CEX comparison β where else you can buy crypto
In the previous lesson we covered NexoNexoA centralized exchange (CEX) for buying crypto with euros. Custodial β the exchange holds the keys.Read the lesson β. But it's not the only exchange out there. Here we'll compare the most popular exchanges that accept euros and work well for users in Lithuania and the wider EU.
A simple analogy
Exchanges are like stores. They all sell similar products, but each has its own prices, service, and rules. You pick the one that suits you best.
Main exchange comparison
| Exchange | Fees | SEPA | Card | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nexo | 0.5β1.5% | Free | 1.5β3.5% | Beginners |
| Kraken | 0.25β0.40% | Free | 3.75% | Experienced users, businesses |
| Binance | 0.10% | Free | 1.8% | Large amounts |
| Coinbase | 0.50β1.5% | Free | 3.99% | US residents |
| Crypto.com | 0.075β0.40% | Free | 2.99% | Card users |
| Revolut (app) | Min. fee or % β οΈ | Built-in | Built-in | Already have Revolut |
| Revolut X | 0% / 0.09% | Built-in | β | Cheap buying inside Revolut |
Each exchange in more detail
Nexo Nexo
Pros:
- Simple design β easy to understand
- 1 free crypto withdrawal per month
- Regulated in the EU
- Good mobile app
Cons:
- Fees higher than on professional exchanges
- Few trading tools
Fees:
| Operation | Cost |
|---|---|
| SEPASEPAA European banking system for cheap or free euro transfers between EU banks.Read the lesson β deposit | β¬0 |
| Purchase | ~0.5β1.5% |
| Withdrawal (1x/month) | 0 |
Best for: beginners who want simplicity.
Kraken Kraken
Pros:
- Low fees in Pro mode (0.25β0.40%)
- Operating since 2011 β a very old, trusted exchange
- Never been hacked
- Works well for business (UAB) accounts
Cons:
- Identity verification can take up to 3 days
- More complex than NexoNexoA centralized exchange (CEX) for buying crypto with euros. Custodial β the exchange holds the keys.Read the lesson β
Fees:
| Operation | Cost |
|---|---|
| SEPASEPAA European banking system for cheap or free euro transfers between EU banks.Read the lesson β deposit | β¬0 |
| Purchase (simple) | 0.9β1.5% |
| Purchase (Kraken Pro) | 0.25β0.40% |
| SOLSOLSolana's native token. Used to pay gas and as collateral.Read the lesson β withdrawal | ~0.01 SOLSOLSolana's native token. Used to pay gas and as collateral.Read the lesson β |
Important: use Kraken Pro!
Kraken has two modes. In the simple mode, fees run up to 1.5%. In Pro mode, they start at 0.25% (and drop further with trading volume). Always use Kraken Pro β it's the same site, just cheaper!
Best for: experienced users, large amounts, business (UAB) accounts.
Binance
Pros:
- Lowest fees in the world (0.10%)
- Widest selection of cryptocurrencies
- Very high liquidity (easy to buy and sell)
Cons:
- Complex design for beginners
- Rules and limits change from time to time
- Sometimes blocks withdrawals to DeFiDeFiDecentralized Finance β financial services without intermediaries, operating through smart contracts.Read the lesson β protocols
Fees:
Binance and Lithuania
Binance is available in Lithuania and accepts SEPASEPAA European banking system for cheap or free euro transfers between EU banks.Read the lesson β transfers. It's a good fit if you're buying large amounts (over β¬10,000) β its fees are the lowest.
Best for: large amounts, experienced users.
Coinbase
Pros:
- Publicly listed company (traded on a stock exchange)
- Very simple design
- Strong regulatory standing
Cons:
- High fees in the simple mode (up to 1.5%)
- More US-focused
Fees:
| Operation | Cost |
|---|---|
| SEPASEPAA European banking system for cheap or free euro transfers between EU banks.Read the lesson β deposit | β¬0 |
| Purchase (simple) | ~1.5% |
| Purchase (Advanced) | 0.05β0.60% |
Best for: US residents. For Europeans β only worthwhile with Advanced mode.
Crypto.com
Pros:
- Crypto card with cashback
- Good mobile app
- Supports many networks
Cons:
- Fees are average without discounts
- Complex tier system
Fees:
| Operation | Cost |
|---|---|
| SEPASEPAA European banking system for cheap or free euro transfers between EU banks.Read the lesson β deposit | β¬0 |
| Purchase (App) | 0.40% |
| Purchase (Exchange) | 0.075β0.40% |
Best for: anyone who wants a crypto card for everyday use.
Revolut / Revolut X
Who actually provides Revolut's crypto service
This matters, because two separate legal entities operate inside Revolut.
Crypto in the EEA is provided by Revolut Digital Assets (Europe) Ltd β a Cyprus company holding a CySEC-issued MiCAMiCAThe EU crypto-asset regulation (Markets in Crypto-Assets).Read the lesson β crypto-asset service provider (CASP) licence.
Banking is provided by a different entity with its own licence.
The practical consequence: the euros in your account are covered by deposit protection, while the crypto in the same app is not. That is not a Revolut quirk β it is the rule on every platform.
Revolut gives you two ways to buy crypto, and they differ in cost by more than tenfold: the app (simple, expensive) and Revolut X β a separate exchange for people who already know their way around (less convenient, far cheaper).
