8 Best Crypto Exchanges In New Zealand

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 New Zealand 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 New Zealand dollar, and is compatible with the biggest financial institutions in New Zealand, you’ve come to the right place.

Here are my top picks for the best crypto exchanges New Zealand has to offer.

1. Capital – Best Overall

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.

2. Plus500

Plus500 is a leveraged trading platform headquartered in Israel. It's one of the largest investing platforms in terms of volume, with millions of active traders worldwide. Plus500 supports 20+ crypto assets, including a mix of the largest cryptos like Bitcoin and Ethereum and promising altcoins like Polygon, Solana, and Cardano.

Plus500 Markets aggregates crypto prices from tens of data sources to offer very competitive prices. They also offer up to 2x leverage on all crypto investments. Investors can also set up price alerts and two types of stop orders: Stop Loss and Trailing Stop, to mitigate the risk of losing assets.

Plus500 doesn't charge trading fees – in fact, the only fees they charge are Overnight Funding, which applies when holding a position after a certain time, and Currency Conversion fees, if you trade in a different currency denomination than that of your account.

Plus500 users can also access most financial instruments, including shares, stocks and ETFs, CFDs, and even FX. Their mobile app is available on Android (4.3/5 ration) and iOS (also 4.3/5 rating), and they have excellent reviews on Trustpilot, averaging a rating of 4.2/5.

Features

• Supports 20+ cryptocurrency pairs
• Access to global markets for shares, ETFs, stocks, CFDs, FX, and crypto
• Demo account
• Supports 2x leverage for crypto assets

Cost

• Trading Fees: Free 
• Overnight Funding: Depends on the asset (from 0.02% – 0.05% for BTC)
• Spread: Depends on the asset (0.3% for BTC)

3. CMC Markets

CMC Markets is a leveraged trading platform headquartered in the UK. It’s one of the largest investing platforms in terms of volume, with over 1 million active traders across all their markets. CMC Markets supports 18 crypto assets, including a mix of the largest cryptos like Bitcoin and Ethereum and some up-and-coming altcoins with potential like NEO, Cardano, and TRON.

CMC Markets aggregates crypto prices from 15+ exchanges and data sources to offer very competitive prices. They also offer another way to gain exposure to crypto: Crypto Indices. Crypto Indices are diversified crypto baskets – by purchasing a crypto basket, you gain access to the crypto sector as a whole.

In terms of pricing, CMC Markets is ahead of many exchanges – for starters, it doesn’t charge trading fees; you will only pay very small spreads (0.02% for purchases, 0.09% for selling). 

They also have a program called Alpha: if your monthly trading volume reaches the minimum, you will immediately gain access to additional features like a dedicated account manager, VIP service, and preferential pricing on crypto assets.

CMC Markets users can also access global markets, including commodities, shares, indices, CFDs, and FX – all in one place. Their mobile app is available on Android and iOS, and they have excellent reviews on Trustpilot, averaging a rating of 4.2/5.

Features

• Supports 18+ cryptocurrencies
• Access to diversified Crypto Baskets
• App available for Android (3.5/5 rating) and iOS (4.1/5 rating)
• Demo environment
• For Alpha users: Data analysis and In-depth market insights

Cost

• Trading Fees: Free 
• Spread: 0.07%

4. 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.

5. Swyftx

Swyftx was founded in 2018 by Angus Goldman and Alex Harper. Registered and regulated by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), Swyftx is both a crypto exchange and also a staking platform for certain cryptocurrencies.

Swyftx supports 16 cryptocurrencies, including Cardano (ADA), Solana (SOL), Cosmos (ATOM), and Polkadot (DOT). Interest rates users can earn depends on the crypto they’re staking, with annual rates ranging anywhere from 5.12% (on Bitcoin) to 101.24% on (Axie Infinity). One thing users appreciate about Swyftx’s staking platform is that there’s no lock-up period, which means you can stake and withdraw your assets at any time with no penalty.

Staking rewards are paid out daily directly into the Swyftx Trading Wallet in the same currency that you’ve staked.

Features

• Up to 23% annual interest on select cryptos
• Available on mobile and desktop
• Supports 16 cryptocurrencies
• Two-Factor Authentication
• TradingView charts
• Real-time data

Cost

• Trading Fees: 0.6% (high volume discounts apply)
• Spreads: 0.41%
• Staking Fees: Free
• Deposit Fees (Fiat): Free
• Withdrawal Fees (Fiat): Free ($100k AUD max.)
• Deposit Fees (Crypto): Free (network mining fees may apply)
• Withdrawal Fees (Crypto): Free (network mining fees may apply)

Best For

Investors looking to stake crypto assets.

6. CoinSpot

CoinSpot is an Australian cryptocurrency exchange that aims to make it simple for investors in Australia and New Zealand to buy and sell a variety of cryptocurrencies. CoinSpot was founded in 2013, and it supports over 360 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Luna (TERRA), and Solana (SOL).

CoinSpot is one of the largest and most well-known cryptocurrency trading platforms in the area, and it provides access to a diverse range of features for its clients, including a Multicurrency Wallet, Bundles of diversified crypto, and access to DeFi and NFT projects. They also have an Over-The-Counter (OTC) trading desk.

CoinSpot’s OTC trading desk is available for high net-worth individuals looking to make an order of over $145,000, or $100,000 USD. Some of the perks of using CoinSpot’s OTC include access to a professional broker, instant settlements, and locked-in prices. CoinSpot uses Two-Factor Authentication and is available on mobile for both iOS and Android.

