Best Crypto Exchanges In NZ

Hedge With Crypto aims to publish information that is factual and accurate as of the date of publication. For specific information about a cryptocurrency exchange or trading platform please visit that provider’s website. This information is general in nature and is for education purposes only. Hedge With Crypto does not provide financial advice nor does it take into account your personal financial situation. We encourage you to seek financial advice from an independent financial advisor where appropriate and make your own enquiries.

These are the final picks for the best cryptocurrency exchanges in NZ:

1. Swyftx (best crypto exchange for NZ overall)
2. Binance (regulated exchange for trading altcoins)
3. ByBit (best crypto platform in NZ for futures trading)
4. Easy Crypto (best non-custodial crypto exchange)
5. Uphold (secure regulated exchange in New Zealand) 
6. OKX (best no-KYC crypto exchange for NZ)
7. Coinbase (good option for debit card purchases)
8. Independent Reserve (best for NZD deposits)

Best NZ Crypto Exchanges Compared

EXCHANGE	CRYPTO ASSETS	TRADING FEES	RATING	PROMOTION	WEBSITE	REVIEW
Swyftx	422	0.6%	Rating We provide an overall weighted average rating out of 5 stars. Our ratings are based on objective criteria like the ease of use, fees, deposit methods, customer support and availability. Our reviews are not influenced by 3rd parties. Click here for further information about our rating methodology and a full list of categories we review against. 4.9 / 5	$20 Bitcoin for creating a verified account	Visit Swyftx	Swyftx Review
Binance	385	0.1% (spot) and 0.02% / 0.04% (Futures)	Rating We provide an overall weighted average rating out of 5 stars. Our ratings are based on objective criteria like the ease of use, fees, deposit methods, customer support and availability. Our reviews are not influenced by 3rd parties. Click here for further information about our rating methodology and a full list of categories we review against. 4.8 / 5	Up to $100 welcome bonus	Visit Binance	Binance Review
ByBit	331 (608 trading pairs)	0% (spot), 0.06% / 0.01% (futures)	Rating We provide an overall weighted average rating out of 5 stars. Our ratings are based on objective criteria like the ease of use, fees, deposit methods, customer support and availability. Our reviews are not influenced by 3rd parties. Click here for further information about our rating methodology and a full list of categories we review against. 4.8 / 5	0% trading fees for 30 days (spot only)	Visit ByBit	ByBit Review
Easy Crypto	160+	0.5 – 1.35% spread	Rating We provide an overall weighted average rating out of 5 stars. Our ratings are based on objective criteria like the ease of use, fees, deposit methods, customer support and availability. Our reviews are not influenced by 3rd parties. Click here for further information about our rating methodology and a full list of categories we review against. 3.8 / 5	None available at this time	Visit Easy Crypt…	Easy Crypto Revi…
Uphold	237	1.5% (spread)	Rating We provide an overall weighted average rating out of 5 stars. Our ratings are based on objective criteria like the ease of use, fees, deposit methods, customer support and availability. Our reviews are not influenced by 3rd parties. Click here for further information about our rating methodology and a full list of categories we review against. 4.5 / 5	None available at this time	Visit Uphold	Uphold Review
OKX	349	0.08% (maker) / 0.10% (taker)	Rating We provide an overall weighted average rating out of 5 stars. Our ratings are based on objective criteria like the ease of use, fees, deposit methods, customer support and availability. Our reviews are not influenced by 3rd parties. Click here for further information about our rating methodology and a full list of categories we review against. 4.4 / 5	None available at this time	Visit OKX	OKX Review
Coinbase NZ	250+	0.5% + 3.99%	Rating We provide an overall weighted average rating out of 5 stars. Our ratings are based on objective criteria like the ease of use, fees, deposit methods, customer support and availability. Our reviews are not influenced by 3rd parties. Click here for further information about our rating methodology and a full list of categories we review against. 4.3 / 5	None available at this time	Visit Coinbase N…	Coinbase NZ Revi…
Independent Reserve	BTC, ETH, XRP, USDT, ADA and 25 more	0.5% maximum, 0.02% minimum	Rating We provide an overall weighted average rating out of 5 stars. Our ratings are based on objective criteria like the ease of use, fees, deposit methods, customer support and availability. Our reviews are not influenced by 3rd parties. Click here for further information about our rating methodology and a full list of categories we review against. 4.2 / 5	None available at this time	Visit Independen…	Independent Rese…

Top Cryptocurrency Exchanges NZ: Reviewed

1. Swyftx

Swyftx is a popular cryptocurrency exchange in NZ with over 600,000 registered users and growing. The platform provides a safe and reliable place for individuals in New Zealand to buy, sell and swap more than 320 digital currencies. The desktop website and mobile app have been modernized for use by crypto investors.

