The Middle East and North Africa(MENA) region is one of the fastest-growing crypto markets in the world. This includes the country of Libya which is also emerging as a regional cryptocurrency mining hub in the Arab world. Digital coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Dogecoin are in demand all across the world including MENA.
Libya is somewhat of a curious case here as while the popularity of cryptocurrency has surged due to political instability and economic slowdown, there are very few channels through which they can be accessed. Digital currencies are banned in Libya yet it is a growing center for crypto mining operations.
While the search for the best crypto exchange in Libya is going on, the fact is that there are very few official Bitcoin exchanges in Libya. This article will, thus, talk about the availability of cryptocurrency in Libya, the top crypto exchanges across the world and platforms that can help keep track of various cryptocurrencies and the crypto market in general.
Is Crypto Available in Libya?
Cryptocurrency is officially illegal in Libya. The Central Bank of Libya declared in 2018 that virtual currencies were illegal in the country and that no legal protection would be given to people holding or trading them.
Financial regulators in the African country are skeptical of cryptocurrencies as they can be used for criminal activities such as money laundering and terror financing. Therefore, it can be difficult to buy cryptocurrency through direct channels in Libya.
However, it is also a fact that the country has been emerging as a cryptocurrency mining hub in the Arab world. This is due to the particularly low electricity rates in Libya as crypto mining operations require huge amounts of energy and the electricity costs can quickly add up.
Therefore, while buying cryptocurrency is outlawed in Libya, digital currency mining has skyrocketed in the country.
Are There Crypto Exchanges in Libya?
As cryptocurrency is banned in Libya, crypto exchanges are also not officially allowed to operate in the country. Still, there are some platforms that offer their services though their legal position remains dubious. Some of the reasons crypto exchanges are difficult to access in Libya are:
Legal Position
The authorities in Libya, including the country’s Central Bank are not particularly enthusiastic about cryptocurrency. Digital currencies based on blockchain technology were banned in 2018 citing their use in illegal activities such as terror financing. Libya is also ranked very low in terms of cryptocurrency safety which is why many platforms don’t prefer to operate here.
Conflict with Sharia Rules
Sharia scholars in Libya are also against cryptocurrency and consider it illegal because of the anonymity of its source and the lack of controls on determining their value. This further deters platforms from setting up operations in the country.
Top Cryptocurrency Exchanges Across The Globe
Binance
Cryptocurrency traders get a lot of choices on Binance. It is a crypto trading platform where you can buy, trade and sell 350+ cryptocurrencies at prices lower than 0.1%. If that sounds good, you would love to know more about it. Well, along with spot trading, Binance supports margin and P2P trading, swap farming, and derivatives trading and also offers OTC services.
Binance lets you put your idle assets to work and earn attractive rewards on the same. Its strategy trading feature helps you automate your spot trades and replicate trending strategies like a pro trader.
On Binance, fees are charged as per the 30-day trading volume measured in BUSD. There are several VIP levels and traders are given 25% off on the maker and taker fees by using BNB for transactions.
Binance further has premium solutions for institutions including asset management and custody services and rebates for trading in its spot and futures markets. Here, you can also get loans secured by your crypto assets and even send customized crypto gift cards to people.
Features
✔️More than 350 cryptocurrencies available
✔️Largest cryptocurrency exchange
✔️Binance’s native token is BNB Coin
✔️Supports spot, margin and derivatives trading
Pros and Cons
✅Great coin selection ❌Overwhelming for beginners
✅Several order types supported ❌Legal problems in several places
✅Automated spot trades ❌Past incidents of hacking
✅Institutional accounts
✅Crypto gift cards
Trading Fees
Trading fees for Binance
Customer Reviews
Users find Binance a safe trading platform
Binance can be a complicated platform
Why We Picked It
Binance provides many services to both individual and institutional investors. The platform has a wide variety of cryptocurrencies available at a low cost, supports multiple order types and offers earning opportunities. Binance also has a native coin that can get you discounts on trading fees.
