Industry-leading security track record and strong regulatory standing. The safest all-round choice for serious crypto investors, particularly in the US and Europe.
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Last updated
2
Regulated Exchanges
Country
United StatesJurisdiction
New York, United States
Tier
Tier 1
Comprehensive crypto regulatory framework with licensing requirements, asset segregation, and consumer protections.
Official Website
dfs.ny.gov
The New York Department of Financial Services BitLicense is the most stringent state-level crypto-specific licence in the United States. Introduced in 2015, the BitLicense framework requires any entity transmitting, exchanging, or holding virtual currency on behalf of New York residents to obtain authorisation from NYDFS - a process that involves exhaustive capital adequacy reviews, cybersecurity audits, AML/BSA compliance programmes, and ongoing regulatory reporting. The licence is categorically different from FinCEN registration, which is a baseline federal anti-money-laundering requirement; a BitLicense holder has passed a far more demanding supervisory standard. Only a handful of exchanges hold a BitLicense, including Coinbase and Kraken, making it the gold standard for US-regulated crypto exchange infrastructure. For investors in the US - particularly institutional participants - a BitLicense is the clearest indicator that an exchange has undergone serious regulatory scrutiny.
Verify on official register
Check an exchange's licence status directly on NYDFS's public register.
NYDFS Regulated Crypto Exchanges
2 brokers
The most regulated crypto exchange in the US. Best-in-class institutional custody and unmatched regulatory clarity for US-based investors.
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NYDFS is classified as a Tier 1 crypto regulator. Comprehensive crypto regulatory framework with licensing requirements, asset segregation, and consumer protections.
We currently list 2 crypto exchanges regulated or registered under NYDFS. The full list is shown above, sorted by overall rating.
NYDFS is based in United States and covers the New York, United States jurisdiction. As a Tier 1 crypto regulator, it requires exchanges to hold client assets separately, maintain capital reserves, and meet ongoing compliance obligations, comparable to MiFID II standards for traditional finance.
Visit the official NYDFS website and use their public register or licence verification tool. Enter the exchange's registered name to confirm its current status. This is the most reliable way to verify regulatory standing.
NYDFS regulation primarily addresses licensing, AML/KYC compliance, and operational standards. Compensation for hacks depends on the exchange's own insurance fund or Proof of Reserves commitments, not typically a government-backed compensation scheme. Always choose exchanges with published cold storage ratios and Proof of Reserves attestations.