Affiliate disclosure: This guide contains affiliate links. If you register through our links we may earn a commission at no cost to you. All editorial opinions are independent.
Creating a crypto exchange account is simpler than most beginners expect — the whole process usually takes 10 to 20 minutes. The exchanges below were chosen because they offer the strongest combination of reliability, low fees, and high affiliate commissions for our readers: you get access to great platforms, and you support HomeCryptoInvest at no extra cost to you.
Before You Start — What You'll Need
Before opening any exchange account, prepare these documents and items. Having them ready before you start prevents interruptions during the KYC process and speeds up verification significantly.
Documents & items to prepare
Government-issued photo ID — passport, national ID card, or driver's licence. Must be valid (not expired). Passport gives fastest approval on most platforms.
Proof of address — bank statement or utility bill (electricity, gas, internet) dated within the last 3 months. Must show your full name and address.
Smartphone or device with camera — most exchanges require a selfie or live photo during KYC. Mobile app often makes this faster than desktop.
Email address — use one you check regularly. Verification emails, login codes and security alerts will be sent here.
Authenticator app — install Google Authenticator or Authy before you start. You'll need it for 2FA setup.
⚠️
Always go directly to the official website. Bookmark it from a trusted source. Phishing sites that mimic exchanges are common — they steal your login credentials and funds. Never click exchange links from emails you weren't expecting.
1. Kraken — Step-by-Step Registration
Kraken is the best choice for security-conscious investors. Founded in 2011, it has never experienced a major hack affecting customer funds — a track record few exchanges can match. It is regulated in the US, EU and UK and offers free SEPA transfers for European users.
1
Go to the official Kraken website
💡 Using our link registers you on the same official Kraken platform — there is no difference in your account, fees or features.
2
Enter your details and create your account
Fill in your email address, choose a username, and create a strong password (minimum 12 characters, mix of letters, numbers and symbols). Select your country of residence. Agree to the terms and click "Create Account".
3
Confirm your email
Kraken sends an activation email immediately. Open it, click the confirmation link, and enter the activation key. Check your spam folder if it doesn't arrive within 2 minutes.
4
Set up 2FA — do this before anything else
Go to your profile avatar → Security → 2FA Settings. Kraken lets you set up separate 2FA for: sign-in, funding (deposits/withdrawals), and trading. Set up all three using Google Authenticator or Authy. This is the single most important security step.
💡 Kraken also supports YubiKey hardware security keys — the gold standard for account security if you have one.
5
Verify your identity (KYC)
Click "Verify Identity" in your dashboard. Kraken offers several tiers — Intermediate is sufficient for most users and unlocks fiat deposits/withdrawals and futures trading. You'll need to: fill in personal information → answer a financial questionnaire → upload your ID document → take a selfie. Most verifications complete in under 7 minutes automatically.
💡 Passport gives the fastest approval. Make sure your photo is sharp, well-lit and shows all four corners of the document.
6
Make your first deposit
Go to Funding → Deposit. For EUR: select SEPA transfer — it's free and typically arrives within 1 business day. Enter the bank details shown and include your reference number exactly as displayed. You can also deposit crypto immediately using any wallet.
Europe's Most Trusted Exchange
Never hacked · Free SEPA · ETH staking · 10M+ users · Regulated
2. MEXC — Step-by-Step Registration
MEXC is the best choice for altcoin traders who want access to the widest coin selection with the lowest fees. Its 0% maker fee is the best standard rate in the industry. Note: MEXC is not available for US, UK, Canadian or Chinese residents.
1
Go to the MEXC registration page
2
Register with email or phone
Enter your email address (or phone number) and create a strong password. Click "Sign Up". MEXC sends a verification code to your email — enter it to confirm your account.
💡 MEXC also offers one-click Google or Apple sign-up if you prefer not to create a separate password.
3
Enable 2FA
Go to Profile → Security → Google Authenticator. Scan the QR code with Google Authenticator or Authy. Save your backup codes in a secure place — you'll need them if you lose access to your phone.
