Updated September 29, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team
eToro vs Independent Reserve
eToro
Independent Reserve
Higher score in this comparison
Where eToro and Independent Reserve differ
| Compare | eToroReviewVisitVisit | Independent ReserveReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 1% | 0.02% to 0.5%Lower |
| Coins listed | from 150 | 25 |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), SIPC | AUSTRAC |
| Withdrawal fee | $5 flat fee | AUD EFT free; AUD 1.50 PayID/NPP instant; USD 25 SWIFT; NZD 29; BTC 0.0001 |
| Proof of reserves | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Fiat deposit methods (Card, Bank), Derivatives (Yes), Exchange type (Cex).
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Key differences
- Independent Reserve scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only eToro offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), SIPC.
- Regulators: only Independent Reserve offers AUSTRAC.
- Founded is lower at eToro: 2007 vs 2013.
- eToro is licensed in 1 more country.
- Taker fee is lower at Independent Reserve: 0.02% to 0.5% vs 1%.
- Support channels: only Independent Reserve offers Email, Community.
- Features: only eToro offers Staking.
Our verdict on each
eToro
eToro suits readers who want a long-established custodial exchange with a CySEC licence and a broad coin list. Trading costs tell the other story: a taker fee of 1% is well above the 0.2% site median, and withdrawals add $5 flat fee.
Independent Reserve
Independent Reserve suits Australian and New Zealand buyers who want a regulated custodial exchange with plain card and bank deposits. Fees of 0.02% to 0.5% are competitive with the site median of 0.2%, though the coin list is modest for traders who want broader markets.
Score breakdown
| Area | eToro | Independent Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.2Taker fees of 1% sit well above the 0.2% site median, and withdrawals cost $5 flat fee on top. | 9.7Higher |
| Offer | 9.0 | 9.1HigherFees of 0.02% to 0.5% sit around the site median of 0.2%, but the list of 25 coins is small. |
| Trust | 9.6Higher | 9.1 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | eToro | Independent Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Where to buy crypto | 2 of 177 | 7 of 177 |
Cost in a real example
Buy 1,000 of crypto and sell it again
eToro
20
1% of 2,000
Independent Reserve
0.4 to 10
0.02% to 0.5% of 2,000
Independent Reserve comes out 19.6 lower in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Which one suits you
Pick eToro if trust matter most.
Pick Independent Reserve if cost and taker fee matter most.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | eToro | Independent Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Custodial, StakingCovers more | Custodial |
| Legal entity | eToro (Europe) Ltd | Independent Reserve Pty. Ltd. (ABN 46 164 257 069) |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Australia |
| Founded | 2007Lower | 2013 |
| Support channels | Help centre | Email, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | eToro | Independent Reserve | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 1%highest quarter | 0.02% to 0.5%lowest quarter | 0.15% |
| Coins listed | from 150above the median | 25lowest quarter | 76 |
Median across 219 listed providers.
Pros and cons
eToro
Pros
- Regulated in Cyprus by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) under MiCA CASP 213800GIFQMSV7HROS23 and a member of SIPC under SIPC member 70212
- A coin list of from 150 sits well above the 62 site median
- Fiat deposits run through card and bank, so funding works without a crypto transfer first
Cons
- A taker fee of 1% is far above the 0.2% site median and above 0% at ActivTrades
- Withdrawals cost $5 flat fee, which adds to every round trip
- Support runs on help centre only, with no live channel listed
Independent Reserve
Pros
- Registered with AUSTRAC in Australia, so the exchange answers to a recognised anti-money laundering regulator.
- Publishes proof of reserves, which 79.4% of compared exchanges do.
- Card and bank transfers are both accepted through card and bank.
Cons
- The list of 25 coins is small next to the site median of 62.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, with no phone or live chat listed.
- Balances are custodial, so coins sit with the exchange rather than in a wallet the holder controls.
Who each suits
eToro
Who it suits
- Readers who want a supervised custodian and a licence to point to
- Buyers who fund with a card or a bank transfer rather than a crypto transfer
- Long-term holders who want staking alongside a broad coin list
Who should look elsewhere
- Active traders, since 0% at ActivTrades costs nothing to take liquidity
- Readers hunting the lowest taker fee, where bunq charges fees of 0.25% to 1.99%
- Anyone holding coins themselves, because custody here is custodial per custodial and staking
Independent Reserve
Who it suits
- Australian and New Zealand residents paying in by card or bank transfer
- Buyers of mainstream coins who want proof of reserves and a named regulator
- Traders who also want access to derivatives
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders chasing a long tail of altcoins, where the exchange is a broker for Australia and New Zealand rather than a global venue
- bitpanda, which lists from 650 coins for a much wider choice
- bunq, whose taker fees of 0.25% to 1.99% suit European bank customers
Country by country
| Country | eToro | Independent Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | No | Yes |
| New Zealand | No | Yes |
| Singapore | No | Yes |
Questions about each
eToro
What does eToro charge to trade?+
Trading fees are 1%, which is a full percentage on each trade. That reads high next to the 0.2% site median and next to bunq, which charges fees of 0.25% to 1.99%. Frequent traders pay that rate repeatedly, so it is the number to check first.
What does it cost to withdraw crypto?+
Withdrawals carry a fee of $5 flat fee. That sits on top of the 1% trading fee, so the full cost of a buy and a sell includes both. Anyone moving coins in and out regularly should add that withdrawal cost to the trading rate before choosing.
Independent Reserve
What does Independent Reserve charge in fees?+
Taker fees run 0.02% to 0.5%, which brackets the site median of 0.2% and sits inside the upper quartile of 0.55%. Withdrawals are also charged: AUD transfers are free, while instant AUD and crypto withdrawals carry a fee.
Is Independent Reserve regulated?+
It is registered with AUSTRAC in Australia under DCE-100461150-001, the country's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulator. It also publishes proof of reserves, a step 79.4% of the compared exchanges report.