Cryptocurrencies continue to transform the financial world, attracting millions of users with their decentralized nature and high earning potential.
In 2025, trading digital assets is becoming even more accessible, but success largely depends on choosing a reliable broker or exchange. For Russian users, this is especially relevant due to local regulatory specifics and limited access to some global platforms.
In this article, we will explore the theoretical foundations of cryptocurrency brokers, key criteria for selecting them, and present a ranking of the best trading platforms in 2025.
What is a Cryptocurrency Broker, and How Does It Differ from an Exchange?
A cryptocurrency broker is an intermediary that facilitates the buying, selling, and trading of cryptocurrencies for users. Unlike traditional crypto exchanges, where traders interact directly with each other (P2P or through order books), brokers often act as counterparties, offering fixed prices and a simplified interface.
However, in the crypto space, the terms “broker” and “exchange” often overlap since many modern platforms (such as Bybit or OKX) combine both functions—spot trading, futures, and brokerage services.
- Brokers. Ideal for beginners, offering fixed prices and minimal complexity.
- Exchanges. Suited for experienced traders, providing more control and a variety of trading tools (e.g., margin trading, staking).
For the Russian market, hybrid platforms are particularly popular as they combine ease of use with advanced features and support P2P trading to bypass banking restrictions.
How to Earn on Cryptocurrency Trading with a Broker?
Trading cryptocurrency through a broker in 2025 offers numerous ways to make a profit—from simple buy-and-hold strategies to complex futures trading and automation. Success depends on market understanding, choosing the right platform, and managing risks. Below, we’ll cover the main earning methods available through modern crypto brokers and provide recommendations for Russian users.
Spot Trading: Buy Low, Sell High
How It Works: Spot trading is the most basic method, where you buy cryptocurrency (e.g., Bitcoin or Ethereum) at the current market price and sell it when the price rises. For example, if you buy 1 BTC for 5 million rubles on MEXC, you can sell it for 5.5 million if the market goes up.
Tips:
- Follow news and market trends (BTC price often reacts to global events).
- Use platforms with low trading fees, such as MEXC (0% for makers) or OKX (low fees).
- Start with small amounts to test your strategy.
Example for Russia: Через P2P на BYBIT Using P2P on Bybit, you deposit 10,000 RUB, buy USDT, then exchange it for a promising token (e.g., a new altcoin). If the token’s price increases by 20%, you lock in profits and withdraw back to rubles via P2P.
Futures and Margin Trading: Profiting from Price Movements
How It Works:
Futures trading allows you to earn from both rising and falling prices by using leverage (e.g., 10x). If you predict BTC will rise from $60,000 to $62,000, with 10x leverage, your profit is multiplied by 10. Platforms like Bitget and Bybit offer access to these high-liquidity instruments.
Tips:
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Learn technical analysis (support/resistance levels, RSI indicators).
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Set stop-loss orders to limit potential losses—crypto markets are highly volatile.
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Start with low leverage (2x–5x), especially if you’re a beginner.
Risks:
High leverage amplifies both profits and losses. For example, a 10% price drop with 10x leverage could liquidate your entire deposit.
Staking: Passive Income from Holding
How It Works:
Many brokers, such as Gate.io and OKX, allow you to “freeze” cryptocurrency for a specific period, earning interest (usually 5–15% annually). For example, by staking 1 ETH on Gate.io at 10% per year, traders can earn 0.1 ETH over the year without active trading.
Tips:
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Choose flexible staking (with the option to withdraw at any time) for liquidity.
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Compare yields: Bitget sometimes offers promotions with higher rates.
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Suitable for long-term investors who don’t want to take on too much risk.
Example: Deposit 50,000 RUB via P2P on OKX, buy USDT, and stake it at 8% per year. After a year, you will receive around 4,000 RUB in passive income.
Also read: Staking vs. Yield Farming: Which Is Better for Earning in 2025?
Arbitrage: Profit from Price Differences
How It Works: Cryptocurrency arbitrage involves buying cryptocurrency on one platform at a low price and selling it on another at a higher price. For example, BTC on MEXC costs 60,000 USD, and on Gate.io it costs 60,200 USD. The 200 USD difference is your profit, minus the fees.
