The Best 7 Coinbase Alternatives (2025)

The love affair between Nigerians and cryptocurrencies is a match made in heaven.

We rank second in Chainalysis’ 2024 global crypto adoption index and first in sub-Saharan Africa. 

We found value in the use case of stablecoins for cross-border transfers, protecting wealth from inflation, and we also participate in speculative trading and investing. 

A huge part of these activities happens on crypto exchanges. The exchange you use determines the tokens you can trade, the safety of your assets, and the trading pairs you have access to. 

Coinbase might be up there when it comes to reputation and liquidity. But you should definitely explore a coinbase alternative if you use crypto frequently.

Still, it is not optimised for users in some regions, which is why we have taken the time to prepare this list of seven alternatives to Coinbase that cater perfectly to the needs of crypto nomads in Nigeria and Ghana.

Why Look for a Coinbase Alternative? 

Here are some of the inconveniences faced by crypto nomads in Nigeria, Ghana, and other regions who use or try to use Coinbase: 

1. KYC Hassle

KYC, or Know Your Customer, is a mandatory step when registering to use a centralized crypto exchange.

It ensures that CEXs comply with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF) regulations. 

In Nigeria, users typically need to provide their BVN, NIN, or Voter’s Card.

Additional documents are only required when upgrading to higher verification tiers on most other CEXs. 

As of June 2025, signing up for Coinbase from Nigeria requires a driver’s license, as it is currently the only accepted form of identification during registration.

This is a bottleneck as a driver’s license is relatively harder to get and is owned by fewer people than BVN or NIN.

Related:

• What is Staking in Crypto? Beginner’s Complete Guide

2. Limited Token Selection

Another reason to consider alternatives to Coinbase is its low number of listed tokens.

As mentioned earlier, the exchange you use determines the range of assets you can trade. 

According to CoinMarketCap data from June 13, 2025, Coinbase lists only 297 tokens, a fraction compared to the 727 tokens available on ByBit 

Some popular tokens not listed on Coinbase (as per CoinMarketCap) include:

• Tron (TRX)
• BNB 
• Toncoin (TON) 
• GRASS 
• Pi Network (PI) 

This limited token offering can be a major drawback for users seeking access to a broader range of crypto assets or trending projects.

Another issue that  results from this limitation is that of limited trading pairs: Traders can’t get certain pairs on Coinbase since the tokens are not listed 

3. Delay in Token Listings

There is a large crypto airdrop community in Nigeria and Ghana.

After farming, gathering referrals, or completing testnets tasks for weeks, some might want to sell their allocation before the dip, but only very few new projects list at launch on Coinbase.   

If you do airdrops, you definitely need an alternative to Coinbase. Imagine mining Pi Network since 2020 and being unable to sell at launch in Q1 2025 because you use only Coinbase.

What Makes a Good Coinbase Alternative?

Before we dive into our recommended alternatives to Coinbase, here are a few key criteria that make for a strong substitute.

Apart from regulatory approval, which is a constant, these were central to our selection process, and they’re also what you should be looking out for when choosing a crypto exchange: 

1. Seamless KYC and Onboarding 

You should be able to sign up and start trading within minutes using your BVN, NIN, or Voter’s Card, no need to go hunting for a driver’s license, especially if you don’t even own a car. 

2. Robust Selection of Listed Tokens and Trading Pairs 

This is crucial, especially for crypto futures traders who trade across multiple trading pairs and long-term to mid-term investors who would love to take positions based on their analysis and expectations.   

More coins listed on an exchange give users access to trade more tokens. 

3. Early Listings of new projects

Consider this, especially if you are an airdrop farmer or like to trade newly listed tokens. 

4. A large community of users in your country

This comes in handy when you are still learning the ropes. 

For Instance, the convenience of searching for “how to trade futures on Binance” on YouTube and seeing a ton of Nigerian creators and content on that specific topic is very assuring because they understand your context.

5. Low trading and transaction fees

Affordable trading and transaction fees are essential for maximizing profits, especially for active traders.

A good exchange should offer competitive fee structures that don’t eat into your gains, whether you’re spot trading, using leverage, or simply moving assets around. 

Top Pick:

• 10 Best BTC Accelerators to Speed Up Transactions

Top 7 Better Coinbase Alternatives (Ranked & Reviewed)

1. Breet
2. Bybit
3. Bitget
4. Binance
5. MEXC
6. OKX
7. Gate.io

1. Breet 

Do you live in Nigeria or Ghana? Then Breet is one of the best coinbase alternatives for you.

Breet is your go-to crypto exchange for crypto swap, crypto to cash conversions, and for receiving over 40+ cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Solana (SOL), Ethereum (ETH), USDT, and Dogecoin (DOGE)

Here’s what makes Breet the most trusted and fastest-growing crypto platform in Nigeria and Ghana: 

• Regulatory approved
• Instantly convert crypto to Naira or Cedis 
• Withdraw directly to your bank account — no P2P merchant hassles –  no need for middlemen
• Convert crypto to crypto
• You can generate an invoice and receive payment in Crypto as a business owner.
• Pay bills, buy airtime or data, and more, all with crypto from the app 
• Fast transactions, withdrawal payouts are as fast as Opay and Momo transfers 

Getting started is easy. Download the app on the Play Store, or App Store.

Con: You can’t buy crypto on Breet.

2. ByBit

Bybit has quickly become a popular choice among Nigerian crypto traders, thanks to its user-friendly interface, competitive trading fees, wide range of listed tokens, and some hiccups between Binance and Nigerian regulators. 

Unlike some global exchanges, Bybit makes onboarding easy for Nigerians, accepting documents like BVN and NIN for KYC verification.

It supports both spot and derivatives trading, making it appealing to beginners and advanced users alike. 

