Trading platforms have been a focal point in the massive cryptocurrency movement. With over 190 exchanges and counting, it’s tough to know which are truly the most innovative and there is a lot to consider before making the decision to begin trading on any one platform.

There’s no question that Binance is currently the king, as they boast the highest daily trading volume and are rapidly innovating to create a better product. This has propelled Binance’s coin (BNB) to be valued at nearly $1 billion. However, there are a number of other innovative platforms currently on the market and in development that offer unique tools and features for cryptocurrency traders.

Here is a list of what we believe to be some of the top cryptocurrency and token asset exchanges in terms of innovation, broken down into two categories: soon to launch and already active. While some of these platforms have tokens associated with them, neither token value nor trading volume was a major factor in our decision-making process. This list traverses platform categories, including centralized, decentralized, and open protocol exchanges.

Soon To Launch Exchanges

Description: The trading platform boasts a number of exciting features, including a unique liquidity sharing system where Trade Token (TIO) holders can contribute a selected amount of the assets contained within their wallets to a shared, P2P liquidity pool in return for 50% of the daily revenues generated by trade.io. It has been stated that there will be eventually over 200 cryptocurrency and other assets available on the platform. (Read more)

Launch Date: April/May 2018

Website: trade.io

Token Symbol: TIO

Robinhood

Description: The popular millennial trading app recently announced the inclusion of cryptocurrency trading to their platform. With the latest update, users will be able to invest in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, 24/7 & commission-free. (Read More)

Launch Date: Ongoing; gradual roll-out filtered by location.

Website: crypto.robinhood.com

Token Symbol: N/A

NEXT.EXCHANGE

Description: A hybrid decentralized exchange market for crypto and ICO tokens that allows for community-driven trading pair voting. The platform boasts a number of neat features, including on-platform mining pools and early access trading on new listings for NEXT token holders.

Launch Date: Unclear; likely in the 2nd half of 2018.

Website: next.exchange

Token Symbol: NEXT

QASH: LIQUID Platform by QUOINE

Description: A financial utility designed to bring together the global liquidity pool under a single umbrella. The ultimate goal of the LIQUID platform is to provide liquidity services to both developed and emerging markets, where token issuers, token holders, innovators, and users of next-generation financial services all benefit and contribute to a shared liquidity pool. (Read More)

Launch Date: Q2 2018

Website: liquid.plus

Token Symbol: QASH

Bitmora

Description: A community-driven exchange that allows for traders to vote on new features. Bitmora offers a hybrid fee structure that allows traders to choose the best option based on their trading behavior, and the platform is built for desktop and mobile systems.

Launch Date: May 2018

Website: bitmora.com

Token: N/A

Omega One

Description: A decentralized, automated trading platform that aggregates liquidity across multiple exchanges.

Launch Date: Unclear; likely in 2nd half of 2018.

Website: omega.one

Token: N/A; ICO set for post-launch.

Active Exchanges

ShapeShift

Description: A platform that allows traders to select altcoins or blockchain tokens that they would like to exchange, and by simply imputing a receiving address, new coins are sent directly to their wallets. Wicked fast and no fees.

Website: shapeshift.io

Token Symbol: N/A

StellarTerm

Description: An open source client for the Stellar network that allows traders to send, receive, and exchange Stellar assets. Given that Stellar is quickly becoming a popular ICO platform, StellarTerm will soon likely host an expanded number of interesting coins.

Website: stellarterm.com

Token Symbol: N/A

AirSwap

Description: Based on the Swap protocol, a peer-to-peer protocol for trading Ethereum tokens, the AirSwap platform allows users to rapidly trade tokens while leveraging an intelligent system to recommend exchange rates.

Website: airswap.io

Token Symbol: AST

Kraken

Description: A well-run centralized bitcoin exchange that features a sleek mobile app, which is rare among traditional exchange. Allows for up to 5x margin trading.

Website: kraken.com

Token Symbol: N/A

Cobinhood

Description: A play on the ‘Robinhood’ name, the platform features zero-fee cryptocurrency trading, free token airdrops directly in-platform and ICO underwriting. Cobinhood insures all assets held on the platform.

Website: cobinhood.com

Token Symbol: COB

Waves

Description: The platform allows users to create a multiple-currency wallet and invest in verified crypto assets and the underlying WAVES platform token via a decentralized exchange. The DEX features a centralized matcher and high channel capacity for fast trading. The platform allows users to issue their own tokens on the Waves blockchain. (Read more)

Website: wavesplatform.com

Token Symbol: WAVES

Final Take

There is an incredible amount of innovation in the cryptocurrency exchange space right now, as these platforms are going to be the pivotal elements leading the crypto movement. While there are a number of useful platforms on the market today, we are excited by the upcoming exchange launches slated for 2018.

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Disclaimer: The author(s) of this article may have a position in one or more of the securities mentioned above. This article contains sponsored content and is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as investment advice. Always conduct your own due diligence before making investments.