Given the steep rise in the value and popularity of cryptocurrencies over the past few years, we’ve witnessed a massive increase in the number of crypto exchanges looking to get in on the action.

As of October 2018, there are approximately 225 unique crypto exchanges allowing users to buy, sell, and trade crypto.

There are lots of things to consider when deciding on an exchange, with each having its own benefits and drawbacks to weigh. However, with so many options to choose from, it can feel almost impossible to decide which to use.

To make your decision easier, we’ve picked out four exchanges that we think are most likely to succeed in 2019.

DX.Exchange

DX is the first exchange powered by the same technology which powers the Nasdaq exchange, the second largest exchange in the world with a market cap surpassing $11 trillion. The exchange is in full compliance with EU regulation.

The DX exchange offers a variety of services with an emphasis on quality customer service.

It allows users to exchange crypto tokens as well as to buy and sell them using fiat currencies. It also offers wallet services, where users can securely store their tokens.

One of the key features of this platform, and a major reason it’s garnered so much interest from users, is its unique pricing model. Instead of having to pay a trading fee on top of each transaction when trading cryptocurrencies like other exchanges request, the user is only required to pay a standard monthly fee to use the platform of 10 euros. This grants them a monthly trading volume of up to 50,000 euros.

DX has recently a DXCASH token event, where the team will be distributing $2,700,000 to their community.

To start, simply register your account.

Image Source: FinanceMagnates.com

Poloniex

Poloniex is one of the oldest crypto platforms on the market. A few years ago, it was one of Coinbases’s main competitors.

Unfortunately, the platform has experienced some controversy over the past few years, and has stagnated and struggled to gain new users.

However, it was recently acquired by a crypto company called Circle and is now becoming an increasingly popular exchange. In fact, the platform recently witnessed a 190% jump in crypto trading volumes and overtook one of its main competitors, Bittrex.

The platform is now shifting its focus from ERC20 tokens in favor of more mainstream cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple, in the hopes of regaining its user-base. In the process, it has delisted many coins whom were considered a bit shady, in order to become fully compliant and to regain trust of users.

If its current level of growth continues, the platform could see a significant rise in popularity in 2019.

Gemini

Gemini was founded by the known Bitcoin billionaires, the Winklevoss twins, back in 2014 and is regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services. It became the world’s first licensed Ether exchange in June 2016.

The Gemini platform has been a particularly appealing trading platform since earlier this month when it was announced that the exchange had obtained insurance coverage for the digital assets it holds in its custody.

“Educating our insurers not only allows us to provide such protections to our customers, but it also sets the expectation for consumer protection across the crypto industry,” Yusuf Hussain, the head of risk at Gemini, said in a statement.

Recently, the Winklevoss twins appealed to the SEC to enable Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) on their platform. This is considered to be a huge deal in the industry and is expected to be finalized by February 2019. In addition, Gemini has begun adding a variety of cryptocurrencies such as Zcash (ZEC) and Litecoin (LTC) and is expected to add many more in the year to come.

Eurekapro

Eurekapro is the first southeast Asia’s fiat to crypto exchange based in Singapore.

The platform’s goal is to make crypto more accessible. It claims to provide the most extensive support for fiat-to-crypto trades in Asia and accepts a wide range of fiat currencies – including the likes of the Singapore Dollar, the Malaysian Ringgit, and the Indonesian Rupiah.

Southeast Asia is currently populated by 655 million people, and this number is rapidly growing. The Asian market is no doubt one of the biggest and most influential market for both business and blockchain.

The platform is currently hosting an airdrop in which the team is giving away 3,550,000 EKT, the equivalent to over $100,000 USD.

The Number One Priority for Crypto Exchanges in 2019

Many still believe that crypto will be the currency of the future. As a result, there are more people than ever using exchanges to buy, sell, and trade.

As 2018 comes to a close, there are two top priorities for all crypto exchanges that are apparent: security.

Unfortunately, many of the current exchanges are not up to scratch, and still have many loopholes that make them vulnerable to hackers.

2019 is likely to be the year that really puts these exchanges to the test.