Best Crypto Exchanges In Australia For 2023

Published 11 Sep, 2021 Updated 02 Feb, 2023

Exchange Reviews

Australians are spoilt for choice when it comes to looking for cryptocurrency exchange with 30+ options currently available and growing. We have reviewed over 50 crypto exchanges to understand what makes a good and bad trading platform to buy and sell digital currencies.

We have assessed and compared the best exchanges to buy Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies based on various important factors such as supported crypto assets, features and benefits, deposit methods & limits, trading fees, security, and customer support. In this article, we share our research and list the best cryptocurrency exchanges in Australia.

Top Crypto Exchanges In Australia

Based on our exchange reviews, here are the best crypto exchanges for Australia.

  1. Swyftx (best exchange overall)
  2. Digital Surge (best for beginners)
  3. CoinSpot (best for reputation)
  4. Independent Reserve (best for SMSF)
  5. Binance (best for altcoins)
  6. CoinJar (best for debit cards)
  7. Coinbase (best global exchange)
  8. Kraken (best trading platform)
  9. FTX Australia (best for margin trading)
  10. eToro (best for CFDs and social trading)

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links through our supported partners. Please read our disclosure for more information.

Popular Crypto Exchanges In Australia Compared

ExchangeAssetsTrading FeesOur RatingsLearn MorePromotion
swyftx logo Swyftx 312 0.6% 4.8/5 Visit Swyftx Swyftx Review $20 Free Bitcoin for creating a new account
digital surge Digital Surge 300+ 0.5% 4.7/5 Visit Digital Surge Digital Surge Review None available at this time
coinspot logo CoinSpot 330+ 1% 4.6/5 Visit CoinSpot CoinSpot Review None available at this time
Independent Reserve Logo No Tagline Blue on white Independent Reserve 30 0.5% 4.5/5 Visit Independent Reserve Independent Reserve Review None available at this time
binance logo Binance Australia 600+ 0.1% (maker) and 0.1% (taker) 3.7/5 Visit Binance Australia Binance Australia Review None available at this time
coinjar logo Coinjar 52 1% 4.1/5 Visit Coinjar Coinjar Review None available at this time
coinbase logo Coinbase 190+ 0.5% (maker) and 0.5% (taker) 4.5/5 Visit Coinbase Coinbase Review None available at this time
kraken logo Kraken 102 0.16% (maker) and 0.26% (taker) 4.3/5 Visit Kraken Kraken Review None available at this time
ftx australia 1 FTX Australia 264 0.02% (maker) and 0.07% (taker) 4.3/5 Visit FTX Australia FTX Australia Review None available at this time
Etoro logo eToro 25 1% 4.0/5 Visit eToro eToro Review None available at this time

Best Australian Crypto Exchanges: 2023 Reviews

1. Swyftx

BEST EXCHANGE OVERALL

Read our complete Swyftx Review for an in-depth breakdown of its features and benefits.

Notable Swyftx Features

  • A well-designed user interface and customizable dashboard with a level of information that caters to both beginners and experienced crypto traders. You can quickly assess the status of your portfolio including growth (%), recent order history, and track real-time profit and loss.
  • Crypto can be directly bought using AUD meaning that manual conversion into USD isn’t required. Swyftx provides full transparency and presents the current exchange rate before confirming the purchase.
  • Rather than offering pre-determined bundles of crypto to purchase, Swyftx provides the ability to set recurring orders, otherwise known as Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA). You can opt to set up automatic deposits to purchase one or more cryptocurrencies at once, and in the desired quantities. This feature allows you to take control of your portfolio by providing additional trading flexibility.
  • Zero deposit and withdrawal fees regardless of amount, low trading fees (0.6%), and very competitive spreads.

Why We Picked It

Swyftx is highly suited for beginners to experienced Aussie investors and traders. The onboarding process is quick, it offers several ways to deposit AUD including credit cards. and its premium crypto products and services cater to the mainstream audience so there is something for everyone. Its low trading fees (0.6%) and tight spreads mean that it’s also a great value-for-money option.

Swyftx Overview

Swyftx is our best-rated Australian exchange to buy, trade, and sell Bitcoin and other digital currencies. Founded in 2019 and based in Brisbane, the team at Swyftx has carefully designed the platform to cater to a broad range of cryptocurrency investors and traders of varying degrees of experience and knowledge. The exchange provides over 550,000 Australians with a simple and transparent way to buy, trade, and sell 312 digital currencies.

Australians can quickly create an account without a lengthy verification process to start depositing AUD into the account. Swyftx offers a range of common deposit methods plus a few more that other exchanges do not support, including bank transfers, PayID, POLI, and also credit cards. A major benefit of Swyftx is there are zero deposit fees to transfer AUD from an Australian bank account.

swyftx interface

The Swyftx trading experience is modern and simple, but still maintains a high level of functionality. The dashboard can be customized to show the indicators and tools that you want to see. Since most exchange platforms available to Australians do not allow customization, this is a welcome feature as you can take control of how you wish to manage and track your crypto portfolios.

There is also the ability to toggle the dark mode on the desktop and mobile application plus a demo account where you can practice trading using $10,000 of virtual funds. Since the funds are virtual and you don’t need to deposit your money, you can practice analyzing the price action of crypto and placing market orders risk-free.

Other Swyftx products and services that might be useful to your crypto investing and trading needs include an in-built crypto tax calculator, Dollar-Cost-Averaging (DCA) tools, real-time portfolio tracking, and the TradingView charting package that is integrated into the trading interface.

swyftx trading interface

Swyftx is one of a few Australian exchanges that utilize multiple order books to provide higher liquidity on trading pairs. The higher trading volume and market depth allow Swyftx to offer lower spreads (i.e. the difference between the bid and asking price), especially in volatile markets or where there is a lack of trading activity.

The average spreads for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies on Swyftx are around 1.7% and 0.45%, respectively. Swyftx users can benefit from tight spreads which mean more value for money. Swyftx trading fees are 0.6% which is competitive in the Australian crypto market,

One of the newest features is Swyftx Earn which lets you earn up to 101% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on 21 cryptocurrencies including BTC, ETH, SOL, ADA, LUNA, and DOT. Interest compounds and is paid out to your wallet daily.

swyftx earn interest

Earn up to 101% APY on 21 cryptocurrencies.

A common theme of the over 3,400 customer feedback reviews on TrustPilot, is related to the platform’s exemplary customer service. The Swyftx customer service is one the of largest in Australia and comprises 35 individuals including Customer Support Officers, Resolution Managers, Compliance Officers, and Verifications Officers. You can get in touch with the customer service team via email, phone, 24/7 live chat, or Telegram.

Swyftx Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Better value for money with tight spreads and low fees (0.6%)
  • Integrated TradingView charting package with advanced tools and indicators to optimize trades
  • Explore the platform and practice trading with virtual funds using the demo mode
  • Quickly diversify portfolios by purchasing cryptocurrency bundles
  • 297 supported digital assets which suits altcoin traders
  • Receive quick and helpful customer support 24/7
  • Start trading immediately with a rapid signup and ID verification process

Cons

  • Advanced trading features including leveraged margin trading are not supported.

2. Digital Surge

BEST EXCHANGE FOR BEGINNERS

Read our complete Digital Surge Review for an in-depth breakdown of its features and benefits.

