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Changelly Review – Still a Viable Bitcoin Buying Place?

Rene Peters

May 6, 2025

4 comments

We have plenty of options when it comes to purchasing Bitcoin.

On the other hand we have very limited options when we want to get ahold of other cryptocurrencies (altcoins) like LTC , ETH/ETC, Monero, XRP, or any other altcoin.

The recent altcoin boom has brought in many new cryptocurrency traders and many people are looking for fast, cost effective ways to purchase altcoins. However, due to a slow development process, we often face the challenge of purchasing those cryptocurrencies.

The fastest and most cost effective way to get ahold of most of altcoins is by using a cryptocurrency exchange website.

When it comes to exchanging cryptocurrencies, you have probably already heard of Changelly in various forums. I personally have used ShapeShift in the past to exchange BTC into ETH and couple of other currencies. However, a few days back I got to know about Changelly exchange platform.

Here are some of the questions that I had about Changelly:

• Is Changelly a scam or is it legit?
• Can Changelly be trusted with my money?
• Will I get support if something goes wrong?

I started researching about Changelly and I got some rave reviews about this exchange platform.

I decided to give Changelly a shot after a few hours of research.

Some users even claim that Changelly is a better and more reliable alternative than ShapeShift.

This review of Changelly is based on my personal experience. Also, I will give you all the important information you need before you start using Changelly.

Changelly Review: Can This Cryptocurrency Exchange Site Be Trusted?

Changelly is a trustable site that can be used to exchange between various cryptocurrencies.

Changelly was founded in 2015 in Prague, Czech Republic, by the creators of MinerGate, a well-known mining pool. Since its launch, the platform has grown into a globally trusted crypto exchange service, now serving users in more than 180 countries. In 2025, Changelly continues to expand its reach by offering fast, user-friendly swaps and a robust PRO trading platform for more experienced users.

The interface remains one of Changelly’s strongest features. It’s sleek, intuitive, and makes it easy for anyone – from complete beginners to seasoned investors; to swap cryptocurrencies without friction. It’s also integrated with top-tier hardware wallets like Ledger and Trezor, making secure transactions quick and seamless.

The platform also does a great job educating users. Diagrams and step-by-step visuals clearly show how the swapping process works, while the help center and blog offer insights into trading strategies, crypto trends, and platform updates.

As of 2025, Changelly supports over 500 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and a diverse lineup of altcoins across various sectors like DeFi, AI, and gaming. Whether you’re looking to hold blue-chip tokens or explore trending new assets, the selection is more than sufficient.

Here’s a table of 20 popular cryptocurrencies supported on Changelly, along with their typical withdrawal fees. Please note that withdrawal fees are generally fixed but can vary based on network conditions and may be adjusted by Changelly as needed.

Unlike its earlier years, Changelly now supports fiat-to-crypto transactions through trusted partners like MoonPay, Banxa, and Simplex. This allows users to buy crypto with debit cards, credit cards, or bank transfers, streamlining onboarding for those new to the crypto space.

What really sets Changelly apart is its rate aggregation system. It automatically pulls prices from major exchanges like Binance, OKX, and Huobi, ensuring that you get the most competitive rate available at the time of your swap. It removes the need for manual comparisons or order book navigation.

The swap mechanism is as simple as ever: you choose the crypto you want to send and the one you want to receive. Changelly’s algorithm finds the best offer, you send your crypto to a generated wallet address, and the platform takes care of the rest. Your new asset arrives directly in your wallet—no custody or sign-ups required.

Ultimately, Changelly’s goal remains the same: to eliminate the complexity of crypto trading and make digital assets accessible to everyone, regardless of technical background.

Features of Changelly:

Changelly prioritizes user security by implementing robust measures, including two-factor authentication (2FA) and encryption protocols. The platform’s non-custodial nature ensures that users retain control over their funds, reducing the risk associated with centralized storage.

Here are some of the key features of the exchange platform:

• Trustworthy – Changelly was created by the developers of MinerGate, one of the largest mining pools today and therefore it’s pretty reliable as an exchange. This platform is also used by Charlie Shrem, the Vice Chairman and founding member of the Bitcoin Foundation. This means that it’s legit.
• Quick – Your exchange is usually processed and converted within 5-30 minutes, and all that you need to do is to enter the amount and address, and then transfer your coins. That’s it, the transaction is completed. It is important to note that larger-value transactions (over 1 BTC) may take longer depending on the capacity of the blockchain and the size of your transaction.
• Fair Fees – Changelly maintains a competitive fee structure, charging a flat 0.25% fee for crypto-to-crypto transactions. However, fees for fiat-to-crypto transactions can vary depending on the payment provider and method used. It’s advisable to review the fee details during the transaction process to ensure transparency.
• Convert At The Best Rate – Changelly scans exchanges across the internet to finds the best rate, and then lets you trade at that rate.
• Credit Card Deposits – Changelly accepts MasterCard and Visa deposits. (Changelly does let you purchase Bitcoins or other cryptos using a credit/debit card. However, the price is massively high so I wouldn’t recommend you do this.)
• There’s No Wallet Service Attached – Changelly doesn’t hold currency for traders. There’s no wallet service attached to Changelly, but instead, you use the wallet of whatever coin you wish to purchase.

