Compare the best crypto exchanges in New Zealand for 2026: regulation, NZD deposits and withdrawals, fees, coins, futures and each exchange's main catch.
The New Zealand column is checked live against each exchange's restricted-country list.
The best crypto exchanges in New Zealand
Bybit is our top pick for New Zealanders who trade actively and want low fees, a large choice of coins and futures, options, copy trading and bots in one account. Independent Reserve suits people who only want a short list of coins on spot. Coinbase and Uphold are easier for a first purchase, but they cost more per trade.
Buying, holding and trading crypto is legal in New Zealand, and exchanges must check your identity under anti-money laundering rules. Before you sign up, look at how you would pay in and cash out New Zealand dollars. Most people here fund an account by bank transfer from internet banking. Then compare what each exchange charges on the kind of trades you actually make.
Bybit offers one of the broadest product ranges here: 380 coins on spot, futures on 577 coins with up to 100x leverage, plus options, copy trading and trading bots. For an active trader in New Zealand, that means you can buy coins, hedge with futures and even trade 548 tokenized stocks without opening a second account.
Spot trades cost 0.1% for makers and takers. Futures cost 0.02% for limit orders and 0.055% at market price, which keeps frequent trading cheap. You can pay in by bank transfer, card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and cash out by bank transfer or in crypto.
You must verify your ID before trading. Accounts come with two-factor login, withdrawal address whitelisting and published proof of reserves. Bybit launched in 2018, is based in Dubai and is run by its co-founder and CEO Ben Zhou. Hackers took over $1.5 billion from Bybit in February 2025, and it restored all users' funds within 72 hours. Even the biggest exchanges stay targets, so don't keep more on Bybit than you need for trading.
Key points
Bybit puts spot, futures, options, copy trading, bots and tokenized stocks in one account.
Spot trades cost 0.1% for makers and takers, and you can deposit by bank transfer or card.
The main catch is the February 2025 hack, although Bybit restored all users' funds within 72 hours.
What we like
Spot fees of 0.1% for makers and takers
Futures on 577 coins
Options, copy trading and bots
Bank transfer and card deposits
Publishes proof of reserves
What holds it back
Suffered a major hack, though users were repaid
Very high leverage is easy to misuse
2. Independent Reserve
IRIndependent Reserve6.6/10
Independent Reserve keeps things simple. It is a spot-only exchange with 22 coins across 85 trading pairs. If you mainly want to buy and hold well-known coins, a short list means less clutter and fewer obscure tokens to trip over.
It has no futures, copy trading or trading bots. Anyone who wants leverage or automation will need a second exchange. Independent Reserve keeps coins in cold storage, which lowers the risk from online attacks on its wallets.
Trading only opens once your identity has been checked. The company was founded in 2013 in Sydney, Australia, and co-founder Adrian Przelozny is its CEO. A real drawback is that Independent Reserve doesn't publish proof of reserves, so you can't check that customer deposits are fully backed.
Key points
Independent Reserve is a spot-only exchange with a short, focused coin list.
It has no futures, copy trading or bots, so it suits buying and holding rather than active trading.
The main catch is the lack of proof of reserves, so you can't check that deposits are fully backed.
OKX is at its best for derivatives. Its derivatives side covers perpetual and dated futures on 485 coins, with leverage reaching 125x, plus options on major coins. Futures cost 0.02% for makers and 0.05% for takers, so derivatives traders in New Zealand keep costs low even when they trade often.
Spot trading costs more: limit orders pay 0.2%, while orders filled instantly pay 0.35%. Someone who mostly buys and holds pays more here than on Bybit or Binance. You get 298 coins on spot, plus copy trading, staking, demo trading and a P2P market, and holding OKB can lower your fees.
Funding works by bank transfer or card, withdrawals go to a bank account, and ID verification is required. OKX launched in 2017, has its base in Seychelles, and its co-founder Star Xu serves as CEO. The main catch is complexity: the platform is built for experienced traders, so beginners can easily pick the wrong product or order type.
Key points
OKX offers futures on 485 coins at 0.02% for makers and 0.05% for takers.
Spot fees of 0.2% and 0.35% make it a pricier place to simply buy coins.
Its central exchange has never been hacked, but its separate DEX lost $2.7 million in a 2023 exploit, so be more careful with its on-chain tools.
Binance has the deepest liquidity of any exchange here, with 507 coins on spot across 1,375 trading pairs. For a trader in New Zealand, deep order books mean larger orders fill close to the price you see.
Spot trading costs 0.1% for makers and takers. Futures fees are 0.02% on limit orders and 0.05% on market orders, and leverage tops out at 150x. Options, copy trading, bots, staking and a demo account sit on the same platform, and paying fees in BNB cuts them further.
Top-ups are possible by bank transfer, card, Google Pay or P2P, cash-outs go to a bank account, and you'll need to prove who you are first. Binance was co-founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao, is based in the Cayman Islands and is led by CEO Richard Teng. The platform can slow down in volatile markets, so an order you need filled quickly may lag just when prices move fastest.
