Interactive Brokers vs 50X: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Interactive Brokers and 50X 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 29, 2025

Interactive Brokers

50X

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Available Countries

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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Interactive Brokers is ideal if:

Perfect for global-active traders: Ideal if you want deep, real-time access to dozens of international markets and advanced trade execution tools.
Great for portfolio diversifiers: Excellent choice if you aim to build a diversified, multi-asset portfolio using an all-in-one platform.
Strong for research-driven investors: Tailored for those who rely on rich analytics, extensive market data, and customizable tools to inform their decisions.

50X is ideal if:

Instant coin-to-coin trades — You can swap any listed cryptocurrency directly for any other in a single transaction using its unique Any-to-Any trading core, without extra conversion steps.
Passive income through native tokens — Holding STE or A2A tokens entitles you to profit-sharing or dividend-style earnings from the platform’s performance.
Advanced trader tools with liquidity boost — The platform offers professional-grade interfaces, customizable layouts, and aggregates liquidity from major exchanges to enhance execution and depth.

Interactive Brokers isn’t ideal if:

Not ideal for new investors: The platform’s advanced tools and steep learning curve can feel overwhelming to beginners.
Not ideal if you rely on high cash interest yields: Smaller account balances typically don’t earn meaningful interest on idle cash.
Not ideal if you need highly responsive support: Some users report challenges with support responsiveness and personalized assistance.

50X isn’t ideal if:

Liquidity limitations — Lower trading volumes can result in occasional liquidity tightness, which may affect large or rapid trades.
No fiat access or KYC — You won't be able to fund your account with traditional currencies or use fiat deposits and withdrawals in the usual way.
Offshore registration — Its incorporation in an offshore jurisdiction may offer less regulatory protection and oversight compared to more regulated platforms.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

IBKR charges between 0.18% and 0.12% of trade value depending on your monthly crypto trading volume—fees decrease at higher tiers (≤ $100k = 0.18%, $100k–$1M = 0.15%, > $1M = 0.12%)—no additional discounts for holding a native token.

50 X charges the same flat 0.20 % fee for both maker and taker spot trades; holding and paying with the internal A2A token for applicable pairs (like A2A/BTC or A2A/ETH) cuts that fee in half.

Futures/Derivatives

For CME cryptocurrency futures like Bitcoin or Ethereum, fees are fixed per contract (e.g., Bitcoin Micro Futures range from $0.20 to $5 per contract depending on type and volume), with no explicit maker/taker split or funding fee details disclosed for crypto derivatives.

For futures contracts on 50 X, both maker and taker fees are effectively zero, but as with most platforms, funding fees apply periodically to align futures prices with spot.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

IBKR applies no added spreads or markups on crypto spot pairs, so spreads reflect raw market pricing without hidden cost.

The platform’s “Any-to-Any” matching and relatively low volume can widen average spreads on major pairs compared to high-liquidity competitors.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Fiat funding supports standard bank methods (ACH, wire transfers), with typical timing of same or next business day, and IBKR does not tack on extra fees beyond those charged by your bank or processor.

There are no direct fiat deposit or withdrawal options—though you can buy USDT via a third-party gateway using cards or Advcash, but the fees vary significantly and are set by the provider.

On-chain Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawals incur network-based miner (gas) fees, dynamically set per blockchain network (e.g., BTC, ETH, TRX)—IBKR does not apply fixed withdrawal fees, only pass-through transaction costs.

50 X applies fixed withdrawal fees per crypto and network—e.g. modest flat fees for BTC, ETH, XRP—rather than dynamic per-network pricing.

Hidden Costs

There are no inactivity fees or express-KYC surcharges, but costs may arise from currency conversion when trading non-USD balances, and VAT or GST may apply depending on your jurisdiction.

You won’t face inactivity or KYC express charges, but currency conversion and payment-gateway fees (when buying via card) can be steep and are charged externally.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

You’d incur a fee of approximately ~0.18% (about €0.90) plus the market spread, and if you then withdrew on-chain you’d pay the dynamic network fee—so total cost is fee + spread + blockchain cost.

If you spent €500 to acquire BTC, you’d pay the platform’s spot fee (≈0.20 %), absorb the BTC/fiat spread from the gateway, and then pay the fixed network fee to withdraw on-chain.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

Interactive Brokers currently enables trading in up to 11 cryptocurrencies (including BTC, ETH, LTC, BCH, ADA, SOL, XRP, DOGE, AVAX, LINK, SUI), but does not provide a full list of trading pairs by volume; generally, the highest-volume pairs are BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT given their market prevalence.

