Bybit vs Safetrade: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Bybit and Safetrade 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

Bybit

Safetrade

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Available Countries

United States

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Canada

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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Bybit is ideal if:

Advanced trading tools: Offers a sleek, user-friendly interface with features like conditional orders and charting tools that suit experienced traders looking for precision.
Wide asset selection: Supports a broad range of cryptocurrencies and derivatives, giving you flexibility whether you like spot trading or futures.
Strong security reputation: Prioritizes safety with industry-grade infrastructure and proactive risk management—great if security is a key concern for you.

Safetrade is ideal if:

Great for altcoin explorers If you're keen to trade lesser-known or emerging cryptocurrencies, SafeTrade offers a broad variety of altcoins alongside popular ones, making it a good match.
Ideal if low fees matter With a straightforward, flat trading fee structure that’s competitively lower than many industry standards, it's a smart choice for cost-conscious traders.
Suited for users valuing interface and support The platform features a beginner-friendly design and offers responsive support via channels like email and Discord, simplifying your trading journey.

Bybit isn’t ideal if:

New traders could feel overwhelmed: The platform’s advanced derivatives and leverage tools often present a steep learning curve for users just starting out.
Limited availability in some markets: If you're located in certain jurisdictions, you may not be able to access or fully use all features due to regulatory restrictions or regional bans.
Centralized security risks remain: Despite improvements, the record-breaking hack highlights inherent vulnerabilities in centralized exchanges—so those prioritizing decentralization or peace of mind may look elsewhere.

Safetrade isn’t ideal if:

Regulatory safety is a must If you need the legal protection of a regulated exchange, SafeTrade’s lack of oversight may leave you exposed to unnecessary risk.
You prefer fiat trading options If entering via your local currency is important, SafeTrade’s predominantly crypto-only pairs can be limiting for newcomers.
You trade large volumes or need liquidity For high-volume trades or deep order books, SafeTrade’s thinner liquidity may result in unfavorable price slippage or delays.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

The spot market applies a tiered maker/taker structure where higher trading volumes unlock reduced fees—active traders benefit from sharper discounts as they climb VIP or Pro levels.

SafeTrade applies a flat trading fee of around 0.1 % for both maker and taker orders regardless of volume, with no tiered discounts or benefits tied to holding a native token like SAFE.

Futures/Derivatives

Futures and perpetual contracts also use maker/taker pricing that improves with higher tiers, and include dynamic funding payments between long and short positions, which shift with market sentiment.

SafeTrade does not offer futures or derivative contracts, so there are no associated maker/taker or funding costs to consider.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

For high-liquidity pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT, spreads remain tight and competitive, ideal for minimizing slippage on larger trades.

While SafeTrade uses direct crypto-to-crypto pairs, spread data isn’t formally published, and anecdotal experience shows reasonable execution on major pairs with moderate slippage for small to mid-sized trades due to lighter liquidity.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Users can deposit or withdraw fiat through numerous local payment methods and gateways; each method displays its associated fee and processing time during the transaction—these vary by region and require identity verification.

SafeTrade does not support fiat deposits or withdrawals; you must deposit using cryptocurrencies only, so there are no fiat-based funding channels, fees, or timeframes to manage.

On-chain Withdrawals

Cryptocurrency withdrawals have fixed network-based fees per coin and chain, meaning the fee doesn’t scale with amount but adjusts based on current blockchain demand and congestion.

Withdrawal costs on SafeTrade follow variable blockchain network fees depending on the asset (e.g. BTC, ETH, TRX), so these on-chain charges are dynamic and not fixed by the platform itself.

Hidden Costs

Occasional indirect costs may include currency conversion charges from funding accounts denominated differently, potential inactivity penalizations over long dormant periods, and expedited identity checks for faster access, depending on account status.

There are no hidden penalties; SafeTrade doesn’t charge for account inactivity, KYC speed upgrades, or fiat conversion—most extra costs are simply the blockchain fees for crypto withdrawals.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

When buying BTC worth €500, expect a blended cost that includes a spot trading spread, a tier-adjusted fee, and any subsequent withdrawal fee—altogether forming a practical view of the real expense beyond just the purchase price.

If you deposit €500 worth of BTC via another platform and transfer it in, you’d pay SafeTrade’s ~0.1 % trading fee when buying BTC, incur standard spread/slippage in the BTC/USDT pair, and finally pay only the normal network withdrawal fee—no additional markup.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

Bybit supports over 650 cryptocurrencies, offering a deep and diverse asset base; among the top-20 pairs by volume, you’ll typically find heavy hitters like BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT, SOL/USDT, and a rotating mix of high-liquidity altcoins tailored to market demand.

