When you hear crypto platform, a digital system that lets users buy, trade, stake, or manage cryptocurrency. Also known as crypto exchange, it can be a centralized service like Upbit or a decentralized one like Biswap v2—but not all of them are alive, let alone safe. A real crypto platform gives you control, transparency, and access to real liquidity. Too many others? They’re ghost towns with fake websites, zero trading volume, and teams that vanished years ago.
There are three main types of crypto platforms you’ll run into. First, the crypto exchange, a marketplace where you trade crypto for fiat or other digital assets. These include regulated ones like Upbit for Koreans, or banned ones like Let'sBit that shut down without warning. Second, DeFi protocol, a smart contract-based system that lets you lend, earn, or swap without a middleman. Solidly was once one—but now it’s dead, with $211K in market cap and no users. Third, non-custodial wallet, a tool that puts your keys in your hands, not a company’s. These aren’t exchanges, but they’re the only way to stay safe when exchanges get blocked, like in Cambodia or Pakistan. Each type has different risks, rules, and rewards. You don’t need to use all of them—but you need to know which ones still work in 2025.
Regulation is now part of the game. AUSTRAC in Australia, the GENIUS Act in the U.S., and PVARA in Pakistan all force platforms to follow rules—or disappear. That’s why some platforms, like Nanu Exchange, vanished overnight: they never had the paperwork. Others, like Biswap v2, stay open because they’re built for experienced users who accept the risks. And then there are the fakes—MoMo KEY, CHIHUA, Asian Fintech—all pretending to offer free tokens while stealing your crypto. Spotting the difference isn’t about hype. It’s about checking trading volume, team identity, and whether anyone’s actually using it.
What you’ll find below isn’t a list of the best platforms. It’s a list of the ones that actually exist. Some are still running. Some are dead. Others were never real to begin with. You’ll see how Upbit works for locals but fails globally. Why Solidly is a cautionary tale. How a non-custodial wallet can save your assets when banks block crypto. And why you should never click on an airdrop that promises free tokens with no proof. This isn’t theory. It’s what happened. And what you need to know before you touch your next coin.
IncrementSwap shows no signs of being a legitimate crypto exchange in 2025. No reviews, no regulation, no transparency. Avoid it entirely and use trusted platforms like Kraken or Bybit instead.
