The state of cryptocurrencies in the Central African Republic is quite complex. In 2022, BTC was made legal tender, and shortly after, in 2023, the decision was repealed. Issues such as political instability, infrastructure inadequacy, and the digital divide threaten this emerging technology and thus affect its adoption.
However, in a quest to fight poverty and partake in the high returns of these virtual assets, the young population of this country patronises crypto exchanges for investing and trading purposes.
In this article, we will explore the best crypto exchanges that are providing an avenue for Central Africans to explore the crypto sphere and, most especially, why they are preferred.
Key Takeaways
- The regulation governing crypto exchange in the Central African Republic is quite complex.
- UEEx, Binance, and OKX rank among the top exchanges in the Central African Republic.
- Crypto exchanges such as Pursa and Symlix offer local payment methods for Central Africans.
- Before selecting an exchange, security, fees, liquidity, ease of use, payment methods, and customer support should be considered.
Top Exchanges in the Central African Republic in 2025
| Exchange | Best For | Trading Fees | Max Leverage | Available Assets | Fiat Support | Security Features | Unique Features |
| UEEx | Comprehensive dashboard for managing crypto and stocks | 0.09% Maker/Taker (spot);0.08-0.1% Maker/Taker (margin) | 200x | 200+ | 15+ Fiat currency support | – 93% of users’ assets stored in cold storage, – 2FA- Access control with IP and wallet whitelisting, – Proof of Reserve (PoR) | – UE Coin Miner app – Access to US and Hong Kong stocks |
| Binance | Wide range of assets | 0.1% Maker/Taker (spot and margin); 25% discounts for BNB holders | – Varies by asset- Up to 125x for Futures | 500+ | 100+ currencies | 2FA, SAFU fund, Cold storage | BNB fee discounts,Diverse offering (staking, DeFi, NFTs) Launchpad,DeFi integration |
| OKX | Advanced security infrastructure | Regular Users: Maker fee: 0.08% Taker: 0.1%VIP Users: Maker fee: 0.045%Taker fee: 0.050% | 100x for futures and 10x for spot | 350+ | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, and 40+ | OKX risk shield, MFA, Cold storage, PoR, anti-phishing codes, multi-signature wallets | Robust security features with regular external audits |
| Pursa | Strong security and Anonymity | Maker-taker fees (0.05% – 0.25%) | Varies | BTC, ETH, Tether, BNB, LTC, DOGE, and a few others, | 100+ | 2FA, cold storage | Pursa anonymous escrow and instant payment features |
| ByBit | Active and Derivatives trader | 0.1% Maker/Taker (spot trading); Liquidation Fee: 2% (margin) | 100x | 600+ | 60+ currencies | 2FA, Cold storage | Extensive derivatives offerings, Copy trading, Trading bots |
| SpectroCoin | Crypto-backed loan | Maker fees 0.05%. Taker fees: 0.1% | N/A | 50+ | 20+ fiat currencies | 2FA, Cold storage | Personal dedicated IBAN, Debit card |
| Symlix | Online P2P Market | N/A | N/A | Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, Solana, Bitcoin Cash, Stellar, Litecoin, Dash and Zcash | Numerous, but not explicitly mentioned | 2FA, Cold Storage | Secure PEP exchange (person-escrow-person) |
| Changelly | Instant transactions | Maker/Taker: 0.1%Liquidation fee (margin trading): 0.5% | N/A | 500+ | USD, EUR, CAD, AUD, GBP, HDK, TRY, RUB, CZK, DKK, NOK, PLN, SEK | Non-custodial platform | Fast and easy exchange process with no account needed, competitive exchange rates |
| Bitget | Attractive Affiliate and Referral program | 0.1% for both Makers and Takers. Bitget offers zero fees for BTC and ETH spot trading | Varies | 1200+ | 140+ fiat currencies supported | 2FA, Cold storage, PoR | Quanto swap contract trading (using a variety of crypto assets as collateral) |
1. UEEx – Best Overall
Source: UEEx
Summary: UEEx has a comprehensive dashboard suitable for beginners and experienced traders alike, with features to manage 200+ cryptocurrencies and other stocks.