Tips:
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Use platforms with low fees (MEXC, Bybit) to maintain profitability.
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Consider transaction times—delays may erode profits.
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Monitor prices via aggregators like CoinMarketCap or use specialized arbitrage scanners.
Feature in Russia: P2P arbitrage is popular: buy USDT at a lower price from one seller and sell it at a higher price to another on the same platform (e.g., Bitget).
Also read: Top 15 Cryptocurrency Arbitrage Scanners in 2025
Trading Bots: Automating Profit
How It Works: Bots on platforms like Bybit or OKX automatically buy and sell cryptocurrency based on predefined algorithms (e.g., the “grid strategy”—buying at lows and selling at highs). You set the parameters, and the bot works 24/7.
Tips:
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Start with demo mode, if available, to test the strategy.
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Use popular templates (Bitget offers ready-made settings).
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Monitor the bot—market conditions can change suddenly.
Related Article: Top 10 Crypto Bots in 2025: Ranking the Best Bots for Crypto Trading and Automated Trading
Example: On Bitget, you invest 20,000 RUB in USDT, set up a bot on the BTC/USDT pair, and earn 2–5% per week with moderate volatility.
Referral Programs: Earnings from Invitations
How It Works: Brokers like MEXC (up to 70% of referral commissions) and Bybit offer bonuses for inviting friends. If your referral trades 1 million RUB, you can earn a portion of their commission (e.g., 1,000 RUB).
Tips:
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Share your link on social media or in crypto communities.
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Choose platforms with high referral rates (MEXC leads the way).
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This is passive income that doesn’t require active trading.
Participation in New Projects (IDO/Launchpools)
How It Works: Platforms like Gate.io and MEXC conduct Initial DEX Offerings (IDO) or Launchpools, where you invest funds (e.g., USDT) and receive new tokens. If the project “takes off,” the token’s price may increase by 10–100 times.
Tips:
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Research the projects before participating—there are many scams.
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Only invest what you can afford to lose.
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Keep an eye on announcements on broker websites.
Example: By investing 10,000 RUB in a Launchpool on MEXC, you receive tokens for a new project. If the price of those tokens rises by 50%, your earnings will amount to 5,000 RUB.
Top Cryptocurrency Brokers of 2025
Based on theoretical principles and analysis of the current market, we have compiled a ranking of platforms that are optimal for Russian users in 2025. These brokers combine accessibility, functionality, and security.
1. Bybit
- General Information. The brokerage company Bybit was founded in 2018, with its headquarters in Dubai. It offers trading in derivatives with leverage up to 100x, copy trading, and trading bots.
- Security. In February 2025, Bybit was hacked for $1.5 billion, with the attack being attributed to North Korean hackers. CEO Ben Zhou stated that the platform would cover the losses, but this incident affected user trust. The security rating has been lowered to 7 out of 10.
- Commissions. Bybit offers low, competitive fees, especially for derivatives.
- Features. The platform is user-friendly, with a fast trading engine, supporting more than 1219 spot cryptocurrencies.
- Customer Support. Available in multiple languages, but reviews are mixed, particularly after the hack.
- Reputation. Bybit has a strong reputation. Despite the hack, the exchange continued to process withdrawals for all users, demonstrating its good customer service. It remains in the top 3 leaders globally.
- Available Assets. Over 1219 spot cryptocurrencies and 60+ fiat currencies.
- Leverage. Up to 100x on derivatives.
- Final Rating. Bybit is suitable for both beginners and experienced traders but requires caution due to recent events.
2. OKX
- General Information. Formerly OKEx, rebranded to OKX in 2022. It is a global trading platform with offices in the UAE, Singapore, and other regions.
- Security. OKX implements strong security measures, including cold storage and two-factor authentication. There have been no major incidents. In January 2025, it received preliminary approval for MiCA from the Malta Financial Services Authority.
- Commissions. Low, competitive fees with discounts for active traders.
- Features. Supports over 327 assets, including spot trading, futures, staking, and P2P.
- Customer Support. 24/7 chat, email, and an extensive help center.