Notable Digital Surge Features

  • simple and clean interface where you will have an easy time depositing funds and buying crypto. 
  • Whilst the spreads are competitive compared to other Australian exchanges, Digital Surge offers some of the lowest trading fees (0.1 – 0.5% depending on trade volume), which will appeal to the general population.
  • The ability to quickly generate crypto tax reports and pay Australian bills using your Bitcoin.

Why We Picked It

Digital Surge is our best-rated crypto exchange for beginners. The simplicity of the interface will suit if you’re new to cryptocurrency platforms and trading. The learning curve will be short and the concepts of crypto buying and trading will come easily. If you want to bolster your crypto knowledge then you will appreciate the fully integrated and comprehensive education hub.

Digital Surge Overview

Digital Surge is a uniquely user-friendly cryptocurrency platform, providing Australians and New Zealanders with an easy way to buy, store and sell over 300 cryptocurrencies. The Brisbane-based exchange provides a platform that is perfectly suited for beginners with no prior experience with exchanges or buying crypto, or those who possess a basic understanding of cryptocurrencies.

Along with low trading fees, excellent customer support, and a variety of other features, Digital Surge is a strong option if you want to buy and hold digital currencies as long-term investments. You can start your crypto investment portfolio by buying Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Cardano (ADA), Solana (SOL), Litecoin (LTC), and many more.

To further benefit beginners, Digital Surge offers a wealth of educational content in their “Learn Crypto” hub. The hub intends to provide newcomers with accurate information about important topics such as how the blockchain works, what wallets are, and the basics of crypto investments. Articles are written in simple language to easily explain crypto aspects and to minimize confusion.

Digital Surge

One of the key advantages of using Digital Surge is its low trading fees (0.5%) which are highly competitive in the Australian crypto industry. For example, trading fees in Australia range from as low as 0.1% (Binance Australia), 0.5% (Cointree), 0.6% (Swyftx), 0.85% BTC Markets, and 1% (CoinSpot). This means that you can stretch your dollars further than they otherwise would with most other platforms.

High-volume traders who conduct large transactions will benefit from the tier-based structure where trading fees decrease to a minimum of 0.1%, based on a 30-day trading volume. For example, crypto transactions between $250,000 and $500,00 will incur a reduced fee of 0.3%.

The Digital Surge platform has been designed with simplicity in mind. Apart from being aesthetically pleasing, the layout is easy to understand and you will have a simple time navigating your way through the platform’s features. This makes for a more enjoyable trading experience for investors. If you’re an advanced trader then Digital Surge may not be for you as there are no advanced trading charts or analytical tools available. 

Digital Surge Trading 2

Despite this, Digital Surge still offers a range of order types to provide you with a level of trading flexibility and utility, including price alerts, trigger orders, and recurring buys (otherwise known as Dollar-Cost-Averaging). 

Digital Surge Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Simple and easy to navigate user interface tailored for beginners
  • A free, highly secure wallet for all DS traders
  • Low fees (0.5%) and competitive trading spreads
  • Personalised and 100% Australian-based customer support
  • 270+ supported assets, giving one of the widest selections
  • Buy crypto direct with NZD (no conversion fees)
  • In-built tax tool partnership with Koinly and Cryptotax calculator
  • The ability to pay Australian bills using BTC
  • 50% fee affiliate program
  • Premium educational resources and expert trading advice for all DS customers

Cons

  • Unable to buy crypto using credit card or PayPal
  • Some coins not listed
  • Unable to exchange crypto for crypto
  • No current way to stake cryptocurrency

3. Coinspot

BEST EXCHANGE FOR REPUTATION

Read our complete CoinSpot Review for an in-depth breakdown of its features and benefits.

Notable CoinSpot Features

  • Coinspot was the first cryptocurrency exchange in Australia to obtain the internationally recognized ISO 27001 certification for information security. You can be sure that Coinspot implements, maintains, and improves its information security management systems.
  • The CoinSpot trading interface including easy instant access buy and sell functions will suit beginners with no prior crypto experience. The clean and simple design allows for easy navigation and depositing and withdrawing funds is straightforward.
  • The number of supported digital currencies to choose from is (330+) which is one of the best in Australia.
  • The trading platform features live charting powered by TradingView.

Why We Picked It

In terms of trustworthiness and reputation, CoinSpot is the clear leader in the Australian crypto market. Established in 2013, CoinSpot is one of the oldest Australian-based crypto exchanges. Despite the later arrival of big competitors like Digital Surge and Swyftx, CoinSpot has maintained its legacy of being Australia’s most trusted cryptocurrency exchange with over 1 million Australian users enjoying the platform.

It was the first Australian exchange to obtain ISO 27001 certification which means that CoinSpot complies with stringent management processes relating to digital asset storage, information and record keeping, intellectual property, and more. You should be assured that you are receiving the highest level of information security available.

CoinSpot Overview

CoinSpot is a Melbourne-based cryptocurrency exchange that was established in 2013. The platform provides an easy way for Australian investors and traders to buy, trade, and sell 330 digital currencies and assets. The platform has gained high visibility in the financial and commercial sectors and established itself as a major player in the Australian crypto market. CoinSpot’s key strength is its unwavering reputation as a trustworthy crypto exchange.

The exchange is highly regulated by Australia’s governed financial sector to ensure proper conduct and operations with investors’ money. To provide further confidence to its customers, CoinSpot is the only crypto platform in Australia that has obtained ISO 27001 certification from the International Organisation for Standardisation. The accreditation means that CoinSpot has to comply with strict regulations and management processes to ensure that its information security systems are operating at the highest level.

coinspot review

CoinSpot supports several payment methods for you to fund your account wallet such as POLI, BPAY, and PayID. These methods do not incur any deposit fees, except for BPAY or cash payments at supporting news agencies which incur deposit fees of 0.9% and 2.5%, respectively. The use of credit/debit cards to fund the account wallet is not supported.

The majority of features are tailored toward beginner investors who are getting started in the world of cryptocurrencies. For example, you can purchase crypto bundles where several cryptos are acquired in a single transaction and thereby reducing your trading fees. This is a great method for quickly diversifying an investment portfolio.

The Instant Buy/Sell crypto feature will be appealing if you prefer a no-fuss way to buy crypto with AUD. You can use AUD to purchase digital currencies including BTC, USDC, LUNA, ADA, BNB, DOT, LINK, and more. Purchased crypto is near-instantly transferred to your wallet where it can be tracked and managed.

coinspot buy feature

CoinSpot trading fees of 1% for using the Instant Buy/Sell function are considerably more expensive than its competition and are not good value for money. This is a drawback that is commonly raised in discussions about CoinSpot as a trading option for beginners.

Accessing lower trading fees of 0.1% will mean placing market orders within the trading interface. However, this is more complicated and requires some trading experience. Since this function is found within the trading interface, beginners may either not be aware of it, or be discouraged or overwhelmed by the charting and order books. Unfortunately, the 1% trading fee also applies to recurring buy, take profit, stop, and limit orders.

Coinspot Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ISO 27001 Certification for Information Security Management
  • Huge choice of coins, NFTs, and DeFi coins
  • User-friendly and simple design
  • Excellent live chat support
  • TradingView live charting
  • Highly secure and well established
  • Crypto bundles offered
  • Competitive trading fees for OTC and SMSF investors

Cons

  • High trading fees to instantly buy, sell, or swap crypto (1%)
  • Advanced traders might find the trading features lacking
  • Staking is not supported

4. Independent Reserve

BEST EXCHANGE FOR SMSF

Read our complete Independent Reserve Review for an in-depth breakdown of its features and benefits.