Key points
Binance offers 507 spot coins and the deepest liquidity here.
Spot trades cost 0.1% for makers and takers, and you can deposit and withdraw by bank transfer.
A 2022 hack led to BNB outflows worth over $500 million, and the platform can slow down in fast markets.
Uphold is built for buying and holding rather than active trading. You swap directly between coins without an order book to learn, which suits a New Zealander who wants a simple app with staking on the side.
It offers the widest funding choice here: bank transfer, card, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay, and most of the same methods work for withdrawals. The catch is cost. Uphold charges a spread that starts at 0.25% on stablecoins and rises for Bitcoin, Ethereum and smaller coins, so frequent trading gets expensive.
Identity checks are compulsory, there are no futures, and Uphold publishes proof of reserves. Uphold dates from 2015, when Halsey Minor co-founded it, and today it's headquartered in New York with Simon McLoughlin as CEO. Its weakest point is customer support: there is no live chat, so an urgent problem with a withdrawal can take a while to sort out.
Key points
Uphold is a simple buy-and-hold app with direct swaps between coins.
You can pay in by bank transfer, card, PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Pay, but spreads make trading expensive.
The main catch is limited support with no live chat, which slows down fixing account problems.
Coinbase is the easiest exchange here for a first purchase. It has a simple app, and an Advanced mode adds charts and order books when you want them. It lists 402 coins on spot, and its perpetual futures cover 131 coins with a leverage cap of 10x, lower than most rivals here.
Spot trading is expensive: a limit order costs 0.4%, and buying instantly costs 0.6%. Every futures trade carries a 0.05% fee, whether you place a limit order or buy straight away. You pay in by card, PayPal or crypto rather than bank transfer, although withdrawals do go to a bank account, so funding is less convenient if you're used to a direct credit.
An ID check is part of sign-up, most customer assets sit in cold storage, and Coinbase publishes proof of reserves. Brian Armstrong co-founded Coinbase in 2012 and still leads it as CEO, and the company has no fixed headquarters. In 2021 over 6,000 customers had their accounts compromised, so turn on two-factor login and address whitelisting from the start.
Key points
Coinbase is the simplest way here to make a first purchase, with 402 spot coins.
Spot fees of 0.4% and 0.6% are among the highest in this ranking, and deposits are by card or PayPal rather than bank transfer.
Over 6,000 accounts were compromised in 2021, so strong account security matters.
Bitget is best known for copy trading, which automatically mirrors the trades of experienced traders. Behind it sit 507 coins on spot and a futures market spanning 478 coins, where leverage goes as high as 125x. For a newer trader in New Zealand, copying lets you take part without building a strategy yourself, but you still carry any losses.
On spot, makers and takers alike pay 0.1%. A futures limit order costs 0.02%, and a market order costs 0.06%. Deposits work by bank transfer, card or the Apple and Google mobile wallets, but withdrawals are limited to crypto, SEPA or Pix. Getting New Zealand dollars back to your bank therefore means moving coins to another exchange first.
Bitget asks for identity verification and publishes proof of reserves. Bitget started in 2018 with Sandra Lou among its co-founders, operates from Singapore, and has Gracy Chen as chief executive. In September 2026 about $351.6 million was moved without authorisation from some hot and warm wallets, and withdrawals are suspended during the investigation. Bitget says user balances are secure and its User Protection Fund covers the loss, but money you deposit now can't come out until withdrawals reopen.
Key points
Bitget is the largest copy trading platform and offers futures on 478 coins.
You can deposit by bank transfer or card, but there is no bank transfer withdrawal.
Withdrawals are suspended after unauthorised transfers from some hot and warm wallets in September 2026.
MEXC lists more coins than any exchange here, with 1,320 on spot, and new tokens often appear on it early. That helps if you chase small altcoins, but many of those markets are thin, so check the order book before you buy.
Its fees are the lowest in this ranking. Spot makers pay 0% against 0.05% for takers, futures run 0% and 0.02% respectively, and leverage can reach 200x. Money goes in by bank transfer, card, PayPal, and both Apple Pay and Google Pay, and comes out by bank transfer or as crypto.
Every account must pass ID checks, and MEXC keeps most holdings in cold storage and publishes proof of reserves. MEXC's co-founder John Chen helped launch it in 2018 and now serves as CEO, with the company based in Singapore. The main risk is its reputation, with many reported cases of customer funds being withheld and ongoing regulatory uncertainty, so use it for trading rather than storing savings.
Key points
MEXC offers the largest coin list here, with 1,320 coins on spot.
Fees are the lowest in this ranking, and you can deposit and withdraw by bank transfer.
Many reported cases of withheld customer funds make it a risky place to hold large balances.