Coinbase
If you’re intimidated by Binance, look towards Coinbase which is a far simpler platform. It is one of the easiest places to buy and sell cryptocurrency. You just have to sign up and get your KYC verified and then you are ready to buy and sell crypto. This is a great option for beginners who don’t want to get caught up in the complexity of different order types.
However, if you do want to learn more about types of cryptocurrency trades, worry not because Coinbase has you covered on that front. For this, you can always go over to the Learn section to increase your cryptocurrency knowledge and win some crypto rewards in return.
Coinbase effectively has two different platforms with differing fees. Fees on the Coinbase Basic platform are levied based on dynamic factors such as market conditions, order size and payment method. The Coinbase Pro platform, however, depends on the maker-taker system.
In addition, Coinbase provides various solutions to institutional investors including access to 350+ different pairs for trading and dedicated execution consultancy services.
Features
✔️Over 200 cryptocurrencies available
✔️Second-largest cryptocurrency exchange
✔️Two versions- Basic and Pro
✔️Consultancy services for institutional investors
Pros and Cons
✅Publicly traded company ❌Costly trades on basic version
✅Mandatory KYC verification ❌Customer service not up-to-the-mark
✅Low fees on Coinbase Pro
✅Learn to Earn feature
Trading Fees
Trading fees for Coinbase
Customer Reviews
Coinbase provides a great trading experience
Coinbase has some problems such as high network fees
Why We Picked It
Coinbase is a decent and reliable platform with a fantastic crypto coin collection.
It is a platform with one of the most beginner-friendly interfaces and a great mobile app that comes with all the functionalities of the web version. COinbase also offers separate services for institutional investors.
Kraken
Kraken is a large and established crypto exchange that has been going strong for over a decade. This San Francisco-based exchange provides you with more than 200 cryptocurrencies for trading at dynamic prices. You should definitely check out Kraken if you want to stake your assets as you can get as much as 24% interest here.
It has quite low spreads that help you lower your average cost per trade. Kraken in addition has very high liquidity which means that you can conveniently execute large volume trades at stable prices. Kraken supports spot, margin and futures trading along with offering cryptocurrency indices and OTC services.
Kraken has two platforms out of which Kraken Instant Buy has dynamic pricing based on factors like order size, types of assets and payment method while Kraken Pro simply uses the maker-taker model.
If you would like to broaden your horizons and stay up-to-date with the latest happenings in the crypto world, look no further than Kraken. This platform not only has a blog but also individual crypto guides, videos and a dedicated cryptocurrency podcast where you can catch up on the latest happenings.
Features
✔️More than 200 cryptocurrencies available
✔️Two versions- Basic and Pro
✔️Spot, margin and futures trading supported
✔️Cryptocurrency indices available
Pros and Cons
✅Satisfactory crypto collection ❌Costly trades on basic version
✅KYC verification mandatory ❌Reports of accounts being hacked
✅Asset staking opportunities
✅High liquidity
✅Extensive learning resources
Trading Fees
Trading fees for Kraken Instant Buy
Trading fees for Kraken Pro
Customer Reviews
Kraken has helpful customer service
Users may find their accounts closed on Kraken
Why We Picked It
Kraken is an old, established and reputable platform with high liquidity. It is, hence, a breeze to execute large-volume trades on it. Kraken offers users various services including cryptocurrency indices and OTC services. It also has comprehensive resources for learning about cryptocurrency.
OKX
OKX is a Seychelles-based platform but it is much more than a simple cryptocurrency exchange. Instead, it is a complete cryptocurrency ecosystem which consists of a native OKX Chain, OKX wallet and a native OKB token. When it comes to trading, OKX gives you access to 400+ cryptocurrencies for spot, margin and derivatives trades.
It has a TradingView platform with which you can chart and trade without any limits. You get to use intuitive charting and other technologies to execute all your trades in one place. Plus, interacting with OKX’s crypto trading community can help you expand your knowledge and level up your skills.