Crypto trading can be quite technical and complex. Understanding the terminologies as a beginner and carrying out the analysis, even for an experienced trader, can be exhausting, especially if you don’t have the appropriate tools.
The situation is particularly challenging for a country like the Central African Republic, where digital literacy is limited, and infrastructure is underdeveloped. Dealing with unreliable internet connectivity while trying to use a resource-intensive crypto exchange with a complex dashboard can be slow and discouraging for users.
This is why most traders in the Central African Republic are opting for UEEx—a simple and light crypto exchange that can cater to all calibres of traders—beginners, experienced, and pro-traders. It has a user-friendly UI and offers buying and selling of over 200 crypto assets—from Bitcoin to altcoins, stablecoins, and even meme coins.
Crypto traders with other stock investments are not left out, as UEEx also supports other stocks, all in one platform. Traders can also access major US and Hong Kong stocks.
The security and privacy features of UEEx are top-notch, as it offers features such as 2,000 unique deposit addresses per user, storing 93% of user assets in cold wallets, alongside other advanced encryption techniques that comply with regulatory standards.
UEEx has innovative features like the UE Coin miner app, which allows users to mine UE Coin, the platform’s native token. It also offers copy trading, a feature where inexperienced traders can mirror the trades of experienced ones.
Pros
- User-friendly platform suitable for beginners and experienced traders
- Wide range of crypto assets and stocks
- Innovative features like copy trading and the UE Coin Miner app
- Robust security framework with cold storage and advanced encryption
- Multiple language support
Cons
- Relatively new exchange compared to some established players
- The UI of the web platform can be a lot more simple
Fees
- Spot Trading: 0.09% (Maker/Taker fee)
- Margin Trading: 0.08-0.10% (Maker/Taker fee)
A detailed breakdown of UEEx’s fees is contained on the image below:
Source: UEEx.com
2. Binance – Best for Wide Range of Assets
Source: Binance
Summary: Binance has an extensive list of crypto assets as well as newer projects, which makes it an attractive option for users seeking to diversify their investments.
Binance is notable for its low trading fees, extensive selection of coins, advanced trading features, high liquidity, strong security measures, and large user base. These are the ingredients for a reliable trading environment for both beginners and experienced traders.
You can reduce trading fees by 25% when you pay fees using Binance Coin (BNB).
Additionally, when you pay trading fees using Binance Coin (BNB), you can further reduce costs by 25%. Users can access features like staking, DeFi integration, and NFT offerings. Binance also provides a user-friendly mobile app, educational resources, and a comprehensive knowledge base.
In a low-income country like the Central African Republic, any opportunity to save money is always welcomed. Lower trading fees are especially appealing, which explains the growing interest of Central Africans in Binance.
Binance makes it even better. Through various incentives and regional reward programs, it is capturing the minds of the people. In 2023, it launched an exclusive P2P program that rewarded people for trading in the Central African Republic, Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Equatorial Guinea.
Pros
- Extensive selection of cryptocurrencies and features, including new projects
- Strong Reputation
- Low-fee approach to crypto investing
- User-friendly platform and mobile app
Cons
- Customer support is sometimes slow
- Some advanced features may be too overwhelming for beginners
Fees
- Trading Fees: Standard fee of 0.1% (makers and takers).
- Using Binance Coin (BNB), this can be reduced by 25% for makers and takers.
- Fee also reduces for VIP levels.
A detailed breakdown of the fees is as follows:
3. OKX – Best for Advanced Security Features
Source: OKX
Summary: OKX is one of the largest crypto exchanges out there. It offers services such as DeFi, NFTs, and staking. One unique feature of OKX is its security architecture.
