Best cryptocurrency trading platforms for Africans

If you are new to cryptocurrency trading and want to make your first trade but don’t know where to start, there’s no need to panic because you are a newbie. In this guide, you will learn about the best cryptocurrency trading platforms for Africans to trade Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies with their local currency.

The best cryptocurrency trading platforms for Africans

These are the best cryptocurrency trading platforms for Africans right now, based on customer base, reviews, and ease of use;

1. Cryptocally
2. Bitzlato
3. Coindirect
4. LocalBitcoins
5. Luno
6. Paxful
7. Quidax
8. Remitano

Cryptolocally

Cryptolocally started business officially in 2019 and has established itself as one of the most trusted P2P cryptocurrency trading platforms in the world thanks to its unique user interface and smart contract escrow system.

It is widely regarded as one of the best cryptocurrency trading platforms for Africans.

The crypto exchange giants offer clients a decentralized trading marketplace with no custody. Being non-custodial means that Cryptolocally does not hold its users’ cryptographic assets at any point during trading.

Cryptolocally’s fully decentralized system also means that it is community-driven.

Currently, the Cryptolocally exchange platform supports over 50 different payment methods for P2P trading worldwide and there are over 20 cryptocurrencies that can be traded on the platform.

And that is not even the best part, what’s even more interesting is that the platform simplifies trading by allowing users to trade in their local currencies.

In addition to all those perks, Cryptolocally has a Defi wallet that allows users to earn up to 30% annual percentage yield (APY). 

Furthermore, Cryptolocally is also one of the cheapest when it comes to P2P trading fees, with their fees being as low as 0.25%. The platform is fully operational in over 180 countries around the world on all continents.

So if you want to buy or sell cryptocurrencies in your local currency, you definitely have to try Cryptolocally.

And yeah, before we forget to inform you, Cryptolocally recently launched an academy to help novice cryptocurrency traders learn how to quickly start trading successfully.

Follow these steps to start trading on Cryptolocally:

1. Visit Cryptolocally’s website and create an account.
2. During the registration process, you will be asked to confirm your email address and phone number.
3. Once you’re logged in, click Buy and Sell
4. Click Buy on the left to see the list of users who want to sell cryptocurrencies on the platform. You can filter offers by location and payment methods.
5. Select the user you want to trade with.
6. Enter the amount of BTC you want to buy and the wallet address you want the cryptocurrency sent to.
7. After agreeing to the exchange terms, wait for the seller to make the deposit.
8. Make payment to the seller.
9. As soon as the seller confirms the payment, you will receive the bitcoins in your wallet.

Bitzlato

Bitzlato is an innovative P2P cryptocurrency exchange platform and one of the largest P2P exchanges in not just Africa but in several countries in the world. 

It has been operating as a P2P exchange since 2016 and offers quality services that have served thousands of satisfied customers. Users can buy cryptocurrencies using over 100 different payment methods.

Bitzlato special African offer: African users from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Botswana, Egypt, Central Africa, Angola, Algeria and Mozambique can buy and sell cryptocurrencies and create their own local African currency P2P ads with a 0% escrow fee.

It is widely regarded as one of the best cryptocurrency trading platforms for Africans.

To trade cryptocurrencies on Bitzlato, follow these steps:

1. Visit Bitzlato’s P2P page and create an account. You can also use Telegram Bot @BTC_CHANGE_BOT.
2. Please confirm your account registration via the confirmation email.
3. Operations including P2P transactions and withdrawals are possible without mandatory verification and KYC.
4. Select the cryptocurrency, your currency and your payment method.
5. Find a suitable ad and click the “Buy” button.
6. Enter the required amount and click the Start Trade button.

Once the exchange is complete, you will receive cryptocurrencies in your Bitzlato wallet.

Coindirect

Coindirect is a relatively new cryptocurrency trading platform currently available in 24 countries including Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. 

The platform allows users to buy and sell Bitcoins (BTC) and over 30 altcoins such as Cardano (ADA), Dash (DASH) and Monero (XMR). 

In addition, the peer-to-peer exchange offers escrow-secured transactions with transparent fees.

The platform allows users to transact in local currencies and provides 24/7 access to their website.

It is widely regarded as one of the best cryptocurrency trading platforms for Africans.

How to trade crypto on Coindirect:

1. Open coindirect.com in your browser and select your country.
2. Create an account by registering for free.
3. The platform will ask you to go through the Know Your Customer (KYC) process, which requires you to upload a selfie with your ID, a photo of your ID, and proof of address.
4. You will also need to enter your personal information. Add a bank account for cash withdrawals. You must also add a payment method for peer-to-peer payments.
5. Click on wallets to buy or receive BTC. You can also access conversion, shipping, and selling options on this tab.
6. Choose the P2P option at the top of the page to start trading.

LocalBitcoins

LocalBitcoins is the world’s most popular peer-to-peer bitcoin exchange. It allows users to buy and sell BTC safely.

The platform is available in all African countries where users are willing to buy and sell digital currencies. 

LocalBitcoins also supports a wide range of payment platforms, including mobile money platforms like M-Pesa, making it a popular exchange for African Bitcoin investors.

