What Is the Crypto.com Exchange? An overview for beginners

How does an exchange work?

An exchange is a marketplace where buyers and sellers meet to trade digital assets at quoted prices. Instead of searching for a counterparty yourself, the exchange’s order book matches your order with someone else’s.

On the Crypto.com Exchange, users can trade a wide range of cryptocurrencies against stablecoins or other cryptocurrencies. Bringing many participants into one venue generally improves liquidity (how easily an asset can be bought or sold) and can support more competitive pricing.

The Crypto.com Exchange lists more than 400 cryptocurrencies, offers competitive trading fees, and provides additional discounts for users who lock up the native token Cronos (CRO).

What's the difference between the Crypto.com Exchange and the App?

The Crypto.com App is designed for everyday users to buy, sell, and store crypto with an easy, mobile-first experience. It supports fiat on-ramps so users can purchase crypto with local currencies.

The Crypto.com Exchange, by contrast, is available on both desktop and mobile and is built for more advanced trading, offering tools that go beyond a simple buy or sell at the current price.

To start on the Exchange, sign up for an account and complete know-your-customer (KYC) verification. Once approved, you can deposit crypto — either via supported bank-transfer corridors (in eligible jurisdictions) or by transferring assets from the Crypto.com App. Transfers between the App and Exchange are free when using the internal ‘Withdraw to App/Exchange’ feature (on-chain withdrawals incur network fees).

What are the most common ways to trade crypto?

Cryptocurrency trading covers several approaches. Three widely used instruments are:

1. Spot trading

Buying and selling cryptocurrencies for immediate settlement at current market prices.

2. Margin trading

Trading with borrowed funds provided by the Exchange, which increases position size. You post collateral (margin) and can gain amplified exposure; both profits and losses are magnified.

3. Derivatives

Trading contracts that track cryptocurrency prices without transferring ownership of the underlying asset.

What are trading pairs?

A trading pair shows which assets can be exchanged directly. For example, BTC/ETH allows traders to buy BTC using ETH or sell BTC for ETH. 

Trading pairs also help compare values across assets. For instance, BTC/CRO indicates how much CRO equals one BTC.

On the Crypto.com Exchange, popular base currencies include BTC, ETH, USDT, and CRO, with hundreds of pairings available.

Examples of pair lists

BTC pairs:

USDT pairs:

Why care about trading pairs:

• Some cryptocurrencies are available only via other cryptocurrencies, not directly with fiat. Understanding pair routes helps users access a broader set of assets.
  
• Price differences across pairs can create relative-value trading opportunities for experienced users who monitor cross-pair prices.
  

What trades can you execute on the Crypto.com Exchange?

The Exchange offers many tools. Below are three fundamentals every trader should recognise.

1. Spot trading

Spot trading is the process of buying and selling cryptocurrencies at real-time prices with immediate settlement. On the Exchange, traders often open and close positions within hours or a day, aiming to capture short-term price moves. By contrast, App users commonly hold (HODL) assets for longer.

For a step-by-step overview, see the Exchange Help Centre guide to Spot Trading.

2. Margin trading

Margin trading uses borrowed funds to increase trade size. Your margin is the collateral you provide; the loan is the amount borrowed from the platform.

Leverage amplifies outcomes. For example, if you post 0.1 BTC as margin and take a position worth 1 BTC (10× leverage), a 5% market move translates to a 0.05 BTC gain or loss — equivalent to 50 % of your posted margin. This can work for or against you, so sound risk controls are essential.

Learn more in the Exchange Help Centre, which lists supported margin pairs, funding rates, and liquidation rules.

3. Market and limit orders

• Market Orders execute immediately at the best available price, taking liquidity from the order book. Any unfilled remainder is cancelled. Market orders incur taker fees.

• Limit Orders specify a maximum buy price or minimum sell price. They fill when the market reaches your limit or better and may execute in multiple parts to complete the total amount.

Limit order behaviour:

• Sell-limit orders fill when the market is equal to or above your limit.
• Buy-limit orders fill when the market is equal to or below your limit.

Additional support for trading on the Exchange

That’s a beginner-friendly introduction to the Crypto.com Exchange: what it is, how it differs from the App, and the core trading methods and order types you’ll encounter. 

To explore advanced features such as derivatives, lending, and OTC Trading (more than pairs available for institutional and VIP users), visit the official Exchange Help Centre and YouTube tutorials.

Due diligence and do your own research

All examples in this article are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Nothing herein is a solicitation or recommendation by Crypto.com to invest in, buy, or sell any digital assets. Returns from buying and selling digital assets may be subject to tax, including capital gains tax, in your jurisdiction.

Any descriptions of Crypto.com products or features are illustrative and do not constitute an endorsement, invitation, or solicitation. The Crypto.com Exchange and the products described are distinct from the Crypto.com Main App. Availability depends on jurisdiction and may be restricted for Spot, Margin, Derivatives, or Lending services.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The value of digital assets can move up or down, and you could lose all or a substantial portion of your purchase price. When assessing any digital asset, conduct your own research and due diligence. Any purchases or trades are your sole responsibility.