The Web3 ecosystem, as we know, is filled with technical complexities that are overwhelming for beginners and sometimes even professionals. Enthusiasts tend to seek help from time to time for their investments and trades, and this creates room for scammers to thrive. This is why security should be prioritized when picking a crypto exchange.
OKX has done well in this regard. From the OKX risk shield to multiple authentication systems, use of cold storage, proof of reserves (PoR) strategy, anti-phishing codes, multi-signature wallets, and a host of others. This shows how robust the OKX security infrastructure is.
This exchange has over 350 crypto assets, and users can deposit and withdraw in over 40 fiat currencies. The trading fees, on the other hand, are very low.
Pros
- Competitive fees
- Robust security
- High-interest staking opportunities
- Ease to buy cryptocurrency using a card, bank account, or digital wallet
Cons
- Limited payment option
- The user interface may be overwhelming for beginners
Fees
- Maker/Taker Fees (Spot and Margin): Typically 0.1% for Taker, and 0.08% for Maker, but varies according to volume.
4. Pursa – Best for Anonymity
Source: Pursa
Summary: Pursa is well known for its anonymity, sleek escrow service, and enticing referral program.
Pursa is a crypto exchange where users can buy or sell cryptocurrencies anonymously. It supports a Bitcoin wallet to exchange fiat currencies and also has an escrow and a referral program.
This exchange offers deposits and withdrawals via local channels in the Central African Republic, making it a suitable and preferred exchange among its citizens and other 230 countries.
Some of these local channels include the Afriland First Bank, Airtel Money, Airtime Mobile Top Up, Bank Transfer, Cash Deposit to Bank, Ecobank, EUR Bank Transfer, MasterCard, MoMo, Moneybookers, Moov Money, MTN Mobile Money, Orange Money, PayPal, Perfect Money, Revolut, Skrill, TransferWise, US Bank Transfer, VISA or Wise.
Another amazing feature is the Pursa Escrow—an advanced solution that gives you the ability to set the price at which you want instant users to buy or sell bitcoin (BTC).
The referral program is also catchy as it offers 20% off Pursa’s fees on all referral sales and purchases, including all their future trades.
Pros
- Mobile-optimized website
- Decentralized escrow system
- Anonymity-centric
Cons
- Limited transparency regarding security measures
- No mobile application
Fees
- Maker-taker fees (0.05% – 0.25%)
5. ByBit – Best for Active and Derivative Traders
Source: ByBit
Summary: Ideal for experienced traders, especially those familiar with derivatives trading with leverage.
ByBit has made a name for itself in advanced trading features, particularly derivatives trading with leverage. It also has other features such as spot trading, advanced charting, and various order types. It also offers a mobile app, copy trading, and trading bots.
This exchange was founded in 2018 and it has witnessed an impressive growth rate as it serves over 40 million users worldwide. Through local currency support and flexible deposit options such as P2P, bank cards, advanced wallets, and wire transfers, ByBit has captured and attracted Central African traders.
Pros
- A diverse selection of cryptocurrencies and derivatives available for trading with leverage
- User-friendly platform and advanced trading tools
- Competitive fees
Cons
- Quite complex for beginners
- Customer support can be slow
- High-risk features like leverage trading need experience
Fees
- Trading Fee: Standard fee of 0.1% taker and maker fees for spot trading.
- Deposit Fee: Bank transfers have no fee, while card payments incur a 3.5% fee.
- Withdraw Fee: 2% (after the first 100 EUR monthly).
A detailed breakdown of the fees is as follows:
6. Spectrocoin – Best for Crypto-backed Loan
Source: Spectrocoin
Summary: Spectrocoin does not only offer exchange services but also issues crypto loans, personal IBANs, and debit cards.
Looking for a crypto-based loan? Spectrocoin has you covered. With this exchange, you can use your cryptocurrency holdings as collateral to back your crypto loan.