Notable Independent Reserve Features

  • simple and clean user interface that will benefit investors with no prior cryptocurrency experience. Beginners will have an easy time using AUD to buy and sell 27 digital currencies to buy such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Cardano.
  • In-built crypto tax estimate calculators where you can get a quick understanding of your cryptocurrency taxation liabilities. The generated tax reports provide a detailed breakdown of monetary gains, fiat and digital currency balances, and fees incurred during the financial year to make for easy reporting to the ATO.
  • Competitive trading fees start at 0.5% and can be reduced based on a 30-day trading volume which will suit high-net traders.
  • Premium SMSF features and personalized support for Over-The-Counter (OTC) and SMSF customers. 

Why We Picked It

Independent Reserve is a well-established Australian platform that is best known for its premium SMSF services. The platform holds over 8,000 SMSF accounts. Independent Reserve offers crypto tax reporting tools to assist you with EOFY reporting, low trading fees (0.5%), and a highly secure digital framework so you know your retirement assets are in safe hands. There is also an OTC desk where you can likely get a better deal if you’re trading amounts over $50,000.

Independent Reserve Overview

Founded in 2013, Independent Reserve has served over 200,000 individuals, holds over 8,000 SMSF accounts, and holds about $1 billion worth of digital assets. Whilst the exchange is geographically focused on Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, the platform supports 33 other countries and territories. In these regions, USD can be used to fund the wallet to take advantage of Independent Reserve’s unique features.

In Australia, Independent Reserve has established itself as one of the most reputable crypto platforms and is the Official Cryptocurrency Exchange of the Sydney Swans Football Club. Independent Reserve is a member of the Australian Digital Commerce Association (ADCA) and Blockchain Australia. The company has won several awards and notable recognitions, appearing in the Deloitte Tech Fast 50 Australia, Financial Times High Growth Companies 2020, and Australian Financial Review’s Most Innovative Companies.

independent reserve review

If you have zero crypto experience then Independent Reserve will be an ideal option for you. The interface is visually intuitive with features able to be navigated with ease. Although the interface is a bit basic compared to other platforms and needs an update, it still performs seamlessly which is what matters.

The options to deposit AUD funds into your account wallet as well as buying and selling a range of digital assets are laid out and easily identifiable. The Buy/Sell function will appeal to most beginners where AUD can be used to directly purchase popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), and Ripple (XRP), Polkadot (DOT), and many more. Once you purchase crypto, it will be near-instantly transferred to your account wallet where it can be tracked and managed.

Beginner and experienced investors alike will enjoy the very competitive trading fees that Independent Reserve offers. Trading fees start at 0.5% and can be reduced depending on the 30-day trading volume. This will suit high-net investors where trading fees can be as low as 0.02% if the trading volume is sufficiently high enough.

independent reserve buy BTC

The trading interface is simple and lacks features and functionality. Independent Reserve provides a simple charting package however it does not come with the advanced trading tools and indicators associated with premium charting packages such as TradingView. As such, an in-depth analysis of the market price actions of cryptocurrencies cannot be undertaken and you may wish to consider an alternative trading platform that offers advanced tools.

independent reserve charts

Independent Reserve is widely known for its premium OTC and SMSF service offerings and holds over 8,000 SMSF accounts. Based on our review and with consideration of other exchanges, Independent Reserve still maintains its position as the top choice for high-net and SMSF investors. OTC and SMSF investors alike will benefit from the very competitive trading fees (0.5%), personalized customer support for account holders, in-built tax reporting tools, and the ability to optimize trades using a variety of limit orders.

To solidify Independent Reserve’s reputation as a trusted crypto exchange, the platform has not experienced any security breaches that have resulted in the loss, theft, or damage of digital assets or funds. Digital assets are stored in cold wallets in physical vaults that are located in geographically diverse locations. These vaults are protected by multi-layer encryption and require multiple signatures before assets can be withdrawn. Independent Reserve is registered with AUSTRAC and complies with AML/KYC procedures. 

Independent Reserve Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Great discounts & support for OTC, SMSF, high net worth individuals and trust investments
  • Built-in crypto tax calculators to make tax returns easier
  • Competitive trading fees that start at 0.5% and can be reduced based on trading volume
  • Easy to use and intuitive trading interface
  • Dollar-Cost-Averaging tools and advanced trading limit orders
  • Earn 50% affiliate commissions

Cons

  • Limited selection of cryptocurrencies compared to other exchanges
  • More suited to high net worth individuals
  • Mobile app has limited functionality
  • No live chat or direct phone support
  • Knowledge base (FAQ) section hard to navigate
  • The user interface is outdated

5. Binance Australia

BEST EXCHANGE FOR ALTCOINS

Read our complete Binance Australia Review for an in-depth breakdown of its features and benefits.

Notable Binance Australia Features

  • Binance is the #1 ranked cryptocurrency exchange in the world for the depth of its liquidity in its order books, high trading volumes, and traffic. 
  • Extremely low trading fees of 0.1% can be reduced by increased trading volume.
  • One of the largest selections of cryptocurrencies to buy, trade, and sell (400).
  • Full-featured and streamlined mobile apps for iOS and Android devices.
  • suite of innovative products and services including the ability to purchase NFTs, earn interest on crypto holdings with Binance Earn and staking, margin trading for advanced traders, and a Visa debit card to spend crypto.

Why We Picked It

Binance Australia is one of the cheapest crypto exchanges available to Aussies due to the depth of its order books, high trading volumes, and significant liquidity. Combine this with the very low trading fees of 0.1% and its vast list of over 400+ supported digital assets and you have a strong platform to buy altcoins with AUD.

Binance Australia Overview

Binance is the colossus of the crypto world. It is such a household name that it is often the first choice for global investors and traders, and with good reason. Founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao, the exchange has quickly grown into the world’s largest exchange in terms of trading volume, liquidity, and traffic. 

Binance boasts an ecosystem of staple and innovative crypto services and features that caters to a wide spectrum of crypto users on a user-friendly interface. Binance’s strengths lie in its high liquidity for trading pairs, low trading fees, a wide range of services, and an ecosystem of innovative features. 

Binance Australia is operated by InvestbyBit Pty Ltd and is registered with AUSTRAC, the government body responsible for the detection, prevention, and mitigation of organized crime in the financial sector including terrorism financing and money laundering.

binance feature

The core of the Binance brand revolves around the sheer trading volume and liquidity, as well as the vast number of digital assets and selection of trading pairs. This makes it a highly attractive option for investors and traders of varying levels of experience and knowledge can trade cryptocurrencies. On top of this, Binance continues to provide innovative products and features to maintain its status as one of the market leaders in the crypto space.

Some of the key features of Binance include:

  • An enviable array of over 400 digital currencies including BTC, stablecoins (e.g. USDT), and a vast selection of altcoins such as SHIB, LUNA, DOT, MATIC, SOL, LINK, and many more.
  • Buy, sell, mint, and bid on a diverse range of trending and popular NFTs in the Binance marketplace.
  • Grow your crypto holdings by earning interest on the principal deposited with Binance Earn. You have the option of selecting predictable returns or higher yields with greater risk to capital.
  • Stake one or more of 76 cryptocurrencies including Ethereum 2.0 for periods of 30, 60, or 90 days to earn up to 32% Annual Percentage Yield (APY).
  • Access greater profits with leveraged margin trading.
  • Binance VISA Card to convert and pay with crypto.

