Best Altcoin Trading Platforms In 2024 – Compare Top Altcoin Platforms in the USA

The cryptocurrency space has expanded far beyond Bitcoin (BTC), with thousands of altcoins flooding the market. Altcoin trading platforms allow you to trade cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin, such as Ethereum (ETH), Dogecoin (DOGE), Litecoin (LTC), and others. Apart from giving you an avenue to buy, sell, and trade altcoins, some altcoin trading platforms also allow you to stake and lend your assets and offer custody services. However, selecting a platform to trade altcoins can be a crucial objective.

This guide will take a closer look at the best altcoin trading platforms in 2024 and help you find the one ideal for you. We will compare the platforms, understand their advantages and disadvantages, and the services they offer. We will also discuss altcoins and their risks, advantages, and disadvantages. Lastly, we will examine how to open an account and start trading.

Key Points

• Currently, there are thousands of altcoins in the market. 
• Different altcoins are designed for different use cases.  
• The term “altcoin” is used for all other cryptocurrencies apart from Bitcoin and, for some people, Ethereum. 
• Altcoins come in many forms, such as meme coins, stablecoins, security tokens, privacy coins, and DeFi tokens.

What Is An Altcoin?

The term “altcoin” is used to describe all cryptocurrencies that aren’t Bitcoin. Some crypto community members refer to all other cryptocurrencies besides Bitcoin and Ethereum as altcoins. This is because most other cryptocurrencies are forked from one of Bitcoin and Ethereum. Some altcoins use different types of consensus mechanisms to validate transactions and create new blocks. Meanwhile, others distinguish themselves from others by adding new capabilities and purposes.

Most altcoins are used with their specific blockchains only. For example, Ether is used to pay transaction fees on Ethereum. Other altcoins, such as Bitcoin Cash, have been forked from Bitcoin to act as a competing mode of payment. Other altcoins are used as a way to raise funds for specific projects. For example, Bananacoin was created through a fork of Ethereum in 2017 to raise funds for a banana plantation in Laos that grew organic bananas.

Apart from Bitcoin, all other tokens can be described as altcoins. Since the creation of Bitcoin, thousands of altcoins have been created. As of today, there are 10,738 altcoins in existence.

Best Altcoin Trading Platforms for 2024

The list below outlines what our analysts and most crypto traders consider the top-rated altcoin trading platforms in 2o24.

• eToro –  Overall Best Altcoin Trading Platform 2024
• Coinsbase – Best Altcoin Trading Platform for Day Traders
• Kraken – Top Altcoin Trading Platform Supporting over 400 Coins
• Binance – Altcoin Trading Platform with a Diverse Range of Advanced Trading Tools

Investments are subject to market risk, including the possible loss of principal. Virtual currencies are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk.

We will provide you with a detailed review of the top-rated Altcoin trading platforms for US users further below in this guide. Before that, though, we need to discuss the types of altcoins.

Types Of Altcoins

Several types of altcoins have various uses and fall under different categories depending on their uses. First, let’s look at the type of altcoins before diving any deeper. 

• Stablecoins – Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies with value pegged to another asset, generally fiat currency like the US Dollar. This ensures stablecoins endure significantly lesser volatility than other cryptocurrencies. 
• Meme coins – Meme coins are cryptocurrencies inspired by the original meme token, Dogecoin, which garnered staggering success, becoming a hugely popular token and spawning a wave of other meme coins such as Shiba Inu. 
• DeFi tokens – DeFi tokens have specific use cases within decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols. 
• Security tokens – Security tokens are tokenized assets offered on the stock market. 
• Privacy coins – Like the name suggests, privacy coins use advanced technologies to mask transactions, giving users greater anonymity. 

Now, let’s look at each type of altcoin in more detail. 

Stablecoins

The cryptocurrency space is notorious for its extreme levels of volatility. This is where stablecoins come into the picture. Stablecoins reduce volatility by pegging their value to a basket of goods such as fiat currencies, precious metals, or other cryptocurrencies. Most prominent stablecoins have value pegged to the US Dollar, ensuring robust stability.