Spectrocoin crypto lending platform supports euros, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other currencies. Getting a loan is very easy. See the image below for the steps:
Aside from this service, users can also enjoy the services of a wallet that is linked to a personal and dedicated free international banking account number (IBAN) for fiat transactions. This is so cool because you can save your assets in crypto and still be able to make fiat transactions on the go.
Pros
- Crypto loans
- Free IBAN
- Great customer service
Cons
- Low volume
Fees
- Spot: Maker fees: 0.05%. Taker: 0.1% across most markets.
7. Symlix – Best for Online P2P Market
Source: Symlix
Summary: Fast P2P and PEP services that are supported by escrow.
Symlix makes it possible for Central Africans to sell cryptocurrencies between themselves via its peer-to-peer (P2P) and person-escrow-person (PEP) schemes. The Symlix marketplace guarantees trade safety by holding crypto assets in escrow until trade is completed.
The security infrastructure of this exchange is quite fair. All sensitive information is encrypted. By default, withdrawals are secured by an approval link to your email and 2-factor authentication (2-FA) for both login and withdrawal. Moreover, a temporary lock is placed on accounts with suspicious activities until verification.
Pros
- Fast and convenient P2P platform
- Trade easily without verification
- Good user interface
Cons
- Scam-related complaints against some vendors
- Slow customer support
- Not popular
Fees
- Trading Fees: Varies
- Deposit Fees: N/A
- Withdrawal Fees: N/A
8. Changelly – Best for Instant Transactions
Source: Changelly
Summary: Swift exchange platform without the need of owning an account, or going through numerous verification procedures.
Changelly is a non-custodial instant cryptocurrency exchange platform that focuses on providing a fast and simple way to exchange cryptocurrencies. It supports many coins and tokens, making it a good option for Central Africans who want to diversify their crypto holdings or trade between different assets.
Changelly stands out for its streamlined exchange process. Without an account or lengthy verification procedures, users can simply select the coins they want to exchange, enter the amount, and provide their wallet address. Changelly then finds the best exchange rate available and facilitates the swap quickly and efficiently.
This focus on speed and simplicity makes Changelly a convenient option for those who want quick transactions.
Pros
- Simple, easy-to-use interface
- Fast and easy exchange process with no account needed
- Competitive exchange rates
- Non-custodial platform, meaning users retain control of their funds
Cons
- Not regulated in the Central African Republic
- Limited customer support options
Fees
- Trading Fees: Standard fee of 0.1% for both Maker and Taker (for spot and margin).
A detailed breakdown of the fees is as follows:
9. Bitget – Best for Attractive Affiliate Programs
Source: Bitget
Summary: Enticing affiliate and referral programs.
Bitget has mouth-watering attractive affiliate and referral programs. This has resulted in some 45 million registered users on the platform. This is very impressive, considering the fact that this exchange was launched in 2018.
Other features working for Bitget include its competitive fees and an extensive list of over 1200 crypto assets to buy or sell.
A unique feature exclusively to Bitget is the Quanto Swap Contract—an interesting feature that allows users to use various crypto assets as collateral and then trade crypto on margin using a variety of crypto trading pairs.
The main benefit of this is that it allows traders to retain the charges for the conversion of coins to coins and allows them to collect profits earned from the higher value of coins.
Bitget has a robust security framework, including multiple-factor authentication, cold storage, and proof of reserves (PoR) to ensure the safety of its users’ assets.
Pros
- An extensive list of crypto assets
- Strong security framework
- Attractive referral and affiliate programs
- Innovative copy trading functionality
Cons
- Copy trading carries inherent risks for inexperienced users
- Limited information about specific deposit limits
Fees
- Trading fees: 0.1% for both makers and takers
- Futures trading fees are among the lowest in the industry
- No explicit deposit fee was mentioned on the website
A detailed breakdown of the fees is as follows:
Why Use a Crypto Exchange in the Central African Republic?
