Independent Reserve Crypto Exchange Review 2025

As one of the longest-standing cryptocurrency exchanges in Australia, Independent Reserve continues to be a popular choice among investors looking for a reliable and versatile crypto platform. Our Independent Reserve review will help you decide whether to join more than 450,000 users who call the exchange their home.

Our findings on the platform’s fees, security, and features will reveal how Independent Reserve compares to its competitors in Australia and abroad, while our hands-on testing will give you a clear sense of its overall ease of use and user experience.

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Independent Reserve Pros and Cons

Based on our Independent Reserve review, we found a number of benefits, as well as some drawbacks you should keep in mind:

What Is Independent Reserve?

With a vision to build the most secure and trusted way to buy Bitcoin, Independent Reserve has become a popular crypto exchange in Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia. Since its inception in 2013, more than 450,000 crypto enthusiasts have chosen this platform for trading and storing their digital assets. In September 2025, Independent Reserve was acquired by the IG Group.

The company’s mission is to be “APAC’s most trusted cryptocurrency exchange”, which it is living up to, having never been hacked in over a dozen years of operation. It also boasts an ISO 27001 certification. This international standard verifies how the company manages the security of its assets, including digital and physical data.

Independent Reserve has been a popular choice for Australian and international investors. Source: Independent Reserve

To achieve that, Independent Reserve uses top-tier physical vaults to protect user data and crypto in cold storage. Many competitors can’t claim the same safety standards or such an impeccable security track record, making Independent Reserve one of the leaders on the crypto security front.

While the company doesn’t offer hundreds of cryptocurrencies to trade, it covers the leading coins and stablecoins, including the best meme coins like Bonk and Dogwifhat. Its fees are similar to competing exchanges, while offering a simple and advanced platform for both beginners and professional traders.

Main Independent Reserve Products

Aside from spot trading, Independent Reserve operates an OTC desk for users who wish to buy or sell cryptocurrencies in sums between $50,000 and $50 million. The OTC desk offers fast, secure, and discreet settlements in AUD, USD, and NZD.

Additionally, users can trade Bitcoin with up to 5x leverage. Unlike other exchanges, which give users 100x leverage right off the bat, Independent Reserve wants to ensure users understand the ins and outs of leverage before diving in headfirst. To enable leverage trading, users are asked to read a blog post and pass a short test to prove they understand the risks.

TradingView integration helps users make informed investment decisions. Source: Independent Reserve

Users can trade via a browser-based TradingView integration or use the Independent Reserve mobile app, available on iOS and Android devices. The app serves the same purpose as the browser platform, meaning users can deposit and withdraw funds, place trades, and monitor their portfolio on the go.

What Cryptocurrencies Are Available on Independent Reserve?

Independent Reserve offers around 30 cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, including coins in the top 10 such as Bitcoin, Solana, Ethereum, and XRP, but also meme coins, utility projects, and other popular altcoins like Pepe Coin, Dogecoin, Polkadot, Hyperliquid, Chainlink, Bitcoin Cash, and Basic Attention Token.

Traders and investors looking for new cryptocurrencies or meme coins that have just launched, as well as projects that are yet to prove themselves, won’t find them on Independent Reserve.

Independent Reserve Fee Guide

Independent Reserve offers a competitive fee structure for trading and non-trading tasks. Similar to other crypto exchanges, users can lower their digital asset trading fees based on their 30-day trading volume.

Independent Reserve’s Trading Fees

Spot trading and futures trading fees range between 0.02% and 0.5%, which is lower than exchanges like CoinSpot and Gemini. For example, opening an instant buy, sell, or swap order on CoinSpot will cost you 1% in fees, while on Gemini, it will cost you around 1.49%.

Binance is one of the exchanges that offer lower fees that start from 0.1% for both makers and takers on the spot market, with the potential to go as low as 0.011% for market makers and 0.0230% for takers. However, to reach the lowest fees on Binance, you need to reach a VIP 9 tier, meaning your 30-day trading volume must be at least $4 billion or more, and you need to hold at least 5,500 BNB coins.