Notable stablecoins in the market include USDT, USDC, and DAI. In 2021, Visa announced it would begin settling some transactions using USDC and the Ethereum blockchain. It also added that it could expand its stablecoin settlement capacity over the next couple of years.

Meme Coins

As their name suggests, meme coins are joke tokens, often described as a humorous take on other cryptocurrencies. They typically gain popularity quickly, thanks to influencers and investors looking for short-term gains. Dogecoin can be described as the first meme coin. The token gained staggering popularity and is now ranked as one of the most popular altcoins in the crypto space. Other prominent meme coins include Shiba Inu.

DeFi Tokens 

As mentioned earlier, DeFi tokens are exclusively in the decentralized finance ecosystem and have very specific use cases.

Security Tokens

Security tokens are tokenized assets that are offered on the stock market. Tokenization refers to the transfer of value from an asset to a token. The security token is then made available to investors. Additionally, nearly any asset can be tokenized, such as papers, real estate, and even stocks. An asset must be secure and be able to be held to be tokenized.

The tokens would be worthless if this is not done since they would not represent any real-world asset. Security tokens fall under the regulatory authority of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission since they are designed to act as securities.

Privacy Tokens

Privacy coins use advanced technologies to mask transactions, giving their users a greater level of anonymity.

Payment Tokens

Payment tokens are designed to be used as an alternative to traditional currencies. These tokens allow holders to exchange value. The best example of a payment token is Bitcoin.

Governance Token

Governance tokens allow token holders to exercise certain rights on a blockchain network. These rights include voting on proposals and network changes and participating in discussions and decisions of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). Governance tokens are native to a particular blockchain, so some view them as utility tokens.

Utility Token

Utility tokens are tokens that provide a service or utility within a network. These tokens can be used to pay network fees, purchase services, and redeem rewards. Utility tokens can be purchased on exchanges and trading platforms. While these tokens are primarily used to keep a blockchain network functioning, they can also be held by token holders as investments.

Best Altcoin Trading Platforms Reviewed

This section of our guide on the top altcoin trading platforms will look at four trading platforms and how they stack up against one another.

1. eToro –  Overall Best Altcoin Trading Platform 2024

eToro tops our list of the best altcoin trading platforms for 2024. Overall, it is the top altcoin exchanges for beginners and experienced traders, regardless of their trading goals. As of writing, eToro supports over 80 cryptocurrencies, with new ones set to be added in the near future. Prominent altcoins supported by eToro include Ethereum (ETH), Dash, Litecoin (LTC), Ethereum Classic, IOTA, TRON, Solana (SOL), Stellar Lumens (XLM), Tezos, Chainlink (LINK), Uniswap (UNI), Dogecoin (DOGE), Mana, and several others.

The eToro platform was established in 2007 by brothers Ronen Assia and Yoni Assia, along with a third founder, David Ring. In 2013, eToro added cryptocurrencies to its offerings, starting with Bitcoin. In 2017, this was expanded to include other assets such as Litecoin, XRP, and others.

eToro is an extremely user-friendly platform, offering a simple web-based platform and a highly intuitive mobile app. The trading platform provides support for multiple payment methods. These include debit cards, credit cards, and bank wire transfers. Additionally, traders on the platform can buy, sell, and convert their cryptocurrencies using the “Trading” tab. Besides cryptocurrencies, tradeable assets on eToro include forex, shares, indices, ETFs, and commodities.

The eToro platform also offers some standout features to users. These include Copy Trading, Smart Portfolios, and Social Trading. eToro is a highly regulated and secure platform, licensed and regulated by the FCA, SEC, ASIC, and CySEC.

Copy Trading

eToro’s Copy Trading tool allows traders to mirror the trades and positions of successful traders on the platform. The feature enables investors to earn a passive income from successful trades of chosen traders. To use the Copy Trading feature, select the trader you wish to copy and enter your desired stake.

After this, the eToro platform will handle the rest. Depending on your trading goals, you can copy thousands of verified traders on the platform. Some traders focus on individual assets like stocks and crypto, while others take a diverse approach.

