#1. Bybit: #1 exchange to buy crypto under 18

Bybit stands out as an excellent choice for individuals under 18 seeking a crypto exchange. This global platform boasts a user base of over 10 million and facilitates daily trading volumes exceeding $10 billion. Bybit offers a straightforward process for purchasing crypto, allowing you to use various payment methods such as credit/debit cards, bank transfers, and even convenient options like Google Pay and Apple Pay. Notably, you can acquire a selection of popular cryptocurrencies like BTC, ETH, and USDT directly with fiat currency.

To gain access to Bybit's full array of cryptocurrencies, including those denoted with 280+, you can purchase USDT and subsequently engage in trading for your desired coin. Furthermore, Bybit maintains competitive trading fees, with spot trading costs as low as 0.1%, enabling you to acquire your preferred cryptocurrencies at an affordable rate.

It's important to note that if you reside in the United States, Bybit is inaccessible due to the platform's IP address restrictions in the country. However, if you are determined to use Bybit from the US, you have the option to use a VPN to circumvent these restrictions. Bybit does not mandate ID verification, allowing you to modify your location to a supported country, such as Australia, to access the platform.

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#2. MEXC: Best for buying crypto in the USA for under 18s

For residents of the US, MEXC emerges as the optimal choice for acquiring cryptocurrencies. MEXC offers a variety of payment options, including credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, providing you with flexibility in your purchasing methods. Moreover, MEXC boasts an extensive selection of 1,520+ coins, surpassing what you'll find on other platforms. What sets MEXC apart even further are its remarkably low trading fees. In fact, spot trading on MEXC is entirely fee-free, and for futures trading, makers incur no fees while takers are subject to a minimal 0.02% fee. If you are unfamiliar with the terms maker and taker, click here.

For those seeking more than just cryptocurrency acquisition and aiming to engage in trading for higher profits, MEXC's Copy Trading feature offers an excellent starting point. If you're new to trading, this feature simplifies the process by allowing you to select a successful trader to emulate. MEXC will then execute the same trades on your behalf, enabling you to learn profitable trading strategies without the need to closely monitor markets or conduct extensive research.

If you aspire to become a skilled trader yourself, I recommend exploring my FREE crypto trading course tailored for beginners. This comprehensive resource includes screenshots from my personal MEXC account, facilitating easy understanding and practical application of concepts. From foundational knowledge to deciphering chart patterns and conducting technical analysis, you'll swiftly evolve into a proficient day trader.

To enhance your experience, when signing up with MEXC, utilize this exclusive link to receive enticing benefits: new users will receive $30 USDT FREE, along with a 10% discount on all trading fees. This not only preserves more of your funds but also provides you with additional cryptocurrency in your wallet.

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#3. Kine: Best DEX (decentralized exchange) for under 18s

If you are under 18, you can create an anonymous account on Kine, as it operates as a decentralized exchange (DEX). Kine is a distinctive crypto exchange with the unique feature of offering both DEX and CEX (centralized exchange) capabilities. To use Kine without ID, be sure to choose the DEX option when signing up.

On Kine, you have the opportunity to purchase USDT and explore avenues for earning interest through staking or farming. If you're interested in acquiring other cryptocurrencies beyond USDT, you can engage in trading on the platform, with the added benefit of low fees, which stand at just 0.05%. It's important to note that, as of the time of writing, Kine exclusively supports derivatives trading, and spot trading is not yet available. However, Kine has indicated that spot trading will be introduced in the near future, so it's advisable to visit the official website to check for the latest updates.

For those seeking to trade derivatives, Kine offers enticing features such as 200x leverage, ample liquidity, and minimal slippage. Notably, Kine distinguishes itself by not imposing gas fees on any trades, setting it apart from other DEXs and ultimately increasing your potential profits.

As an added benefit, Marketplace Fairness has arranged an exclusive welcome offer for our readers, allowing you to claim a substantial bonus of over $8,000 USDT with this link. You can find detailed information on this offer below.

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#4. KuCoin: Buy a wide range of coins

If you're under 18 and looking to invest in a diverse range of cryptocurrencies, KuCoin emerges as the premier crypto exchange tailored to your needs. As one of the world's largest cryptocurrency platforms, KuCoin offers an extensive selection of 700+ coins for trading, ensuring you'll discover the crypto assets you wish to invest in.

KuCoin simplifies the process of purchasing crypto with fiat currency, providing a multitude of payment options, including credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, Apple Pay, and various local alternatives. Additionally, trading your cryptocurrencies on KuCoin is straightforward, with fees set at a competitive 0.1%. What's more, if you opt to pay your trading fees using KuCoin's native token (KCS), you'll enjoy a substantial 20% discount, reducing the fees to an impressively low 0.08%.