Features

• Supports 360+ cryptocurrencies
• Multi-Currency Wallet
• CoinSpot Bundles
• OTC Trading platform
• Two-Factor Authentication
• ISO 27001 Security Certification
• Instant account verification for most users
• Mobile app available on iOS and Android

Cost

• Market Orders: 0.1%
• OTC: 0.1%
• Instant Buy/Sell: 1%
• Deposit Fees (PayID, POLi, Direct Deposits): Free 
• Withdrawal (AUD): Free
• Deposit Fees (Crypto): Free
• Withdrawal Fees (Crypto): Depends on the crypto (For Bitcoin 0.003 BTC)

Best For

High net-worth investors who want access to crypto bundles, instant trades, and OTC trades, all in one place.

7. Digital Surge

Brisbane-based Digital Surge supports over 250 cryptocurrencies, verifies accounts within hours, and provides extra security for users through cold storage and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).

Digital Surge's trading fees range from 0.5% to 1% based on trading volume, and fiat deposits start at $2 per deposit. It also supports dollar-cost averaging and stop and stop limit orders, which give users more flexibility when trading (market orders incur a 0.5% fee).

Digital Surge has a user-friendly desktop trading interface with a mobile app for both iOS and Android. Their customer support team is well-rated on Trustpilot, with support agents available 24/7 through live chat inside the app or on the Digital Surge website.

Overall, Digital Surge is a decent option for buying and selling crypto in Australia, though it's missing several of the key features offered by eToro and Capital, not the least of which is the ability to trade with leverage. For that and other reasons, we recommend Digital Surge only if your ID cannot be verified by eToro and Capital.

Features

• User-friendly trading interface
• Low trading fees (0.5% – 0.1%)
• 250+ crypto assets supported
• 24/7 customer support via live chat
• Quick account verification
• Price notifications

Cost

• Trading fees: 0.5% to 0.1% (depending on trading volume)
• Instant Buy/Sell Order fees: 0.5%
• Deposit fees (PayID): Free
• Deposit fees (POLi): From $2 to $3.30
• Bank withdrawals: Free
• Crypto withdrawals: Standard network gas fees

Best For

Investors whose ID cannot be verified by eToro and Capital.

8. Independent Reserve

Independent Reserve is one of the largest and most established cryptocurrency exchanges, with headquarters in Australia. As of 2022 it has over 200,000 active users, and it is registered with the Australian Digital Commerce Association (ADCA).

One reason Independent Reserve stands out from the rest is that it offers full insurance—100% of crypto assets are secured through its partnership with Lloyd’s of London. They also offer a very complete library of investing strategies, and you can even apply them automatically with its AutoTrader feature. For institutions, there’s a VIP Over-the-Counter (OTC) trading service.

Independent Reserve’s app is available on mobile for both iOS and Android devices, and it really makes depositing quick and easy. In terms of security, it uses a combination of Two Factor Authentication and a 97% cold storage policy to keep everything as secure as possible.

Trading commissions start at 0.6%, plus there’s a 0.41% spread. To be fair they do offer discounts on these fees, but they’re locked behind a tiered trading-volume system. They make up for it with no fee deposits and withdrawals of fiat currency and crypto (you only pay the network fee), but nowhere near enough to justify the high fees.

Features

• Supports 39 cryptocurrencies
• Completely insured by Lloyd’s of London
• Access to a library of strategies through AutoTrader
• 97% of assets secured in cold storage
• Free fiat deposits and withdrawals (AUD, USD, NZD, SGD)

Cost

• Exchange Trading Fees: 0.6% (high volume discounts apply)
• Spreads: 0.41%
• Deposit Fees (Fiat): Free
• Withdrawal Fees (Fiat): Free 
• Deposit Fees (Crypto): Free (network mining fees may apply)
• Withdrawal Fees (Crypto): Free (network mining fees may apply)

Best For

Investors looking for an insured exchange.

What To Look For In A Great Kiwi Crypto Exchange

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

• Supported coins: The best Kiwi 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

Choosing the best cryptocurrency exchange in New Zealand isn’t easy, given all the options out there and the different features each of them offers. As an avid crypto investor myself, I diligently keep up with the movements of the top exchanges in New Zealand, and have made my selections below based on years of research and personal experience.

Capital is the favorite among knowledgeable Kiwi crypto investors, both for its high level of security and for its ease of use. Capital's fees are also extremely low, so if you’re looking for a secure, cost-effective way to buy and sell crypto in New Zealand, I can’t recommend Capital highly enough.

Best Crypto Exchange New Zealand FAQs

Which Kiwi crypto exchange has the lowest fees?

The Kiwi crypto exchange with the lowest fees is Capital or Plus500, depending on the specific crypto assets you're trading. In most cases, Capital will be the cheapest option.

What’s the best crypto wallet in New Zealand?

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 New Zealand?

The best altcoin exchange in New Zealand is one of Capital, Plus500, or CMC Markets. All of them support a wide variety of cryptocurrencies and regularly add more of the altcoins Kiwi investors are looking for.

What is the safest crypto wallet in New Zealand?

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 New Zealand?

The safest cryptocurrency exchange in New Zealand is Capital. 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 New Zealand and are known for being a reputable, trustworthy exchange.

How Can I Sell Bitcoin In New Zealand?

There are several different ways to sell Bitcoin in New Zealand, 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 New Zealand?

The best crypto exchange for beginners in New Zealand is Capital, followed by Plus500. 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 New Zealand?

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

What’s the best crypto app in New Zealand?

The best crypto app in New Zealand is Capital. 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. If you live in a country like Nicaragua or New Caledonia instead, you’ll have to double-check to ensure you can get the Capital app in your local app store.

What is the best crypto exchange for day trading in New Zealand?

The best crypto exchange for day trading in New Zealand is Capital, 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 Kiwi government track cryptocurrency?

Yes. Just like in places such as the Netherlands, India, Namibia and Monaco, New Zealand's 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 New Zealand 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.