The selection process is relatively straightforward and made simpler by the filters offered by the platform. This allows traders to choose a trader based on their profits and risk rating.

Smart Portfolios

Smart Portfolios give traders an alternate route to invest in the stock market. Each Smart Portfolio from eToro contains a selection of assets selected by the eToro team. The portfolio tracks a specific market. For example, the ChinaTech portfolio allows investors to access technology shares in China. This includes companies like JD.com, Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu.

Social Trading

eToro can also be described as a social trading platform similar to LinkedIn. This means traders on the platform can interact with one another, discuss markets, leave comments about a particular asset, or even “like” the activities of other traders.

Investments are subject to market risk, including the possible loss of principal. Virtual currencies are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk.

2. Coinsbase – Best Altcoin Trading Platform for Day Traders

Coinbase is the next altcoin trading platform on our list of best altcoin trading providers and is widely considered to be the best trading platform in the US. The platform is an excellent choice to trade altcoins if you want assets with no regulatory concerns. Coinbase is under the purview of regulatory bodies based in the US, meaning these agencies thoroughly scrutinize each asset the platform offers.

Users on Coinbase can buy, sell, and store crypto, and recently, even NFTs. The platform has a presence in over 100 countries and a user base of over 100 million users. It offers users over 10,000 assets, including major altcoins such as Ethereum, Litecoin, Stellar Lumens, Dogecoin, Solana, and several others. The interface is highly intuitive and user-friendly, making it an excellent option for beginners and casual traders.

Coinbase has continuously evolved over the years to offer users the best trading experience. In 2022, the platform announced the shuttering of Coinbase Pro, replacing it with Coinbase Advanced Trade, giving traders a complete suite of advanced crypto investment services.

Popular Altcoins On Coinbase

Coinbase offers users a growing list of altcoins available for trading on the go. Some of the popular altcoins available on this trading platform include 

• Tether (USDT)
• Cardano (ADA)
• Uniswap (UNI)
• Ethereum (ETH)
• Dogecoin (DOGE)
• Solana (SOL)
• Polygon (MATIC)
• Stellar Lumens (XLM)
• Litecoin (LTC)
• Shiba Inu (SHIB)
• USD Coin (USDC)

Fees And Security

Fees on Coinbase are slightly complicated since the fee schedule is spread across the platform’s help section. Traders pay less as a maker than they would as a taker. Makers pay anywhere between 0.00% to 0.40% of their transaction fees. However, takers pay a substantially higher percentage, ranging from 0.05% to 0.40%.

Regarding security, Coinbase uses several methods to secure your account. One such feature is a mandatory 2-factor authentication (2FA) system. However, despite such measures, you must always be on your guard against attempts to access and compromise your account. Coinbase uses cold storage and multiparty computation to secure customer assets. Most customer assets are stored offline in secure locations, while the assets stored online are protected using multiparty computation.

Opening an account on Coinbase is relatively straightforward and can be compared to opening a regular bank account. You must submit personal details such as your name, email address, and proof of residence. You must also submit documentation to meet KYC regulations, such as a government-issued ID card.

3. Kraken – Top Altcoin Trading Platform Supporting over 400 Coins

Next on our list of best altcoin trading platforms is Kraken, which was one of the first altcoin trading platforms in the United States. It was founded in 2011 in San Francisco, and as of 2022, it had 9 million users and is present in 176 countries. The platform allows users to invest in several altcoins, such as Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Solana, and several others.

Besides letting users buy and sell altcoins at spot rates, Kraken offers users margin accounts and futures trading. It has established offices all around the world, supporting both individual and institutional investors. Beginners can trade on the primary Kraken platform, while experts can trade on Kraken Pro, which offers advanced margin and futures features.

Altcoins Supported On Kraken

Kraken supports over 220 cryptocurrencies, including the following: 

• Ethereum (ETH)
• Dogecoin (DOGE)
• Litecoin (LTC)
• Polkadot (DOT)
• Solana (SOL)
• Uniswap (UNI)
• Sushi (SUSHI)
• Polygon (MATIC)
• Cardano (ADA)
• Stellar Lumens (XLM)

Kraken also supports several popular stablecoins, such as Tether (USDT), USD Coin (USDC), and Dai (DAI). The platform also supports eight fiat currencies, including the USD, EUR, and GBP.

