AvaTrade vs Bitstamp: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between AvaTrade and Bitstamp 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 September 5, 2025

AvaTrade

Bitstamp

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Available Countries

United States

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Yes

Canada

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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AvaTrade is ideal if:

Offers a diverse suite of trading tools—including MetaTrader 4/5, AvaOptions, autocopy/social platforms, and risk-protection features tailored to different strategies.
Supports both manual and automated trading across multiple asset types with robust regulatory coverage for enhanced confidence.
Includes a rich, beginner-friendly education and demo ecosystem—webinars, guides, academy materials, and risk-free practice to develop your skills.

Bitstamp is ideal if:

Institution-ready platform – Streamlined KYC, global licensing, and institutional-grade protocols make Bitstamp a solid match if you're seeking a dependable and scalable exchange experience.
Strong fiat infrastructure – Supports core currencies like USD, EUR, and GBP with smooth bank transfer options, ideal if you prefer converting between crypto and traditional money effortlessly.
Focused and straightforward interface – Delivers a clean, no-frills trading environment with essential tools, making it a great option if you value simplicity over flashy extras.

AvaTrade isn’t ideal if:

Might not suit traders seeking low-cost entry or maximum transparency, as some terms and fees require account registration to view and account minimums are moderate.
Could be limiting if you prioritize real cryptocurrency ownership or staking, since AvaTrade offers only CFDs rather than holding actual digital assets.
May frustrate users needing advanced order types or ultra-sleek interface, due to occasional technical sluggishness and limited risk-control tools.

Bitstamp isn’t ideal if:

Limited crypto variety – With a modest selection of cryptocurrencies, it might not satisfy those looking for niche or emerging altcoins.
No advanced or leveraged trading – The platform is spot-only and lacks support for features like margin, derivatives, or leverage strategies.
Slower support and processes – Some users report that identity verification, wire transfers, or customer support can feel slow or cumbersome.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

AvaTrade does not use a maker/taker pricing model for spot trading. Instead, fees are embedded into fixed spreads that apply uniformly, regardless of trade volume or order type.

Bitstamp uses a tiered maker/taker model where both fees decrease as your 30-day trading volume rises—from modest percentages at low volumes down to nearly zero for very high volumes.

Futures/Derivatives

AvaTrade offers derivatives primarily via CFDs and options rather than traditional futures. There’s no separate maker/taker structure; funding or overnight costs are included as swap or rollover rates applied per position, varying by asset and holding period.

Bitstamp’s perpetual futures follow a maker/taker structure along with periodic funding payments every 8 hours, where long or short trade

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

AvaTrade incorporates trading costs into fixed spreads and, while precise cryptocurrency pair spreads like BTC/USDT or ETH/USDT aren’t publicly listed, expect competitive layering similar to their forex instruments—though exact values require checking the live instrument specifications.

Spreads for highly liquid pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT remain tight and competitive, ensuring cost-effective trading for standard market participants.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

AvaTrade supports credit/debit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets depending on region, with no direct platform fees for deposits or withdrawals. Processing ranges from instant for cards to one or two business days for withdrawals, with bank transfer timings varying by method and location.

Fiat can be deposited via bank transfers or cards and withdrawn with standard methods; timing varies from instant to a few days, depending on the channel.

On-chain Withdrawals

AvaTrade does not support withdrawals of actual cryptocurrencies on-chain. As crypto is traded via CFDs, you cannot request blockchain withdrawal and thus no related network fee structure applies.

Withdrawals in crypto are charged based on actual network fees per coin—typically variable and reflecting blockchain congestion—without additional hidden markup.

Hidden Costs

Additional costs may include currency conversion fees (typically around 0.5%) when transactions involve non-base currencies, and inactivity charges—around some amount per quarter after inactivity, escalating to a larger annual administration fee after a year. There are no explicit express-KYC surcharges noted.

There are no surprise fees such as inactivity charges or forced express KYC costs; however, currency conversion may incur a minor spread if needed.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

If you bought €500 of BTC via AvaTrade, the cost would be embedded in the spread applied at execution. No separate commission is charged, but a conversion fee applies if your account base differs from EUR. Since crypto can’t be withdrawn, there’s no blockchain withdrawal cost—but fully withdrawing fiat proceeds later would follow standard withdrawal rules and method-dependent timing.

If you buy €500 worth of BTC, you’d incur a small trading fee, experience a narrow market spread, and pay a standard crypto network withdrawal fee—all adding up to a small, predictable total cost.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

AvaTrade offers approximately 18 cryptocurrency CFDs, covering major assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin, Solana, Dogecoin, EOS, NEO, and others—though exact top-20-by-volume specifics aren’t detailed on its site, the selection spans the most traded digital assets.

Bitstamp lists around 85–90 cryptocurrencies, covering all major top 20 volume pairs and delivering a curated, dependable selection focused on the most traded digital assets.

