Franklin Silva
Asset 1Last Update: October 4, 2023

Lightyear is one of the biggest names in investing in the UK. It has been around for some time, and has built a solid reputation and history.

Lightyear offers stocks, ETFs, and other products to its clients. But is there a Lightyear cryptocurrency platform? Unfortunately, cryptocurrencies are not one of the products you can buy on Lightyear right now.

Here are some Lightyear Cryptocurrency alternatives:

eToro provides a crypto exchange that allows trading in more than 40 cryptocurrencies and a user base of over 30 million registered accounts

76% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

Coinbase is a crypto trading and investment platform that allows you to buy, sell, and transfer over 200 cryptocurrencies.

81% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

Binance is the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, with users from more than 180 countries, offering trading in over 600 cryptocurrencies.

81% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

In this article, we will introduce alternative brokers you can use when trying to gain real exposure to cryptocurrencies. 

Can you buy crypto on Lightyear?

On the Lightyear trading platform, you cannot buy nor sell cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Altcoins. This is due to the fact that their app lacks the framework required to handle cryptocurrency services like an exchange or a secure wallet. Despite the absence of Lightyear cryptocurrency options, alternative methods exist to purchase cryptocurrencies and obtain real exposure to them.

Pros and Cons of Indirect Exposure through Lightyear

There are two ways to gain exposure to cryptocurrencies and other digital assets:

  • Direct Crypto Exposure: Direct investment means purchasing Bitcoin or other digital tokens directly through a digital asset exchange or private wallet.
  • Indirect Crypto Exposure: Through indirect investing, you can gain access to a range of digital assets through single-asset investment trusts, publicly traded crypto-securities on the OTC markets, exchange-traded funds, and mutual funds that invest in digital assets.

Lightyear does not offer direct crypto purchases, as there is no Lightyear cryptocurrency platform. Still, it allows indirect exposure through ETPs and investment in cryptocurrency and blockchain equities. This implies that you can only purchase cryptocurrency-related stocks and ETFs that are traded publicly.

Pros:

  • Simple and easy. You can buy indirect exposure without creating a separate trading account or a digital wallet.
  • Diversification. This is one of the main objectives of any effective asset allocation strategy. Some mining companies specialise in several cryptocurrencies simultaneously, providing diverse exposure through a single stock.

Cons:

  • Possible weak correlations with cryptocurrency. Even if a corporation generates money by mining for currencies using the proof-of-work consensus mechanism, other company-specific factors may influence its share value.
  • No crypto ownership. The ability to own a cryptocurrency without institutions or governments getting involved is a common subject. But, if you own a cryptocurrency ETF, you don’t have any control over the asset.

Alternatives for Real Exposure to Cryptocurrencies

eToroCoinbaseBinance
Real Crypto Exposure
Cryptos Supported40+200+600+
Active Users30 million +98 million +90 million +
Customer SupportLive chat and emailChat bot and automated phone systemVia Twitter, chatting with a representative, or submitting a ticket

Number of cryptocurrencies: 60+

Minimum Deposit UK: £10

Fees: 1% (on buy and sell positions – other fees may apply)

Pros

✔️ Invest in crypto, stocks, and ETFs

✔️ Copytrading feature

✔️ Demo account

Cons

❌ Limited account type

❌ Absence of cutting-edge trading features

Launched in 2007, eToro is a cutting-edge trading platform that stands out for its unique social trading feature. Using this feature, you can research and copy the trades made by more seasoned traders for crypto assets. eToro enables you to trade various crypto assets and invest in other products, including CFDs, ETFs, equities, commodities, and Forex.

The process of opening an eToro account and making a deposit is easy; you can even test the account out with virtual currencies. Credit cards and PayPal are only two of the payment methods you can use to purchase cryptocurrencies. The only acceptable base currency is the USD; thus, you must pay exchange rates when depositing and withdrawing, and spreads for some products can be expensive.

eToro has created a really simple, modern-looking trading platform that is simple to use and excellently functional. This is accessible on both the web and mobile, while a desktop version is yet to be released. The eToro mobile app is unquestionably a unique market offering. The mobile app is easy to use and packed with great features.

The customer support provided by eToro is adequate. It includes several messaging services, such as a live chat feature and a web-based ticketing system. Your questions should receive a prompt response from knowledgeable eToro customer support representatives. But unlike some trading platforms, there is no after-hours customer care available.

eToro is an excellent option if you are interested in social and copy trading. In terms of security, eToro has implemented an optional two-step login mechanism, which, while making logging in significantly more difficult, does offer you an additional level of security. eToro is also fully regulated and monitored by top-tier regulators such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment, and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 minutes to learn more.

Number of cryptocurrencies: 100+

Minimum Deposit UK: £50

Fees: Between 0.50% and 1.50% (3.99% for credit card purchases)

Pros

✔️ Quick crypto withdrawals

✔️ Simple and advanced trading

✔️ Wide selection of cryptocurrencies

Cons

❌ High trading fees

❌ Limited interest opportunities

Coinbase was established in 2012 as a platform for sending and receiving Bitcoin. Over time, the company expanded to support hundreds of cryptocurrencies and is currently one of the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange brokers, providing a simple platform to buy, sell and use crypto. With over 98 million registered users globally, Coinbase was created for novice and experienced cryptocurrency investors.

Coinbase’s primary platform makes trading simple, especially for beginners. Unfortunately, the cost of this ease is that transactions are more expensive. The solution to these high fees is a premium version called Coinbase Pro. Coinbase Pro charges 0.60% in fees on transactions up to $10,000 (£8,800). In addition, Coinbase allows you to deposit funds with your bank account, and it is recommended that you make an initial deposit of at least £50 to your Exchange GBP wallet to validate your bank account.