As a welcome bonus, Swyftx has a $20 Bitcoin referral bonus for those who create an account and complete the account verification process. The promotion is available for users who sign-up using our link.

New Zealand requires crypto exchanges to register with the local authorities that deal with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF). As such, Swyftx adheres to all requirements, including mandatory Know-Your-Customer (KYC) verification for all users.

The onboarding process is simple and is undoubtedly one of the best ways to buy Bitcoin in NZ or other cryptocurrencies using NZD. There are a wide variety of methods to transfer funds to an exchange account. Customers can rapidly deposit up to $50,000 worth of NZ using a bank transfer, OSKO, POLi payment, or PayID through a bank account. There are zero fees to deposit and withdraw NZD into a bank account.

Swyftx is our best-rated option to trade digital assets due to its variety of crypto features that make the overall buying and selling process straightforward. Moreover, there are rapid deposits/withdrawals, portfolio tracking, recurring orders, low transaction fees, and price alert features.

There are even tax reporting tools to simplify crypto tax requirements in NZ and dollar-cost averaging tools to build a portfolio automatically.

In our opinion, the trading experience is modern, fresh, and fully customizable and it can be tailored to suit each investor to monitor their portfolio and place traders. There is also the ability to toggle dark mode on the desktop and mobile applications, plus a demo account to trade digital currencies risk-free.

As for the trading fees, Swyftx has a fee structure for buying and selling crypto. The charge is a flat 0.6% per transaction in addition to a spread. This is where Swyftx is superior to other exchanges on our list. The average spread is indicated by Swyftx to be 1.7%, compared to an average spread of 4% on our list.

Read our full Swyftx review for details.

2. Binance

Binance is one of the most widely used and top altcoin platforms due to its huge selection of assets and range of features. Binance, a registered crypto exchange in NZ, has obtained approval from the Ministry of Business, Innovation to operate as a Money Services Business (MSB) within the region.

Binance can operate in New Zealand as a licensed financial provider for local crypto customers to buy, trade, and sell digital currencies using New Zealand Dollars. The available payment options for NZ residents include credit/debit cards, Apple/Google Pay, cash balances, or through a third party like Simplex. Additionally, you can buy crypto with NZD from other users on Binance's Peer-to-Peer (P2P) marketplace.

A pro of buying crypto with Binance is the wide range of financial services that you can use after purchase. Binance Earn allows users to securely store their assets on the exchange to earn passive income. Yields can be earned through staking or mining pools and saving accounts to earn interest on crypto or liquidity mining. For example, at the time of writing, New Zealanders can deposit or purchase crypto directly on the exchange and earn up to 3.69% APY on Bitcoin, 4.42% APY on Ethereum, and 6.6% APY on Solana.

To buy and sell crypto on the spot market, the cost is 0.1%, which is one of the cheapest rates compared to other exchanges. The trading fee can be further reduced by 25% when paying fees using the BNB token or through increased trading volume over 30 days. Moreover, the exchange has removed fees on some BTC trading pairs. The zero-fee crypto platform is ideal for Bitcoin investors and traders within NZ.

While the selection of NZD deposit options is quite limited in our opinion, the wide range of coins available to purchase and low fees make Binance one of the best cryptocurrency exchanges in NZ. Moreover, the Binance App is second to none regarding advanced trading, monitoring a crypto portfolio, and placing trades.

Read our full Binance review and how to claim the Binance referral.

3. ByBit

ByBit makes this list as one of the best crypto platforms for its leveraged markets. The platform is purpose-designed to cater for people who want to buy crypto on the spot market and speculate on prices with up to 125x leverage. In our opinion, it is undoubtedly one of the best margin platforms for those looking for a powerful all-in-one trading platform.

Unlike other trading platforms on our list, no authoritative body regulates Bybit. Therefore, although the exchange is popular and widely considered highly secure, New Zealand-based traders will have no recourse if their funds are lost or the company goes under.