Product Range

AvaTrade specializes in CFD-based crypto trading with leveraged exposure; it lacks true spot, perpetual, crypto ETFs, staking, or lending—but does include vanilla options (via AvaOptions), copy trading capabilities (AvaSocial, DupliTrade), and automated strategy support through third-party integrations.

Bitstamp offers straightforward spot trading, with additional services including crypto-backed lending and staking (where available), but it does not extend into advanced features like futures, options, margin, ETFs, copy-trading, grid bots, or automated DCA strategies.

Liquidity

While AvaTrade doesn’t publish direct 24-hour volume or order book depth metrics, being a regulated CFD broker, liquidity is internally managed and generally sufficient for execution across its platforms, though real-time depth and volume transparency is limited.

For liquid markets such as BTC and ETH, Bitstamp maintains robust 24-hour trading volume and solid order book depth that supports efficient execution at competitive spreads for most routine trades.

Tools

AvaTrade supports limit, stop, and OCO order types within platforms like MT4/MT5 and WebTrader, includes alert capabilities and advanced charting via MetaTrader environments; while there’s no native TradingView, API access and third-party automation tools (via platforms like DupliTrade and Capitalise.ai) offer programmable trading workflows.

The platform supports functional essentials—limit and stop orders—alongside API and WebSocket for automated access; while it may offer real-time charts, advanced options such as OCO, alert triggers, or integrated TradingView remain limited.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Certain products—like crypto CFDs and options—are unavailable to users in select jurisdictions due to regulatory constraints, such as the U.S. and Canada, where CFD offerings are restricted or prohibited, limiting full product access depending on your location.

Though spot trading is broadly available, specialized offerings like staking or institutional lending may be withheld in certain jurisdictions due to regulatory constraints, meaning product access can vary by country.

Innovation

AvaTrade does not offer launchpad or launchpool features, nor any staking or flexible/locked “earn” programs. Its innovative edge instead lies in blending social copy-trading, options, and multi-platform automation for speculative CFD strategies rather than token incubation or yield services.

Bitstamp maintains a conservative innovation path—it does not run launchpads or launchpools, and while traditional staking or earn functions may exist, differentiated flexible versus locked yield options are not a core part of its product suite.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

AvaTrade operates under multiple legal entities across the globe, with its European arm (Ava Trade EU Ltd) based in Dublin, Ireland, alongside subsidiaries in Australia, Japan, South Africa, the UAE, Israel, and the British Virgin Islands—each covering regional operations and oversight.

Bitstamp is operated by Bitstamp Ltd., founded in 2011, and headquartered in Luxembourg; it also maintains European registration as an EU payment institution and a UK-registered entity for broader reach.

Licenses/Registration

The broker holds licenses or registrations such as MiFID compliance in the EU, ASIC in Australia, FSA in Japan, FSCA in South Africa, FSRA in ADGM (UAE), ISA in Israel, and FSC in BVI, ensuring they meet regional regulatory requirements for transparent and safe operations.

The exchange holds a Luxembourg-based CASP license under EU MiCA, enabling compliant crypto services across Europe, and also operates under formal BitLicense regulation in New York, reinforcing its regulatory credibility.

Custody

Client funds are held in segregated accounts separate from company capital, primarily via trusted financial institutions; there’s no public proof-of-reserves audit or explicit cold-reserve percentage disclosed.

Bitstamp retains full control of its custodial infrastructure, with annual major-audit transparency by a Big Four firm since 2016—including proof of liabilities—and holds customer assets 1:1 securely, with a large portion maintained in cold storage.

Insurance & Protection Funds

There’s no direct mention of an insurance program or protection fund for custody events; client protection instead relies on fund segregation and adherence to local investor protection frameworks where applicable.

While Bitstamp emphasizes full asset backing and strong security measures, it does not currently highlight an insurance fund or formal compensation scheme for user losses, instead relying on robust audits and governance practices.

Incident History

AvaTrade has faced regulatory notices and penalties, such as fines in Israel and Belgium for compliance issues, but no major public hacks or fund losses have been reported; operational continuity has generally remained stable.

The platform experienced a DDoS attack in 2014 and a hack in early 2015, which led to service interruptions and loss of funds, but it has since rebuilt its infrastructure and security frameworks to solid industry standards.

Risk Controls

Security measures include two-factor authentication across platforms, negative balance protection, innovative tools like AvaProtect to refund losses on selected trades, although granular API permissions or IP whitelisting are not highlighted.

Bitstamp enforces comprehensive risk safeguards, including mandatory two-factor authentication, anti-phishing measures, API permissions, and (in select cases) whitelisting of address withdrawals for enhanced account protection.

Transparency

AvaTrade publishes downloadable legal and disclosure documents, including regulatory and risk materials, but does not offer real-time wallet audits, monthly reserve reports, or explicit service-level agreements (SLAs) in public view.

