: $0 – $5 USD

Best For

Cryptocurrency investors looking to trade with extremely low fees.

2. Capital — Zero Trading Fees

Zero Fees

Trading fees: 0% Supports: 100+ coins Customer support: Excellent Trusted by millions.

★★★★★ Rated 4.9/5

Capital allows users to trade crypto alongside stocks, commodities, forex, market indices, ETFs and more—all without any trading fees. It supports 100+ cryptocurrencies, and users can trade with 2x leverage on crypto (up to 500x leverage on other assets).

Capital charges a tight spread ranging from 0.1% – 0.3% (depending on the asset), making the overall cost of using the platform (0% trading commissions + 0.1% – 0.3% spreads) very low. It has a fully functional desktop platform, a well-rated mobile app (4.7/5 on Android and iOS), and an excellent demo account where you can practice trading with real assets in real time.

Capital is licensed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, which means it’s a safe, secure platform. Every user receives a dedicated account manager they can reach by email or phone anytime, which is part of the reason Capital’s customer support team receives such positive reviews.

Deposits and withdrawals are always free with Capital, and you’ll never pay trading commissions regardless of whether you place spot orders or limit orders. Capital is ISO 27001 certified for meeting robust information security standards, making it an extremely safe platform to trade with.

The biggest drawback of Capital is that it can take several days to have your account verified since their verifications team is overwhelmed with signups right now. If you sign up using my referral link, though, you can skip the waitlist and start trading immediately.

I’ve personally used Capital for more than 4 years, and based on my experiences and those of millions of other users, I can’t recommend it highly enough. 

Features

• Zero trading commissions
• Tight spreads (0.1% – 0.3%) 
• Supports 100+ cryptocurrencies
• Allows up to 500x leverage (2x leverage on crypto)
• Fully functional demo account for paper trading
• Free deposits and withdrawals via debit/credit cards, bank transfer, POLi, PayPal, Apple Pay, etc.
• Dedicated account manager you can reach at any time
• Excellent desktop trading platform
• Well-rated mobile app (4.7/5 on both Apple and Google)
• Licensed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
• ISO 27001-certified for meeting extremely high information security standards

Cost

• Trading fees: 0%
• Spreads: 0.1% – 0.3%
• Deposits & Withdrawals: Free

Signup Bonus

Skip the waitlist and have your account approved immediately by using my referral link below.

Best For

Investors looking for the best overall crypto trading experience with no trading commissions.

3. Crypto.com

Best For Altcoins

Trading fees: 0.4% Security: 95% cold storage Signup bonus: $10 Trade with 10x leverage.

★★★★ Rated 4.3/5

Crypto.com is a major global player that brings a mature, proven exchange to experienced crypto investors. It supports 100+ cryptocurrencies, making it an ideal fit for anyone looking to invest in undiscovered altcoins before the masses.

Crypto.com offers some unique features that no other cryptocurrency exchange can match. Users can trade options and futures contracts, earn interest by staking their coins, and make trades with up to 10x leverage when they feel particularly confident in a coin.

Crypto.com also has invested an enormous amount of money into its platform's security, making trading with them extremely safe. The exchange is lightning quick (prices update dozens of times per second), which gives day traders an upper hand over the rest of the market.

Overall, Crypto.com is a solid exchange for investors looking to cash in on brand-new altcoins.

Features

• Average trading fees (0.4%)
• Supports 100+ cryptocurrencies
• Allows up to 10x leverage
• Trade crypto derivatives (futures and options contracts)
• Earn daily interest by staking your coins
• Purchase newly-listed coins at up to 50% off
• Free deposits from all cryptocurrencies

Cost

• Account Opening: Free
• Trading Fees: 0.4%

Best For

Investors looking to buy altcoins and other new crypto assets before they go mainstream.

4. Yellowcard.io

Yellow Card is a Nigerian-based cryptocurrency exchange that offers access to crypto to users across Africa. Yellow Card was launched in Nigeria in 2019, and operates in 16 African countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Tanzania. In 2021 it secured $15 million in funding, and it’s looking to expand its reach in Africa.

Yellowcard supports three of the largest cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Tether (USDT). You can purchase crypto using any of the 16 supported fiat currencies. Some of those currencies are the Central African CFA Franc, the Kenyan Shilling, and the Nigerian Naira.

One of Yellowcard’s best features is its accessibility and compatibility with financial institutions across Africa. It is available on Android (3.4/5 rating) and iOS (2.7/5 rating), and it offers a unique funding method: Yellow Card pins. Traders can purchase Yellow Card pins with cash from various Yellow Card Merchants across Africa – these pins can then be entered directly into your Yellow Card account and you’ll be credited the corresponding amount of fiat, instantly. 

One downside is its somewhat unclear fees – most fees are very variable and will depend on the country you live in. Crypto and fiat deposits are completely free, but fiat withdrawal fees range from 1.5% – 1.95%. Crypto withdrawals incur network fees, depending on the asset (0.002 BTC for Bitcoin). Keep in mind that in some countries they charge flat fees instead of percentual, which may be preferable in some cases.