Competitive trading fees, particularly for AUD deposits and ETF withdrawals. Source: Independent Reserve

With Independent Reserve, getting to the lower pricing tier is easier. For example, with a 30-day trading volume of $1 million AUD (without any token holding requirements), your spot trading fee will drop to 0.3%, while getting to 0.1% requires a trading volume of $5 million AUD.

The lowest pricing of 0.02%, which matches the lowest pricing on Binance, requires $200 million AUD in 30-day trading volume, which is 20x lower than Binance’s $4 billion, not to mention token holding requirements.

This makes Independent Reserve a better option for large-volume traders who are looking to trade the top cryptocurrencies with relatively low leverage.

Independent Reserve’s Non-Trading Fees

Independent Reserve doesn’t charge fees on AUD deposits, as well as USD and NZD deposits above $5,000. USD and NZD deposits below $5,000 incur a $15 processing fee.

Withdrawals in AUD via EFT from Australian bank accounts are also free of charge; however, AUD PayID/NPP instant withdrawals incur a $ 1.50 fee.

International transfers in USD and NZD withdrawals come with fees, however. USD SWIFT withdrawals incur fees of $20 to $25, but only $1.50 for SWIFT withdrawals to DBS bank accounts. NZD withdrawals incur a $29 fee.

The exchange is transparent about how it compares to its closest rivals. Source: Independent Reserve

For comparison, Binance supports multiple currency deposits, and they have various fees, which range from 0.1% to 3.5%. Withdrawing also incurs fees on Binance. For example, it costs $60 in a SWIFT transfer in USD, but only 1 EUR in SEPA transfers. AUD currency isn’t supported at the moment on Binance.

In summary, here are Independent Reserve trading and non-trading fees:

Is Independent Reserve Easy to Use?

Independent Reserve has a reputation for being one of the most user-friendly platforms. You simply log in to the web platform and select BUY on the cryptocurrency you like. You enter the amount you wish to spend, and the site automatically converts it at the current rate. This is as straightforward as it gets.

Simple buy/sell interface streamlines the everyday use of crypto. Source: Independent Reserve

Advanced traders can navigate to the “Trade” tab, where an integrated TradingView chart awaits, along with advanced order types like Limit and Stop Limit.

Users can also select the AutoTrader option to automate their strategies with a few clicks. This feature automates buying a single coin or a basket of coins every time you make a deposit. There’s also an option to automatically schedule your purchases, allowing you to perform strategies such as dollar-cost averaging (DCA).

Independent Reserve Mobile App

The platform’s mobile app serves the same purpose as the browser app: users can open an account, deposit funds, trade all the supported coins, and monitor their portfolio.

The mobile app is just as secure, while retaining the web platform’s ease of use. Source: Independent Reserve

The app is available on both iOS and Android devices, and it has an enviable rating of 4.7 out of 1,412 reviews on the Play Store and 4.8 stars out of 416 reviews. This shows a level of user trust and satisfaction that several more established competitors lack.

Top Features and Tools on Independent Reserve

Our Independent Reserve review explores the platform’s features and tools most useful to its users.

Margin Trading

Leverage trading on margin is a notable advanced feature offered by Independent Reserve. But unlike platforms that specialize in derivatives trading and offer over 100x leverage, Independent Reserve limits leverage to 5x on cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

For some, this may be considered a limitation, but for responsible trading, it’s likely more than enough. With 5x leverage, a $10,000 account controls $50,000, which means liquidation levels are further from the price.

Note that every trade using margin comes with a 0.1% interest fee per day, which is accrued every 10 seconds and applied when you close your position.

AutoTrader

The AutoTrader is a simple tool that lets users automate their trading strategies. Currently, Independent Reserve supports three strategies:

• AutoBuy purchases one cryptocurrency of your choice every time you make a fiat deposit.
• AutoBasket buys a market-cap-weighted basket of coins every time you deposit fiat currencies.
• AutoSchedule buys or sells a specific cryptocurrency at a specific time that you set.