4
Complete KYC verification
Go to Profile → Verification. MEXC now requires mandatory KYC for all users. Primary verification (Level 1) requires: your country of residence → government ID photo (front and back) → selfie. This typically completes in 5–15 minutes. Advanced verification unlocks higher withdrawal limits.
💡 Complete KYC before depositing to avoid withdrawal restrictions later.
5
Make your first deposit
Go to Assets → Deposit. MEXC supports crypto deposits across all major networks. For fiat: use the Buy Crypto section — MEXC supports Visa, Mastercard, SEPA, Apple Pay and Google Pay through third-party processors. Note that fiat on-ramp fees vary by provider.
💡 The easiest first deposit is transferring USDT or BTC from another wallet — instant arrival with no fiat conversion fees.
0% Maker Fee · 3,000+ Coins
Biggest altcoin selection · New token listings first · 40M+ users
3. Bitvavo — Step-by-Step Registration
Bitvavo is the best regulated exchange for European investors who want ultra-low fees. It is licensed by the Dutch Central Bank (DNB) and is fully MiCA-compliant, making it one of the most future-proof exchanges for EU residents. SEPA deposits are free.
1
Go to the Bitvavo registration page
2
Enter your email and create a password
Enter your email address and choose a strong password. Confirm you are at least 18 years old and agree to the terms. Click "Create account". Bitvavo sends a confirmation email — click the link inside to verify your address.
3
Enable 2FA
Go to Settings → Security → Two-factor authentication. Scan the QR code with Google Authenticator or Authy. Bitvavo will ask you to confirm with a 2FA code to complete setup.
4
Verify your identity
Bitvavo requires identity verification before you can deposit or trade. Go to Settings → Verification. You'll need to: enter your personal details → upload your passport or national ID (front and back) → take a selfie. Bitvavo uses an automated system — most verifications complete in 5–10 minutes.
💡 Bitvavo accepts EU national ID cards directly — you do not need a passport, unlike some other exchanges.
5
Make your first deposit
Go to Account → Deposit. Select SEPA bank transfer — it's completely free and arrives within 1 business day (often same day for Dutch banks). Enter the IBAN and reference shown. Minimum deposit is €1. You can also deposit by iDEAL (Netherlands), Bancontact (Belgium) or crypto.
💡 New users get commission-free trading on their first €1,000 — a great way to test the platform with zero fees.
Europe's Low-Fee Crypto Exchange
0% maker fee · DNB regulated · MiCA-compliant · Free SEPA
4. Coinmate — Step-by-Step Registration
Coinmate is the best choice for Czech and Slovak investors who want to buy crypto directly in CZK without currency conversion costs. Licensed by the Czech National Bank (CNB), it offers direct CZK/BTC and CZK/ETH trading pairs and fast domestic bank transfers.
1
Go to Coinmate's registration page
Visit
coinmate.io via our affiliate link. Click
"Registrovat" (Register) in the top right corner.
2
Fill in your registration details
Enter your email address, first and last name, and create a strong password. Confirm you agree to the terms of service and privacy policy. Click "Vytvořit účet" (Create account). Confirm your email by clicking the link in the verification email.
3
Enable 2FA
Go to Nastavení → Bezpečnost → Dvoufaktorové ověření (Settings → Security → Two-factor authentication). Scan the QR code with Google Authenticator. Enter the 6-digit code to confirm setup.
4
Complete identity verification
Coinmate requires full KYC before deposits. Go to Ověření identity (Identity verification). You will need to: upload your Czech national ID or passport (both sides) → upload proof of address (výpis z účtu or utility bill dated within 3 months) → complete a brief questionnaire about your trading purpose. Coinmate reviews most applications within 1 business day. Czech support is available if you need help.
💡 Coinmate accepts Czech bank statements as proof of address — easy to download from your internet banking.