The real question is why shouldn’t you? If you’re an investor, you could patronize a custodian wallet or get a hardware wallet and store your assets, but if you are into or interested in buying and selling cryptocurrencies, you definitely need a crypto exchange.
Many crypto exchanges have some cool incentives, such as affiliate and referral programs, that could be a source of revenue generation for you.
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” — Benjamin Franklin, statesman, and inventor.
This quote reflects how to learn better by learning on the job. The copy trading feature is taking this to a whole new level by providing an opportunity for a novice trader to mirror and replicate trades from experienced traders. This is, of course, all thanks to crypto exchanges that are making it possible.
Factors to Consider When Choosing an Exchange
From the list above, it is quite evident there are numerous crypto exchanges around, so how do you know which is best to use?
Although I have hinted at the major strengths of these exchanges, here are some things you should still look forward to before making a decision:
Exchange Rates and Fees
The cheaper the better, right? Look out for exchanges with competitive fees, as this would save you a lot of money, especially if you trade regularly.
It is important to understand all the fees involved, including transaction fees, service charges, and any hidden costs.
Transparent providers will list all fees upfront to avoid any surprises. I would suggest you look out for such exchanges with nothing to hide.
Now, let’s apply this knowledge to a section of our previous table:
| Exchange | Trading Fees (Spot Trading) | Max Leverage | |
| Maker | Taker | ||
| UEEx | 0.09% | 0.09% | 200x |
| Binance | 0.1% | 0.1% | – Varies by asset- Up to 125x for Futures |
| OKX | 0.08% | 0.1% | 100x for futures and 10x for spot |
| Pursa | 0.05% – 0.25% | 0.05% – 0.25% | Varies |
| ByBit | 0.1% | 0.1% | 100x |
| SpectroCoin | 0.05% | 0.1% | N/A |
| Symlix | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Changelly | 0.1% | 0.1% | N/A |
| Bitget | 0.1% | 0.1% | Varies |
For spot trading, Spectrocoin, Pursa, UEEx, and OKX have more competitive fees, while other exchanges like Bitget, Binance, and Bybit follow closely. Symlix on the other hand did not explicitly state its fees on its website.
Users Reviews
In the words of Peter Drucker:
“The leader of the past knew how to tell. The leader of the future will know how to ask.“
Always research reviews of an exchange before making your choice. You can read about other users’ experiences on blogs, articles, and social media platforms, or check the reviews on the Google Play Store and App Store.
Let’s take a glance at some users’ reviews on TrustPilot below:
Always remember, the reviews are not always this good. Sometimes even, are exaggerated by the users. However, the response time of the exchange in a bid to solve the issues raised by its users matters a lot.
Reputation
Look out for exchanges with a solid reputation. Remember, reputation quality is determined by how well an exchange is seen, understood, and trusted, and how different its offering is compared to its competitors.
Factors like the number of users, customer reviews, accountability, and transparency metrics should be top priorities while gauging an exchange’s reputation.
Security
In the crypto-verse, security is everything, as a slight data breach can be catastrophic. Always rule out exchanges with histories of data breaches from your list.
Look out for crypto exchanges with multiple-factor authentication and other sophisticated security measures that will ensure the safety of your personal data and, most especially, your assets.
Compliance to Regulation
Confirm that the exchange abides by all the legal frameworks set by the country where it operates. In the case of the Central African Republic, the regulation governing the activities of crypto exchanges is quite complex; do well to keep this in mind, and make sure any exchange you intend to patronize is legally allowed to operate.
This is why we have curated the list above to help you with this decision.
Incentives and Additional Services
From Spectrocoin’s crypto-based loan feature to Bitget’s quanto swap contract trading, most crypto exchanges have one or more additional services that are sometimes exclusive to them in a bid to be unique from their competition.
You could leverage these incentives to make more from your trading or investing experience.
Customer Support
Who do you run to when you have questions? The crypto space is filled with scammers who are looking to exploit traders and investors. This is why active and good customer support should be prioritized.
