Methodology
ClearStack ranks large centralized exchanges on public data. The same market feeds could later support order routing; that product is not live, and this site is not a broker.
Live quotes
Every few seconds we request each venue’s public spot ticker or top of book. No API keys are used. If a request fails or times out, the row is marked “no book”. We do not interpolate a price.
USD and USDT
Coinbase, Kraken, Gemini and Bitstamp are scored on USD books. The other venues are scored on USDT. Those are different dollars. A spread is not cash until you convert, pay fees and settle.
Fees and KYC
Maker and taker are the published bottom-tier spot schedule. Volume discounts, token discounts and withdrawal networks are excluded. KYC is “required” where fiat on-ramps typically need it, and “partial” where crypto-only use can be lighter.
Ranking formula
Pace 40: spread tightness and distance to the best bid and ask inside the same quote asset. Fees 25: published VIP0 maker and taker versus the field. Access 20: fiat rails plus listing coverage of the eight majors. Trust 15: a public proof-of-reserves page and years since founding. Daily, monthly and yearly titles use Bitcoin. The live board can switch assets. A title is a score, not advice to open an account.
Scope
We do not collect exchange passwords, hold coins or send orders. Cross-exchange execution requires licences, custody and a separate product. Comparison is the current product.
Questions
- Does ClearStack execute trades or hold funds?
- No. The site reads public APIs and published fee schedules. It does not place orders, custody assets or open accounts.
- How is the ranking calculated?
- Four components sum to 100: live book quality (40), published VIP0 fees (25), fiat and pair access (20), and disclosure plus venue age (15). Pace is never mixed across USD and USDT books.
- Why can a cheaper USDT ask lose to a USD venue?
- USDT and USD are separate markets. Conversion, fees and settlement sit between them. The ranking scores each cohort on its own book, then adds structural points.
- How often are prices updated?
- The live board polls public tickers about every eight seconds. Official daily titles snapshot the Bitcoin ranking once per UTC day.
- Is this financial advice?
- No. Rankings are a transparent score on public data. Availability, fees and legal access depend on your jurisdiction and the venue’s current terms.