Trading Experience

Depending on your trading experience, Kraken offers two platforms, Kraken and Kraken Pro.

Kraken Platform

The Kraken trading platform is an excellent choice for beginners. Traders can quickly verify their accounts and purchase Bitcoin or other altcoins using their linked bank account. The platform also allows traders to sell or convert currencies directly in their accounts. After creating and verifying your account, you can create an order by filling out a straightforward form.

This allows traders to purchase altcoins using their bank account balance, meaning they don’t have to fund their trading account before buying. Kraken also offers 2FA (two-factor authentication) to secure your account and prevent any unauthorized access or risk to funds.

Kraken Pro

The Kraken Pro platform is an advanced trading platform accessed through a web browser or smartphone. While the interface may look intimidating, getting the hang of it is worth it for traders of all levels. Kraken Pro offers far more detailed asset information, including active charts, and allows traders to view open orders.

Any user with a Kraken account can access Kraken Pro and avail of its advanced interface and low fees. If you make the same trades using Kraken Pro instead of Kraken, you will pay considerably less than when using the main interface.

Fees

Fees on Kraken depend on the platform you are using (Kraken, Kraken Pro) and the trade you are entering. Pricing also depends on the spread fees, especially on the main Kraken platform. Let’s look at the fees you must consider on each platform.

Fees On Kraken

Kraken charges a percentage fee of the transaction and a spread. The transaction fee will be displayed, allowing you to confirm the fee. Any additional fee will depend on your funding method. Such fees include credit card fees.

Fees On Kraken Pro

Kraken Pro offers advanced trading features and lower fees than the main Kraken platform. The pricing is based on your total trading volume over the past 30 days. Generally, most trades are subject to a 0.26% taker fee or a 0.16% maker fee.

Regulation

Kraken is regulated as a Money Service Business (MBS) by FinCen in the United States and FINTRAC in Canada. The UK FCA, Australia’s AUSTRAC, and Japan’s FSA also regulate Kraken’s associated businesses.

4. Binance – Altcoin Trading Platform with a Diverse Range of Advanced Trading Tools

The last platform on our list of top-rated altcoin trading platforms is Binance, which is the world’s largest cryptocurrency trading platform, offering a myriad of features and trading options. It is also one of the largest platforms when it comes to the number of altcoins listed, with hundreds of altcoins on offer.

The altcoin trading platform offers traders an array of digital assets and associated services. This includes crypto loans, popular metaverse coins, and more. However, the platform could be more user-friendly, and traders must deal with a steep learning curve with Binance. 

The Binance altcoin platform offers a desktop trading dashboard and a dedicated mobile application, allowing users to access cryptocurrencies and other trading options, such as futures and options. However, it would help if you remembered that several options and trading features are unavailable to traders based in the US.

Binance was founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao and was originally based in China. Experienced traders will appreciate the variety of altcoins and other trading assets available on the platform. However, beginners may find it overwhelming, thanks to its many features. What’s more, Binance is also facing regulatory issues in several countries, and it has also been banned in several jurisdictions.

When it comes to security, Binance uses two-factor authentication to secure accounts. Binance’s 2FA uses Google Authenticator and SMS. It also uses other measures such as address safelisting and device management and restricts device access to boost security. While these keep accounts secure, Binance’s reputation and regulatory struggles are a cause for concern.

Altcoins Available on Binance

Binance supports Bitcoin and over 350 altcoins on its main platform. However, only 150 are available for US-based users. International users can also access a variety of fiat currencies such as the USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, HKD, INR, and more. Some altcoins supported by Binance are 

• Dogecoin (DOGE)
• Polygon (MATIC)
• VeChain (VET)
• VeThor Token (VTHO)
• Harmony (ONE)
• Ethereum (ETH)
• Cosmos (ATOM)
• Dash (DASH)
• Compound (COMP)
• Litecoin (LTC)
• Cardano (ADA)
• Stellar Lumens (XML)
• Solana (SOL)
• Uniswap (UNI)
• SushiSwap (SUSHI)

Trading Experience

Binance offers traders several tools on its platform, such as real-time charting tools with moving averages and exponential moving averages. Users can place their trades through the Binance website, app, or desktop app. They can also access their trade history and portfolio and view the order book and price charts. The platform also provides several order types, such as a stop order, limit order, stop-limit order, stop-market order, and trailing stop order. You can also select different trading views, such as classic, OTC, and margin.