With zero fee P2P support and a growing presence in Africa, Bybit offers Nigerian and Ghanaian users a reliable platform to trade, earn, and grow their portfolios. 

Bybit has consistently demonstrated its ability to attract new hot projects and often incubate others through their launchpad, making it our number one pick as an alternative to Coinbase. 

Drawback: 

On Bybit P2P, some merchants list USDT or USDC at unusually high prices, these are often misleading or potential scams.

Always verify rates and filter ads so you won’t be misled.

3. Bitget 

Bitget is gaining traction for its copy trading feature, allowing beginners to follow seasoned traders.

The exchange supports local KYC documents like BVN and NIN, making onboarding smooth.  Although Bitget supports P2P, it charges a 0.5% fee on completed P2P trades. 

Bitget offers more tokens than Coinbase and has a plethora of user-generated resources on YouTube and Twitter, a testament to its growing community of users in Nigeria and Ghana.

It is also a very attractive exchange for new projects.  

Con: 

Unlike Breet, Bitget does not offer direct to bank account withdrawals in Nigeria, so users must use P2P, middlemen, or unregulated vendors to sell or buy crypto.

4. Binance

Binance remains the most popular Coinbase alternative.

It supports P2P trading; however, NGN (Naira) was delisted from Binance P2P due to regulatory directives. 

Despite this, it still supports other regional currencies like the Ghanaian Cedi. Getting verified on Binance is straightforward using local documents such as BVN and NIN. 

Beyond trading, Binance actively runs educational programs that are valuable to investors, it’s a major driver of crypto awareness and adoption globally. 

Con:

For users in Nigeria, there’s no direct-to-bank withdrawal of funds from the P2P feature.

See Also:

• The Best 9 Crypto Trading Platforms in Ghana 

5. MEXC 

MEXC is popular among Nigerian altcoin hunters for its quick listings of trending tokens and zero spot trading fees. The exchange is relatively easy to onboard.

With its user-friendly mobile app and futures trading support, especially for new or trending tokens.  MEXC is a solid choice for Nigerians looking to diversify their holdings and explore new markets.

Con:

One concern with MEXC is its tendency to list wide range of tokens that some might consider low-quality tokens from projects with poor fundamentals.

6. OKX

OKX is increasingly popular in Nigeria for its professional-grade trading tools, wide token coverage, and growing P2P support.

It supports basic KYC with Nigerian IDs and offers both spot and futures trading. 

Its seamless integration with Web3 wallets and DeFi products adds extra appeal for Nigerians looking to explore beyond centralized finance. OKX combines innovation with accessibility for a strong all-around experience.

Con:

OKX lacks direct bank withdrawal for Nigerian users.

7. Gate.io

Gate.io is known for its massive token catalog, often listing new projects early. Nigerians appreciate the low barrier to entry and deep altcoin markets. It supports P2P, and both Nigerians and Ghanians can trade their currency paired with USDT and other tokens.  

Con:

No direct-to-bank withdrawal for users in Nigeria.

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Coinbase Alternatives: A Detailed Comparison

For Aidrop Hunters  

If what keeps you active in crypto is hunting for new projects that haven’t yet launched their tokens, testing features, referring friends, and gathering points, then you need an exchange that consistently attracts and lists emerging projects. 

This makes it easier to trade your allocation as soon as it goes live:

• Bitget
• Bybit
• MEXC 
• Gate.io 

They are top choices for this. New projects often partner with these exchanges and, in some cases, even airdrop your allocation directly to your exchange wallet, saving you the gas fees of claiming tokens manually.

These platforms also frequently run giveaways around new listings. 

For Crypto Traders (Spot and Futures) 

Depending on your trading size and style, you might favour liquidity, deep order books, and tight spreads or quick flips on newly listed tokens. 

If you prefer liquidity above anything else: 

• Binance 
• Bybit 
• OKX
• Bitget  

They are our top picks for you. 

If shorting or longing newly listed tokens or hot trending memecoins as soon as they hit CEXs is your forte, then the following recommendations will serve as proper alternatives to Coinbase:

• MEXC
• Gate.io  
• Bitget

For Those New to Crypto 

If you are new in the crypto space, then any of the above options will serve you well, but our top picks for you are: 

• Breet
• ByBit 
• Binance 

They have strong communities and extensive resources online that cater to all your queries in case you need to check up on how things work.

Closing Thoughts

Although there is no limit to how many exchanges you can sign up for, as long as they’re available in your region. Instead of downloading every exchange under the sun, it’s smarter to pick two or three solid platforms that align with your priorities.

One alternative to Coinbase might not meet all your needs, but the right combination of alternatives will.

Don’t Miss:

• The Best 9 USDT Trading Platforms, Ranked 

FAQs about CoinBase

Is Coinbase available in Nigeria? 

Although Coinbases is available in Nigeria it is a hassle registering and completing KYC because you need a driver’s license other alternatives you can use easily in Nigeria are Breet, MEXC, Bybit, etc. 

Best Coinbase alternatives in Ghana? 

The Best Coinbase alternative in Ghana is Breet. With Breet, you can easily swap, sell and receive crypto which you can withdraw to your bank account. Others include: Gate.io, Binance, etc. 

Why is Coinbase not working for me in Nigeria? 

Coinbase works in Nigeria if you access it form the app although Nigerians find it hard to complete their registration because Coinbase only accepts drivers license for KYC which most Nigerians do not have.   

Free Coinbase Alternatives in Nigeria?

Some free Coinbase alternatives you can use in Nigeria include, Breet, MEXC, Gateio and Bybit.  

Does Coinbase have P2P in Nigeria? 

Yes, Coinbase currently supports P2P trading in Nigeria through a partnership with Onboard Global.