Over-the-Counter Desk (OTC)

Independent Reserve boasts one of the safest OTC trading desks for high-net-worth individuals who trade between $50,000 and $50 million, or more. The OTC desk offers competitive pricing on large orders and fast settlements, often occurring on the same day.

Large-sum investors can get a personal agent in OTC trading. Source: Independent Reserve

To gain access to this feature, you need to book a call, and a team member will contact you to discuss your trading requirements. Independent Reserve supports multiple account types, including personal, trusts, and companies, which can be ideal for building corporate crypto treasuries.

Independent Reserve Wallet

Independent Reserve offers its own custodial wallet, which you get when you open your account. You can use it both via the Independent Reserve mobile app or their desktop platform, and it supports around 30 cryptocurrencies and stablecoins.

Just like the platform, the wallet is ISO 27001 certified and keeps user funds in segregated accounts in cold storage vaults with physical security at various geographical locations.

Deposits and Withdrawals on Independent Reserve

Our Independent Reserve review found that the platform accepts deposits in four fiat currencies: AUD, USD, NZD, and SGD. Unlike most platforms that have some limits in place, Independent Reserve has no limits on deposits, meaning you can deposit as much as you like. However, there may be limits based on the deposit method.

There’s also no minimum deposit requirement, allowing users to deposit small amounts to test the platform.

The platform supports AUD deposits via:

• Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) takes up to two business days to process.
• PayID, which is an instant transfer, may have deposit limits.
• Debit and credit card transfers are instant, but the card provider may impose limits (AMEX, Diners, Discover, and UnionPay are not supported).
• PayPal deposits are available for Australian customers.

International deposits in USD, SGD, or NZD are typically conducted via bank account SWIFT transfers. Some cryptocurrencies can also be deposited based on the wallet address in your account tab.

Withdrawals can be made in fiat currencies and cryptocurrencies supported by the platform. The same methods apply to withdrawals.

Independent Reserve Security

Independent Reserve is one of the most secure crypto exchanges in the industry. On the client site, the platform uses two-factor authentication (2FA), Google Authenticator, and optional SMS backup. If it detects logins from a different IP address, additional security information may be requested. Withdrawals are also locked for 72 hours after you change your account security details.

On the platform side, Independent Reserve has an ISO 27001 certification, which means it continuously has to meet the highest security standards for protecting data, assets, and transactions.

User funds are held in segregated accounts in cold storage vaults. Independent Reserve maintains a full 1:1 reserve of all client fiat and crypto assets, and the company is audited by external auditors every year according to Australian Accounting Standards.

Independent Reserve Account Types

Independent Reserve offers standard personal accounts and multi-user accounts. The first is a typical individual account where you can buy, sell, or store over 30 cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. On the other hand, the multi-user account is a personal account that lets you grant trusted parties access to your account.

For example, you can grant access to your family members, your accountant, employees, financial advisers, or your finance team. There are five levels of access: Viewer, Trader, Trader with restricted withdrawals, Trader with withdrawals, and Administrator.

Additionally, Independent Reserve offers company accounts for businesses. These accounts can be used for payments, treasury, or integration into the crypto space.

How to Set Up an Independent Reserve Account

Using Independent Reserve is straightforward. Here’s how to start:

Step 1: Open an Independent Reserve Account

Visit the Independent Reserve website and select “Create account” in the top right corner. Create a username and provide your email address. You are also required to provide a strong password at this stage.

You’ll receive a confirmation email. Follow the instructions to get to the next step.

Begin signing up by choosing a username, entering an email, and a password. Source: Independent Reserve

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Independent Reserve currently offers a $20 Bitcoin bonus for new users who sign up and begin trading.

Step 2: Complete Account Registration

Select your account type (individual or company) and select your country of residence. You’ll be asked to provide personal information for the KYC procedure at this stage. This includes your date of birth and residential address.

