Our take
Global economies are in the midst of a fascinating shakeup, with the introduction of decentralized currencies online and the establishment of blockchain technology. The blockchain technology market is expected to be worth upwards of $40 billion by 2025.
Furthermore, since its inception, the Bitcoin blockchain has experienced tremendous growth, reaching approximately 270 GB as of March 2020.
As the demand for cryptos continues to rise, so will the number of new businesses entering the market.
With so many options, finding the best bitcoin exchange site might be difficult. While having such a large selection is appealing, comparing so many platforms and exchanges can lead to indecision.
Let's take a closer look at one of the industry's most well-known names, Crypto.com, to help you make the best decision.
Crypto.com: A Top-Rated Cryptocurrency Platform
Crypto.com is a top-ranked crypto platform that allows users to buy, transfer, store, and exchange more than 90 cryptocurrencies, according to its website.
Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), CRO, and other cryptocurrencies are among them. On the site, you can also utilize over 20 fiat currencies (e.g., GBP, USD, EUR, etc.).
The company offers a flexible debit card that allows customers to spend cryptocurrencies anywhere Visa is accepted. Furthermore, Crypto.com's CRO tokens provide consumers with a stunning 8% cashback incentive.
- Return rates optimized daily
- Secure, stable investment growth
- No minimum
- No lock-up period, withdraw anytime
A Brief History of Crypto.com
Founded in June 2016, Crypto.com has four co-founders:
Kris Marszalek, CEO
Rafael Melo, CFO
Gary Or, CTO
Bobby Bao, Head of Corporate Development
During its initial coin offering (ICO) in Monaco in 2017, the company raised $26.7 million. At the time, Crypto.com was still known as Monaco (MCO), but after a costly acquisition of the domain Crypto.com, they rebranded in July 2018.
This Hong Kong-based company now employs more than 700 people around the world. They now have over five million global users, an increase of three million in just a few months.
Are you interested in learning more? Visit https://bitcompare.net/platforms/crypto-com.
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Crypto.com MCO Visa Card
Let's take a look at Crypto.com's most popular product, the MCO Visa card, before we get into some of the other advantages that customers enjoy when they use it. This card allows you to spend your cryptocurrency online and in stores while also earning rewards in the form of CRO.
It offers a high level of convenience because it can be used everywhere that accepts the Visa brand. In other words, it is accepted by over 54 million retailers and enterprises globally. ATMs all across the world do as well, making it great for tourists.
What if you decide to open a crypto account through Crypto.com? You'll need to choose between a range of different Crypto.com Visas.
If you'd like to gain access to multiple benefits while getting the highest cashback possible, you'll need to stake CRO in the Crypto.com app on your card of choice. These cards provide you with competitive cashback on all spending.
The Obsidian Black MCO Visa Card
The higher the tier of card you can access, the more CRO you lock up. On the Crypto.com Visa ladder, the Obsidian Black card is the highest rung. It comes with a pre-qualification requirement that is mainly unworkable.
What is this qualification, exactly? Before you can get this coveted card, you'll need to deposit $416,228 (£297,000) in Crypto.com Coin (CRO) via the company's app. Thankfully, the firm also offers a variety of cards with smaller CRO stakes.
The Ruby Steel MCO Visa Card
For example, if you stake 5000 CRO (roughly $420 (£300), you can get the Ruby Steel version of the card. With Ruby Steel, you'll get 2% cashback and a 100% Spotify rebate.
The Midnight Blue MCO Visa Card
There's even a Midnight Blue variant of the card that gives you 1% cashback on everything you buy. You don't have to bet anything to benefit from this relatively good payback rate.
Furthermore, Crypto.com allows consumers to withdraw their CRO invested after six months. However, you should be aware that if you stop staking, your cashback rate will drop. At your first staking level, you'll also lose access to some of the card's features.
Where You Can Get a Crypto.com Debit Card
The nations where cards currently get shipped include:
The United States
Canada
The United Kingdom
The European Union
Singapore
What if you're from a nation where the card currently isn't available? Download the Crypto.com app and get registered. Then head to the "Card" section, where you can register your interest and receive notifications when it comes to your geographic location.
MCO Visa Card Fees
You won't have to pay any staking fees to start using the MCO Visa, and you'll get your Crypto.com Visa card for free. Fee-free deposits to your Crypto.com Visa card are also available.
You won't have to pay any fees for domestic transactions, either. You'll also benefit from the interbank exchange rate if you use your Visa card to make a purchase in a different currency. However, all transactions are subject to a monthly restriction.
If you go above your limit, it drops to 0.5 percent. Fortunately, this is a very reasonable rate.
These limits include:
Maximum card balance: $25,000
Daily top-up limit: $10,000
Weekly top-up limit: $25,000
Daily ATM withdrawal: $500
Weekly ATM withdrawal limit: $5,000
Daily ATM withdrawal limit: 3
Monthly ATM withdrawal limit: 30
There is no monthly administration cost, but if you don't use your card for a year, you will be charged $4.95 (£5.00).
You should also be aware that the amount of free ATM withdrawals you can make each month is determined by the type of card you have. After your free limit has been reached, you will be charged a 2% cost. With Midnight Blue cards, you can withdraw up to $200 each month for free, with a two percent fee after that.