Features

• Supports 3 cryptocurrencies
• Supports 13+ fiat currencies
• Yellow Card Academy
• Fund your account quickly using Yellow Card Pins
• Available on Android (3.4/5 rating) and iOS (2.7/5 rating)

Cost

• Deposit Fees (Crypto): Free
• Withdrawal Fee (Crypto): Depends on the crypto (0.002 BTC for Bitcoin)
• Deposit Fees (Fiat): 0.5% 
• Withdrawal Fee (Fiat): From 1.5% to 1.95% (depending on the country)

5. Binance

Binance is an international cryptocurrency exchange that currently serves as the world’s largest crypto trading platform by volume of daily trading. It began operations in 2017 and is now headquartered in the Cayman Islands.

Binance was founded in Hong Kong but later moved its headquarters overseas due to increased government intervention in cryptocurrencies. It has several notable characteristics, including powerful charting tools, access to DeFi yield farming through Binance Earn, and the Binance Visa Card.

Features

• Wide array of supported cryptocurrencies (300+)
• Wide array of supported fiat currencies (50+)
• Binance Earn allows users to stake coins and earn interest on their crypto holdings
• Earn up to 8% back in BNB on every transaction made with a Binance Visa Card
• Get access to lower fees by transacting in Binance's native currency Binance Coin (BNB)

Cost

• Crypto deposit fees: Free
• Fiat deposit fees: From 0% to 3.5%
• Crypto withdrawal fees: From 0% to 2,5%
• Taker fees: From 0.04 to 0.1%
• Maker fees: From 0.02 to 0.1%
• Futures trading maker fees: 0.02%
• Futures trading taker fees: 0.04%
• Instant buy/sell trade fees: 0.5%
• Debit/credit card purchases: 4.5%

Best For

Investors looking for a secure, internationally-recognized exchange.

6. Coinbase

Coinbase is an American cryptocurrency exchange that was originally founded in 2012. It’s based in San Francisco and it’s one of the oldest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. It’s also the second-largest crypto exchange in the world, the first being Binance.

Coinbase was designed to be one of the easiest places to buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrency, and it serves retail investors, businesses, and institutions alike. The sign-up process is quick, and after you create your account, you will gain access to your personal online wallet.

Originally, Coinbase only supported Bitcoin, but it now supports over 100 of the biggest cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano, Ethereum, and Litecoin. As a new user, you will receive a $10 bonus, and trading fees range from $0.99 to $2.99 for trades below $200 and from 1.49% to 3.99% for trades over $200.

Features

• Supports 100+ cryptocurrencies
• Coinbase Pro, access to research tools and graphs
• Coinbase Earn, earn crypto for free by watching tutorials
• Manage your crypto from your phone with the Coinbase Wallet app
• Secure platform, Biometric auth, 2FA and access to Secure Enclave
• User-friendly for both beginners and advanced traders
• Earn rewards by staking certain coins

Cost

• Account Opening: Free
• Purchase Fees (Below $200): Flat fee, from $0.99 to $2.99 per transaction.
• Purchase Fees (Over $200): 1.49% (US banks), 3.99% (Debit Card and PayPal)
• Credit Transaction: 2% 
• Bank Account:1.49%
• Wire Transfers: From $10 to $25
• ACH Transfer: Free

Signup Bonus

$10 signup bonus

Best For

New investors looking for an easy-to-use platform or for veteran investors looking for advanced research tools.

7. Changelly

Changelly is a non-custodial crypto exchange service based in Prague, Czech Republic. Established in 2016, it doesn’t offer services as a wallet – you’ll need to link a wallet before you can purchase crypto – but rather it finds you the best deals for your crypto by indexing a number of exchanges.

With over 3 million monthly users, Changelly is partnered with crypto giants like Binance and crypto wallets like Trezor and Exodus and offers very low fees starting at 0.25%. It supports 200 of the largest cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and Litecoin, and to start trading, you don’t have to complete a KYC verification, which means you can sign up just with your email

Changelly offers many payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and bank transfers. If you refer a friend you can receive 2% on all fiat-to-crypto transactions and 0.125% on all crypto-to-crypto transactions

Features

• Integration with various crypto wallets
• Supports 200 cryptocurrencies
• 24/7 customer support available via live chat or email
• Accepts Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and bank transfers

Cost

• Account Opening: 
• Floating Rate Fee: 0.25%
• Fixed Rate Fee: 0.25%
• Withdrawal Fees: Free
• Account Management Fees: Free

Signup Bonus

2% back on fiat-to-crypto transactions and 0.125% back on crypto-to-crypto transactions

Best For

Investors looking for the lowest deals on crypto and no KYC verification requirements.