50 X offers around 24 cryptocurrencies and roughly 105 trading pairs in total; their top 20 pairs by volume typically include BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT, LTC/USDT, TRX/ETH, LINK/USDT, XRP/USDC, and other active altcoin-to-cryptocurrency combinations.

Product Range

The platform supports spot trading, crypto futures via CME, and access to crypto-based ETPs, but does not currently offer margin crypto trading, perpetual swaps, crypto options, staking/earn, loans, copy trading, grid bots, or auto-DCA features.

The platform focuses on spot trading and spot-margin (leveraged crypto-to-crypto), and also offers perpetual futures via A2A liquidity, token-based passive income (through dividends and managed accounts), but doesn’t provide options, crypto ETFs, savings staking, lending, copy trading, grid bots, or automated DCA tools.

Liquidity

IBKR doesn’t publish specific liquidity metrics, though their access to major global markets and professional counterparties ensures deep liquidity and tight order book depth for Bitcoin and Ethereum, aligning with institutional-grade execution standards.

Trading volume on 50 X remains modest—24-hour volume is under $100k—so book depth on BTC/ETH pairs is relatively shallow, leading to potential slippage or less depth during larger trades.

Tools

The platform integrates limit, stop, and OCO orders, real-time alerts, and advanced charting with analytics; it offers full API and WebSocket access for automation, but does not currently feature native TradingView integration within its interface.

You’ll find essential order types like limit, market, stop-loss, and trailing stops with charting tools integrated into the interface; there’s support for API and WebSocket access, but there’s no fully integrated TradingView experience or alerting system built in.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Certain products are restricted by jurisdiction—for instance, crypto spot trading is unavailable to residents of the EU and UK under specific subsidiaries, and crypto derivatives are outright prohibited for UK retail clients.

Derivatives and margin are generally accessible globally, but some countries with strict crypto regulations may not have full access; the platform doesn’t explicitly list those banned regions.

Innovation

Currently, the platform does not offer launchpad or launchpool programs, nor differentiated flexible or locked crypto-earn/yield products, though it is exploring innovations such as stablecoin funding and prediction-market tools for future updates.

50 X brings innovation in its Any-to-Any core and dividend token model allowing passive income through profit-sharing or token loans, but it does not currently support launchpad/pool projects or offer separate flexible vs locked earning products.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. operates under U.S. jurisdiction, was founded in the late 1970s, and is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, with regional offices globally to serve a multi-national client base.

Operated by Smart Token Exchange LTD, established in 2017 and headquartered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, this offshore structure allows for privacy but offers limited regulatory oversight.

Licenses/Registration

Crypto execution and custody are provided via Paxos Trust Company or Zero Hash LLC, both regulated entities (for example, Paxos is overseen by the New York Department of Financial Services); IBKR does not self-custody crypto assets.

The platform does not hold formal regulatory licenses such as VASP or MiCA/UE; it functions under the jurisdiction of its offshore registry without public regulatory accreditation.

Custody

Custody is handled by Paxos or Zero Hash, not IBKR directly, and while there’s no public proof-of-reserves or cold storage ratio published, custody is managed through regulated third parties with institutional-grade controls.

Assets are custodial on the platform, though it claims 98 % of funds are kept in cold storage and a small share is hot for liquidity; there’s no publicly available proof-of-reserves or third-party audit confirmation.

Insurance & Protection Funds

There are no specific crypto insurance or protection funds advertised by IBKR; instead, asset protection relies on the compliance and safeguards offered by the regulated custodians (Paxos/Zero Hash).

The exchange mentions insurance coverage and security provisions, but no clear details are provided on the scope, provider, or coverage limits of such protection.

Incident History

The platform has not experienced major crypto-related hacks, but it has faced regulatory issues such as fines in Hong Kong over securities lending and U.S. sanctions violations—though these pertain to broader operations rather than crypto custody per se.

There are no publicly known major security breaches or regulatory penalties, though occasional user reports mention withdrawal delays and some technical hiccups in trading operations.

Risk Controls

IBKR supports strong risk controls including two-factor authentication, whitelisting, anti-phishing measures, sub-accounts, and granular API permissions to help safeguard client accounts.

Security features include enforced two-factor authentication (3-factor via Google Auth), customizable withdrawal delays, address whitelisting, and emergency master keys; granular API permissions and anti-phishing tools are not explicitly detailed.

Transparency

Public transparency on crypto custody is limited—there are no monthly reports, open wallet addresses, or service level agreements (SLAs) disclosed for crypto—but overall regulatory reporting follows standard broker-dealer and custodian requirements.

