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

Trying to choose between Independent Reserve 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

Independent Reserve

Paybis

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Available Countries

United States

Europe

Yes

Latin America

India

China

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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Independent Reserve is ideal if:

Security-first and regulation-driven – Ideal if you prioritize rigorous compliance, institutional-grade safeguards, and regulatory backing in Australia and Singapore.
Automated tools built-in – Perfect for users who value automated strategies like AutoTrader (dollar-cost averaging, baskets, scheduling) and integrated tax reporting.
Institution-ready and mobile-friendly – Suits high-volume or institutional traders needing OTC liquidity and workflow tools, yet still accessible via a polished mobile app.

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.

Independent Reserve isn’t ideal if:

Limited asset variety – Not suited if you're seeking a wide selection of altcoins beyond major names.
Minimal advanced features – Falls short for traders wanting margin, derivatives, or deeply customizable tools.
Support and access constraints – Less ideal if you need in-person/mobile support or broader fiat currency acceptance.

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

Independent Reserve charges a flat spot trading fee that starts around 0.50 % and drops incrementally based on 30-day trading volume tiers, reaching as low as approximately 0.02 % for top-tier, high-volume traders—note, they don’t offer fee discounts via a native token.

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

Independent Reserve does not support futures or derivatives trading, so there are no associated maker/taker or funding charges to consider.

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

Independent Reserve uses a transparent order-book model with no hidden spreads, meaning you generally transact at prevailing market prices rather than paying inflated spread margins—though tighter liquidity may result in wider real-time spreads.

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

Beyond obvious fees, there are minor indirect costs like slight FX mark-ups during multi-currency conversions, potential inactivity charges or expedited KYC processing fees, and banking or intermediary charges on certain cross-border transfers—not usually disclosed upfront but worth keeping in mind.

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

If you purchased €500 worth of BTC, your spot trade fee might fall in the mid-tier (say around 0.3–0.4 %), the on-chain withdrawal would include a flat network fee (e.g., 0.0003 BTC), and you’d also experience FX conversion cost if converting from EUR—so total costs would be the sum of that trade fee, network fee, and FX spread.

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

Independent Reserve supports around 32 unique cryptocurrencies and over 100 trading pairs, combining major coins with regional fiat pairs—volume data suggests the top 20 pairs are heavily skewed toward premier markets like BTC/USD, ETH/AUD, and XBT/SGD.

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, basic leveraged/margin trading (up to 5× on select AUD pairs), DCA via AutoTrader, staking/earning opportunities, OTC execution for large-volume traders, and automated strategies—but no perpetuals, options, ETFs, copy trading, grid bots, or lending markets.

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

The platform sees daily trading volumes in the low hundreds of millions USD range, and order-book depth is strongest for BTC and ETH pairs against AUD, USD, SGD andNZD—sufficient for mid-sized trades but not matching institutional venues.

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

Independent Reserve supports market, limit, stop-buy, stop-sell orders (including OCO style flows), in-app price alerts, a polished web/mobile interface with basic charting tools, robust JSON/WebSocket (Airbridge™) API access, and even native TradingView integration for more advanced chart-based analysis.

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

While spot trading and OTC are broadly available, leveraged/margin access, certain fiat currency features, or institutional services may be restricted in regions such as the US and China, depending on licensing and local policy.

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

Independent Reserve powers automated investing with AutoTrader (DCA and strategy templates) and provides flexible staking and institutional-grade OTC offerings, although it doesn’t operate token launchpads or “locked vs flexible earn” products.

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

Independent Reserve is operated by Independent Reserve Pty Ltd, founded in 2013, headquartered in Sydney, Australia, with a significant operational presence in Singapore as well.

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

The exchange holds a Digital Payment Token Services license from the MAS in Singapore and is registered with ASIC in Australia as a compliant crypto operator.

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

Crypto assets are held entirely in-house, segregated by customer, with the vast majority stored in geo-distributed, multi-signature cold vaults; the company maintains full reserves and undergoes regular external audits and penetration testing.

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

Since 2019, Independent Reserve maintains insurer-backed protection for digital assets, providing an additional safety layer beyond technical security.

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

Independent Reserve boasts a clean security record—no hacks, breaches, or custodial compromises reported since inception—strengthening its reputation for reliability.

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

Account security is robust, featuring ISO 27001-level controls, enforced 2FA, withdrawal address whitelists, multi-layer admin approvals, anti-phishing measures, tiered admin access, and granular API permissions.

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

The exchange publicly affirms its adherence to best practices via routine audits and security testing, though it does not offer public cold wallet addresses or an SLA; it also generates audit-friendly reporting for institutional and tax purposes.

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

Users can fund accounts via bank transfers (EFT in Australia, SWIFT internationally), instant deposits like PayID/Osko (AUD) or PayNow/FAST (SGD), credit/debit cards, and PayPal; minimums and limits vary by region (e.g. deposits under AUD 100 incur a small fee, over AUD 100 are free, while SGD deposits over S$1,000 via FAST are free) and processing times range from instant (for PayID/FAST) to 1–3 business days for EFT/SWIFT.

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)

The exchange enforces tiered KYC with increasing verification—basic identity, then proof of source of funds/wealth—to lift deposit and withdrawal caps; exact thresholds depend on jurisdiction, and higher tiers allow larger transactions and feature access.

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

limits, timing, networks

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

Independent Reserve offers a robust knowledge base and FAQ section, support tickets via secure portal, plus 24/7 email support; premium or OTC clients may access phone support. Live chat is not available, but response times are generally prompt, and the site includes rich how-to content.

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 is primarily available in English, with pricing shown in USD, AUD, SGD, or NZD depending on your region. Local regulatory details are clearly presented for supported jurisdictions, though some regions may lack localized language support beyond English.

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 (iOS & Android) is stable and receives regular updates, supports instant deposits/withdrawals, 2FA, alerts, and DCA features; while formal crash-rate stats aren’t published, user feedback indicates a polished and reliable experience.

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

Independent Reserve offers a clean, intuitive interface with light and dark app themes; there’s no separate Lite or Pro mode, but its streamlined dashboard strikes a balance between ease for newcomers and functional clarity for more experienced 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

The platform is generally stable with fast execution even during busy periods, and while occasional slowing may occur during extreme volatility, its infrastructure and streamlined interface help minimize delays—KYC processing can slow down temporarily during bull-market surges.

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

Independent Reserve maintains a well-organized knowledge base and blog filled with how-tos and educational guides, though there’s no interactive demo or simulator, and content in Spanish is limited or unavailable.

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

The exchange has an active presence across social platforms like Reddit and X, hosts an adviser-focused program, and offers a referral panel in its dashboard—but it does not operate official Discord or Telegram groups or copy-trading programs.

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

Independent Reserve integrates native TradingView charts, offers APIs for external bots, and provides built-in tax tools (such as CSV exports and a KPMG-based tax calculator), supporting seamless accounting and trading automation.

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

The platform suits beginners who value clarity and security, and mid-level users looking for solid infrastructure and automated tools like AutoTrader; it’s less ideal for those seeking vast altcoin catalogs or full pro-level trading modes.

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.