Fees On Binance

The fees on Binance are among some of the lowest in crypto. US-based users may have to pay slightly more on Binance.us. However, even these fees are lower than those on other leading platforms. The platform uses a maker/taker fee structure based on trading volumes and BNB coin balance. Higher trading volumes are subject to lower fees. 

There are also several ways users can get fee discounts, such as, 

• Referral bonuses 
• Using BNB for trades
• Reaching the VIP tier (after trading a specific number of assets)

Comparing The Best Altcoin Trading Platforms

Let’s understand the fees on each platform we have discussed with the help of a table. 

More Altcoin Comparison guides

• eToro vs Robinhood – Which Broker is Better?
• eToro vs Coinbase – Which is Best?
• Binance vs Coinbase – Which is Best?
• eToro vs Binance – Which Crypto Exchange is Best?

How to Trade Altcoins

As a trader, you can use three ways to trade altcoins. These are: 

• Spot markets 
• Futures markets 

Let’s look at each in a little more detail. 

Spot Markets

Trading using the spot markets requires you to create an account on a trading platform such as eToro, which allows you to hold your altcoins in your wallet. The simplest way to trade altcoins using spot trading is using a centralized or decentralized exchange to place the trade. We recommend using a centralized exchange as it is simpler than a decentralized one.

You can purchase your preferred altcoin using local fiat currency or trade across different trading pairs through spot trading. Select a trading platform and set up your trading account to trade the next altcoins to explode using the spot market. Once you have set up your account, you must deposit fiat currency into the account or transfer crypto using another wallet. After you have deposited the funds, you can select the currency pair you wish to trade.

Once you have chosen your currency pair, enter the amount you wish to trade and click the “buy” option. Your order will be executed as soon as it matches with a sell order in the order book.

Futures Market

Futures are regulated trading contracts between two parties. They often involve an agreement to buy or sell an underlying asset at a fixed price on a pre-decided date. In the case of Ethereum futures, the underlying asset would be ETH. Futures allow investors to hedge against volatile markets, ensuring they can buy or sell a particular altcoin at a fixed price in the future.

However, if the asset’s price moves in the opposite direction to what the trader intended, they would pay more than the asset’s market price or sell it at a loss. Futures contracts also allow investors to avoid the complex process of setting up an exchange account. Instead, they allow investors to gain exposure to an asset indirectly and profit from its price movements.

Risks of Altcoin Trading

All types of trading come with certain risks, and trading altcoins is no different. There are several opportunities when it comes to trading altcoins, and you can make significant profits in a short amount of time. However, the volatility that lets traders make substantial profits could also lead to considerable losses. This is because altcoin prices can rise and fall extremely rapidly.

The volatility in altcoins is primarily because their price is dictated by Bitcoin, which makes up over half of the total crypto market cap. Bitcoin (BTC) is the dominant crypto force, influencing the price of nearly all altcoins.

Another risk is the lack of regulatory clarity when it comes to altcoins. This makes altcoins an extremely risky investment. You must also thoroughly research before investing in an altcoin or any associated project, making sure investing in them is the right decision. Such a task is not always easy, as information is sometimes hard to come by.

Lastly, the growing threat of scammers, hackers, and other bad actors plagues the crypto and altcoin landscape. There is also the possibility of the entire altcoin ecosystem collapsing.

Altcoin Trading Strategies

You must follow specific trading strategies to maximize your profits when trading altcoins. Remember, only some trading strategies work well for some coins, and you must also factor in your trading goals before selecting a strategy. This is why finding and choosing the right trading strategy is critical. However, finding the best strategy may require trial and error.

