Coinbase was a lot of people’s first crypto exchange, but it’s far from the only option, especially for European investors.
If you’ve been looking for something different, read on to discover four Coinbase alternatives you can check out in 2026. They run from a Bitcoin-only app to some of the largest trading platforms in the market, so the right pick really comes down to what you actually want to do with your money.
Relai
Relai is a Bitcoin-only app built for people who want to buy and hold BTC without the noise. It doesn’t have any altcoins, tokens, or derivatives, only Bitcoin. It’s also non-custodial by default, which means you hold your own keys and recovery phrase rather than leaving your coins parked on an exchange.
For anyone who came to crypto in the first place for “your keys, your coins,” that’s a notable difference from Coinbase. Relai operates under a MiCA-compliant regulatory framework through its CASP authorization, and has passed $1 billion in trading volume with hundreds of thousands of downloads.
Why pick Relai
- Bitcoin-only focus, so there’s no pressure to include altcoins
- Self-custody by default, which means your BTC lands in a wallet only you control
- Automated savings plans (DCA) for recurring weekly or monthly buys
- Instant SEPA, card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay funding across the Eurozone
- MiCA-regulated and Swiss-based, with the app in English, German, French, and Italian
Kraken
Kraken has been around since the early 2010s and is one of the most established names in the business. In 2025, it went live across all 30 EEA countries under a MiCA license held through Ireland, so European access now sits on a solid regulatory footing.
It supports hundreds of digital assets, publishes regular proof-of-reserves attestations, and covers everything from simple spot buys to margin and futures for active traders.
Why pick Kraken
- MiCA-licensed with EU-wide access and verifiable proof of reserves
- Broad asset selection and deep liquidity on major fiat pairs
- Spot, margin, and futures all under one roof
- A long track record and a strong security reputation
- Kraken Pro for lower fees and more advanced order types
Bitstamp
If reliability matters to you more than flashy features, Bitstamp is hard to beat. Founded in 2011, it’s one of the oldest crypto exchanges still running, and it now operates as “Bitstamp by Robinhood” after Robinhood closed its $200 million acquisition in mid-2025.
It holds over 50 licenses worldwide, is MiCA-compliant, and has maintained a strong security reputation since recovering from its 2015 security incident. The trade-off is a smaller coin selection and base fees that run higher than some rivals.
Why pick Bitstamp
- The longest track record of any active exchange, now past 14 years
- Heavily regulated, with 50+ licenses and full MiCA compliance
- A strong security history and institutional-grade execution
- Backed by Robinhood’s resources and distribution
- A simple, no-nonsense interface for straightforward buying and selling
Bybit
Bybit rounds out the list as the option for traders who want speed and derivatives. It serves millions of users globally, and Bybit EU, launched in mid-2025 under an Austrian MiCA license, brought a regulated version to European users.
Its Unified Trading Account lets you use your whole portfolio as collateral, and fees for active traders are among the lowest you’ll find. This is more of a trading platform than a buy-and-hold app, so it suits people who genuinely want to trade.
Why pick Bybit
- A MiCA-regulated EU platform via Austria’s FMA
- Very low fees for active and high-volume traders
- A Unified Trading Account for capital-efficient margin trading
- Fast SEPA Instant EUR funding
- A serious spot and derivatives toolkit in one place
Final Verdict
There’s no single best answer to which of these tools is best for you, because that will largely depend on your personal needs.
If you just want to stack Bitcoin, hold your own keys, and not think about it, a focused app like Relai makes a lot of sense. If you want a big menu of coins or active trading, Kraken or Bybit will serve you better. And Bitstamp is the pick for anyone who values a long, but reliable track record over bells and whistles.
Whatever you choose, do your own research, only invest what you can afford to lose, and keep in mind that none of this is financial advice.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — In the Cover Photo: A computer screen displaying a stock market chart. Cover Photo Credit: Behnam Norouzi.
