Buda Crypto Exchange Review: Best for Latin American Traders in 2025

If you live in Chile, Argentina, Colombia, or Peru and want to buy Bitcoin or Ethereum without jumping through international banking hoops, Buda might be the only exchange that actually works for you. It’s not the biggest or the flashiest platform out there, but if you’re in South America, it’s often the most practical one. Buda, formerly called SurBTC, has been around since 2015 and is now the top crypto exchange in Chile, Colombia, and Peru. It doesn’t try to compete with Binance or Coinbase on coin variety. Instead, it does one thing really well: connects local bank accounts to crypto trading with zero fuss.

What You Can Trade on Buda

Buda doesn’t overwhelm you with choices. It offers just six cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), USDC, and Tether (USDT). That’s it. No Solana, no Dogecoin, no Shiba Inu. For many users, this is a feature, not a bug. If you’re new to crypto or just want to trade the big names without getting lost in hundreds of altcoins, Buda keeps things simple.

The real power comes from the trading pairs. You can trade all six coins against four local currencies: Chilean Peso (CLP), Colombian Peso (COP), Peruvian Sol (PEN), and Argentine Peso (ARS). That means you can deposit pesos directly from your local bank and buy Bitcoin without needing a U.S. bank account or paying wire transfer fees. This is a huge deal in a region where traditional banking systems have long made crypto access difficult.

Fees and Trading Costs

Buda’s fee structure is straightforward. The base trading fee is 0.4% for both makers and takers. But here’s the catch: if you trade more than $10,000 in a month, the fee drops to 0.2%. That’s competitive, but only if you’re active. For casual traders, it’s on the higher side compared to global exchanges like Kraken or Coinbase, which often charge 0.1% or less.

There are also promotions. Buda occasionally runs campaigns that cut fees by up to 50%, especially for new users. These are time-limited, so keep an eye on their announcements. Withdrawal fees are clearly listed: 0.00011 BTC for Bitcoin, 0.00000001 LTC for Litecoin, and around 0.00053 ETH for Ethereum. USDC withdrawals cost either 1.38 or 2 USDC depending on priority. These are standard rates, but they’re not hidden - which is more than you can say for some platforms.

One standout feature is the referral program. You earn 20% of the trading fees paid by anyone you refer. Users in Chile and Colombia report earning $15-$20 a month just by sharing their link with friends who trade regularly. That’s real money you can reinvest or cash out.

Security: Cold Storage and Compliance

Buda takes security seriously. About 90% of user funds are stored in offline cold wallets - the same level as Coinbase and better than many regional exchanges. It also uses Chainalysis to monitor transactions for suspicious activity, which helps it stay compliant with local financial regulators.

All users must complete KYC. That means uploading a government ID, a selfie with your face and ID, and a proof of address. Once verified, you can trade up to $10,000 per month. This limit is low compared to global platforms, but it’s typical for exchanges focused on retail users in emerging markets. Institutional traders are rare on Buda - only about 5% of volume comes from them.

There’s one red flag: Buda shut down its bug bounty program in early 2023. Previously, it paid up to $5,000 to security researchers who found vulnerabilities. That move raised eyebrows. While the platform hasn’t been hacked since its launch, the lack of external security oversight makes some users nervous.

Platform and User Experience

Buda’s interface is built on TradingView, which means it’s powerful for charting and technical analysis. If you’ve used TradingView before, you’ll feel right at home. The mobile apps for iOS and Android are clean and reliable, with real-time price alerts and quick buy/sell buttons.

But here’s the downside: there’s no tutorial, no demo account, and no beginner guides. You’re expected to figure it out on your own. Many new users report feeling lost during their first few trades. It takes about 3-5 sessions to get comfortable. There are Spanish-language YouTube tutorials made by users, with over 50,000 views total - but that’s not the same as official support.

Customer service is available only in Spanish. Email responses usually come within 12-24 hours on weekdays. In Chile, you can call for urgent issues. That’s helpful, but if you’re not fluent in Spanish, you’re stuck. No English support. No live chat. No 24/7 help desk.

Performance and Reliability

Buda boasts a 99.9% uptime since 2015. That’s impressive. In a region where internet infrastructure isn’t always stable, having a platform that rarely goes down matters. During major market swings - like when the Argentine peso crashed in late 2024 - users reported delays in withdrawals. One user on CryptoArgentino.com said it took 48 hours to get COP funds out during a volatility spike.

There were also brief API outages in January 2025, lasting 2-4 hours during peak trading times. These weren’t full platform crashes, but they did affect automated traders. Buda hasn’t publicly explained the cause, which adds to the lack of transparency.

Who Is Buda For? Who Should Avoid It?

Buda is perfect if:

• You live in Chile, Colombia, Peru, or Argentina
• You want to buy Bitcoin or Ethereum with your local bank account
• You prefer simplicity over a huge coin selection
• You’re a retail trader, not a professional or institutional investor
• You value local compliance and security over global features

Buda is not for you if:

• You want to trade hundreds of altcoins
• You need margin trading, futures, or staking
• You don’t speak Spanish
• You’re outside South America
• You expect 24/7 customer support or a beginner-friendly onboarding experience

Compared to Binance or Coinbase, Buda feels like a local grocery store versus a global supermarket. It doesn’t have everything, but if you need what it offers, it’s often the most reliable option.

The Buda Advantage: Local Integration

Buda’s biggest strength isn’t its tech - it’s its understanding of Latin America. It works with local banks like Transbank in Chile and Davivienda in Colombia. Deposits via bank transfer are often free. Credit card deposits cost up to 3%, but that’s still cheaper than international wire fees.

It’s also the only major exchange in the region fully compliant with local financial regulators. In Chile, it follows the UAF. In Colombia, it’s registered with the Financial Superintendence. In Peru, it meets SBS requirements. This means your money isn’t sitting in a legal gray zone - it’s protected under local law.

Even Binance, which launched peso-denominated services in Colombia in early 2025, still can’t match Buda’s depth of local banking connections. That’s why Buda holds 65% of Chile’s crypto exchange market, 45% in Colombia, and 30% in Peru. It’s not just popular - it’s dominant.

What’s Next for Buda?

Buda isn’t standing still. In late 2024, it added USDT trading pairs. In January 2025, it integrated with Transbank, making deposits faster. It’s also testing crypto-backed loans, though details are scarce.

Its next big move might be cross-border payments. The company has hinted at letting third-party apps use its infrastructure to send money across Latin America using crypto. If that happens, Buda could become more than an exchange - it could become a financial gateway for the region.

But challenges are growing. Global exchanges are waking up to Latin America. Binance, Kraken, and even Coinbase are launching localized services. Buda’s advantage - deep local roots - could become its biggest threat if these giants start matching its banking integrations.

Final Verdict

Buda isn’t the best crypto exchange in the world. But it might be the best one for you if you live in Chile, Colombia, Peru, or Argentina. It’s secure, reliable, and built for your currency, your bank, and your language. The limited coin selection and lack of advanced features won’t matter if you just want to buy Bitcoin with your Colombian peso and sleep well at night.

For beginners, it’s tough at first. For active traders, the fees can add up. But for the average South American user who wants a straightforward, legal, and safe way into crypto? Buda still has no real rival in its home market.