Preferably, a live chat or a few ‘minutes-in-between-response’ customer service options should be sought out. You never know when you will need an on-the-go reply, especially in this space when volatility is everything. The bull run speaks volumes.
Local Currency Support, Acceptance, and Crypto Availability
What currencies do you deal with, and what cryptocurrencies are you looking towards investing, buying, or selling? Is it available on a particular exchange? These are the questions you should be asking.
Also, look out for fiat-conversion mechanisms employed by the exchange. Is it flexible enough? Are there numerous options? Is it swift? Is there P2P?
For Central Africans, Symlix and Pursa through their online P2P market support transactions via their local currency and as well, utilize local payment channels. This feature offers flexibility and in some instances may be more cost-effective.
If the exchange answers these questions to your satisfaction, I think you just found yourself a winner.
Getting Starting With UEEx in the Central African Republic
Trading on UEEx in the Central African Republic is simple. Follow these steps to get started:
Open an Account
Visit the UEEx website and click on Sign Up at the top of the homepage. You’ll need to:
- Enter your email address or phone number with the country code.
- Create a strong password that’s unique to your account.
- If you have an invitation code, use it to receive a commission.
After signing up, you’ll get a verification code sent to your email or phone. Enter the code to confirm and activate your account.
Deposit Funds
Once your account is active, deposit funds to start trading:
- Go to the Asset Management section.
- Decide whether to deposit cryptocurrency or fiat currency.
- Under the Recharge section, select your preferred deposit method.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
Be aware that deposits take time to process, depending on the method used. Crypto deposits on block confirmations, while fiat deposits depend on bank processing times.
Buy Cryptocurrency
Now that your account is funded, you’re ready to trade:
- Click Trade next to your chosen asset.
- Choose an order type:
- Market Order: Buys or sells immediately at the current market price.
- Limit Order: Allows you to set a specific price for buying or selling.
- Enter the amount of cryptocurrency you want to buy or the amount of fiat currency you want to spend.
- Review your order, then click Buy or Sell to complete the transaction.
Transfer to a Wallet
For better security, move your cryptocurrency to a personal wallet you control:
- Hardware Wallets: Physical devices like Ledger or Trezor that keep your crypto offline.
- Software Wallets: Apps like MetaMask or Trust Wallet that allow you to manage your crypto digitally.
By transferring to a personal wallet, you ensure greater protection for your assets.
Are Crypto Exchanges Legal in the Central African Republic?
The regulatory status of crypto exchanges in the Central African Republic is quite complex.
After Bitcoin’s status as legal tender was revoked in 2023, the Banking Commission of Central Africa (COBAC), which oversees the banking sector within the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), has reiterated its prohibition on the use of crypto-assets to ensure financial stability and protect client deposits.
This prohibition restricts the operations of crypto exchanges within the Central African Republic and other CEMAC member states; however, no new regulation has been set specifically for crypto exchange providers.
This leaves the legal framework by COBAC to prevail. This, however, also leaves crypto exchanges without a clear legal pathway to operate in the Central African Republic.
Conclusion
Selecting the right crypto exchange ultimately depends on your preferences and specific needs. However, it is essential to prioritize features like security, the exchange’s reputation, user feedback, and customer support.
Additionally, consider the exchange’s fees and unique offerings, such as referral and affiliate programs, crypto loans, escrow-powered P2P services, and other value-added features. These extras can significantly enhance your trading and investing experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What are the Best Crypto Exchanges in the Central African Republic?
UEEx, Binance, and OKX are highly recommended for their wide selection of crypto assets, strong reputations, robust security measures, and advanced trading tools.
- What is the Most Popular Exchange in the Central African Republic?
Binance stands out as the most widely used and trusted exchange in the Central African Republic.
- Are there any local alternatives to global crypto exchanges?
Yes, platforms like Pursa and Symlix provide localized solutions, offering payment methods that integrate seamlessly with regional banking systems and mobile money services.