Pros:
- If you already bank with Revolut, no extra KYCKYCKnow Your Customer β the identity-verification process on exchanges. Requires a passport or ID.Read the lesson β is needed
- Crypto withdrawal to an external wallet is supported (BTC, ETH, USDCUSDCA USD stablecoin issued by Circle. Regulated, audited monthly. Our primary stablecoin and loan asset in the Kamino/Aave strategies.Read the lesson β, SOLSOLSolana's native token. Used to pay gas and as collateral.Read the lesson β, USDTUSDTTether USD stablecoin. An alternative to USDC. Liquidity on Solana has historically been smaller β most Solana DeFi liquidity is still in USDC.Read the lesson β and others)
- Revolut X β 400+ trading pairs and buying that costs a fraction of the app
- StakingStakingLocking up tokens to help secure a network, in exchange for rewards (Solana roughly 6-7% APY).Read the lesson β: SOLSOLSolana's native token. Used to pay gas and as collateral.Read the lesson β, ETH and 14 more tokens
- MiCAMiCAThe EU crypto-asset regulation (Markets in Crypto-Assets).Read the lesson β (CASP) licence β a regulated platform with 75+ million customers
Cons:
- Buying small amounts in the app is very expensive (see below)
- Withdrawal fees: β¬1 (SOLSOLSolana's native token. Used to pay gas and as collateral.Read the lesson β) or β¬3 (ETH, BTC) + network fee
- StakingStakingLocking up tokens to help secure a network, in exchange for rewards (Solana roughly 6-7% APY).Read the lesson β APYAPYAnnual Percentage Yield β the annual interest rate WITH compounding. Always higher than the equivalent APR.Read the lesson β is shown net of Revolut's cut β per the fee document, that cut reaches up to 50% of the reward earned
- Revolut X does not offer futures or margin trading (for a beginner, arguably a plus)
Fees:
| Operation | Cost |
|---|---|
| SEPASEPAA European banking system for cheap or free euro transfers between EU banks.Read the lesson β deposit | Built-in (β¬0) |
| Purchase in the app | The greater of two: a percentage or a minimum fee |
| Purchase via Revolut X | 0% maker / 0.09% taker |
| SOLSOLSolana's native token. Used to pay gas and as collateral.Read the lesson β withdrawal | β¬1 + network fee |
| ETH, BTC withdrawal | β¬3 + network fee |
Why buying from β¬1 is a trap
Technically Revolut lets you buy for a couple of euros. But because it charges the greater of the two β percentage or minimum fee β the minimum always wins on small purchases.
Example with a hypothetical β¬1.49 minimum: a β¬10 purchase costs β¬1.49. That is almost 15%, not one and a half percent. That same β¬1.49 on a β¬200 purchase is about 0.75%.
The lesson is not βdonβt buy smallβ but donβt buy small and often in the app. Either buy less frequently in larger amounts, or use Revolut X.
Always check current pricing with Revolut β these numbers change, and from 2026-08-10 tiered pricing is being removed for the Standard plan.
Best for: anyone who already has a Revolut account. For buying, prefer Revolut X over the app unless the amount is large or convenience beats cost.
If you do not have an account yet, you can open one here: Revolutad β note that Revolut operates through different entities by region, so the crypto features and pricing described above apply to the EEA.
What should you pick? Quick summary
| Your situation | Which exchange to pick |
|---|---|
| Beginner from Lithuania | Nexo |
| Experienced, large amounts | Binance |
| Business (UAB) | Kraken |
| US resident | Coinbase |
| Want a crypto card | Crypto.com |
| Already have Revolut + want DeFiDeFiDecentralized Finance β financial services without intermediaries, operating through smart contracts.Read the lesson β | Revolut / Revolut X |
Exchange hygiene β 5 skills you'll master
A centralized exchange holds your crypto on your behalf β so a few simple habits are what turn you into someone who manages risk, instead of worrying about it:
- Funds sit on the exchange β after buying, you move larger amounts to your own wallet (you'll do this in later lessons)
- Someone tries to log into your account β you enable 2FA2FATwo-factor authentication (password plus a code from an app). Use an app, not SMS.Read the lesson β with Google Authenticator (not SMS) β logging in without your phone becomes impossible
- One password leaks β you use a different password for every exchange, so one breach doesn't unlock everything
- A fake (phishing) site β you type the address by hand and check it before logging in β after a few times you'll spot a fake site in a second
Every risk has a fix. You don't fear it β you learn to manage it.
A multi-exchange strategy
Experienced users often use several exchanges:
- Nexo β for everyday purchases, simple use
- Binance β for large amounts, thanks to low fees
- Kraken β for a business (UAB) account
Once you have several exchanges, you're no longer dependent on just one β if one has issues or changes its rules, you simply switch to an alternative without losing momentum.
Next step
You've picked an exchange and bought SOLSOLSolana's native token. Used to pay gas and as collateral.Read the lesson β or ETH. Next step β creating a crypto wallet. If you bought SOLSOLSolana's native token. Used to pay gas and as collateral.Read the lesson β β the next lesson covers Jupiter WalletJupiter WalletThe main Solana wallet used in this course. Holds SOL, USDC and SPL tokens, with a built-in swap feature. MetaMask is used for the Ethereum side.Read the lesson β. If ETH β MetaMask.
Experienced users always keep a backup exchange. This exploration task takes about 15 minutes β nothing to buy, just facts to compare.
Only visit official exchange websites β type the address by hand, not through promotional links. This is an exploration task; there's nothing to buy.
This is learning, not investing β use only small amounts you treat as tuition.
You just compared two exchanges' real fees and built a plan B β most people stick to one exchange and never check whether they're overpaying.