You can deposit Australian Dollars (AUD) into your account wallet via PayID. If you want to fund your account with crypto then you can do this as well. Investors and traders can then enjoy the extremely low trading fees of 0.1% (maker) and 0.1% (taker) which makes Binance one of the cheapest trading platforms available to Australians.

binance spot trader

One of the key reasons why Binance has skyrocketed to popularity in Australia is its user-friendly trading interface. Binance has done an excellent job designing a highly functional but modern interface that caters to beginner investors to serious traders. Switching between trading pairs is easy with no latency issues.

If you’re an advanced trader then you will feel at home with the TradingView live charting which is seamlessly integrated into the trading interface. The premium charting tool comes complete with all the advanced analytical tools and indicators so you can analyze the price action of crypto.

Binance Australia Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Ranked #1 in world for trading volume, traffic, and liquidity
  • Low trading fees that start at 0.1% and can be further reduced
  • Feature-rich charting powered by TradingView that suits advanced traders
  • Wide range of services including margin, futures, staking and crypto earn
  • Excellent mobile app for iOS and Android

Cons

  • The Spot Trading interface can be daunting for beginners
  • Lack of deposit options to fund account wallets compared to other Australian exchanges
  • The Binance Visa Card is not available to Australians

6. Coinjar

BEST EXCHANGE FOR DEBIT CARD

Read our complete Coinjar Review for an in-depth breakdown of its features and benefits.

Notable Coinjar Features

  • The CoinJar Card allows you to spend your crypto at any retail online or in-store outlet in Australia that accepts Mastercard. You can request a physical card to be sent free of charge, otherwise, the CoinJar Card can be used in conjunction with the CoinJar mobile app. Transactions fees of 1% are competitive in the market. 
  • streamlined and intuitive buy and sell platform that allows beginner investors to buy, sell, and trade crypto without hassle.
  • Over-The-Counter (OTC) trading desk with a dedicated account manager for high volume and low fee trades.
  • Purchase customizable or preset cryptocurrency bundles in single transactions to quickly diversify your portfolio.
  • Access greater trading flexibility, options, and lower fees using CoinJar Exchange. The trading interface features live charts, and a maker/taker fee model.

Why We Picked It

CoinJar is one of the markets leading exchanges that provides innovative products and services for everyday crypto users. In our opinion, CoinJar Card is the best available crypto debit card in the Australian market. The card is best used in conjunction with the CoinJar mobile apps which are compatible with iOS and Android devices. Combine these with CoinJar Rewards, and the result is an integrated and mobile experience that will be of benefit if you use your crypto on an everyday basis.

Coinjar Overview

CoinJar is a trusted and reliable cryptocurrency exchange that is suited to people who are fairly new to the world of cryptocurrency. They provide a number of unique and innovative products and services and are backed by some of the most forward-thinking investors including Digital Currency Group, Boost VC, and Blackbird Ventures. Since its establishment in 2013, CoinJar has built a reputation of being a trustworthy and innovative crypto exchange that has traded over $1.5 billion across over 400,000 users.

One of Coinjar’s best products is the CoinJar Card. Its features have proved it to be one of Australia’s best crypto cards:

  • Spend your crypto at online or in-store outlets that accept Mastercard.
  • Withdraw AUD from supporting ATMs.
  • Apple Pay®️ and Google Pay®️ are supported.
  • There are no setup costs, no monthly fees, and you can earn CoinJar Rewards every time you make a transaction.
  • The card is managed entirely through the CoinJar mobile app where you can conveniently select which crypto you want to use as purchasing funds.

The card then automatically converts the crypto into AUD to enable a transaction. This, along with the competitive 1% transaction fees, makes the CoinJar Card the best crypto debit card within the Australian market.

coinjar mastercard

Whilst CoinJar offers some of the most innovative services, the platform still provides a satisfactory avenue for you to buy, sell, and trade over 30+ digital currencies. The ‘quick buy’ feature possesses relatively high trading fees of 1%, so you may want to trade through CoinJar Exchange. CoinJar Exchange is a separate platform that you can access using their CoinJar account login details. Here, cryptocurrencies including BTC, USDC, XLM, LINK, and LTC can be traded with lower fees (maker and taker model).

The Coinjar interface is reminiscent of other Aussie platforms where simplicity has been incorporated into the design. You will have no trouble finding your way around to fund your account, buy cryptocurrencies, or use any of the other features on offer.

If you’re a new or experienced crypto trader, then you might find the Coinjar Exchange a suitable option. The CoinJar Exchange is separate from the main platform, however, you can conveniently use the same login details to access the feature.

coinjar exchange

The exchange is more comprehensive than the simple market price graphs presented on the main interface and provides live charting with candlesticks. Advanced analytical tools, drawing tools, and indicators such as those found in TradingView packages are not available to analyze price actions.

CoinJar Exchange possesses a different fee structure, live crypto charts, and a more comprehensive trading interface. Despite adding live charts, the interface remains uncluttered and clean. The interface lacks any advanced indicators, drawing tools, and order types and is perfect for beginners who know how to read live charts.

Coinjar Pros & Cons

Pros

  • One of the best crypto debit cards on the Australian market.
  • A streamlined and simplistic interface that reduces the learning curve for beginners.
  • Quickly diversify your crypto portfolio by purchasing bundles.
  • OTC trading with a dedicated account manager.
  • iOS and Android apps for mobile devices.

Cons

  • The limited trading features and charting tools is not suitable for advanced traders.
  • Limited selection of crypto with only 47 altcoins to choose from.
  • Relatively high trading fees (1%) means less value for money.
  • No live chat or phone support available.
  • AUD and GBR are the only supported fiat currencies. USD is not supported.

7. Coinbase

BEST GLOBAL EXCHANGE

Read our complete Coinbase Australia Review for an in-depth breakdown of its features and benefits.

Notable Coinbase Features

  • feature-rich online storage solution with Coinbase Wallet. The wallet can be downloaded as a mobile app and allows you to store up to 4,000 digital assets, purchase NFTs, trade tokens on DEXes, and use a range of dapps.
  • Two separate platforms to buy and trade over 150 digital currencies. The original Coinbase platform is where you can easily buy crypto. Coinbase Pro is a separate and more advanced platform where you have access to a greater number of trading pairs, advanced charting options, and limit orders.
  • Industry-leading security measures and insurance cover in the event of a security breach.
  • A unique course for beginners where you can learn about crypto and earn rewards along the way.

Why We Picked It

If you are new to crypto and have concerns about the safety of your money or the apparent complexities that are typically associated with crypto, then Coinbase will likely alleviate these for you. Simply put, Coinbase does the basics extremely well and is incredibly easy to master.

The platform has been specifically designed to provide a high level of functionality whilst retaining a simple interface that makes the learning curve a short one. The crypto features offered by Coinbase allow you to manage your crypto with confidence but also assist in increasing your trading abilities and knowledge over time.

Coinbase Overview

Coinbase is a globally recognized and respected cryptocurrency exchange platform that is headquartered in San Fransisco. Since its establishment in 2012, the platform has become one of the household names in the crypto industry and encompasses a staggering customer base of over 73 million users in over 100 countries around the world.