The Ruby Steel card has a $400 maximum, whereas the Royal Indigo and Jade Green cards have a $800 limit. The monthly withdrawal limit for the Icy White, Rose Gold, and Obsidian Black options is $1,000.
Crypto.com Features and Products
Crypto.com remains best known for its great MCO Visa card, which makes cryptos conveniently mainstream. The company offers a wide range of features and services. Many customers are surprised to find out that the platform also provides access to:
Crypto Pay
Crypto.com app
Crypto Earn
Crypto Credit
Crypto.com exchange
Crypto.com DeFi wallet
Let's review each of these features and what they mean for customers using the platform.
Crypto Pay
You can buy gift cards for a variety of popular businesses with Crypto Pay. You can also use it to load cryptos onto your phone. In the near future, expect these functionalities to extend, allowing shops to accept Bitcoin (BTC) and other popular cryptos.
The Crypto.com App
The Crypto.com app allows you to sell and buy a growing number of cryptocurrencies at real-time exchange rates. This program can also be used to store, receive, and send cryptocurrency. The ability to buy and sell bitcoin at genuine cost has been the app's standout feature. It's worth mentioning, though, that if you want to save money, you'll have to pay with a bank transfer rather than a credit card.
Crypto Earn
What is the most important information you should know about Crypto Earn? This function allows users to earn up to 12% interest on their cryptocurrency deposits, proving to be a lucrative option for hodlers. This appealing method of making money on the crypto platform continues to draw a steady stream of new users. Earn in CRO, Stablecoins, or your preferred cryptocurrencies such as ETH and BTC.
Crypto Credit
With Crypto Credit, you can fuel your MCO Visa card while earning credit in CRO. It's as simple as making deposits in cryptocurrency to your Crypto.com Visa card account.
Crypto.com Exchange
When you use the company's exchange for your trades and investments, you'll enjoy low trading fees of up to 0.16 percent. And you can manage all of these activities and transactions from the convenience of your laptop or desktop.
Crypto.com DeFi Wallet
When you set up a Crypto.com account, you'll gain access to a DeFi wallet where you can store cryptocurrencies in a user-custodial wallet. What does this mean? It ensures you own the wallet and have control over its private keys.
What's more, consumers can connect this wallet with "DeFi Swap." DeFi Swap lets you swap between tokens. That way, you can earn interest in your cryptos.
What You Need to Know About the Crypto.com App: An Overview
Besides the MCO Visa card, Crypto.com also received plenty of attention for its Crypto.com app, available for iOS and Androids. What does the app allow customers to do? It lets you buy, store, sell, and transfer more than 90 different digital currencies.
And unlike other exchanges and platforms that don't deal in fiat, you don't have to purchase cryptos before funding your wallet.
You can use USD, EUR, and GBP, and more to buy Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), and Litecoin (LTC) along with an assortment of other popular cryptos. But the options don't stop there. You can exchange between cryptos, too.
In other words, whether you're starting in fiat currency or other cryptos, Crypto.com can help. What's more, the platform has made it easy, simple, and quick to navigate.
Better yet, the platform lets you buy these cryptos at real exchange rates without getting charged any additional fees.
For this reason, Crypto.com remains one of the cheapest places to purchase Bitcoin if you live in the UK. It's also an excellent choice for those residing in Singapore, Canada, the EU, and the US.
What else can you do with the app? It permits you to track the performance of hundreds of cryptos. This tool lets you maintain a visual on previous price movements in fiat currency or BTC. You can also set up alerts.
Cryptocurrencies Supported by Crypto.com
The company stands at the helm of an ever-expanding list of supported cryptos. There are currently 92. Without exhaustively listing them all in this review, here's a snippet of acceptable currencies besides BTC, ETH, XRP, and LTC.
Supported digital currencies include:
Aave (AAVE)
Algorand (ALGO)
Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
ChainLink (LINK)
Crypto.com Coin (CRO)
Dogecoin (DOGE)
EOS (EOS)
Fetch.AI (FET)
Harmony (ONE)
KyberNetwork (KNC)
NEO (NEO)
Nano (NANO)
Polkadot (DOT)
Qtum (QTUM)
Ravencoin (RVN)
Stratis (STRAT)
TomoChain (TOMO)
Uniswap (UNI)
USDM (USDM)
Yearn.Finance (YFI)
Ocean Protocol (OCEAN)
Solana (SOL)
The list above is by no means comprehensive in this review. But it gives you a taste of the possibilities you'll enjoy when you sign up with Crypto.com. What about the fiat currencies accepted by the platform? Let's take a closer look.
Crypto.com Supported Fiat Currencies
Not all crypto platforms and exchanges deal directly in fiat currencies. As a result, you''ll enjoy cheaper fees with these platforms when you buy crypto, but you also lose out when it comes to convenience. After all, you must purchase crypto through another platform before funding your wallet.