- Reputation. Highly reputable, with coverage in over 100 countries and positive reviews. However, there are some restrictions for residents of Europe.
- Available Assets. Over 327 cryptocurrencies and 533 pairs.
- Leverage. Up to 100x on futures.
- Final Rating. A reliable platform for earning money, favored by most traders.
3. Binance
- General Information: Market leader, over 250 million users, Binance was founded in 2017, offices in various countries.
- Security: High, with cold storage, regulatory compliance in different jurisdictions.
- Fees: 0.1% maker/taker, 25% discount for BNB holders.
- Features: Spot, margin, futures trading,NFTs, staking.
- Customer Support: Excellent, multilingual, quick response.
- Reputation: Best in the industry, leader in trading volume.
- Available Assets: Over 350 cryptocurrencies, 1300+ pairs.
- Leverage: Up to 125x on futures.
- Overall Rating: A good choice for most traders.
4. BingX
- General Information: BingX was founded in 2018, offices in Singapore, the EU, and Australia, a platform for social trading.
- Security: Good measures, including KYC for some functions, no major incidents.
- Fees: Very low, 0% maker, 0.0% taker on spot, 0% maker, 0.01% taker on futures.
- Features: Spot, futures, copy trading, up to 200x leverage.
- Customer Support: Available, but reviews are mixed.
- Reputation: Growing, over 20 million users in 2024.
- Available Assets: Over 1000 cryptocurrencies, 1000+ pairs.
- Leverage: Up to 200x on futures.
- Overall Rating: A great choice for beginners and active traders.
5. MEXC
- General Information: MEXC was founded in 2018, headquartered in the Seychelles, popular among traders.
- Security: Proof of reserves, advanced measures, but KYC is mandatory starting in 2024.
- Fees: 0% maker, 0.0% taker on spot, 0% maker, 0.01% taker on futures.
- Features: Spot, futures, up to 200x leverage, ETFs, staking.
- Customer Support: Good, but not always fast.
- Reputation: Positive, ranked in the top 10 by trading volume.
- Available Assets: Over 2500 cryptocurrencies, 2900+ pairs.
- Leverage: Up to 200x on futures.
- Overall Rating: A competitor to BingX, suitable for active traders.
6. Pionex
- General Information: Pionex was founded in 2019, Singapore, specializing in automated trading.
- Security: MSB license from FinCEN, asset storage through Binance and Huobi.
- Fees: 0.05% maker/taker, very low.
- Features: 16 free trading bots, user-friendly interface, but fewer assets.
- Customer Support: Available, but mixed reviews.
- Reputation: Average, relatively new player.
- Available Assets: Limited selection, around 100 pairs.
- Leverage: Up to 5x, lower than competitors.
- Overall Rating: Ideal for bots, but not for wide-scale trading.
7. Gate.io
- General Information: Gate.io was founded in 2013, one of the oldest, with its headquarters in the Cayman Islands.
- Security: Strong measures, reserve fund of $10.328 billion as of January 2025.
- Fees: Low, competitive.
- Features: Over 1700 assets, NFT, futures, P2P.
- Customer Support: Available, but not always fast.
- Reputation: High, long history, but unavailable in the USA.
- Available Assets: 1700+ cryptocurrencies.
- Leverage: Up to 100x on futures.
- Overall Rating: Reliable choice for experienced traders.
8. CoinEx
- General Information: CoinEx was founded in 2017, Hong Kong, part of the ViaBTC ecosystem.
- Security: Average, proof of reserves, but questions about transparency.
- Fees: Low, starting from 0.2%, but dependent on the level.
- Features: Over 700 coins, spot, futures, staking.
- Customer Support: Weak, many complaints.
- Reputation: Average, mixed reviews.
- Available Assets: 700+ coins, 1124 pairs.
- Leverage: Up to 100x on futures.
- Overall Rating: Suitable for basic trading, but with caution.
9. HTX
- General Information: Formerly Huobi Global, HTX was founded in 2013, headquartered in Seychelles, with over 45 million users.
- Security: Good measures, including AML and KYC, but mixed reviews.
- Fees: Competitive, but not the lowest.
- Features: A wide range of assets, spot, futures, staking.
