Binance.US vs. Crypto.com | NextAdvisor with TIME

Crypto.com and Binance.US are two popular crypto exchanges, but we think Crypto.com is the better choice for most investors. 

While Binance.US offers lower fees, you’ll find a rewards debit card, more coin options, transparency in security processes, and more opportunities to grow your crypto holdings on Crypto.com. Additionally, Crypto.com has a larger trading volume and is available in every state except New York, whereas Binance.US has more geographical restrictions. 

Binance.US is a separate sister company to Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world. Binance has faced regulatory issues, and is banned in the U.K. and Italy. It was investigated by the U.S. government for money laundering, tax fraud, and insider trading in September 2021, according to reporting by Bloomberg. Binance.US is under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding its link to Binance’s CEO and two firms that buy and sell on the site. The U.S. operation licenses software, trademarks, and wallet technology from Binance, and is otherwise a separate entity, as per an email from a Binance.US spokesperson. We’ve reached out to Binance.US about this on multiple occasions, and have only received a general email response after our Binance.US review was published in July 2021.

Here’s why Crypto.com is a better bet to make the most of your cryptocurrency investments.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Pros and Cons: Binance.US vs. Crypto.com

Wallet Offerings

Both Binance.US and Crypto.com offer the option to store coins on the exchange using a hot wallet. But Crypto.com gives you more options: You can store your coins in a decentralized wallet, which is great if you want a stronger sense of ownership. Plus the decentralized wallet lets you choose from different networks and transfer speeds, based on fees. Crypto.com also offers a centralized custodial wallet for your coins, which gives you the added security of know your customer (KYC) verification. 

Binance.US suggests using Trust Wallet (owned by the larger Binance) for your coins. But we think an “in-house” wallet that you can hook up directly within your exchange account would be better for most investors, especially beginners.

If you want more control over your cryptocurrencies and more wallet options, Crypto.com is the better choice.

Security 

Crypto.com touts its security measures, which are in line with best practices in blockchain technology. On top of that, Crypto.com protects U.S. dollar balances with FDIC insurance, since those assets are held at Metropolitan Commercial Bank. All cryptocurrencies are held offline with Ledger Vault.

Even with this security system, however, Crypto.com was the subject of a $35 million hack in January 2022. The company claims no users lost funds in the hack, and that the exchange upgraded its security features to prevent future hacks. New payee addresses trigger alerts to users, and Crypto.com joined the Worldwide Account Protection Program in an effort to mitigate problems in the future.

While the Binance.US site mentions a dedication to security, we don’t see a lot of transparency around how accounts are secured. Binance.US is registered with The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) in the United States, with help from its U.S. partner, BAM Trading Services. While the larger Binance has previously covered consumer losses, there is no guarantee with the U.S. company. 

We reached out to Binance.US and Crypto.com for comment about these issues and for more information, and will update this comparison if either company gets back to us.

Crypto.com is more forthcoming about its efforts to protect customer assets, which makes it the best choice if you’re seeking peace of mind.

Cryptocurrencies Available

Binance.US offers more than 80 cryptocurrencies, while Crypto.com offers more than 250 cryptocurrencies. 

Both Binance.US and Crypto.com offer native cryptocurrencies, since they both have their own blockchains. Additionally, both companies offer discounts if you use their coins. It’s easier to use the BNB coin to secure a discount in transaction fees, however, than it is to figure out how to get a fee discount with CRO.

If you’re looking for access to a wider variety of available cryptocurrencies, Crypto.com is the clear choice.

Fees

Both Binance.US and Crypto.com use a tiered maker/taker model for fees. That means: 

• A maker places an order that isn’t fulfilled immediately. The order is placed “on the book” until it can be matched by another order.
• A taker places a market order that is matched immediately with an order already on the books. 

With both Binance.US and Crypto.com, taker fees are usually higher than maker fees at each tier. Both exchanges offer lower fees the higher your trading volume each month.

But while Crypto.com offers competitive transaction fees, they’re not as low as the fees charged by Binance.US, which tops out at 0.10%. Plus, by holding BNB in your account, you receive a discount. Crypto.com offers a discount for using CRO to pay fees, but fees range up to 0.40%. To withdraw from the exchange into your bank account, you’ll see a minimum requirement of 500 USDC ($500). If this isn’t too high for you, we think Crypto.com is worth the higher fees thanks to everything else it offers.

But if you’re looking for a cryptocurrency exchange with the lowest possible fees, this is one area where Binance.US can serve you better than Crypto.com. 

Staking, Credit Cards, Other Options

Binance.US offers fewer products and services than Crypto.com, though you can access staking, which provides a way for you to earn extra coins by holding them in your account. As you hold the coins, you receive crypto interest payments. 

If you’re somewhat advanced and want a more detailed view, you can also get advanced charting tools on Binance.US. You can also access an over-the-counter trading portal for direct trading and order matching with other exchange users. And you can use a tax portal on Binance.US that can make preparing your taxes a bit easier. (You might also want to consider a crypto portfolio tracker to stay on top of your activity and make tax prep easier.) 

Crypto.com has an array of cryptocurrency-related products and services that can help you to integrate crypto into your daily life, as well as access other digital assets:

• Debit card: After you stake CRO for at least six months, you can apply for the Visa rewards Crypto.com debit card that allows you to earn rewards with purchases. Your rewards are paid in CRO and added to your Crypto.com wallet. How much you earn and the fees involved depend on your card tier.
• Earn: This is how Crypto.com allows you to stake coins and receive interest. You must allocate coins to Earn, however, if you want them to earn interest.
• NFTs: Access different NFTs, including collections and drops, with Crypto.com.
• Pay: Use the Crypto.com network to receive payments as part of your business, buy goods and services, or send crypto to friends with Crypto.com Pay. You don’t need to worry about gas fees and you can get a bonus of CRO.
• Yield farming: Lock up your coins to earn even more by providing liquidity to the exchange and other projects.

Crypto.com has the edge here in terms of products and services you can use to boost your earnings in the crypto space.

How to Decide Between Binance.US and Crypto.com

While Binance.US will save you money on fees, Crypto.com is a better bet for most investors and especially beginners.

Crypto.com gives you access to more products and services, including a rewards debit card, NFTs, and a wider choice of coins. You also get the chance to earn much higher rewards through debit purchases, staking, and yield farming, though you need to be content with most of your rewards and benefits being paid out in CRO.