Currently, Coinbase is ranked #2 in the world for trading volume where over $2.5 billion of transactions are completed daily. Coinbase is also publically listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange (COIN) and forms an integral part of the exchange’s ongoing goal of increasing the level of economic freedom for everyday people.

coinbase review

One of the key selling points of Coinbase is its user-friendly interface. If you’re getting into crypto for the first time, you will have no trouble navigating your way around the platform to deposit fiat funds and buy Ethereum or other coins.

Coinbase takes online digital asset storage to another level by offering a uniquely designed non-custodial digital wallet that can be used to store over 4,000 assets including BTC, LTC, ETH, ADA, ERC-20 tokens, as well as NFTs. The standalone wallet can be downloaded to iOS and Android devices. Other functionalities include the ability to use dapps, view real-time market prices of your favorite crypto, earn interest on crypto holdings and purchase NFTs.

coinbase pro interface

If you are looking to dip your toes into a more advanced trading experience, then the Coinbase Pro exchange will be the natural step up. The platform, which is separate from the original Coinbase platform, provides you with real-time charting tools with moving averages, trade history, order book, and price charts. Additionally, Coinbase Pro offers you several order types including stop orders, limit orders, and margin orders.

Coinbases’s bank-grade security measures and digital framework should give you confidence if you’re nervous about depositing your money to buy crypto. Coinbase has an outstanding security track record and is well-known for its industry-leading security measures. The platform also has insurance cover in the rare event that a security breach occurs.

Coinbase Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Simple to understand and use interface with an easy crypto buying process
  • Access advanced trading interface and charting features on Coinbase Pro
  • Receive direct phone assistance from the highly accessible customer support team
  • Obtain a highly secure and reliable online wallet to store funds, assets and NFTs
  • Robust security measures, excellent safety track record and insurance cover
  • Available to residents in the United States.

Cons

  • Account financing options are limited
  • Limited coin staking options

8. Kraken

BEST TRADING PLATFORM

Read our complete Kraken Review for an in-depth breakdown of its features and benefits.

Notable Kraken Features

  • Kraken is ranked #6 in the world for trading volume, traffic, and liquidity in its order books. The higher liquidity means that fiat and crypto trading pairs are easier to transact with decreased slippage in prices. 
  • Advanced investors and day traders will benefit from the feature-rich trading interface that Kraken Pro has to offer. A range of advanced search analysis methods including momentum analysis, volatility, oscillator, and mean reversion tools are available to use. Meanwhile, the live charting is of the highest quality and fully customizable to ensure that you can maximize the visibility and transparency of your trading experience.
  • Use your Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) to buy and trade cryptocurrencies as long-term stores of value for retirement.
  • Earn passive crypto rewards by staking coins. Margin and futures trading is also available.

Why We Picked It

The design and quality of the Kraken Pro interface are second to none and rival those of other serious trading platforms. Apart from the premium TradingView charting package with its assortment of advanced analytical tools and indicators, the design and layout allow you to aptly analyze the price action of crypto with precision. Placing market orders, and understanding the trading volume and spreads of trading pairs are aspects commonly sought after by serious traders. Futures and leveraged margins (up to 5x) are supported.

Kraken Overview

Established in 2011, Kraken is one of the longest-serving cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. In terms of trading volume, Kraken is one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges which provides a secure way to buy, trade and sell crypto in over 190 countries around the world. The crypto exchange offers several features that are not offered by many other platforms. Some of these include futures/margin trading, staking, and the ability to trade on multiple exchanges through a single platform.

Kraken features include:

  • Leveraged margin trading with 16 cryptocurrencies including BTC, XRP, ETH, TRX, and USDC where leverage of up to 5x can be obtained.
  • Futures trading where you can speculate and profit on the price of a digital asset.
  • Stake 10 cryptocurrencies including ETH 2.0, SOL, ATOM, BTC, and fiat currencies EUR and USD, to earn rewards of up to 20% APY.
  • Connect to 25 other cryptocurrency platforms with Cryptowatch to access over 4,000 markets.
  • Trade cryptocurrencies on Kraken Pro, a premium trading interface for experienced and serious traders.
  • SMSF support for those who want to build long-term stores of value.
  • Access to a wealth of premium educational resources to expand your crypto knowledge including guides, podcasts, webinars, and videos.
  • Industry-leading security measures to ensure the safety of your funds and assets as well as compliance with local regulatory requirements.
kraken feature

Looking for a serious trading platform? If so, the advanced trading features of Kraken Pro will be highly appealing. The charting on Kraken Pro is second to none and rivals other premium charting packages that are available. Newcomers to crypto are more than likely to find the interface to be particularly daunting. On the other hand, experienced traders will get a lot of value from Kraken Pro’s powerful features, including:

  • An abundance of search analysis tools such as mean reversion, momentum, oscillator, statistical analysis, trend analysis, and volatility tools.
  • Several charting styles to choose from such as candlesticks, Hiekin-Ashi, bar, line, and mountain. The live charting can also be customized for aesthetic or functional purposes to maximize the visibility of market price actions.
  • A suite of drawing tools including Fibonacci and annotation to allow note-taking.
kraken pro

Trading fees on Kraken Pro follow a maker and taker structure with fees of 0.16% and 0.26%, respectively, which are quite competitive in the market. As an added advantage, trading fees can be reduced further if the trading volume on all cryptocurrencies for the past 30 days reaches certain milestones, and will benefit high-net traders.

Traders are also incentivized to engage with the market with lower trading fees to provide liquidity to the exchange by filling the order book by placing conditional and limit orders (i.e. maker fees).

Kraken Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Well established and regulated platform
  • Buy, trade and sell 102 different cryptocurrencies
  • Advanced charting tools and display
  • Margin/futures trading available
  • Earn passive rewards by staking coins

Cons

  • Margin trading fees a little high
  • Complex fee structure
  • Deposits/withdrawals can be slow

9. FTX Australia

BEST FOR MARGIN TRADING

Read our complete FTX Review for an in-depth breakdown of its features and benefits.

Notable FTX Features

  • Deep order books and significant liquidity. FTX is ranked as the #3 cryptocurrency exchange in the world for liquidity, traffic, and trading volume.
  • Extremely competitive trading fees start at 0.02% (maker) and 0.07% (taker) and can be further reduced if the native FTX token (FTT) is held or staked or based on a 30-day trading volume.
  • Excellent trading interface offering TradingView live charting, advanced market analysis features, drawing tools, and indicators. Positions can be easily viewed and managed with several different types of order methods supported to open and close a trade.
  • Over 259+ supported digital currencies and an abundance of markets.
  • Up to 20x leverage on tokens as well as the option to go short or long on positions with up to 3x leverage with no margin.
  • MOVE contracts that execute to the absolute (positive or negative) change in the market price of an asset over time.
  • Instant OTC quotations that can be acted upon.

Why We Picked It

FTX is a leading cryptocurrency exchange that offers futures, leveraged tokens, and OTC trading to investors and traders worldwide including in the United States via FTX.US. The exchange is best known for its derivatives trading offering where a wide variety of leveraged tokens can be traded on the options or futures market. Serious traders will be able to utilize the abundance of markets and supported digital currencies, along with the extremely low trading fees to maximize their trading activities. The significant liquidity provides tighter spreads and minimal price slippage.