But you'll never have to worry about these extra steps with Crypto.com. Instead, you can use any of the following fiat currencies to purchase cryptos directly through the site:
United States Dollar (USD)
Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Euro (EUR)
British Pound (GBP)
Singapore Dollar (SGD)
New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
Australian Dollar (AUD)
Swiss Franc (CHF)
Swedish Krona (SEK)
Norwegian Krone (NOK)
Danish Krone (DKK)
Polish Zloty (PLN)
Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
New Taiwan Dollar (TWD)
Kenyan Shilling (KES)
South African Rand (ZAR)
Russian Ruble (RUB)
Romanian Leu (RON)
Hungarian Forint (HUF)
Czech Koruna (CZK)
Bulgarian Lev (BGN)
United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)
Israeli New Shekel (ILS)
Saudi Riyal (SAR)
When it's all said and done, Crypto.com has worked diligently to become one of the most convenient and flexible platforms whether you're there to buy Bitcoin or another online cryptocurrency.
It has all of the bells and whistle you'll enjoy with other exchanges. But the company goes the extra mile when it comes to customer experience. Many other companies can't make the same claim.
How You Open a Crypto.com Account
Head to Crypto.com to get started. There, you'll find links to download the mobile app for Android and iOS. Remember that you must be at least 18 years of age or older to sign up.
From there, you'll need to either go to the app store links or scan the QR code on the home page. Download the app to your phone and then start the app. Follow the prompts needed to verify your identity, and you're good to go.
How to Pay with Crypto.com
When you go to your store's payment method page, select "Crypto.com" from the establishment's drop-down menu. Agree to the Website Terms of Use and Terms and Conditions and then click the button that says "Crypto.com Pay" to head to the checkout.
Next, you'll see a popup page with a QR code. From there, open your Crypto.com app and select the shopping bag icon located on the Home Screen to gain access to "Crypto Pay." Or you may click on the "Pay"' button on the dashboard.
Look for the "Scan" button and click on it to scan the QR pay code you now have. Follow the prompt to choose a digital currency you'd like to pay with, and then click "Continue to Review." Finally, you'll review the payment and click "Confirm."
Is Crypto.com Safe to Use?
We've already discussed in this review that Crypto.com takes security and safety seriously. Nevertheless, your account won't enjoy the same insurance protections (FDIC or SIPC). Of course, this is true of cryptocurrency exchanges and platforms across the board.
You should also bear in mind that Crypto.com is not a US-based enterprise. Instead, it's headquartered in Hong Kong where financial regulations prove quite different.
The platform relies on a Secure Software Development Lifecycle. These software analysis tools keep a constant eye on the code. It's quality controlled and peer-reviewed by a full-time staff.
The software also gets audited by external certifications via Certik and Quantstamp for smart contracts. It's worth noting that Crypto.com started with a mixed reputation in its early years.
From 2017 to 2019, some people even accused the company of being a scam. Since these early, difficult years, Crypto.com has worked hard to prove it's a legitimate platform.
Crypto.com's Customer Service
Multiple options are available when supporting and answering customer service questions. These options help customers to feel supported in their trading experience at Crypto.com.
For example, you'll see a dedicated instant chat service when you head over to the platform's home page. This chat service is attended to 24/7 by a bot, permitting you to leave a message and further contact information.
The support team will get back to you, which usually takes no more than a couple of hours. If you have any questions about the service, it may also help to browse the company's FAQ section. Here you'll find detailed answers to many of the most common questions customers ask.
Coin | Platform | 5 Star Rating | Interest Rate (APY) |
---|---|---|---|
USDC | Nexo | 4 | 12% |
BTC | Nexo | 4 | 8% |
USDC | CoinLoan | 4 | 12.3% |
BTC | CoinLoan | 4 | 7.2% |
USDC | BlockFi | 3.5 | 9% |
BTC | BlockFi | 3.5 | 4.5% |
USDC | Midas.Investments | 4.5 | 19% |
BTC | Midas.Investments | 4.5 | 17% |
BTC | Celsius | 4 | 6.2% |
USDC | Celsius | 4 | 8.88% |
USDC | Hodlnaut | 4 | 12.7% |
BTC | Hodlnaut | 4 | 7.5% |
GUSD | Gemini | 3 | 8.05% |
BTC | Gemini | 2 | 1.49% |
BTC | Crypto.com | 3.5 | 6.5% |
USDC | Crypto.com | 3.5 | 12% |
USDC | Ledn | 3 | 9.5% |
BTC | Ledn | 3 | 6.25% |
Are these issues enough to make you think twice about Crypto.com? Not necessarily. But you'll need to weigh these problems carefully against the pluses of this platform.
Crypto.com Review Summary: A Cryptocurrency Exchange Site Worth Your Attention
Crypto.com offers a limited number of assets to trade on its site. Beyond the market, you'll get access to a large ecosystem with new opportunities to earn, save, and trade.
The platform's costs and commissions are still relatively low, and the trading interface is simple and easy to use. These traits are critical for recruiting traders and promoting Crypto.com as a popular and accessible trading platform.
For all of these reasons and more, Crypto.com remains a robust cryptocurrency exchange site with plenty to offer different types of traders and investors in the sector.
How does Crypto.com compare to other platforms? Check out our comprehensive list of cryptocurrency platforms now.