Although Bybit previously let its users trade crypto without completing KYC verification, it has now become a requirement for anyone wishing to buy crypto with NZD or withdraw funds from the platform. Therefore, if you're looking for a crypto exchange without KYC, you'll need to look for another option, like OKX.

Importantly, Bybit does not support direct fiat deposits or withdrawals; you can purchase cryptocurrency with NZD using a bank card. Additionally, the exchange supports bank transfers, Wise, Revolut, and ZEN through its in-built Peer-to-Peer marketplace.

One of the best pros of Bybit is its range of tradable markets, which include spot, margin, leveraged tokens, derivatives, options, copy-trading, and a P2P platform.

It offers advanced trading tools, including TradingView charts with hundreds of built-in indicators and drawing tools. Unlike other crypto exchanges, users on Bybit can take profit/loss orders directly by right-clicking the charts, which is a key feature for traders who value simplicity.

On top of its trading interface, Bybit offers a wide selection of additional trading features designed to make your life easier, including crypto copy trading, staking opportunities, pre-built trading bots, and MetaTrader 4 support. As such, Bybit is a viable choice for any trader looking for a complete suite of tools to improve their workflow.

Regarding fees, Bybit has low transaction costs, starting at 0.06% (maker) and 0.01% (taker) on the futures markets. The fee for buying crypto on the spot market is 0.1%, which is cheaper than Swyftx. However, the con with Bybit is the inability to fund an account directly with NZD. A third-party processor must be used, which will carry additional fees. Moreover, users cannot cash out to a bank in NZ.

Read our full review on Bybit and how to get the Bybit referral bonus.

4. Easy Crypto

Based in Auckland, Easy Crypto is one of the few crypto exchanges headquartered in New Zealand. The platform provides a stellar online service for Kiwis to buy and sell cryptocurrency. As the platform has been designed for beginners in New Zealand to invest in cryptocurrencies and convert NZD to Bitcoin or altcoins, the exchange boasts many NZD payment methods, making it a great choice for residents of the country.

Being based in New Zealand, Easy Crypto is listed as a registered financial services provider within the region. However, as cryptocurrency remains largely unregulated in New Zealand, Easy Crypto does not provide consumer protection.

A key pro of Easy Crypto is the support for local deposit methods, enabling users to fund an account directly with New Zealand dollars. While other exchanges only support NZD deposits through a New Zealand bank, Easy Crypto allows Account2Account, POLi Pay, and bank transfers. These methods of funding an account with NZD can be performed through supported banks such as ANZ, ASB, BNZ, KiwiBank, and Westpac.

Easy Crypto is one of the safest crypto exchanges in New Zealand due to the non-custodial nature of the platform. This means that the website does not store any customer assets. For example, when buying Ethereum on the exchange, the ETH is sent directly to a nominated software or hardware wallet, which is advantageous for security reasons as it eliminates the potential for the funds to be lost in an exchange hack.

However, a con is that Easy Crypto offers limited products and services. For instance, there is no staking, lending and borrowing, advanced trading, or liquidity farming. As a result, Easy Crypto is well-equipped for those looking to invest in a select range of assets without the need for advanced trading tools.

Unfortunately, Easy Crypto charges higher fees compared to other exchanges on our list. The platform has a significant spread, placing the BTC price at around $30,996 compared to Binance at $30,597 at the time of writing. Additionally, the platform charges a trading fee of 0.79% and a forex fee of 0.4%, bringing the combined fee to around 1.19%.

Read our full Easy Crypto review for more information.

5. OKX

OKX is a market-leading exchange that offers some of the industry's lowest fees and a similar amount of trading pairs to Binance and Bybit for both spot and derivatives trading. Additionally, OKX doesn't outright require Know-Your-Customer (KYC) verification, making it an excellent choice for active traders who want to protect their privacy while still having access to a wide range of features and low trading fees.

OKX is licensed and based in the Seychelles and it has licenses in Hong Kong and the Bahamas. However, an authoritative body like the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) does not officially regulate the exchange. While New Zealand doesn't have any cryptocurrency regulation requirements, it means that investors in the country lack protection if the platform becomes insolvent.

Unfortunately, OKX does not directly support NZD or fiat currency deposits/withdrawals. However, those without crypto holdings can still use the crypto trading platform. OKX lets users buy crypto with NZD through P2P Express using Zen or Skill as well as bank transfer and card through its third-party partners MoonPay and Coinify.