SafeTrade lists approximately 44–50 cryptocurrencies across about 70–80 trading pairs, with the top 20 by volume typically featuring assets like QUBIC/USDT, QTC/USDT, BTC/USDT, ETH/BTC, and others—reflecting modest but focused coverage.

Product Range

Bybit houses a comprehensive suite of offerings including spot, margin, perpetual and futures derivatives, options (for BTC, ETH, SOL), crypto loans, staking/Earn, P2P, copy trading, along with automated tools—such as grid bots and DCA strategies—and a Launchpad for new token projects.

The platform offers spot trading only, with no support for margin, perpetuals, options, ETFs, copy trading, or bots—though it does provide staking in a simplified form, earning users passive rewards on holdings.

Liquidity

The platform consistently ranks among exchanges with high 24-hour volume, especially in BTC and ETH markets, ensuring strong book depth and tight pricing in core pairs—making it suitable for executing sizable trades with minimal slippage.

SafeTrade logs sub-1 million USD daily trading volume, led by a few pairs like QUBIC/USDT; its liquidity remains light, meaning deeper trades may face noticeable slippage due to limited order book depth.

Tools

Bybit equips users with an advanced framework: key order types (limit, stop, OCO), native alerts, robust charting w/ browser-based or TradingView-integrated tools, and a programmable interface via both REST API and WebSockets for full automation.

You’ll find basic limit and market orders, with no margin, OCO, advanced charting, alerts, API/WebSocket, or native TradingView support—simplifying the interface at the cost of advanced functionality.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Some products—particularly derivatives—are blocked in jurisdictions such as the United States, United Kingdom, Mainland China, Singapore, and Quebec, meaning access to futures and options may vary depending on your location.

There are no specific geographic restrictions disclosed per region, but given the absence of regulated derivatives and full licensing, complex products like futures likely remain unavailable regardless of your location.

Innovation

Bybit continues to innovate through its Launchpad/Launchpool ecosystem, and its Earn segment features flexible and locked staking options, giving you the choice between liquidity or higher yield opportunities depending on your strategy.

SafeTrade does not currently support launchpads, launchpools, or differentiated staking structures—staked assets earn simple rewards, with no flexible vs. locked variations or new token launch mechanisms.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

Bybit is run by Bybit Fintech Limited, established in 2018 and headquartered in Dubai, with a separate European arm (Bybit EU GmbH) based in Vienna to serve EEA users under EU regulation.

SafeTrade operates under a centralized corporate entity founded around 2018, officially headquartered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with some references also linking it to Canada.

Licenses/Registration

It holds a MiCA crypto-asset service provider license issued by Austria’s FMA for EU operations, along with additional authorizations in Cyprus, Kazakhstan, Georgia, and a provisional license in Dubai, reflecting its regulatory reach across multiple regions.

The platform operates without licensing from major financial authorities and lacks formal VASP or MiCA regulation, meaning it is essentially unregulated by top-tier or regional crypto oversight frameworks.

Custody

Bybit manages custody itself via Bybit EU as the custodian, using a mix of hot, warm, and cold omnibus wallets, segregating client funds from its own, and providing quarterly asset statements—with regular Proof of Reserves audits to bolster visibility.

User assets are primarily held in cold storage with internal custody; there’s no public proof of reserves or third-party audit reports verifying holdings or cold-storage percentages.

Insurance & Protection Funds

There is no mention of a dedicated insurance fund, but the firm emphasizes tiered offline wallet security protocols and regularly published reserves for user asset protection.

There is no mention of insurance coverage or dedicated protection funds to compensate users in case of loss, hack, or operational failure.

Incident History

In February 2025, Bybit suffered a record $1.4 billion hack—but restored liquidity within 72 hours through support from major trading firms—additionally, it faced fines and service suspensions in regions like India, Canada, and the UK following regulatory scrutiny.

There are no widely confirmed reports of large-scale hacks, platform suspensions, or regulatory penalties, though user complaints exist; however, no official incident disclosure or transparency report is available.

Risk Controls

Bybit protects accounts via mandatory 2FA, whitelist options, anti-phishing codes, support for sub-accounts, and and granular API permissions, alongside real-time behavioral monitoring and withdrawal safeguards.

SafeTrade supports standard two-factor authentication (2FA), and employs cold storage and encryption; there’s no indication of advanced measures such as withdrawal whitelists, anti-phishing tools, sub-accounts, or granular API permissions.

Transparency

The platform offers users periodic balance statements (at least once every three months), conducts public PoR audits, and operates under obligaciones de reporte for its EU entity—though there’s no public wallet viewer or explicit service-level SLA shared.

