Bitflyer vs Paybis: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Bitflyer and Paybis This side-by-side comparison reveals total cost (fees + spreads), security & licenses, coins/derivatives, deposits/withdrawals, and app quality. In 2 minutes you’ll see who wins for beginners, active traders, and long-term holders. Clear pros/cons, a quick verdict, and safe links to get started.

Last updated on August 16, 2025

Bitflyer

Paybis

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Available Countries

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

India

China

Canada

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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Bitflyer is ideal if:

Great for cautious starters – Offers a clean, beginner-friendly interface with strong regulation and security, especially suited if you value peace of mind and a guided experience.
Smart for professionals too – Its Lightning platform and API support advanced trading styles while remaining within a trusted, compliant ecosystem.
Best for mainstream assets – Focuses on the core major cryptocurrencies rather than obscure altcoins—ideal if you're after simplicity, not a sprawling asset list.

Paybis is ideal if:

Great for beginners seeking a fast, simple fiat-to-crypto gateway—no need to navigate complex spot or derivatives trading.
Strong if you value diverse payment flexibility and global reach, with many regional options and coverage in most countries.
Not the best fit if you're aiming for advanced trading tools or a wide altcoin selection, as it's streamlined rather than comprehensive.

Bitflyer isn’t ideal if:

Not for altcoin hunters — Offers only a small selection of mainstream cryptocurrencies, limiting your options if you're looking to explore lesser-known tokens.
Limited advanced trading tools — Lacks robust derivatives, futures, lending, and staking features that active or margin traders often need.
Less competitive for cost-focused users — May involve higher spreads or fewer deposit options compared to more versatile, low-cost exchanges.

Paybis isn’t ideal if:

If you're chasing advanced trading features, Paybis might fall short—it lacks charts, derivatives, leverage, and complex order types.
Not the best fit if you want deep altcoin variety or emerging tokens—its selection is narrower than bigger exchanges.
May feel limiting for regular traders seeking low-cost frequent trades, as it's optimized more for convenience than cost efficiency.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

On bitFlyer’s Lightning Spot, maker and taker fees decrease progressively as your 30-day trading volume grows—from about 0.10 % at lower volumes down to roughly 0.03 % for very high turnover, with potential bespoke discounts for particularly active users or sizeable trades.

Paybis operates as a fiat-to-crypto gateway rather than a traditional exchange with maker/taker tiers, so those terms don’t apply—fees are built into the overall service cost, which may vary by payment method and amount.

Futures/Derivatives

bitFlyer offers Bitcoin futures and crypto CFDs with margin, where trading fees fall in the same low double-digit-basis-point range, plus a funding cost applied at fixed intervals based on price divergence from spot—creating a small rollover cost for open positions.

Paybis does not offer futures or derivatives trading—it’s purely focused on straightforward buy/sell crypto transactions without margin, leverage, or funding fees.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

Spread information isn’t explicitly disclosed on bitFlyer, but based on its exchange design, liquid pairs typically carry modest spreads that are embedded in prices, especially via the Easy Exchange interface where the buy/sell price includes conversion margin rather than a separate fee.

Paybis doesn’t publish typical spot spreads for pairs like BTC/USDT or ETH/USDT; instead, the rate incorporates market price plus service margin as a bundled rate.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

methods, fees, timing

You can deposit or withdraw fiat via methods like bank transfer (ACH, SEPA), Cards, Apple Pay, Skrill, Neteller, and transfers typically arrive within minutes to one business day; fees depend on method but are integrated into the service cost rather than listed separately.

On-chain Withdrawals

fixed vs dynamic fees

Crypto withdrawals carry a network (blockchain) fee dictated by the network; Paybis applies no markup—they simply pass along the required fee, and users can choose low/medium/high speed.

Hidden Costs

There are no apparent idle-account or express-KYC charges; however, minor implicit costs can stem from currency conversion spreads if you’re using a non-native fiat, and any third-party wire or bank fees—which vary regionally—can affect your overall cost.

There are no hidden fees—Paybis transparently defines a service fee plus actual network fee per transaction; additional costs may include foreign currency conversion charges or optional expedited KYC, but nothing unexpected.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

Buying €500 worth of BTC would entail a small embedded spread (via Easy Exchange) or low Lightning fee, plus the flat withdrawal charge (e.g., ~0.0004 BTC) if you choose to withdraw—resulting in a modest overall impact relative to the value but with no hidden or percentage-based surprises.

When buying €500 worth of BTC, you pay Paybis’s service fee embedded in the rate plus the blockchain network fee; the total cost equals that combined; withdrawals or conversions would add the relevant network or FX fee—presented clearly during the transaction.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

bitFlyer supports around 7–8 core cryptocurrencies with roughly 10–12 trading pairs, mainly focused on major assets like BTC, ETH, LTC, BCH, ETC, LSK, MONA, and a few fiat pairings—its offering remains intentionally compact.

Paybis supports about 80–90 cryptocurrencies for buying or selling, including the majority of top-cap coins (around 13 of the top 20 by market cap), but it doesn’t offer traditional trading pairs like BTC/USDT for spot market depth.