FTX Overview

FTX was founded by prominent crypto figurehead Sam Bankman-Fried and Gary Wang in May 2019. The exchange is backed by Alameda Research, a $100 million AUM quantitative cryptocurrency trading firm that provides liquidity worldwide. Alameda trades over $600 million and up to $1 billion per day through exchanges like FTX and accounts for approximately 15% of global stablecoin volume.

On the back of its assortment of derivative trading products, the exchange quickly rose to popularity and continued to expand. In August 2020, FTX acquired Blockfolio, a cryptocurrency portfolio tracking app, for $150 million. In 2021, FTX raised $900 million at a valuation of $18 billion from over 60 investors including Binance, which solidified its standing as a serious cryptocurrency exchange. At the time of writing, FTX was ranked #3 in the world for traffic, trading volume, and liquidity.

ftx features

FTX is a top cryptocurrency derivatives trading platform that has been built by traders for traders. The platform is robust, visually intuitive, and rich in advanced features that will satisfy the trading needs of intermediate and experienced traders. The live charting is powered by TradingView, the most popular charting package that provides you with advanced tools and indicators to assist in identifying and maximizing trades. 

ftx trading interface

As a trader, you have access to an abundance of markets and trading pairs with over 259+ supported digital currencies. On top of this, FTX offers some of the most competitive maker/taker trading fees in the market which start at 0.02% and 0.07%, respectively. This makes it highly desirable for retail traders utilizing OTC services, and professional traders. If you hold or stake the native FTX token, FTT, you may be entitled to receive additional benefits to enhance your trading experiences such as reduced trading fees and increased commissions from the referral program.

FTX is a safe and secure cryptocurrency platform that operates in over 190 countries around the world including Australia. The exchange is licensed by ASIC and registered with AUSTRAC to provide cryptocurrency services.

If you want to trade on the go then you can do so using the FTX Pro mobile app. The app is compatible with both iOS and Android devices and provides access to the majority of features.

FTX Australia Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Deep liquidity and very competitive trading fees starting at 0.02% (maker) and 0.07% (taker).
  • Holding the native FTT will enable several benefits including reduced trading fees.
  • Advanced live charting package with TradingView and advanced analytical tools.
  • Up to 20x leverage on tokens.
  • An abundance of markets and numerous trading pairs.
  • Trading features unique to FTX including Quan Zone, Options, and instant OTC quotes.

Cons

  • No crypto ‘quick buy’ feature for beginners.
  • Crypto staking capabilities are limited.
  • Expensive USD withdrawal fee of $75.
  • 24/7 live chat not supported.

10. eToro

BEST FOR CFDs & SOCIAL TRADING

Read our complete eToro Review for an in-depth breakdown of its features and benefits.

Notable eToro Features

  • Social trading allows you to copy the portfolios of successful traders or top-performing portfolios.
  • The eToro platform interface has been designed for beginner investors in mind. Upon login, you will find the dashboard interface to be clean, well laid out, and therefore easy to digest and navigate.
  • A demo or ‘virtual’ account where you can use $100,000 of virtual funds to become familiar with the platform’s features and practice trading.

Why We Picked It

The main advantage that eToro carries over its competitors such as Plus500, is that the platform is incredibly fluid and aptly suited for beginner traders. The majority of its features and low deposit amounts have been tailored toward beginners starting their investing journeys. Beginners without a lot of experience or trading knowledge can mirror the trades of other investors with the option of applying stop-loss limits to minimize their potential losses.

eToro Overview

eToro is a multi-asset social trading platform that offers cryptocurrency, stock, and Contract-For-Difference (CFD) trading to people all over the world. Since its inception in 2007, eToro has expanded across the world and has reached over 20 million users. eToro is now a global leader in the social trading market where you can copy the trades and portfolios of high-performing investors.

Australians who are new to investing can follow an investor to automatically copy their trades using the available trading account balance. Beginners are the major beneficiaries of this feature by copy-trading and following the most profitable traders on the platform to earn a passive income.

eToro’s social trading offering is unique in the Australian market and is our top choice for social and CFD trading. Browsing the profiles and portfolios of successful traders is an engaging process and reminded us of an online shopping experience. For added functionality, you can sort and filter portfolios to copy according to your investment needs and objectives.

etoro copy trading

The ease of use factor on eToro is high with the trading experience enjoyable and engaging. The dashboard and trading interface are well laid out, clean, and modern which makes for an easy time navigating through the various features and menus. Upon logging in for the first time, you will be offered a virtual tour of the platform which is a small but nice addition if you are new to eToro and crypto trading in general.

To further bolster its appeal and suitability to trading newcomers, eToro offers a demo mode that can be toggled on and off. The demo mode comes equipped with $100,000 of virtual for you to explore the features of the platform and practice trading. Since funds are virtual, trading can be undertaken with zero risk to your own capital funds.

eToro charges a 1% fee for all crypto buying and selling orders and is included in the quoted price when you open or close a position. Additionally, there are no fees to deposit AUD into the wallet via credit card, PayPal, or POLi. Instead, only spreads apply which range from 0.75% for BTC to 4.5% for MIOTA. eToro is able to offer lower spreads for BTC due to the significant trading volume.

In Australia, eToro (as the entity eToro AUS Capital Limited or “eToro Australia”) holds an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL). The platform does not have a license to sell actual cryptocurrency assets, however, you can speculate on the crypto prices.

eToro Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Beginner-friendly platform
  • Demo account
  • No trading fees (spread only)
  • Available worldwide and accepts multiple fiat currencies
  • Offers crypto, stocks, commodities and indices
  • Unique social trading where successful portfolios can be copied

Cons

  • High currency conversion fees
  • High spreads for some crypto
  • Limited selection of cryptocurrencies
  • Not considered suited for advanced / technical traders

Types Of Cryptocurrency Exchanges

Brokers

A cryptocurrency broker is a trading platform that finds the best possible prices from several large volume cryptocurrency exchanges and presents those prices to their customer. Since these platforms tend to be designed for the beginner trader or investor in mind, the processes and steps to purchase crypto tend to be simple, quick, and easy. Examples of crypto brokers in Australia include SwyftxCoinSpot, and Zipmex.

Customers will benefit from the typically high liquidity associated with high trading volumes as the amount of price slippage is reduced. A spread is typically applied to each trade and investors and traders alike should not confuse this with trading fees. The spread is the difference between the buy and sells price.

Trading Exchanges

Cryptocurrency trading exchanges are typically marketed towards beginner and intermediate investors and traders. Most are rich in features such as order types and advanced trading charting packages. The more established exchanges typically offer a wide variety and number of digital assets that can be bought, traded, and sold and this would cater to those who want to diversify their portfolios.

Trading exchanges feature highly intuitive user interfaces with charting features and tools such as technical indicators, drawing tools, and chart patterns to allow traders to analyze the price action and identify trading opportunities. Binance is an example of a popular crypto trading platform. 

Contract for Difference Providers

A Contract-For-Difference (CFD) crypto exchange allows traders to speculate on the direction of the price without purchasing the asset. This allows the trader to long or short cryptos with leverage. Simply put, a digital asset such as Bitcoin can be traded without actually using the asset itself but using fiat currency instead. CFP providers will typically have demo accounts available for customers to practice trading before switching to a real account. The learning curve for new traders is flattened by features such as simplified trading interfaces and charts, presentation of top-performing portfolios which can be copied, and pre-set crypto in wallets.

eToro is an example of a CFP provider designed for beginners, whilst Plus 500 is suited for advanced and experienced traders.