If you would like to put your idle assets to use, you can head over to OKX Earn which offers several investment options. Choose between a single product or pick a combination of fixed and flexible-term products to earn interest and grow your assets.
Features
✔️400+ cryptocurrencies available for trading
✔️Native blockchain called OKX Chain
✔️Native token is known as OKB
✔️OKX Wallet is compatible with 40+ networks
Pros and Cons
✅Massive crypto collection ❌Fee structure is complicated
✅Supports many payments
methods
✅Trading fees are competitive
✅Products to grow crypto holdings
Trading Fees
Trading fees for OKX cryptocurrency exchange
Customer Reviews
OKX offers the facility to create sub-accounts
OKX does not have the best customer service
Why We Picked It
OKX has various types of trades including margin and derivatives trading. While the system is complicated, the fees on OKX are rather low. It also gives some good APYs on staked assets. There are advanced charting and analysis tools that can be used without limit.
Bybit
Bybit was launched in 2018 and with constant innovation and lucrative offers, it has emerged as one of the top cryptocurrency exchanges in just a few years. Though it is mainly a derivatives trading platform, Bybit has plenty on offer for spot traders too.
It has 280+ pairs for spot trading and for derivatives, Bybit supports using USDC and USDT as collateral for perpetual contracts. USDC can additionally be used as collateral for inverse and options contracts. Plus, copy trading where you can imitate the strategies of other traders for your own trades is also available on Bybit.
Veteran traders can utilize Bybit’s advanced charting and market tracking tools. The platform also uses AI to analyze your investment profile and then gives recommendations for investment tools tailored according to your specific needs and trading style.
Features
✔️Over 280 pairs for spot trading
✔️Biggest USDC Options marketplace in the world
✔️Copy trading available
✔️Has a native Bybit Web3 wallet
Pros and Cons
✅Supports many types of trades ❌Risks of derivatives trading are
✅Advanced market tracking tools poorly communicated
✅Trading bots available
✅Has an NFT marketplace
Trading Fees
Bybit cryptocurrency exchange fees
Customer Reviews
Users can comfortably trade on Bybit
Users have reported locked accounts on Bybit
Why We Picked It
Bybit has services and features suitable for both beginners and advanced traders. Though its main focus is derivatives trading it supports spot and margin trading as well. Bybit supports copy trading and you can also explore NFT collections here via its NFT marketplace.
How to Track the Cryptocurrency Market in Libya
CoinMarektCap
CoinMarketCap, founded in 2013 by Brandon Chez, is a website for tracking cryptocurrency prices. Its goal is to provide retail users across the globe with high-quality and unbiased information about crypto assets so that they can form informed conclusions.
CoinMarketCap is one of the most-referenced websites for crypto price tracking and crypto exchange ranking. It even introduced a liquidity metric in 2019 to combat the problem of fake trading volumes. CoinMarketCap was acquired by the cryptocurrency exchange Binance in 2020 for an undisclosed amount.
CoinGecko
CoinGecko was founded in 2014 by Bobby Ong and TM Lee to democratize access to cryptocurrency-related data. It is an independent cryptocurrency data aggregator that tracks over 10,000 crypto assets on 800+ platforms. It is the go-to website to get a 360 degree overview of the crypto market.
Over the years, CoinGecko has launched a daily newsletter, a free public API, a podcast and apps for Android and iOS devices. In 2019, it also introduced the Trust Score to address the issue of fake trading volume data.
Conclusion
Cryptocurrency is a highly volatile asset which makes cryptocurrency trading a risky venture. The risk is further compounded in places like Libya where they are illegal leaving traders without any legal consumer protections. Most of the cryptocurrency in Libya, thus, comes from mining operations and unofficial channels.
Since it involves a huge risk of losing money, any investment in cryptocurrency should be made after thorough research, professional consultation and a critical analysis of your investment goals and risk tolerance.