What To Look For In A Great Kenyan Crypto Exchange

I consider many different factors in my search for the best Kenyan crypto exchange. Here are just a few of the more prominent ones:

• Supported coins: The best Kenyan crypto exchanges support a wide variety of coins—at least 20 or 30—including all the major coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin. Platforms that add new coins regularly tend to be more customer-focused overall, making this a strong indicator of a forward-thinking exchange.
• User interface: Choosing a platform with an easy-to-use trading interface is important, especially for beginners. If you're a seasoned crypto investor, you'll also want to look out for exchanges that offer more advanced features like advanced order types and transaction exports for tax purposes.
• Fees: All crypto exchanges charge fees (both in the form of trading commissions and bid-ask spreads), and they can vary by a wide margin. I've specifically chosen low-fee platforms here to help you maximize your profits.
• Regulation: It's much safer to trade with a well-regulated exchange than an unregulated one, especially when markets aren't moving in your favor. Depositors' insurance is another safeguard offered by some exchanges, which keeps your assets safe even if the platform itself faces liquidity issues.
• Deposit & withdrawal options: The exchange you choose should offer a variety of payment methods (bank transfers, debit/credit cards, PayPal, etc.) to ensure you can easily transfer funds in and out of your account. The more options you have, the better.
• Security: Look for an exchange that strictly enforces multiple layers of security, such as two-factor authentication and at least 95% cold storage. Additional security measures like daily offsite backups, third-party security audits, and email confirmations on transactions make your account even more secure.
• Customer support: The best crypto exchanges pride themselves on having well-trained, responsive support teams who can help users through any problems that come up. I pay particular attention to the channels each exchange offers support through, response times, the thoroughness and helpfulness of their responses, and user feedback on the customer support they've received.

In Summary

If you want to start buying crypto in Kenya quickly and easily, click here to open an account with Kraken, our #1-ranked crypto exchange worldwide. With top-notch security and trading fees below 0.2%, Kraken is an excellent choice for crypto traders in Kenya.

Best Crypto Exchange Kenya FAQs

Which Kenyan crypto exchange has the lowest fees?

The Kenyan crypto exchange with the lowest fees is Kraken or Capital, depending on the specific crypto assets you're trading. In most cases, Kraken will be the cheapest option.

What’s the best crypto wallet in Kenya?

The best crypto wallet is the Ledger Nano S hardware wallet. It is the best way to keep your private keys secure and, more importantly, offline. All Ledger wallets are certified by the French National Agency of Security and are among the safest and most cost-efficient wallets out there, and they support 1,200+ crypto assets, coins, and tokens.

What’s the best altcoin exchange in Kenya?

The best altcoin exchange in Kenya is one of Kraken or Capital. All of them support a wide variety of cryptocurrencies and regularly add more of the altcoins Kenyan investors are looking for.

What is the safest crypto wallet in Kenya?

The Ledger Nano S is the safest wallet available today. All Ledger wallets far exceed industry standards for security: they use tamper-resistant Certified Secure Element (SE) with Common Criteria (CC) EAL5+ chips on their nanodevices, which means your private key stays on the secure chip. It also has a proprietary operating system called Blockchain Open Ledger Operating System (BOLOS) that's successfully undergone audits from the French National Agency of Security, many other government agencies, as well as regular audits from independent security organizations. 

What’s the safest crypto exchange in Kenya?

The safest cryptocurrency exchange in Kenya is Kraken. They strictly enforce bank-level security protocols, run on servers in secure locations around the world, and undergo frequent financial and security audits to ensure all of their users’ assets are completely safe. They also have some of the lowest fees of any platform in Kenya and are known for being a reputable, trustworthy exchange.

How Can I Sell Bitcoin In Kenya?

There are several different ways to sell Bitcoin in Kenya, though the easiest is to sell it directly from the crypto wallet or exchange that you’re holding it on. Remember to be cautious whenever you transfer coins between wallets, since blockchain transactions are irreversible.

What crypto exchange is best for beginners in Kenya?

The best crypto exchange for beginners in Kenya is Capital, followed by Kraken. Both are ideal for beginners because they verify accounts instantly, have easy-to-use trading platforms, and provide great customer support in case you need any help along the way.

Is cryptocurrency legal in Kenya?

Yes, cryptocurrency is legal in Kenya, and you can buy, sell and use crypto without breaking the law. However, cryptocurrency is not currently considered legal tender in Kenya, which means the Kenyan government and Kenyan businesses are not legally obligated to accept it as payment for goods and services.

What’s the best crypto app in Kenya?

The best crypto app in Kenya is Kraken. Its mobile app is very easy to use, has a nice, modern interface, and has very good ratings and reviews on both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

What is the best crypto exchange for day trading in Kenya?

The best crypto exchange for day trading in Kenya is Kraken, since it has low trading fees, tight spreads, and its prices update multiple times per second, giving day traders an upper hand over the rest of the market.

Can the Kenyan government track cryptocurrency?

Yes. Just like in places like China, Cyprus, Czech Republic and Germany, the Kenyan tax authorities can track cryptocurrency trades and transactions—and not only when your digital assets interact with real-world institutions like banks. Some exchanges in Kenya are required by law to provide the government with information about their users’ transactions, including purchase price, purchase date, sale value, and all associated KYC data. If your tax returns don’t match the data the government receives from these exchanges, you may receive a fine.