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If you are a freelancer or an entrepreneur like me who offers clients the option to make payments in crypto, then an exchange is a service you can’t do without. You need it not only to help you process the payments but also to convert the crypto you receive into fiat money.
I have known Gemini to be an exchange with a strong reputation for security and ease of use. However, I have also explored many other options. Today, I believe that a few of these alternatives are great or even better options, especially for freelancers and digital entrepreneurs.
The following is my list of Gemini alternatives I believe you should look at, especially because they offer a wide range of unique features!
Xverse
Xverse isn’t an exchange per se, but a non-custodial wallet that offers a lot more. It is specifically designed to unlock the full potential of Bitcoin. It enables you to securely receive, store and send not only BTC but also Bitcoin-based assets like Ordinals, Runes, STX and STRK. It also has a swap feature that allows you to move value between the different assets.
Its seamless integration with Bitcoin Layer 2 protocols, such as Stacks, Starknet, and Spark, gives access to the fast-growing Bitcoin DeFi. This makes it possible for you to use your accumulated bitcoin in multiple ways and earn yield on it. You can easily create a wallet from within Xverse and share the address with clients and whoever else needs to send you bitcoin or bitcoin-related tokens.
Key Features
- Non-custodial: Unlike Gemini and most of the other crypto platforms, Xverse gives you complete control over your assets.
- Bitcoin-focused: Xverse is your all-in-one portal for bitcoin and Bitcoin-related digital assets. You can receive, mint, trade, store and send different kinds of Bitcoin-native assets with ease.
- Earn bitcoin: Using the platform, you can easily participate in staking BTC and stacking STX to earn bitcoin rewards.
- dApp integration: Seamlessly connect to Bitcoin Layer 2 solutions and decentralized applications to explore the expanding world of Bitcoin DeFi.
- Cross-chain swaps: Supports BTC swaps with other currencies through integrated partners.
- User-friendly: Despite its advanced features, Xverse maintains an intuitive interface, making it accessible to both beginners and experienced users.
Binance
Binance is a custodial crypto exchange that caters to a global audience. It offers a diverse range of services. You can create a wallet on the platform to receive crypto payments in various cryptocurrencies. You can also use the platform to convert the payment into fiat.
The exchange has a payment gateway, Binance Pay. This is designed to help entrepreneurs accept different forms of crypto. The service is, however, more adapted for larger merchants.
Key Features.
- Custodial: Binance operates as a custodial exchange, meaning you need to trust the exchange with your funds. It does, however, offer a non-custodial option through its partnership with Trust Wallet.
- Vast cryptocurrency selection: Binance supports over 350 cryptocurrencies, and this is one of the most extensive lists.
- BNB Chain: A popular blockchain for decentralized applications (dApps) and new token launches, offering faster and cheaper transactions than Ethereum.
- Comprehensive ecosystem: Binance offers a wide array of services, including Binance Pay, a solution designed to help businesses accept crypto.
Coinbase
Coinbase is a cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2012. It functions primarily as a custodial platform. This means that Coinbase holds the private keys to your wallets. You have to trust it to make your assets available when you need them.
The exchange serves primarily as a fiat on-ramp and offers an interface for buying, selling, and storing a wide variety of cryptocurrencies. Beyond its retail exchange, Coinbase offers advanced features for entrepreneurs and businesses, including a payment gateway, Coinbase Commerce.
Key Features
- Custodial: The central Coinbase exchange is custodial, meaning it needs you to trust it with your assets.
- Separate non-custodial product: Coinbase Wallet is a standalone product that enables self-custody and interaction with decentralized applications (dApps).
- Crypto payment processor: Coinbase has a product that helps businesses accept crypto payments, Coinbase Commerce.
UpHold
Uphold is a digital money platform founded in 2014 that bridges the gap between traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi). This custodial platform distinguishes itself by offering payment processing services, specifically through its enterprise dashboard.
Through Uphold’s gateway, your business can accept payments in both crypto and fiat currencies from anywhere on the globe. What’s more, you can integrate the payments directly into your checkout system.
Key Features
- Custodial: Functions as a custodial platform, meaning it secures assets on your behalf.
- Integration into checkout: Using Uphold’s API, you can automate payments, manage cross-border payouts, and move money between wallets
- Integration with Brave browser: Native integration for earning and managing Basic Attention Token (BAT).
Gate.io
Gate.io is a global custodial exchange founded in 2013. Gate Pay, Gate.io’s crypto payment processor, is designed to enable your business to accept payments in over 20 different cryptocurrencies.
It supports B2B solutions, bulk payouts, white-label options, and fiat on/off-ramps, with integrations expanding through partnerships like Zypto and Alchemy Pay.
Key Features
- Custodial: A custodial exchange where the platform holds user assets on their behalf.
- Diverse selection: Supports arguably one of the largest selections of cryptocurrencies.
Which Gemini Alternative Is the Best?
The best alternative to Gemini depends on your unique needs. Your choice hinges on your priorities.
While centralized exchanges can serve as solutions for accepting cryptocurrency payments, they should be viewed as temporary stopgaps, rather than long-term storage solutions. The core promise of cryptocurrency is the ability to be your own bank, and you can only achieve this through self-custody.
The choice is clear for anyone serious about securing their digital wealth. By giving you complete control over your private keys, non-custodial platforms empower you to truly own the assets you accumulate.