Futures and Derivative Exchanges

Futures and derivatives exchanges such as Bybit and FTX offer advanced trading platforms that use a maker and taker fee structure for investors and traders that have a thorough understanding of limit orders and possess sound risk management principles.

Trading crypto with leverage comes with significant risks that can result in losses greater than the starting capital and are for advanced traders only. These types of platforms are excellent for customers that understand how to short sell crypto to:

  • Bet on the crypto asset value decreasing in price.
  • Increase the amount of crypto in a portfolio by profiting on price corrections during an uptrend.
  • Hedge a portfolio to lock in gains and minimize losses during a downtrend.
  • Create significant profit potential by using leverage to borrow more money.

Our Exchange Review Methodology

There is a multitude of cryptocurrency exchanges in the Australian market and it can be difficult to understand the nuances of each and how they compare. As a result, deciding which crypto exchange is best is a challenging exercise for the everyday trader or investor.

Our mission is to provide high-quality, in-depth, and accurate information on the latest products and services from each exchange. Our reviews are based on our own real-life experiences to give individuals unbiased information to assist with the decision-making process. This includes creating a verified account, depositing funds, placing trades, and withdrawing funds with each exchange and platform to gain a complete and robust understanding of the user experience. We then evaluate and rate each Australian exchange out of 5 points.

Key factors and aspects we look for in a good cryptocurrency exchange are primarily based on what is important to the everyday Australian trader or investor. As such, our detailed exchange reviews take into consideration the following factors (but are not limited to):

  • Is the exchange a reputable and trustworthy platform to invest and trade crypto? The reputability and trustworthiness of exchange are slowly built up over time. We assess how the exchange was established, the number of users, its mission, and the level of community perception.
  • Is the platform interface easy to use? Beginner investors will look for simple and intuitive interface designs which present how to buy, trade, and sell crypto. More experienced and advanced traders will still appreciate simplicity however advanced features such as charting will be sought to maximize trading potential.
  • How fiat or crypto funds are deposited to enable trading to vary from exchange to exchange. Important aspects that we take into consideration are the number of deposit methods, support for AUD deposit options, minimum and maximum limits, and how fast transactions can be completed.
  • The minimization of fees incurred matters to all traders and investors. We assess and compare fees that are charged by the exchange which include deposit fees, buy and sell fees, spreads, and trading fees. 
  • We evaluate the strength of the exchange’s security measures implemented to protect funds and personal information. Are they in line with regulatory authority requirements and how do they compare against industry benchmarks and standards? These may include 2FA, use of cold storage, segregation of funds, and any known reports of security breaches resulting in loss or damage of held digital assets. 
  • Is the customer support team easily accessible and what methods of help assistance are available. 

How To Choose A Cryptocurrency Exchange

There is an abundance of cryptocurrency exchanges that are available to Australians. Knowing which one to choose greatly depends on your trading goals and experience.

We have compiled a list of key factors and considerations to help you choose the right Australian crypto exchange to best suit your needs.

User Interface Experience

Our recommendation is to find an Australian exchange where the level of platform matches your level of expertise and experience. Beginners should ideally be seeking out a User Interface (UI) that is simplistic, intuitive to use, and therefore making the trading experience easier and more enjoyable. Features that beginners should be on the lookout for include instant deposits and withdrawals, instant buying, and selling.

Based on our reviews and experience, the ease of use provided by Swyftx and Digital Surge is best suited for people starting their cryptocurrency investment journeys.

Advanced traders would require a more detailed insight into the market. A UI that offers price charts, candlesticks, and graphs are features that advanced traders will look for.

Deposit / Withdrawal Methods and Limits

How you choose to deposit and withdraw funds into the exchange wallet will be a personal choice. The ease of performing, fees incurred, and how fast deposits and withdrawals can be made should be items of consideration. Direct bank transfer, POLi, PayID, BPay (OSKO), and credit/debit cards are the most common options. Some exchanges will also allow deposits of certain crypto to be made.

The fee section of each cryptocurrency exchange should be reviewed as some deposit and withdrawal methods may not be supported. The time taken to transfer funds across an Australian bank account may vary across different financial institutions.

Another consideration is deposit and withdrawal limits. Depending on the exchange, there may be daily maximum limits of fiat currency that can be deposited or withdrawn.

Type of Trading

The type of trading you want to undertake will heavily influence the type of crypto exchange options. You will need to decide if you want to:

  • Trade fiat to crypto (e.g. AUD to BTC)
  • Trade crypto to crypto (e.g. ETH to BTC), or
  • A combination of the above.

Other key features which may influence your decision may include the ability to earn interest on your stored crypto or manage SMSF.

Fee Structure and Transparency

Customers should be aware of the various fees that may be incurred when trading on a cryptocurrency exchange. The most straightforward of these include deposit fees, withdrawal fees, and trading fees between assets, i.e. crypto to crypto.

Spread fees and foreign exchange conversion fees may not always be readily presented and maybe ‘hidden’ before a transaction. Some exchanges will present the fee incurred as a separate line item. A good exchange will have a dedicated fee section that should be reviewed. Most exchanges will offer zero fees on deposits and withdrawals. A competitive trading fee should be between 0.1% and 0.5% for each transaction made. The spread is the difference between the buy and sell price for a quoted cryptocurrency.

It is important to note that some exchanges such as Digital Surge may offer fee discounts depending on the volume traded. Generally, the fee decreases if the traded volume increases on a 30-day trading volume. The implications of this are quite significant (cost savings) if larger volumes are traded.

Supported Fiat and Cryptocurrencies

Make sure that the crypto exchange supports your target cryptocurrency and that an AUD trading pair is available (e.g. AUD-BTC). Most exchanges will support the dominant cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), and Bitcoin Cash (BCH). However, with thousands of digital currency projects and coins to buy and sell, finding an exchange that supports all is not possible. Some exchanges will support BTC only and others are constantly adding new coins to their support list.

Liquidity and Volume

The larger and more established digital currency exchanges will tend to have access to greater liquidity compared to smaller cryptocurrency exchanges. Liquidity refers to how easily one asset is converted into a fiat currency or another asset. The higher the liquidity of an exchange, the easier and faster it will be to complete fiat-to-crypto and crypto-to-crypto transactions.

Methods of Verification

Australian-based exchanges are required to be registered with AUSTRAC. AUSTRAC registered entities are required by Australian law to collect customer information (known as Know Your Customer) so that a customer’s identity can be established. Whilst an account can typically be created with just a full name and email address, identity verification is required before buying and trading can be undertaken.

The information and documents required by exchanges to verify your identity differ across exchanges, however typically include full name, email address, phone number, utility bill which states your address, and a copy of an Australian government-issued form of identification (driver’s license, passport).

For most exchanges, the identity verification process usually takes around 2 to 5 minutes to complete.

Account Security

Industry-standard security measures for Australian crypto exchanges typically include multi-location and offline cold wallet storage of funds, a combination of hot and cold fund storage, multi-signature verification withdrawal process, and Two Factor Authentication (2FA). Other features may include user private key control, ID verification, notification on account activity (i.e. email and/or SMS), proof of reserve, email encryption, and 24/7 security protocol monitoring and penetration testing by third parties.