5
Make your first CZK deposit
Go to Vklad → CZK (Deposit → CZK). Coinmate provides a unique bank account number for your deposits. Transfer any amount via standard Czech bank transfer (Fio, ČSOB, KB, Moneta etc.) — include your variable symbol as the payment reference. CZK deposits typically arrive within 1–2 hours during banking hours, sometimes faster.
💡 CZK deposits are free. There is no minimum deposit amount, so you can start with any amount to test the platform.
Best Czech & Slovak Exchange
CZK pairs · CNB licensed · Fast CZK bank transfers · Czech support
Quick Comparison — Which Exchange to Choose?
| Exchange | Best for | Maker fee | Verification time | Deposit method | EU regulated |
|---|
| Kraken | Security-first investors | 0.16% | ~7 min | SEPA (free) | Yes |
| MEXC | Altcoin traders | 0% | 5–15 min | Crypto / card | No |
| Bitvavo | European investors | 0% | 5–10 min | SEPA (free) | DNB / MiCA |
| Coinmate | Czech & Slovak users | 0.10% | 1 business day | CZK transfer (free) | CNB |
If you're unsure which to start with: Bitvavo is the best default for European investors (regulated, 0% maker fee, free SEPA). Kraken is the best choice if security is your top priority. Coinmate is the obvious choice if you want to buy crypto in Czech crowns. MEXC is the best second exchange once you want to explore altcoins.
Security Tips After Registration
The most common cause of crypto losses is not exchange hacks — it's compromised accounts due to poor personal security. Follow these steps on every exchange account you open:
🔐
Use a unique password for every exchange. If you reuse passwords and one account is breached, all others become vulnerable. A password manager like Bitwarden (free) or 1Password makes this practical.
📱
Always use an authenticator app for 2FA, not SMS. SMS 2FA is vulnerable to SIM-swapping attacks. Google Authenticator and Authy are both free and significantly more secure.
💾
Save your 2FA backup codes offline. Write them on paper and store securely — you need them if you lose your phone. Do not store them in an email draft or cloud document.
🔒
Move long-term holdings to a hardware wallet. Never store more on an exchange than you're actively trading. A Ledger Nano X or Trezor costs €60–100 and provides near-perfect security for long-term holdings.
✅ Summary
You're ready to start — it takes 15 minutes
Creating a crypto exchange account is genuinely straightforward. Prepare your ID and proof of address, pick your exchange using the table above, follow the steps in this guide, and set up 2FA before you do anything else. The most important rule after registration: never store more on an exchange than you're actively trading — move long-term holdings to a hardware wallet. If you have questions about any of the exchanges covered, check our full reviews linked below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does crypto exchange verification take?
Most exchanges verify your identity in 5–30 minutes with clear documents. Kraken typically completes basic verification in under 7 minutes. Coinmate can take up to 1 business day due to manual review. During high-demand periods, some platforms experience delays.
What documents do I need to open a crypto exchange account?
You need a government-issued photo ID (passport, national ID card, or driver's licence) and proof of address (bank statement or utility bill dated within the last 3 months). Most exchanges also require a selfie with your ID or a short video verification step.
Can I open accounts on multiple exchanges?
Yes — and many experienced investors do. A common setup is using a regulated EU exchange like Bitvavo or Kraken as a primary account for core holdings, and MEXC for early altcoin access. Each exchange requires its own registration and KYC process.
Is it safe to give my ID to a crypto exchange?
Regulated exchanges are legally required to collect and securely store your identity documents under AML/KYC regulations. Kraken, Bitvavo and Coinmate are licensed in their respective jurisdictions and use encrypted storage. Always verify you are on the official website before submitting documents — check the URL carefully and look for the padlock icon.
What is the minimum deposit on these exchanges?
Bitvavo: €1. Kraken: varies by currency (typically €1 for EUR). Coinmate: no minimum for CZK transfers. MEXC: no minimum for crypto deposits; fiat on-ramp minimums vary by provider.
Read our full exchange reviews