Product Range

The platform offers spot trading, margin trading (up to around 2×–4× leverage depending on region), Bitcoin futures (derivatives), Ethereum staking (upcoming), and OTC for large volume trades—but lacks more exotic features like options, ETFs, lending, copy-trading, automated bots, or full DCA tools.

The platform is limited to fiat-to-crypto transactions only—no spot order book, margin, perpetuals, options, crypto ETFs, staking, lending, copy trading, grid bots, or DCA automation are available.

Liquidity

bitFlyer handles daily trading volumes in the low-hundreds of millions USD (with top pairs like BTC/JPY and ETH/JPY dominating), while its order book depth on main pairs remains modest compared with major global exchanges—sufficient for moderate trades but not for ultra-large orders.

Paybis does not provide published liquidity metrics or order book depth data for BTC or ETH—its model bypasses exchange-style markets and instead uses a broker-like pricing approach for instant fiat purchases.

Tools

Advanced users benefit from a Lightning platform offering standard order types (limit, stop), custom alerts, charting, API and WebSocket access, and a native professional interface—but there’s no built-in TradingView integration or OCO orders.

It offers just a basic buy/sell interface with no advanced trading tools—no limit/stop/OCO orders, alerting, charting, TradingView, but it does support a simple API for integration purposes.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Derivatives and margin capabilities vary by region, with limited pairs available in the U.S. (e.g., BTC/USD, ETH/USD, BCH/BTC) and broader altcoin access in Europe and Japan, reflecting regulatory constraints across jurisdictions.

Since it lacks complex products like derivatives, geographic restrictions mostly affect fiat access; for example, it’s not supported in U.S. states like New York, Hawaii, or Louisiana for any services.

Innovation

Recent enhancements include ETH staking (pending launch) and ongoing CFD asset expansions. However, bitFlyer does not currently offer launchpads, flexible vs locked Earn products, or structured innovative financial instruments.

While it doesn’t run a launchpad or flexible vs locked earn, Paybis does offer value through its own crypto wallet, a fiat-to-crypto gateway, a crypto price comparison tool, and broad fiat payment flexibility for ease of access.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

bitFlyer, Inc. was founded in 2014 and is based in Tokyo, Japan; it has extended operations internationally through regulated subsidiaries such as bitFlyer Europe to serve multiple regions globally.

Paybis is operated by Paybis Poland Sp. z o.o. (founded in 2023 with legal registration in Warsaw, Poland) and Paybis USA Ltd. (incorporated in Delaware in 2021), with distinct branches serving Europe and the United States respectively.

Licenses/Registration

It holds Virtual Asset Exchange licensing under Japan’s FSA, and its European arm is a fully regulated payment institution in Luxembourg, holds the first VASP registration there, and undergoes annual audits by a Big Four firm.

The platform holds Money Services Business (MSB) registration with FinCEN (US), operates as a VASP in Poland, and also registers with FinTRAC in Canada, reflecting compliance with key regulatory frameworks across these jurisdictions.

Custody

Customer assets are stored offline in proprietary cold wallets (often over 80–100%), with multilayer physical security; while specific Proof of Reserves disclosure isn’t public, financial statements undergo external audit and assets are held separately from company funds.

Paybis functions as a non-custodial service for most users, meaning you provide your own wallet and Paybis routes funds directly; for its optional in-platform wallet, custody is handled via Fireblocks, leveraging strong security (MPC, secure enclaves, ISO/SOC certifications), though no public proof of reserves or cold storage percentage is published.

Insurance & Protection Funds

There’s coverage for unauthorized withdrawal via encrypted authentication and secure wallet infrastructure, but no widely advertised comprehensive insurance fund for hacks or exchange-level failures.

The platform does not offer insurance or external protection schemes for stored assets—users retain control of their own funds, and any wallet held by Paybis (via Fireblocks) is not backed by an insurance fund.

Incident History

Apart from regulatory enforcement fines (e.g., levied by New York DFS), bitFlyer does not have public records of hacks or fund losses, reflecting a clean operational history with no major security breaches or customer fund suspensions.

Paybis has not experienced any security breaches, service-wide freezes, or regulatory penalties to date, maintaining a clean operational record since its inception.

Risk Controls

The platform enforces strong password policies, two-factor authentication, account lockouts, encryption, and segregates client and company funds; features such as whitelists, sub-accounts, anti-phishing, and granular API permissions enhance security.

Security is enforced by default through two-factor authentication (email-based on desktop, fingerprint on mobile), encrypted connections, anti-phishing practices, and in its corporate product, customizable authorization policies for enhanced access control.

Transparency

While bitFlyer doesn’t publish monthly reserve reports or wallet addresses, it provides audited compliance, segregated custodian practices, encryption standards transparency, and maintains clear regulatory and operational SLAs via its regional legal frameworks.