The platform does not publish regular transparency reports, public wallet addresses, or formal service-level agreements—transparency remains limited to user-facing guides and token dividend mechanisms.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

IBKR accepts fiat deposits via ACH, bank wire, check (mail-in), direct debit, and bill-pay depending on your region; setup times and limits vary by method and your bank, typically ranging from same day to a few business days, with no universal minimum or maximum beyond what your bank imposes

No direct fiat transfers, bank cards, or e-wallets are supported for deposit; only crypto deposits are accepted, and the timing depends on blockchain confirmation speeds.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

No direct fiat transfers, bank cards, or e-wallets are supported for deposit; only crypto deposits are accepted, and the timing depends on blockchain confirmation speeds.

KYC (Verification Levels)

IBKR requires full standard KYC before allowing any fiat or crypto activity; there are no “limited” or “basic” tiers — only fully verified accounts can deposit, trade, or withdraw, as per their global customer identification protocols

No KYC is required—there’s no basic or advanced verification, allowing full functionality without identity disclosure.

Withdrawals

Fiat withdrawal limits are tied to your 2FA method (ranging from $50K/day without 2FA up to unlimited with advanced devices); ACH, wire, SEPA, BACS, etc., are supported, with processing times from same-day to a few business days

Cryptocurrency withdrawals are allowed across supported networks like ERC-20, but fiat withdrawals aren’t supported; processing time depends on network congestion, with dynamic fees reflecting real-time blockchain conditions.

Customer Support

Support is available via email and a ticket system, with access to a comprehensive knowledge base and FAQs; while 24/7 live chat may not be universally offered, response times are generally within a few business hours depending on region and inquiry type

Support is available via email and Telegram chat, with varied response times—community-created guides serve as informal knowledge resources since no official 24/7 live support is guaranteed.

Languages & Localization

The platform supports multiple languages including native Spanish in some regions; fiat balances and fees are displayed in your account’s base currency (e.g., € for European accounts), and localized regulatory disclosures are provided based on your residency

The interface is available in English and other languages, displays amounts in common fiat like USD/EUR via third-party gateways, but lacks localization or regulatory adaptations for specific jurisdictions.

App Quality & Stability

IBKR’s mobile and desktop apps are known for their professional-grade stability and frequent updates, with rare crashes; while exact crash rates aren’t published, ongoing improvements and strong infrastructure ensure a smooth user experience.

There’s no dedicated mobile app—users rely entirely on the web interface, which shows regular updates on the site and supports stable performance without known crash issues.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

The platform offers two distinct experiences—IBKR Lite with a simplified, intuitive interface ideal for casual investors, and IBKR Pro providing a richer, more sophisticated layout for seasoned users; this creates a steeper entry curve for Pro but delivers far greater customization once you acclimate.

The interface presents a learning curve due to its rich functionality and customization options, including color theming and layout flexibility, but doesn’t explicitly offer separate “Lite” or “Pro” modes; instead, it adapts dynamically for both beginner and advanced users, though novices may feel slightly overwhelmed at first.

Performance

Execution speed is highly efficient under normal conditions, yet during intense market swings, order latency may increase slightly; KYC processing can be slower during bull market surges due to high volume, though platform infrastructure remains stable with few interruptions.

The platform performs quickly due to its single-page application design and responsive internal core, although lower liquidity may lead to slowed fills or slippage during high volatility; since there’s no KYC, there’s no issue with verification queues.

Education

There’s a rich learning ecosystem via IBKR Campus with structured lessons, webinars, and quizzes, alongside a paper trading simulator mirroring real market conditions; while most materials are in English, some Spanish-language content is progressively added.

There’s no formal academy or demo environment; educational content comes via guides and third-party reviews, primarily available in English—Spanish-language resources are limited or largely community-generated rather than official.

Community

The platform supports a structured referral program (with eligibility criteria), but lacks official social media groups like Discord or Telegram, and instead relies on educational forums and support channels to foster user interactions.

An active Telegram channel serves as the main community hub, and their multilevel referral program offers generous commission-sharing incentives—no official forums or Discord are indicated.

Integrations

Powerful integration options exist via IBKR APIs, TWS, Web API, and FIX, enabling seamless connectivity with external platforms for execution, tax reporting, or accounting, even if native TradingView embedding isn’t available.

Charts use TradingView’s charting library, and the platform supports API access for external trading bots; however, it lacks built-in tax compliance or portfolio/accounting integrations.

Who Each One Is Best For

The setup shines for active, research-driven traders and institutional users who value automation and deep tools, while the Lite mode serves casual or cost-conscious investors who want straightforward access without complexity.

It’s best suited for proactive crypto traders who value fast, flexible coin-to-coin swaps and deep interface customization; casual users or those needing built-in demo tools, fiat support, or simplified dashboards may find it less immediately accessible.