Allows users to buy bitcoin, ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies directly from other people through a variety of different methods.

Derivatives include futures, options, and margin trading businesses for bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies with varying degrees of margin, from OTC to regulated exchanges.

Cryptocurrency only exchanges provide access to blockchain assets, altcoins and other cryptocurrencies without any fiat gateway.

A centralized exchange handles the trading of bitcoin to fiat or other cryptocurrencies. An exchange’s purpose is to allow you to trade BTC for fiat currency and to other cryptocurrencies.

Decentralized exchanges are not operated by a central authority and are thus considered more secure as they do not provide cybercriminals with centralized points of failure that can be easily compromised. Decentralized exchanges also require no user verification.