The Coinbase exchange’s success is also due to its simple interface, which is meant to make trading cryptocurrency as simple as possible. You can access Coinbase on the web or Android and iOS mobile devices. You will have a similar experience if you’ve traded stocks through an online brokerage. Coinbase also features the Coinbase wallet, enabling you to store crypto and NFTs and trade over 500 assets on decentralised exchanges.

Coinbase is falling short in terms of customer service. Unfortunately, there are no direct means to communicate with a person individually, with the two major points of contact being a chatbot and an automated phone system. If Coinbase wants to compete with the cryptocurrency exchanges out there, they have a lot of distance to make up in this area.

Coinbase provides a free integrated wallet to keep the public and private keys required for trading. Still, you can also store your keys in third-party wallets. Coinbase allows you to secure your account with two-factor authentication and fingerprint access. If the platform is hacked, Coinbase offers criminal insurance covering a portion of your assets. 

Number of cryptocurrencies: 350+

Minimum Deposit UK: £2

Fees: Between 0.10% and 0.50%

Pros

✔️ Low or no trading fees

✔️ Large cryptocurrency pair selection

✔️ Numerous services

Cons

❌ Complex platform

❌ Non-transparent corporate structure

Binance, founded in 2017, has evolved to become the most popular cryptocurrency exchange in the world. The exchange, known for its extensive cryptocurrency offers and strong liquidity, has been at the core of exchange innovation, offering simple cryptocurrency transactions with pioneering features, interest generating products, and DeFi access. In addition, Binance has broadened its scope to include components from decentralised finance after becoming dissatisfied with the centralised exchange.

The trading fees charged by Binance are among the lowest in the market (0.02-0.10% for each trade). Bank transfers, credit/debit cards, and mobile wallets are all accepted for deposits. As expected, the deposit is free (except for blockchain fees). Although they frequently coincide with blockchain transaction fees, withdrawal fees do apply. Binance withdrawal fees are frequently modified to provide a reasonable price.

The user interface is one of the areas where Binance excels while also needing to catch up. The biggest difference between the two is the quality of the desktop and mobile platforms. The desktop platform performs an excellent job of presenting information in a logical and easy-to-read fashion. The app, on the other hand, is a different story. Basic commands are simple enough, but if you want to look at charts, you will have a difficult time.

Binance has three options when contacting customer support: using Twitter, chatting with a representative, or submitting a ticket. First, you must fill out the form on their website to send a ticket and receive email support.

When someone buys cryptocurrency for the first time, the first thing that comes to mind is security. When it comes to Binance security, you must ensure that the security options offered are used. Binance offers security features like address whitelisting, device management, two-factor authentication (2FA) using the Google Authenticator app or SMS, and the ability to limit device access. 

Factors Considered When Selecting Lightyear Cryptocurrency Alternatives

Below are specific characteristics we looked at before selecting the top Lightyear cryptocurrency alternatives:

  • Security: We made certain that the platforms are regulated by reputable UK agencies. For instance, eToro is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). We also reviewed the platform’s security system, which was put in place to prevent hacking or theft.
  • Cryptocurrency offerings: Everything comes down to your specific requirements when selecting an alternatives to Lightyear cryptocurrency. Do you prefer additional cryptocurrencies, or are you satisfied with just Bitcoin, Ether, and Cardano? We evaluated each platform separately, considering basic features, including the number of supported cryptocurrencies.
  • Ease of use: If you are a beginner, this is particularly crucial for you. As a novice trader, you could find using platforms with a less user-friendly layout challenging. This is why we selected Lightyear alternative platforms that are easy to use.
  • Fees: Depending on your cryptocurrency exchange, fees can vary greatly. Given that this is a crucial factor for cryptocurrency traders and investors, we examined different exchange fees before selecting our Lightyear cryptocurrency alternatives. 

The Bottom Line

Lightyear is not your broker if you wish to invest in cryptocurrencies directly. Our objective was to cover all of the top cryptocurrency trading platforms available. In this post, we have presented various alternatives to the Lightyear cryptocurrency platform. These alternatives allow you to directly invest in cryptocurrencies. Visit their websites and select your top pick.
Please remember that cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, and your money will be at risk.

FAQs

Does Lightyear trade cryptocurrency?

No, the Lightyear trading platform does not allow the purchase and sale of mainstream cryptocurrencies.

Is Lightyear regulated?

Yes, Lightyear is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and is governed by their rules and regulations.

Who can open a Lightyear account?

To open an account, you must be 18, live in the UK, and be a UK tax resident. If you are not, you must contact their team so that they can verify your eligibility.

Can you invest in cryptocurrency with DEGIRO?

While DEGIRO currently does not offer direct investment in crypto, our article, Does DEGIRO offer crypto, provides information on other potential avenues for investing in the crypto market.

Can you invest in cryptocurrency with Freetrade?

Sadly, you cannot have direct crypto exposure with Freetrade. However, you can read about some alternatives in our Does Freetrade offer crypto article.

Can you invest in cryptocurrency with Interactive Investor?

It is currently not possible to have access to direct crypto exposure with Interactive Investor. However, we recommend you read some alternatives in our Does Interactive Investor offer crypto article.

Can you invest in cryptocurrency with Moneybox?

Currently, Moneybox does not allow for direct crypto exposure. You can check out some alternatives in our Does Moneybox offer crypto article.