One of the main pros of OKX is its extensive range of features. The exchange offers many earning/staking tools, including Simple Earn and advanced structured products like Dual Investments and Shark Fin. Furthermore, OKX offers copy trading, further adding to the platform's functionality as a passive investment platform.

The platform has its propriety interface and one provided by TradingView, which ensures you'll always have access to ample indicators and tools.

Spot trading on OKX's 337 supported assets starts at 0.08% (maker) and 0.1% (taker), making the platform even more cost-effective than Binance or Bybit. However, derivatives fees on OKX are slightly higher at 0.02% and 0.05%

All in all, OKX is one of the best trading platforms in New Zealand. OKX does not require KYC and offers sound trading fees, a wide range of payment methods, and several payment methods for NZD.

Read our full OKX review.

6. Uphold

Although Uphold doesn't offer as many cryptocurrencies as other platforms we've looked at, the exchange is one of the few companies regulated by leading authoritative bodies, making it a great place for investors and traders who wish to protect their assets and personal data. Additionally, the exchange features a relatively straightforward interface.

One of the key pros of Uphold is its regulation. The exchange is based in New York and is a FinCN-registered Money Services Business (MSB) within the US. Additionally, Uphold is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, making it one of the most compliment trading platforms in the world.

Although Uphold supports NZD, you must transfer funds from a crypto wallet or USD, GBP, or EUR bank account or credit/debit card and swap those currencies for NZD for 0.95%. Unfortunately, users have reported that the exchange doesn't support withdrawals to a New Zealand bank account or crypto wallet.

An area where we think Uphold excels is its simplicity. Instead of offering a complex order-book-based interface with a huge array of analysis tools, the exchange features a basic line graph and statistics like volume and market cap. Purchases are made using a simple interface where you select the source of funds, desired asset, and whether you want to create a repeat transaction, making it accessible to users.

On top of its simple trading interface, Uphold offers a user-friendly staking program that enables you to earn up to 16% APY on 32 of the platform's 250+ assets (at the time of writing), including Polkadot, Solana, Cosmos, and Songbird. Rewards are paid every Thursday, and with an instant preparation period and a 3-day unstaking period, the service is flexible.

Uphold utilizes a spread-based fee structure of around 1.5% on assets in Europe, the UK, and the US. However, fees are higher in the rest of the world, including New Zealand, at 1.8%, making the exchange prohibitively expensive compared to others. Furthermore, low liquidity pairs can incur even steeper charges, making Uphold one of the most costly platforms on our list.

Overall, Uphold is one of the best crypto exchanges in New Zealand for users looking for a simple way to buy, sell, and stake cryptocurrency. However, the lack of NZD payment options, high fees, and a comparatively lower range of assets significantly hinder the platform's overall usability.

Read our full Uphold review.

7. Coinbase

Coinbase is a US crypto exchange highly regarded globally for being suited to beginners. Furthermore, the platform is highly secure and prides itself on its compliance, being regulated by the UK's FCA, providing peace of mind for investors. As such, the exchange is best suited to individuals looking for a simple and secure way to begin buying and selling crypto assets.

For residents in New Zealand, the exchange is available to buy, trade, and sell cryptocurrency using a bank account transfer, credit or debit card. Coinbase also offers a secure wallet to store your newly purchased cryptocurrencies, so you can buy and sell popular digital currencies and keep track of them all in one place.

Coinbase makes this list of the best crypto exchanges for its simplicity which lets users get started quickly with digital coins such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. The sign-up, verification, and link to the payment process take only a few minutes to complete. Customers can then use a highly intuitive and elegant user interface on the online website. Moreover, Coinbase offers one of the best apps for crypto on Android and iOS devices.

Coinbase supports 106 digital coins on its platform to buy, trade, and sell. However, 245 unique coins can be traded on the more advanced Coinbase exchange, turning it into an all-round trading platform.

The Coinbase feature we liked was the learning section which educates users on cryptocurrencies, such as BAND, MKR, COMP, XLM, ALGO, XTZ, DAI, and others. Customers can complete a short quiz to earn free crypto. Coinbase is also one of the safest cryptocurrency exchanges, with no reported hacks or compromises of the security systems and wallets resulting in any loss of funds due to criminal activity.