For individuals under 18 interested in leveraging trading bots to capitalize on cryptocurrency market volatility while they sleep, KuCoin proves to be an excellent choice. KuCoin integrates its own FREE trading bots directly into the exchange, eliminating the need to navigate the complexities of linking external bots to the platform. KuCoin presently offers a range of bot options, including Spot Grid, Futures Grid, Smart Rebalance, DCA (Dollar-Cost Averaging), and Infinity Grid bots.

Furthermore, KuCoin offers a plethora of additional features and options, which you can explore in detail in my comprehensive article. If you wish to compare KuCoin against the leading exchange, Bybit, you can also refer to our dedicated comparison article for further insights.

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#5. Margex: Best for margin trading

For individuals under 18 seeking to purchase cryptocurrencies, Margex presents itself as a viable option. Margex offers a user-friendly process for acquiring cryptocurrencies without the need for identification, allowing you to conveniently use your credit card or debit card for these transactions. Beyond its crypto acquisition capabilities, Margex stands out as an excellent platform for margin trading, boasting top-notch security measures.

Margex places a strong emphasis on security, ensuring the protection of user assets. All user assets are stored in cold storage, a secure storage method that reduces the risk of unauthorized access. Additionally, Margex employs an innovative system called MP Shield to prevent price manipulation and enhance market integrity. This system leverages liquidity from over 12 providers, utilizes AI algorithms, and continuously monitors trading activities for any suspicious behavior.

However, it's important to note that Margex primarily offers 39 coins on its exchange. While this covers major cryptocurrencies like BTC, ETH, SOL, and LTC, individuals looking for a broader selection of cryptocurrencies may need to explore other platforms.

To facilitate your crypto purchases on Margex, you can sign up using the provided link and receive a generous $100 bonus for FREE, along with a 15% bonus based on your initial deposit amount. For detailed information on how to redeem this offer and understand its workings, you can refer to this link.

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#6. Weex: Best for fee-free spot trading, margin market depth, and copy trading

If you want to not only buy, but trade crypto, then Weex is an excellent choice for you. Weex does not require any identity verification, so you can trade anonymously, which is great if you are under 18.

For those who like to trade on the spot, the good news is that Weex does not charge any fee at all, whether you are a maker or taker! This is an excellent way to maximize your profits as you are not paying any commissions to the exchange. Also, Weex's liquidity is extremely high, even more than MEXC and Bitget, so whether you are making small or large trades, you don't need to worry about your orders being filled. Slippage is also kept to a minimum, and the exchange even compensates you if the slippage ends up being higher than a certain threshold.

Weex also specializes in futures trading, where you can trade USDT perpetual, inverse contracts, and simulated contracts, with low fees of 0.02/0.06% (maker/taker). There are 30+ trading pairs available, and while it is not the widest range of coins, they are the most popular assets.

When you use Weex, you can trust that your funds are always secure, as they have top-notch security, and even have a user protection fund with 1,000 BTC in reserve. If the exchange is hacked, users will be paid out from this reserve fund. Weex also holds several regulatory licenses (US MSB, Canada MSB, and SVGFSA) so you know they are allowed to operate legally in various jurisdictions across the globe.

The main downside is that you cannot buy crypto directly using fiat with Weex. However, if you are just looking to trade, you can buy crypto using another exchange on this list, then transfer it to Weex and start spot trading with 0 fees.

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#7. PrimeXBT: Best for CFD trading

You may want to consider other options than buying crypto directly, and PrimeXBT is a platform that lets you buy CFDs (contracts for difference). What this means is that instead of buying the cryptocurrency itself, you are buying contracts that will make you money based on the price of the crypto. This means you can even bet on the price to fall, if you think the market is dropping. Not only that, but you can buy CFDs for other markets besides cryptocurrency, including forex, indices, and commodities.

If you are interested in this, but are not confident in your own trading ability, PrimeXBT's Covesting tool (copy trading) makes it simple. You choose to follow one of the most profitable investors, and PrimeXBT will automatically make the same trades as that investor, without any input from you. You can profit from the market easily, just by mimicking what the experienced traders do.

PrimeXBT's trading fees are really low, at only 0.05%, but you must remember that you are margin trading CFDs. Margin trading can be extremely risky, so make sure you do your own research first, to see if it is something right for you, and never invest more than you can afford to lose.

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#8. Bisq: Best decentralized Bitcoin exchange 

Bisq rounds out my list of the best places to buy crypto if you are under 18. It is a decentralized exchange, where you can buy Bitcoin anonymously, without even the need to provide your name. It uses Tor, and is extremely secure, with no crypto or fiat funds held on the server.

There are over 15 methods of payment, but the thing to keep in mind is that you can only Bitcoin directly using fiat. To access the other 125+ coins that are available on Bisq, you need to first buy BTC, then trade it for the coin of your choice. The good news is that the trading fees are low, only 0.05% for makers and 0.35% for takers.

However, since it is a decentralized platform, it is not suitable for beginners. On the other hand, if you are quite tech savvy, then you may find Bisq to be the right exchange for you.