- Customer Support: Average, many complaints about delays.
- Reputation: High, but with caveats due to past issues.
- Available Assets: Wide selection, exact number not specified.
- Leverage: Up to 125x on futures.
- Overall Rating: Suitable for experienced traders, but requires checking.
10. Deribit
- General Information: Deribit was founded in 2016, Panama, specializing in derivatives.
- Security: Good, no major incidents, strong reputation.
- Fees: Low, maker -0.02%, taker up to 0.05%.
- Features: Options, futures, up to 100x leverage, leader in options volume.
- Customer Support: Available 24/7, positive reviews.
- Reputation: High, dominates the options market.
- Available Assets: Limited selection, focused on BTC, ETH, SOL.
- Leverage: Up to 100x on futures.
- Overall Rating: Best choice for derivatives.
Also read: Best Crypto Exchanges in 2025: TOP ranking of cryptocurrency exchanges operating in Russia.
FAQ
How does broker selection work from a psychological perspective?
- Trust. A broker’s reputation (like Gate.io, which has been around since 2013) reduces the fear of losing funds.
- Simplicity. Newcomers prefer intuitive interfaces (OKX has a minimum deposit of $5).
- Social Influence. Reviews and referral bonuses (MEXC) motivate registration.
- Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). Platforms with a wide variety of new tokens (like Gate.io) attract speculators.
Understanding these factors helps explain the popularity of certain brokers among different audiences.
How to minimize risks?
- Hacks. History knows incidents like Mt. Gox (2014). Choose platforms with cold storage of crypto assets and insurance funds (Bybit, OKX).
- Volatility. Prices can plummet in hours. Use stop-losses and diversification.
- Fraud. Phishing sites impersonate brokers. Always check the URL and enable 2FA.
- Regulatory Blockades. Sudden bans can restrict access. P2P platforms (like Bitget) reduce this risk.
In theory, awareness of risks and choosing a reliable broker is the foundation of safe trading.
How do crypto brokers work?
- Registration and Verification. The user creates an account, sometimes undergoing KYC (Know Your Customer) for regulatory compliance.
- Funding the Account. Through fiat currencies (like RUB) or crypto via P2P services, bank cards, or e-wallets.
- Trading. The user buys, sells, or exchanges cryptocurrencies through spot markets, futures, or other tools.
- Withdrawals. Withdrawals are possible to crypto wallets or via P2P in fiat currency.
Brokers earn from commissions (for trades, deposits/withdrawals) and spreads (the difference between buy and sell prices). For example, MEXC is known for its minimal commissions, attracting cost-conscious traders.
Broker Economics: Where do they make their profits?
- Transaction Fees. Typically, each trade charges a commission of 0.1–0.2% of the volume (on MEXC, makers get 0% commission).
- Spreads. The difference between buy and sell prices, especially noticeable in volatile markets.
- Withdrawal Fees. Some charge a fixed amount or percentage (Gate.io minimizes these fees).
- Additional Services. Staking, lending, referral programs (MEXC gives up to 70% of referral commissions).
For users, choosing a broker with low fees (like MEXC or Bybit) can boost net profits, especially with frequent trades.
What technological innovations are expected in 2025?
- DeFi Integration. Platforms like Bitget are starting to offer access to decentralized protocols where users can earn from staking or liquidity pools.
- Artificial Intelligence. Trading bots (like those on Bitget) use AI for market analysis and automatic trades.
- Cross-Chain Solutions. Bridges between blockchains (e.g., Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain) could expand asset offerings on platforms like Gate.io.
- Mobile Apps. Convenience in trading “on the go” is becoming standard (Bybit and OKX lead with positive reviews for their mobile apps).
These innovations allow brokers to become more than just intermediaries between people, but full-fledged financial ecosystems.
Which platforms offer better trading conditions compared to traditional exchanges like Coinbase?
How is trading through a broker different from direct exchange trading, and which is more popular?
Which platforms collaborate with major exchanges to increase liquidity?
What crypto assets do crypto brokers most frequently support?
What risks are associated with using crypto brokers in 2025?
How does regulation impact the work of crypto brokers in 2025?