The platform does not publish regular transparency reports, dedicate a public wallet explorer, or offer service-level agreements; overall visibility into operations and system integrity remains limited.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

Bybit supports various fiat deposit methods—including bank transfers (like SEPA), cards, and e-wallets—with available options, limits, and processing times depending on your region and selected channel, all displayed during the deposit process.

SafeTrade does not currently offer fiat deposit options—no transfers, cards, or e-wallets are supported; you’ll need to deposit cryptocurrency instead, and specifics on deposit thresholds or timing are not outlined on platform.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

Bybit enforces tiered identity verification: unverified users face very tight limits (e.g., only €1 deposits on EU platform), while completing basic or advanced KYC dramatically expands deposit/withdrawal caps and feature access.

SafeTrade requires KYC verification to activate trading, but details on tiered verification levels, or account limits tied to KYC status, are not clearly laid out—so expect a single-step process without published thresholds for trading limits.

Withdrawals

Fiat withdrawals require first depositing via the intended method; supported networks and limits vary by currency and method—USD via SWIFT has VIP and tenure prerequisites, while other currencies use local routes like PIX, SEPA, or bank transfers with processing dependent on region and method.

Withdrawals are processed on-chain with support for networks like BSC, Tron, and Ethereum—with BSC and Tron being faster and cheaper; exact daily limits or withdrawal lead times vary by asset and are not standardized publicly.

Customer Support

Bybit offers 24/7 live chat and email support across multiple languages, backed by a detailed Help Center; response times depend on issue complexity, but immediate help is usually available via real-time chat, and additional queries can be submitted through support tickets.

They offer support through email, support tickets, Telegram, and occasionally live chat; there’s an FAQ and announcements hub, but response times vary according to user feedback—some praise responsiveness on Discord, while others report delays.

Languages & Localization

The platform supports multiple languages, including native Spanish, shows fees in local currencies like €, and adjusts deposit/withdrawal availability to comply with regional regulations and payment infrastructure.

The interface and customer communications are primarily in English, fees are displayed in crypto or US dollars, and there’s no strong indication of local regulatory alignment or multi-currency display beyond that.

App Quality & Stability

The Bybit mobile app provides full trading functionality on the go; while generally stable, users occasionally report crashes or performance hiccups—most issues resolve via updates or cache refreshes, and the team actively maintains and improves app reliability.

SafeTrade offers mobile-friendly access without native iOS or Android apps, and while the web interface is generally smooth and stable, there are user-reported occasional bugs and no public data on crash rates or recent update frequency to assess overall app reliability.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

Bybit offers both Lite and Pro modes, allowing beginners to start with a simplified interface while giving experienced traders access to customizable layouts, advanced charting, and modular widgets in the Pro mode to tailor their trading environment.

SafeTrade delivers a clean and minimalistic interface with a very gentle learning curve—no Lite/Pro toggle, just a straightforward, uncluttered trading view that makes it feel welcoming for newcomers and efficient for casual users.

Performance

The platform is engineered for speed, with a high-capacity matching engine and low-latency execution, although users occasionally report slowness or brief app lag during extreme volatility—maintained performance relies on stable internet and recent app/browser versions.

Trading on SafeTrade generally sees fast order execution and prompt deposit/withdrawal processing, even during spikes; there are no widely reported system crashes or KYC bottlenecks, suggesting functional resilience under load.

Education

Bybit offers a robust learning ecosystem through its “Bybit Learn” hub featuring guides, tutorials, and AI-powered strategy tools; while demo or simulator modes aren’t formally branded, the content—some available in Spanish—supports new traders across skill levels.

SafeTrade doesn’t currently offer a dedicated academy, demo environment, or Spanish-language educational materials; its support comes through FAQs and announcements rather than structured learning or simulation tools.

Community

The exchange supports active engagement through its Help Center, plus official Telegram and Discord communities; it also features referral programs and periodic trading competitions to energize and expand its user base.

SafeTrade fosters an active community presence via its official Discord channel and supports an affiliate referral program, allowing users to engage directly and participate in platform discussions or growth initiatives.

Integrations

Bybit integrates natively with TradingView charts and provides comprehensive REST and WebSocket APIs for external bots, tax tools, and reporting systems—making it highly compatible with automated trading and portfolio management tools.

Integration options are minimal—SafeTrade does not embed TradingView charts or support third-party bots or tax/accounting tools; its ecosystem remains lightweight and self-contained.

Who Each One Is Best For

Bybit shines for active and professional traders who value fast execution, depth of tools, and advanced automation; more casual users or those seeking simple buy-and-hold functionality may find the feature-rich environment a bit overpowered for their needs.

SafeTrade is well-suited for a casual or beginner trader seeking a clean, no-frills interface for spot trading of familiar cryptocurrencies—less ideal for professionals, power users, or those needing advanced tools or rich educational resources.