Traders with a high feedback score and trust level are likely to conduct more transactions on the platform.

LocalBitcoins is widely regarded as one of the best cryptocurrency trading platforms for Africans.

To buy bitcoin on this platform, follow these steps:

1. Visit localbitcoins.com and sign up for free.
2. After creating an account, the website will ask you to verify your email address.
3. You also need to verify your phone number, ID and real name in order to trade. Also, you need to increase the security level of your account by enabling two-factor authentication.
4. After completing these steps, select your country and preferred payment method to view available offers.
5. When you find an offer that suits your personal needs, click on it, send the amount to the seller and wait for the BTC to arrive in your wallet. Since the money is blocked, your funds are safe. However, for added security, it is best to only trade with reputable traders on the platform.

Luno

Luno is a global cryptocurrency exchange available in Nigeria, Zambia, Uganda and South Africa. The platform allows users to buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Ripple.

In addition, Luno offers a learning portal where users can learn more about cryptocurrencies.

Cryptocurrency exchanges allow users to make payments in their local currency.

For example, South African users doing business with Absa, Standard Bank, Ned Bank and FNB can make local currency deposits into their wallets via online banking.

Please note that payment methods may differ from country to country.

Luno has been voted as one of the best cryptocurrency trading platforms for Africans on several occasions.

To buy bitcoins on Luno, follow the steps below:

1. Visit Luno’s website or download the Luno app for Android or iOS
2. Create an account. You get a cryptocurrency wallet and the local currency
3. Verify your identity through the KYC process
4. Deposit funds into your wallet in local currency
5. Click “Buy Bitcoin” to make your purchase and follow the instructions
6. After a few minutes, you will have bitcoins in your cryptocurrency wallet. You can save it there or transfer it to another wallet.

Paxful

Paxful is another popular peer-to-peer bitcoin trading platform accessible to Africans. The platform allows users to buy, sell, spend and accept bitcoins.

Trading at Paxful is done online via live chat, while transactions are settled with a reputable escrow. 

Paxful is available in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, Mauritius, Algeria, Egypt, Rwanda and other African countries.

The platform offers more than 300 payment methods such as bank transfers, Western Union, PayPal, VISA, Mastercard and MoneyGram.

The Paxful marketplace has 1.7 million monthly active users worldwide and is, therefore, able to provide decent liquidity for cryptocurrency traders.

Paxful has been voted as one of the best cryptocurrency trading platforms for Africans on several occasions.

Follow these steps to buy bitcoin on Paxful:

1. Visit Paxful’s website and sign up for a free account and wallet. You can also start by clicking “Find Bitcoin Offers” before creating an account.
2. Confirm your email address and phone number and fill in the required basic information.
3. Increase the security of your account by adding two-factor authentication.
4. To buy bitcoins on the platform, enter your preferred amount and choose a currency and payment method. Then search for an offer and complete the transaction using your preferred payment option.
5. Upon completion, you will receive your BTC in your Paxful wallet.

Quidax

Quidax is one of Africa’s leading cryptocurrency trading platforms. They allow investors to buy and sell Bitcoin (BTC), Tether (USDT), Ether (ETH) and other cryptocurrencies with their local currencies.

Launched in 2018, Quidax has become particularly popular with crypto traders in Nigeria because when it launched, Naira (NGN) was the first supported fiat currency. Other local fiat currencies followed shortly.

Currently, the trading platform allows investors to buy, sell, and hold BTC, USDT, ETH, TRX, LTC, DASH, and XRP. Quidax also has an app for iOS and Android mobile devices.

Quidax is widely regarded as one of the best cryptocurrency trading platforms for Africans.

Here’s how to trade cryptocurrencies on Quidax:

1. Create an account on Quidax with your name and email address.
2. Choose a strong password and confirm your account registration via confirmation email.
3. Fund your account with credit card, debit card or bank transfer.
4. Place an order to buy Bitcoins or “Buy It Now”
5. Once the transaction has been executed, you will receive your purchased BTC in your Quidax wallet.

Remitano

Remitano is a secure P2P cryptocurrency trading platform where users can buy and sell Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and Tether USDT.

The Remitano platform is a product of Babylon Solutions Limited incorporated in Seychelles. Currently, they are available in Nigeria, Kenya South Africa, and a host of other countries.

Remitano has a user-friendly interface that makes trading cryptocurrency on the platform quick and easy. Supported payment methods include bank transfers and mobile money banking solutions such as M-Pesa in Kenya.

How to trade cryptocurrencies on Remitano:

1. Create a free account on Remitano by entering your email address and following the instructions
2. Click on your profile to provide your phone number and upload the required KYC documents.
3. Add two-factor authentication to secure your account.
4. Once done, you can start trading by looking for ads in the crypto buy/sell section.
5. Once the transaction is complete, you will receive your crypto in your Remitano wallet.

For more details on the best safest storage options for your cryptocurrencies, see our cryptocurrency wallets guide for Kenyans, Nigerians, South Africans, Zimbabweans, and other African nations.