While Paybis does not publish periodic reserve reports or real-time wallet addresses, it offers clear terms of service, visible registration details, and a public-facing support structure—though there is no formal Service Level Agreement (SLA) or public wallet audit summary.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

Bank transfers (like SEPA, ACH, Fedwire) are available (sometimes free), with PayPal accepted in Europe; credit/debit card options depend on region, and deposit limits lift with full Trade Pro verification, while processing ranges from instant (cards) to 1–3 business days (bank transfers).

Paybis accepts a wide range of fiat deposit options including credit/debit cards, bank transfers (SWIFT, SEPA, ACH), PayPal, AstroPay, M-Pesa, PIX, various local e-wallets, and mobile payment systems; minimums typically start around $5 depending on method, and processing can be instant for cards and wallets or take several business days for bank transfers.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

Accounts start at a basic (Standby) level with entry-only access, upgrade to Trade Class to deposit and trade within limits, and finally Trade Pro unlocks unrestricted activity—requiring progressively more ID documentation during verification.

Users must complete a streamlined KYC process involving ID upload, address, and a selfie check, typically done in under 15 minutes; once verified, the account unlocks higher transaction limits like roughly up to $20,000 per day or $50,000 per month, while unverified accounts have very constrained functionality.

Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawals have fixed minimums (e.g., 0.001 BTC plus fee), fiat withdrawals via bank take about 1–3 business days, and supported networks include the standard ones like BTC and ETH—no TRC20/BEP20 options mentioned.

Fiat withdrawals are possible via the same payment rails used for deposits (cards, SEPA, SWIFT, wallets), while crypto withdrawals allow multiple networks—fees follow network conditions and limits vary by method, with completion times ranging from instant to a few business days depending on the channel.

Customer Support

Support is accessible via email and contact form (weekdays during business hours), with response typically within that timeframe; a FAQ/help center exists, but there’s no live 24/7 chat available.

Paybis offers 24/7 assistance via live chat and email, with response times typically fast and backed by a comprehensive knowledge base and FAQs for self-service.

Languages & Localization

The platform offers native-level English (and other EU languages like French); pricing and fees are shown in local fiat (€/USD/JPY), with region-specific regulatory compliance embedded per locale.

The platform operates primarily in English, displays pricing in major base fiat currencies like EUR or USD depending on region, and adapts payment methods and availability to match local regulatory and compliance frameworks.

App Quality & Stability

The mobile app supports core functions, is generally stable, though users report some limitations in advanced trading features, occasional minor bugs, and mixed ratings—recent updates aim to improve usability and reliability.

Paybis provides both mobile (iOS/Android) and web applications noted for their simplicity and reliability; performance appears stable with minimal reported crashes, and the platform sees regular updates, although detailed metrics like crash rates are not publicly disclosed.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

bitFlyer strikes a balance between accessibility and power—casual users will find the Lite interface intuitive with a gentle learning curve, while experienced traders can switch to a Pro mode that offers deeper functionality without overwhelming novice users.

The Paybis platform is intuitive and designed for simplicity, with no separate “Lite” or “Pro” modes—it’s streamlined so users can quickly execute fiat-to-crypto buys without navigating advanced panels, making it ideal for first-time buyers.

Performance

Order execution is generally responsive during normal conditions, but like many exchanges, there can be brief latency or slight slowdown during high-volatility spikes; KYC queues may also lengthen during strong bull runs, potentially delaying onboarding.

Transactions generally process rapidly, even during market surges; there are seldom notable slowdowns or delays, and KYC queues are minimal—even in high-demand periods, account verification remains largely efficient.

Education

The bitFlyer Academy provides beginner-friendly articles and guides to help users understand crypto fundamentals, though there’s no live demo or simulator, and educational content in languages other than English is limited.

While Paybis does not offer a full-fledged academy, simulator, or demo environment, it provides clear how-to guides and walkthroughs—some localized in Spanish—to help users understand the purchase process and relevant crypto basics.

Community

bitFlyer maintains an official help center and blog for updates, but lacks public community forums like Discord or Telegram; it does offer a referral program to incentivize bringing new users—but no broad peer-to-peer community space is currently provided.

Community support is facilitated via official social media and messaging channels; they maintain active presence on platforms like Telegram and X (Twitter), and offer a referral program, although there is no dedicated forum or Discord community for users.

Integrations

The platform supports API and WebSocket access for automated trading, yet does not offer native TradingView charts, external bot marketplaces, or integrated tax/accounting tools—so users typically rely on external systems for advanced analytics or bookkeeping.

The platform lacks integration with trading tools like TradingView, external bots, tax services, or accounting workflows—its focus remains narrow on fiat-to-crypto access rather than trading or post-purchase tools.

Who Each One Is Best For

bitFlyer is ideal for traders who want a secure, regulated platform with a choice between streamlined and professional UIs, while those who prefer community-driven tools, extensive integrations, or a learning sandbox may find more options on other platforms.

Paybis is best suited to casual users or beginners who want a fast, hassle-free way to purchase crypto via familiar payment channels; it’s less appropriate for experienced traders or those seeking advanced tools, analytics, or community-driven features.