Updated September 29, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team
Independent Reserve vs Robinhood
Independent Reserve
Robinhood
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | Independent ReserveReviewVisitVisit | RobinhoodReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Coins listed | 25 | 90Higher |
| Regulators | AUSTRAC | Bank of Lithuania, Bank of Lithuania (LSC), LT BL, SIPC |
| Fiat deposit methods | Card, Bank | SEPA, Bank |
| Withdrawal fee | AUD EFT free; AUD 1.50 PayID/NPP instant; USD 25 SWIFT; NZD 29; BTC 0.0001 | No Robinhood fee; network fees apply |
| Taker fee | 0.02% to 0.5% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Proof of reserves (Yes), Derivatives (Yes), Exchange type (Cex).
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Key differences
- Robinhood scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Regulators: only Independent Reserve offers AUSTRAC.
- Regulators: only Robinhood offers Bank of Lithuania, Bank of Lithuania (LSC), LT BL.
- Robinhood is licensed in 1 more country.
- Coins listed is higher at Robinhood: 90 vs 25.
- Fiat deposit methods: only Independent Reserve offers Card.
- Fiat deposit methods: only Robinhood offers SEPA.
- Support channels: only Independent Reserve offers Community.
- Features: only Robinhood offers Staking.
Our verdict on each
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.
Robinhood
Robinhood is a custodial exchange with a narrower coin list than most rivals, at 90, but it pairs MiCA and Bank of Lithuania licences with SIPC membership and published proof of reserves. It suits first-time buyers who want buying, staking and derivatives in the same account.
Score breakdown
| Area | Independent Reserve | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.7 | Not confirmed |
| Offer | 9.1Fees of 0.02% to 0.5% sit around the site median of 0.2%, but the list of 25 coins is small. | 9.1Staking and derivatives sit alongside a 90 coin list, with custody and sepa and bank funding in the same account. |
| Trust | 9.1 | 9.5Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | Independent Reserve | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Crypto exchanges | 12 of 297 | 10 of 297 |
| Crypto futures exchanges | 9 of 78 | 7 of 78 |
| Where to buy crypto | 7 of 177 | 6 of 177 |
What each covers
| Fiat deposit methods | Independent Reserve | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Card | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | Yes |
| SEPA | No | Yes |
Also worth a look
eToro has coins listed at 150, against 25 for Independent Reserve and 90 for Robinhood.
eToro reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | Independent Reserve | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Custodial | Custodial, StakingCovers more |
| Legal entity | Independent Reserve Pty. Ltd. (ABN 46 164 257 069) | Robinhood Europe UAB |
| Headquarters | Australia | Lithuania |
| Founded | 2013 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Independent Reserve | Robinhood | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 0.02% to 0.5%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.15 |
| Coins listed | 25lowest quarter | 90above the median | 76 |
Median across 219 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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.
Robinhood
Pros
- Custodial account with staking built in, listed under custodial and staking
- Fiat deposits run through sepa and bank, so funding stays in euros
- Regulated by Bank of Lithuania, Bank of Lithuania (LSC) and LT BL across Lithuania and the US
Cons
- The coin list of 90 is thin beside from 650 and from 350
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no phone line
- Custody is not offered, so coins cannot be moved to your own wallet
Who each suits
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
Robinhood
Who it suits
- EU first-time buyers who want custody and staking in a single account
- Investors who want derivatives on the same platform as spot trading
- Anyone who puts weight on published proof of reserves
Who should look elsewhere
- Bitpanda, for buyers who want a much longer coin list
- bunq, for anyone who wants a bank app with self-custody
- ActivTrades, for traders who only care about derivatives
Current offers
Robinhood
Current offer
Bonus
Sign-up reward: EUR 10 or more in crypto: EUR 10 or more in crypto
Sign up, get approved and meet minimum deposit; hold cash value 180 days; limited jurisdictions
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Independent Reserve | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
| New Zealand | Yes | No |
| Singapore | Yes | No |
Questions about each
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.
Robinhood
How many coins can I trade on Robinhood?+
The list covers 90 assets, which is modest for a crypto exchange. Buyers who want deeper altcoin coverage will find more elsewhere, so the size of the list is the first thing to check against your own plans.
Is Robinhood regulated in Europe?+
Yes. The operating entity is Robinhood Europe UAB, and Bank of Lithuania, Bank of Lithuania (LSC) and LT BL names its supervisors. The crypto side runs under a MiCA licence, MiCA CASP 254900GTP4UXQO1UMI36, and the payments side under PSD_PI 306377915.
Other options to compare
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