What we like
Largest altcoin selection
Spot maker fee of 0%
Very low futures fees
Bank transfer deposits and withdrawals
What holds it back
Reports of withheld customer funds
Regulatory uncertainty
Many thinly traded coins
How we ranked these exchanges
Our editorial team selected, tested and ranked the best crypto exchanges for traders in New Zealand. We picked exchanges that accept users in New Zealand and ordered them on the whole package, weighing the points below. The order is an editorial judgment of that package, while the CWR Score on each card rates the exchange on its own. That is why some exchanges placed lower have a higher score.
Regulation: how each exchange handles identity checks and compliance.
Local funding: how you pay in and cash out, including bank transfer.
Trading fees: what spot and futures trades cost.
What you can trade: coins, futures, options and other products.
Security record: past hacks, proof of reserves and account protection.
Is crypto trading legal in New Zealand?
Buying, holding and trading crypto is legal in New Zealand, and Inland Revenue treats crypto as property for tax. Crypto exchanges and wallet providers doing business in New Zealand are reporting entities under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009, so they must check customers’ identities and report suspicious activity. The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) supervises them, and since 1 July 2026 it has been the only AML/CFT supervisor for all reporting entities.
DIA says crypto businesses must also consider whether they need to register on the Financial Service Providers Register (FSPR), because offering services covered by the financial service providers law without registering may be an offence. You can search the FSPR, but a listing isn’t a licence: some financial services need a separate licence from the Financial Markets Authority or the Reserve Bank.
How is crypto taxed in New Zealand?
In New Zealand, what you get from selling, trading or exchanging crypto is taxable in most cases, including when you swap one cryptoasset for another or use it to pay for goods. Inland Revenue looks at why you acquired the coins, and if they pay you no income, that strongly suggests you bought them to sell or exchange, which makes the profit taxable. The profit is taxed as income at your income tax rate, from 10.5% to 39% for individuals. If a profit would have been taxable, you may be able to claim a loss.
Crypto you get from mining is also taxable in most cases. You declare net crypto income or loss in your individual tax return (IR3), usually in the ‘other income’ box, and attach your calculation. The tax year runs from 1 April to 31 March, and the IR3 is due by 7 July unless you have a tax agent or an extension of time.
This is a general overview, not tax advice. Tax rules change and depend on your situation, so check with Inland Revenue (IRD) or a tax adviser before you file.
Once you have chosen an exchange, getting Bitcoin or Ethereum in New Zealand takes only a few steps.
Choose an exchange. Pick one that accepts customers in New Zealand. Exchanges here are supervised by the Department of Internal Affairs under anti-money laundering law and may also need to be on the Financial Service Providers Register.
Open an account and verify your ID. Sign up with your email or phone, then upload photo ID and take a selfie. Every exchange here requires this before you can trade.
Deposit New Zealand dollars. Most New Zealanders pay in by bank transfer, a direct credit from internet banking, and open banking payments straight from a bank account are becoming more common. Check the deposit screen for the methods your account supports.
Buy on the spot market. Choose Bitcoin, Ethereum or another coin such as Solana or XRP. A limit order usually costs less than buying at market price.
Keep your coins safe and keep records. Turn on two-factor login and withdrawal whitelisting, and consider moving long-term holdings to your own wallet. Inland Revenue treats crypto as property, so keep a record of every trade for tax.
Bottom line
Bybit is the strongest all-round choice for New Zealanders who trade actively: low fees, bank transfer funding and every major product in one account. Binance and OKX suit futures traders. Coinbase and Uphold are the gentlest starting points, but they cost more per trade. Independent Reserve suits people who only want a short list of coins. MEXC has the lowest fees but a poor reputation, and Bitget’s withdrawals are suspended for now. Buying and trading crypto is legal in New Zealand, and whichever exchange you pick will check your ID before you trade.
Questions
Frequently asked
Yes. Buying, holding and trading crypto is legal in New Zealand. Exchanges doing business here are supervised by the Department of Internal Affairs under anti-money laundering law, so they must check your identity and report suspicious activity.
Crypto gains can be taxable in New Zealand, and Inland Revenue treats crypto as property. See "How is crypto taxed in New Zealand?" above for the details.
MEXC charges the lowest fees on both spot and futures. Bybit, Binance and Bitget also charge low flat spot fees for makers and takers. Coinbase and Uphold are far more expensive per trade.
Coinbase has the simplest app for a first purchase, and Uphold lets you swap directly between coins without an order book. Independent Reserve keeps things simple with a short list of coins on spot.
Hackers took over 1.5 billion dollars from Bybit in February 2025, and it restored all users' funds within 72 hours. It publishes proof of reserves and offers two-factor login and address whitelisting. As with any exchange, don't keep more there than you need for trading.
Not at the moment. Bitget suspended withdrawals after unauthorised transfers from some of its hot and warm wallets in September 2026. It says user balances are secure and its User Protection Fund covers the loss. Wait until withdrawals reopen before you deposit.
Bybit’s global site doesn’t accept customers in
In the EU, Bybit serves customers through a separate platform, Bybit EU, which is licensed under MiCA.
Accepts clients from New ZealandAvailable in the EU as Bybit EU 