You’ll also be required to provide government-issued ID documents, such as a driver’s license, a passport, or an ID card, to complete the KYC.

The following steps will require you to verify your email, enter your birth date, and provide your phone number. Source: Independent Reserve

Step 3: Deposit Funds

After verifying your ID, you can deposit funds. Select the “Deposit” button under your account dashboard, and then the “Quick deposit” button.

Alternatively, scroll down the page to select the fiat currency you wish to deposit, such as AUD, USD, NZD, SGD, or any of the supported cryptocurrencies. Select the currency and the payment method, and follow the instructions to complete your deposit.

Deposit funds and review your portfolio and balance. Source: Independent Reserve

Step 4: Trade Cryptocurrencies

With a verified and funded account, you can start trading on the Independent Reserve platform. Select the “Buy/Sell” button at the top to directly buy or sell any of the supported cryptocurrencies.

If you want more trading options, select the “Trade” button and toggle between “Trade” and “Advanced trading”. The main difference between the two is that the latter offers stop limit orders, while the former doesn’t. The visual placement of some tools is also different, but in general, both options offer a similar trading experience using integrated TradingView charts.

Review the charts and place market or limit orders. Source: Independent Reserve

Buying using the Market tab means you buy at the current price at the moment of executing the transaction. Using the Limit order tab means you buy (or sell) the coin at an exact price that you set. This doesn’t guarantee your order will be executed, as the price may never reach that point.

How to Sell Coins and Withdraw Funds

Selling coins is done the same way as buying them. Either visit the “Buy/Sell” tab and select the coin you wish to sell, or go to the “Trade” tab for more complex exits.

Using the Market order tab or the Buy/Sell tab will execute your sell order at the best available current price. If you wish to select the exit price, go to the “Trade” tab and select the Limit order tab. Enter the price you wish to exit at.

You can withdraw your funds via the “Accounts” tab. Scroll down the list and select the currency you wish to withdraw. Select “Withdraw” and follow the instructions.

Select from a number of fiat currencies or crypto assets to sell or withdraw. Source: Independent Reserve

Independent Reserve Review: The Bottom Line

Independent Reserve is a secure, regulated crypto exchange platform that primarily serves Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asian countries. Founded in 2013, the platform has never been hacked, which is rare in the industry.

The platform is designed for both beginners and professional traders, offering a selection of 30 cryptocurrencies and stablecoins with competitive trading fees. Deposits and withdrawals in AUD come with zero fees, while other currency deposits incur industry-standard fees.

Overall, Independent Reserve is one of the best and most secure trading platforms today. If you join now, you’ll be welcomed with a $20 bonus to help you make your first steps on the exchange.

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FAQs

Otar Topuria

Crypto Editor, 20 posts

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I’m a crypto writer and analyst at Coinspeaker with over three years of experience covering fintech and the rapidly evolving cryptocurrency landscape. My work focuses on market movements, investment trends, and the narratives driving them, helping readers what is happening in the markets and why. In addition to Coinspeaker, my insights and analyses have been featured in other leading crypto and fintech publications, where I’ve built a reputation as a thoughtful and reliable voice in the industry.

My mission is to demystify the crypto markets and help readers navigate the noise, highlighting the stories and trends that truly matter. Before specializing in crypto, I worked in the IT sector, writing technical content on software development, digital innovation, and emerging technologies. That made me something of an expert in breaking down complex systems and explaining them in a clear, accessible way, skills I now find very useful when it comes to unpacking the intricate world of blockchain and digital assets.

I hold a Master’s degree in Comparative Literature, which sharpened my ability to analyze patterns, draw connections across disciplines, and communicate nuanced ideas. I’m particularly passionate about early-stage project discovery and crypto trading, areas where innovation meets opportunity. I enjoy exploring how new protocols, tokens, and DeFi projects aim to disrupt traditional systems, while also evaluating their potential risks and rewards. By combining market analysis with forward-looking research, I strive to provide readers with content that is both informative and actionable.