#1
River
Bitcoin-OnlyLightningSan Francisco, USA·Fees: 1% (0% on recurring after first week)
9.6
Best Bitcoin Exchanges in 2026
Where to buy bitcoin matters. I recommend Bitcoin-only exchanges that don't push altcoins, and P2P options when you value privacy. Not your keys, not your coins, so always withdraw to self-custody.
Short answer
Buy bitcoin from a Bitcoin-only exchange, then withdraw it to your own wallet. River is my top pick in the US, Strike works in 100+ countries, Bitcoin Well and Bull Bitcoin serve Canada, and Relai and Pocket serve Europe. To buy without ID, use a peer-to-peer platform like Bisq, RoboSats, or HodlHodl.
| Best in the US | River | Bitcoin-only, Lightning, free recurring buys. |
| Best worldwide | Strike | Bitcoin-only, 0.49% to 0.99% fees, Lightning. |
| Best in Canada | Bitcoin Well | Bitcoin-only, free withdrawals. |
| Best without ID | Bisq | Decentralized, no KYC. |
Updated September 2026
Don't leave bitcoin on exchanges
Exchanges are for buying, not storing. Mt. Gox, Quadriga, Celsius, FTX. The list of collapsed exchanges keeps growing. Always withdraw to your own hardware wallet. Not your keys, not your coins.
Bitcoin-Only Exchanges
Centralized exchanges with KYC. Best for regular DCA.
P2P Exchanges
Peer-to-peer trading. No-KYC options for privacy.
Why Bitcoin-only
Multi-coin exchanges make money when you trade altcoins, so their apps push you to. A Bitcoin-only exchange has one product and every incentive to get it to you cheaply. Most also make it easy to send your bitcoin to your own wallet, which is the whole point of buying it.
How I rank exchanges
I look at fees, whether it is Bitcoin-only, how easy it is to withdraw to self-custody, Lightning support, recurring buys, and the company's track record. Coinbase and Kraken sit at the bottom of the list as a warning.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best place to buy bitcoin?
A Bitcoin-only exchange in your country: River in the US, Bitcoin Well or Bull Bitcoin in Canada, Relai or Pocket in Europe, Amber in Australia, CoinCorner in the UK. Strike works in 100+ countries.
Should I leave bitcoin on an exchange?
Withdraw it to a wallet you control. Exchanges including Mt. Gox, Quadriga, Celsius, and FTX have lost customer funds, and customers waited years to get a fraction back.
Can I buy bitcoin without ID?
Yes, on peer-to-peer platforms such as Bisq, RoboSats, HodlHodl, and LNp2pBot. See my no-KYC exchange guide.