The security page of the exchange should be reviewed to confirm that industry-standard measures and protocols are being implemented.

Legal Compliance and Regulation

All Australian-based cryptocurrency exchanges must be registered under AUSTRAC. AUSTRAC is an Australian government agency that is responsible for detecting, deterring, and disrupting criminal activity within the financial sector. This includes organized crime such as money laundering.

AUSTRAC activities are guided by the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF Act). The AML/CTF Act also requires registered entities to collect information to establish a customer’s identity (KYC), monitor transactions, and report to AUSTRAC transactions or activities that are suspicious or involve a sum of money greater than $10,000.

Before you choose a crypto exchange, ensure that they are registered with AUSTRAC.

Available Customer Support Tools

Although most cryptocurrency exchanges will offer similar customer support features, there are some variabilities. Most exchanges will offer a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page which should address the most common troubleshooting queries. In addition to FAQs, some exchanges like Digital Surge possess a dedicated knowledge base or library that presents a series of how-to guides and tutorials tailored for beginner and intermediate investors. We have found that the level of information within these libraries can vary greatly from the not so useful to the comprehensive.

Support tools to assist with immediate troubleshooting advice or assistance may come in the form of a ticket system or live chatbot. The ticket system is akin to directly emailing the exchange support team with a query however response times will vary across exchanges. We have noted that the larger and more established exchanges are more likely to offer a live chat service.

Beginner and intermediate investors alike would be well served to explore what communication and assistance tools are available for support.

Reputation & Online Reviews

Investors should be looking for an exchange that has a strong reputation for being reliable and secure. Websites such as Trustpilot and Product Review will be able to provide insight into the experiences and feedback from the current or former users of the exchange. Other online sources of customer reviews may include forum comments and social media posts. 

A quick assessment of online customer reviews will help to identify any particular issues that may be present.

How To Store Cryptocurrency In Australia

Deciding on how to store cryptocurrency in Australia comes down to two options. Firstly, digital assets can be kept in the exchanges storage system, which can be cold storage (wallet), or a combination of hot and cold storage. Secondly, cold-storage wallets may be used by individuals to hold crypto offline and usually in a physical state.

  • Hot storage refers to a wallet that is connected to the internet and can be accessed at any time. Examples include online cloud wallets, mobile wallets, software wallets, and exchanges. Hot wallets are great for keeping an amount of crypto available for frequent buying, trading, and selling. 
  • Cold storage refers to a physical means of keeping crypto in a storage device and is only accessible by the wallet owner. Examples include hardware wallets such as CoolWallet Pro and the Ledger Nano X. Cold wallet sare not connected to the internet. 

Since hot wallets (e.g. exchanges) are connected to the internet, funds are susceptible to loss damage, or theft, albeit the risks are low. With this in mind, investors and traders should be seeking a reputable and trustworthy exchange that has a stellar security record. The best way to mitigate against this potential risk is to store digital assets in a cold-storage wallet.

The key function of a cold wallet is to provide an extra security mechanism between the internet-connected device (e.g. computer) and the asset. All wallets will have a private key that legitimizes access to the stored asset. Most wallets usually come equipped with a variety of recovery options in case the wallet is lost or damaged.

How To Spend Cryptocurrency In Australia

The number of ways cryptocurrency can be used or spent in Australia is increasing. Traders and investors can use Bitcoin to purchase goods and services using the following methods (but not limited to):

  • Direct transferring of crypto from a wallet to the recipient’s address.
  • Using a cryptocurrency debit card to send crypto to a merchant. The process is akin to using a standard debit card where held assets can be accessed or loaded onto the card. Some exchanges offer these services, whilst others do not.
  • Pay Australian bills directly using the Bitcoin BPAY biller code. Cointree and Digital Surge offer this service.
  • Use stored Bitcoin to withdraw AUD from a Bitcoin ATM.
  • Use crypto to purchase goods from merchants such as Mooning Market. Moon Market works similar to Amazon and eBay.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Most Trusted Australian Crypto Exchange?

In our opinion, CoinSpot is the most trusted cryptocurrency exchange in Australia. Since its inception in 2013, CoinSpot has reached over 1 million Australians and has earned a reputation for being a secure crypto exchange for the everyday Australian. Its reputation has enabled widespread commercial visibility and is a major sponsor of the Western Bulldogs Football Club.

Is it Legal to Buy Cryptocurrency in Australia?

The purchasing, trading, and selling of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets is legal in Australia and is recognized as property by the Australian Tax Office (ATO). It is therefore subject to Capital Gains Tax (CGT). Since 2017, laws and regulations have been progressively introduced to control the crypto market. The Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 mandates that all Australian-based crypto exchanges are registered with AUSTRAC and adhere to specific security requirements.

Is Cryptocurrency Taxed in Australia?

Investors residing in Australia need to be aware of the tax consequences of acquiring and disposing of cryptocurrencies. If the capital gain (profit) from disposing of crypto is made then a portion or all of the gain will be subject to Capital Gains Tax (CGT). The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) considers the following events as disposing of crypto and are taxable

This means that you’ll be taxed for any profit you’ll make selling or trading crypto assets as you would with any other regular income.

What Is the Best Cryptocurrency Exchange in Australia?

The best exchange depends on your investment or trading goals. However based on our reviews, Swyftx is the best overall crypto exchange to buy, trade, and sell digital assets and coins in Australia. The exchange has a wide range of features that cater to both beginner and advanced investors as well as offering low spreads due to its high liquidity. Other key factors such as the trading interface, customer service, and security record are best-in-class.

Can I Invest Australian Super Into Cryptocurrency?

Several Australian exchanges such as Independent Reserve and Digital Surge offer investors the ability to invest their super into cryptocurrencies. Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSF) require their own wallet that specifically stores cryptocurrency. Depending on the investor’s financial situation, SMSF may offer more control over their superannuation and retirement.

What Is The Best Crypto Swap Platform?

In our opinion, Changelly is the best crypto swapping platform to anonymously perform crypto-to-crypto exchanges. The simplistic and safe platform has been used by over 2 million customers worldwide.

What Is The Best Crypto Hardware Wallet In Australia?

The Ledger Nano X and Trezor One are two of the most popular hardware wallets in the crypto market. Both possess desirable features such as best-in-class security measures, competitive price points, simple usability, and seed recovery. The CoolWallet Pro is considered an up-and-coming wallet that supersedes the widely popular Cool Wallet S.

Can You Use Crypto To Pay Australian Bills?

Several Australian-based crypto exchanges such as Digital Surge and Cointree offer their customers to pay Australian bills using stored crypto assets. Bitcoin is the most commonly supported digital asset that can be used as long as there is a BPAY biller code.

Can You Buy Crypto With A Credit Card?

Crypto can be purchased using a credit card however it depends on what exchange you are using as not all with providing this service. An exchange that accepts credit cards as a method to make fiat deposits will be essential. The fees are typically higher however the method provides a level of convenience. Reputable and trustworthy exchanges should be used to buy crypto with a credit card such as Binance or Coinbase.

Aaron SengAaron Seng

Aaron Seng is the Founder of MoreCrypto.com. His journey in the world of cryptocurrency began in 2016 where he was an early investor in Bitcoin and Ethereum. His initial interests revolved around blockchain technologies and their application in a variety of industries and markets. Over the years, he has watched the slow and steady progression and growth of digital currencies around the world.

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