The exchange maintains strong operational openness, including routine global audits, public proof-of-reserves exercises, a high security governance score, and a compliance-first culture, even though it does not publish live wallet addresses or formal SLAs.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

AvaTrade accepts deposits via bank wire, credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard), and e-wallets like Skrill, Neteller, and WebMoney depending on location, with a typical minimum of $100 (higher by wire in some regions); card deposits are instant (first one may take a day for verification), e-wallets clear within 24 hours, and wire transfers take around 3–10 business days.

Bitstamp supports deposits via bank transfers (SEPA, SWIFT, ACH Express), credit/debit cards, and in some regions e-wallets; minimums begin around €/ $10 or more, and processing ranges from near-instant (cards or SEPA Instant) to several business days (standard bank transfers).

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

Users can start with a demo account needing no ID, but to deposit and trade with real funds full KYC—including ID and proof of address—is required; there’s effectively no tiered limit structure, as full verification is mandatory for funding and withdrawals.

Bitstamp requires KYC with at least two tiers

Withdrawals

Withdrawals must follow the method used for deposit (first repay deposit via same method), with no set minimum; card and e-wallet withdrawals take 24–48 hours post-approval, while wire transfers can take up to 10 business days; crypto network options like TRC20/ERC20 aren’t offered since crypto isn’t withdrawable on-chain.

Withdrawals are available via bank transfer, card reimbursement, or crypto transfers on networks like ERC-20 or others; limits and speeds vary by KYC level and method—crypto tends to be quickest, bank options may take 1–3 business days.

Customer Support

AvaTrade provides support via live chat, email, and a robust online help center; while not always explicitly labeled, withdrawal and deposit FAQs indicate responses typically come within hours to a business day, backed by extensive documentation and guides.

Support includes an email/helpdesk and a knowledge base; availability is broad (chat or phone support based on region), with response times ranging from a few hours to a day depending on the channel.

Languages & Localization

The platform and support are localized for multiple languages—including native Spanish users—with account interfaces showing balances in €, and region-specific legal entities ensuring compliance with local regulators and jurisdictional requirements.

Bitstamp’s interface is available primarily in English, displays balances in €/USD/GBP, and adapts to local regulatory norms in supported jurisdictions.

App Quality & Stability

AvaTradeGo (mobile app) is designed for stability and regular platform updates, delivering a smooth trading experience with few reported crashes; while precise crash-rate figures aren’t published, user feedback and update logs reflect consistent performance improvements.

The Bitstamp mobile app for iOS and Android delivers a stable trading experience with regular updates and rare crashes, reflecting a mature, dependable app platform.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

AvaTrade provides a smooth onboarding experience—its WebTrader offers a clean, intuitive interface that’s ideal for beginners, while API-integrated platforms like MT4/MT5 and AvaFutures cater to more experienced users seeking richer functionality.

Bitstamp now offers two tailored interfaces—Bitstamp Go, designed with interactive flows and a friendly UX ideal for newcomers, and Bitstamp Pro, packed with advanced tools and metrics for experienced users, striking a smooth balance between ease and capability.

Performance

Trading execution is generally fast thanks to robust global infrastructure, though during extreme volatility some slippage or requotes may occur; KYC processing remains steady, with no notable delays even during high demand periods.

The platform delivers consistent performance with low order latency even during high-volume moments; falling-back issues or KYC bottlenecks during bull markets are rare, thanks to its robust tech infrastructure and scalable verification processes.

Education

Ava Academy offers tiered educational material spanning video lessons, webinars, and articles for all skill levels, accompanied by an unlimited-time demo account—many educational resources are fully available in Spanish.

While Bitstamp includes helpful in-app guidance and a well-organized knowledge base, it lacks a full demo or simulator environment, and Spanish-language educational materials are limited, focusing more on global core content.

Community

While AvaTrade supports social trading through platforms like AvaSocial and DupliTrade, it does not maintain official public forums or Discord/Telegram channels for general community engagement; referral incentives exist, though details vary by region.

Bitstamp encourages community engagement through helpdesk support and knowledge articles, though it doesn’t maintain public forums, Discord, or Telegram channels—its platform leverages a referral system as the main peer-sharing feature.

Integrations

AvaTrade does not offer native TradingView integration, but it connects with external automation tools (e.g., DupliTrade, Capitalise.ai); there’s no explicit support for tax/portfolio tracking or accounting integrations within the platform.

Bitstamp integrates natively with TradingView for seamless charting and order execution and supports connection with external bot platforms through its API—but it does not offer built-in tax tools or accounting integrations.

Who Each One Is Best For

AvaTrade suits beginners and mid-level traders who value educational depth, regulated environments, and flexible platform options; it’s less ideal for algo specialists seeking ultra-low latency connectivity or traders who demand built-in community forums or tax management features.

Bitstamp is ideal for users seeking a clean, secure, and regulated exchange—Go mode for beginners looking for clarity, and Pro for more advanced individuals wanting control without noise—though those craving hands-on automation or rich educational tooling may look elsewhere.