A major con of Coinbase is the fees. While a variable spread fee is charged for users on the basic platform, traders on the Coinbase exchange will have to pay 60bps for taker orders and 40bps for maker transactions, which is fairly expensive compared to good alternatives to Coinbase such as Binance and Bybit where spot fees start at 0.1%.

Overall, Coinbase is a well-respected crypto exchange in New Zealand. While the platform's fees are on the high side, the ability to choose between a simple interface and an advanced trading platform makes Coinbase one of the most versatile exchanges currently available.

Read our full Coinbase review.

8. Independent Reserve

Independent Reserve earned its place on our list of the best crypto exchanges in New Zealand due to its regional popularity, competitive fees, and support for traditional fiat currencies. With the platform being regulated by Australia's AUSTRAC, Independent Reserve is a strong choice for those looking to buy and sell major cryptocurrencies on a regulated platform.

Users can fund an account directly with New Zealand Dollars (NZD) with SWIFT. Moreover, the exchange allows buying and selling 28 assets in total, including the major cryptocurrencies and popular DeFi tokens. The range of cryptos offered by Independent Reserve pales compared to platforms like OKX or Binance, rendering it less suitable for altcoin trading.

Unfortunately, Independent Reserve is quite a basic exchange with limited features. Although you can buy and sell crypto through the platform, there are no advanced charting capabilities or extra features like staking or trading bots.

Since the exchange's launch in 2013, Independent Reserve has gained the trust of over 200,000 individuals and 8,000 SMSF accounts to obtain cryptocurrencies. The platform is equipped for high net-worth individuals and institutions that can receive crypto fees as low as 0.05% per trade. However, for most New Zealand investors, the fees start at 0.5%.

Independent Reserve has an immaculate record for safety and has never been hacked or compromised. Customer funds are stored in offline wallets to minimize the risk of theft, and accounts have several security measures available, including Two-Factor Authentication to prevent fraudulent access. Independent Reserve also offers an insurance fund for premium members not provided by other exchanges in New Zealand.

Independent Reserve is one of the best NZ exchanges for high-net-worth investors who can access lower fees through the platform's volume-based discounts. That said, the lackluster range of assets and lack of support for leveraged trading means the exchange is better suited to investors than traders.

Read our full Independent Reserve review.

What To Look For In A Crypto Exchange

Everyone has different requirements and preferences. As such, several factors dictate whether a crypto exchange is suitable for one investor but a poor choice for another. These are the important considerations to take on board and that we used in our methodology to pick the best NZ exchanges for crypto.

• Supported countries. Ideally, find a crypto exchange that supports accounts from NZ residents.
• Supported deposit methods. Although not a requirement, it is a good idea for beginner investors to look for an exchange that supports NZD deposits. Converting fiat to crypto and buying another crypto asset can be convoluted and inefficient for the inexperienced. In addition, platforms supporting basic deposit methods like bank transfers will usually be more cost-effective than those solely supporting debit/credit card deposits.
• Supported cryptocurrencies. Investors should ensure the exchange lists the asset they wish to buy.
• Fees. Most exchanges have various fees to consider, such as transactions, deposits, and withdrawals. Some international platforms will have conversion fees that can also impact profit margins.
• Customer support. It's worth assessing websites like TrustPilot to ensure the exchange has solid customer support reviews. Additionally, features such as live 24/7 chat are rare but worth looking out for.
• User interface. Advanced investors may not be concerned about ease of use, but the navigation experience is a big factor for those just starting out.
• Security. Look for features such as IP safe/block listing, 2FA, cold wallet storage of assets, and up-to-date encryption. It's also worth checking if the exchange has experienced a hack in the past and, if so, what improvements they've made since.

Where To Store Crypto In NZ

The best way to store cryptocurrency assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin is to use a reputable cryptocurrency wallet kept under the investor's possession. Some of the most popular cryptocurrency wallets are the Zengo Wallet, Ledger Nano X, TREZOR Model T, and CoolWallet Pro.

Storing cryptocurrency using a New Zealand Bitcoin or cryptocurrency exchange is risky for several reasons. The most obvious vulnerability is the risk associated with online scams and hackers. As the security of the asset is left to the exchange, the investor has no control over the security of their investment.

For example, a digital hardware wallet provides an airlock between internet-connected devices and the asset. The private keys give access rights to the cryptocurrency (send, transfer, and receive) kept in the wallet. Even if the hardware wallet is damaged, lost, or stolen, funds can be recovered using several backup options.

Frequently Asked Questions