Personally, I love the account history feature because you can simply log in to your account anytime and see the status of your current and past exchanged cryptocurrency.

Deposit and Withdrawal

When using Changelly to exchange fiat currencies like USD or EUR, it’s important to note that deposit and purchase limits depend on your region and the payment provider you select. For fiat transactions, Changelly works with partners like MoonPay, Simplex, and Banxa, and each may have slightly different thresholds.

For most users globally, the first transaction limit typically ranges between $50 to $200. Users in the U.S., Canada, and Australia often start with a $50 to $100 limit, with gradual increases over the first week. In the EU and other supported countries, first-time purchases can go up to $100–$200, with higher limits available after identity verification and activity history.

CIS region users may start with higher limits, sometimes up to $200 for the first purchase, with weekly limits reaching $2,000 and monthly caps extending to $10,000 after verification. These numbers can change depending on the partner handling the transaction and your compliance level (KYC).

Changelly charges a flat 0.25% fee for crypto-to-crypto exchanges. However, for fiat-to-crypto purchases, the fee varies depending on the provider and payment method, often ranging from 3.5% to 7% due to processing and risk management costs.

Mobile apps

Changelly launched their mobile app in 2019 with a fixed-rate mechanism. Changelly customers no longer have the risk of the crypto market fluctuations when exchanging cryptocurrency.

When choosing the fixed-rate exchanges inside the Changelly app, trader gets the exact amount of crypto which is displayed to him/her at the beginning of an exchange, regardless of rate fluctuations during the exchange.

For those who would like to exchange crypto at a floating rate, Changelly offers the lowest fee of 0.25% for all crypto-to-crypto exchanges.

Download Changelly Mobile App for iOS

Download Changelly Mobile App for Android

Security

Changelly had great security standards. The platform offers many services that will ensure that your online transactions are genuine. Firstly, in order to perform your trade, Changelly is built on some of the most reliable exchange platforms. Secondly, all transactions have a unique reference number so you can track in real time where your coins are.

Also, a two-factor authentication can be used. It is like giving your bank your phone number so that when you do a transaction online, it generates a code which is sent to your mobile phone in order to verify it’s you. You enter this code and the transaction is immediately verified, which prevents most hacking and fraud in the cryptocurrency world.

Changelly has had press on many big media such as CoinTelegraph and Forbes since it’s a project by Minergate, a bitcoin mining pool.

Other Changelly Products

In addition to the Changelly exchange site, Changelly offers an API for merchants and widgets for publishers.

API For Merchants – Changelly has an API for merchants. It’s called the “Smart Payin” API and it’s designed to exchange digital currencies directly. Merchants like entertainment sites or gambling websites can provide digital crypto wallets that accept any coin as payment. After that, they can immediately convert those coins into the payment of their choice. For example, if a merchant wants to accept BTC, then this API can accept customer funds in a cryptocurrency like DOGE and instantly transfer it into BTC.

Widgets For Publishers – Changelly has made a series of software widgets catered to third parties, which can be integrated into their websites and allow users to exchange one crypto to another from the page without leaving. Market analysts, news publishers and bloggers are some of the possible users for these widgets.

Getting Started with Changelly: The Step-By-Step Beginner’s Guide

• Head over to the Changelly homepage and choose the currency you want to exchange.

Let’s say, for example, you wish to exchange BTC for XRP:

• Enter the exchange amount and click on Exchange!

You’ll see the exchange rate on the next page.

Important Note: If you were asked to make an account, you definitely should make it.

• Click on Next.

On the next page, you will be asked to enter the wallet address where you want to receive the transferred cryptocurrency.

We’re entering an XRP wallet address in this case (you can get this address by using Gatehub or Ledger Nano S.

• Click on Next.

Changelly will show you all the details before it gives you a deposit address.  Don’t rush. Review all the information one more time.

• Click on Confirm & Make Payment.

Here you will see the wallet address on which the cryptocurrency needs to be deposited (it’s 0.1 BTC in this case).

Once you have deposited the funds, it could take a couple of minutes to an hour to complete the exchange, and once the exchange is over, you will receive an email letting you know the transfer happened.

Note: I have used the site 5 times. Each time the exchange happened within 10 minutes.

This receipt can be checked again at any time from your Changelly dashboard.

Conclusion: Is Changelly scam or legit?

Changelly is not only a legit site, it’s a tool that allows you to maximize the value of your cryptocurrency trades.

They keep adding support for all of the reliable cryptocurrencies. Also, their support system (in case there’s a problem) is very good.

In short, Changelly is a unique trading service that helps you get the best rates on popular cryptocurrencies and lesser known altcoins, and it will save you a lot of time when you need to quickly get ahold of any popular cryptocurrency.

In the end Changelly seems to have better fees and higher limits. On the other hand, Shapeshift has better reputation. Also, Changelly requires an email address for signup, while Shapeshift requires no information. As it seems there’s no clear winner this time, and as always, the choice is yours…

Check out Changelly