Trading strategies are best tested on demo accounts. Most of the best altcoin trading platforms, such as eToro, offer traders demo accounts with paper currency. The strategy you choose depends on your trading experience and your trading goals. Popular trading strategies include Copy Trading, Altcoin trading signals, and Altcoin trading robots.

Altcoin Copy Trading

We talked about copy trading earlier in the guide. It allows traders to mirror the trades and positions of successful traders. Traders can deploy this strategy on specific platforms that offer the feature, such as eToro. You can select from a number of traders based on their previous trades and a risk rating given by the platform.

Altcoin Trading Signals

Altcoin trading signals are another popular strategy used by traders with limited experience. Although it is similar to copy trading, the key difference is that assets are not bought automatically to mirror the trades of a successful trader. Instead, you receive an alert about their trades, and it is up to you to mirror the trade.

Altcoin trading signals have become a popular alternative to copy trading and are helpful for traders with some market knowledge. It also gives traders greater control over their trading activity.

Altcoin Trading Bot

Altcoin trading bot is an automated system that executes trades on the trader’s behalf. It operates within set parameters specified by the trader, giving the latter significant control over trading activity. However, for the altcoin trading bot to function as desired, the trader must have considerable knowledge about the markets and the assets they wish to trade. Only then can they provide the trading bot with precise trading instructions.

Is Altcoin Trading Legal In The US?

Yes, altcoins are legitimate cryptocurrencies and can be legally traded in the United States of America. The US is working on introducing crypto regulations that would help bring a semblance of order in an often chaotic industry. However, until that happens, we may see phases of fear and uncertainty.

Some altcoins may be unregistered securities that regulators have yet to identify. Additionally, there is always the risk of unknowingly investing in a scam project that can execute a rug pull and steal your funds. When trading altcoins, always stick to the major altcoins such as Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), Litecoin (LTC), and others. This helps eliminate the risk of sham projects. You will only need to monitor volatility and time your purchase and sales.

How To Start Trading Altcoin

So far, our guide on the most leading altcoin trading platforms has discussed where you can trade altcoins, the risks, and the various strategies involved. Now, we will discuss how you can get started with altcoin trading with the help of an example. For this example, we will use eToro as the registered platform. However, the signup process is relatively similar across all major trading platforms.

Step 1 – Create An Altcoin Account

The first step is to create an account. Head to the eToro website and click “Create an account.” You can enter your email address and create a strong password for your account. Alternatively, you can log in with your Google or Facebook account. We highly recommend using a separate account for eToro.

Step 2 – Upload ID For Verification

Once you have created your account, the next step is to upload your ID for verification. The ID can be any government-issued ID, such as your driver’s license or passport. This will help eToro verify your identity and comply with mandatory KYC regulations. Additionally, you will have to fill out a separate form with some personal information and share it with eToro.

Step 3 – Deposit Funds

Once your account is verified, you can deposit funds that can be used for trading. To deposit funds, you only have to click on the “Deposit Fund” button. Type the amount you wish to deposit, select the payment method, enter the details, and click “Deposit.”

Step 4 – Trade Altcoins

With your account set up, you can begin trading altcoins. You can use eToro’s search function to search for the altcoins you wish to trade. Once you find the preferred coin, click the “Trade” button next to it and enter the required parameters for the trade. This is when you enter the investment you wish to make. The stake must be in USD and a minimum of $10. Once you have entered this information, click “Open Trade” and place your trade.

Step 5 – Selling Altcoins On eToro

You can also sell your altcoin investments on eToro through the portfolio section on the dashboard. Once in the portfolio section, you can search for the asset you wish to sell. Once the asset is confirmed, eToro executes the order instantly if the desired market is open. If not, the platform will execute the order when the market opens.

Conclusion – Top Altcoin Trading Platforms

This concludes our guide on the best altcoin trading platforms. Altcoin trading gives investors numerous opportunities to make a profit and take advantage of the benefits of the crypto industry. To trade altcoins, you must select a secure and robust trading platform. This guide recommends creating an account on eToro, as it is the best altcoin trading platform in the US.