Interactive Brokers vs P2B: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Interactive Brokers and P2B 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

P2B

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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

India

China

Canada

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.

P2B is ideal if:

Offers a high-performance launchpad engine that’s launched over 2,000 crypto projects without token-holding requirements—perfect if you’re a founder or eager early-stage investor.
Built for both beginners and businesses, it blends approachable trading with go-to-market support—ideal if you want a trading platform with strategic listing expertise.
Packs robust multilingual support, fast interface, and loyalty tiers—suiting you if you appreciate accessible, efficient trading plus escalating benefits for active users.

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.

P2B isn’t ideal if:

Limited regulatory clarity, which may cause uncertainty and higher perceived legal risk if you prefer fully regulated platforms.
Basic trading tools only, lacking advanced features like margin trading or sophisticated order types—less suited for power users or active traders.
Occasional withdrawal delays or support gaps, meaning if fast access to funds and responsive customer service are vital to you, P2B may fall short.

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.

P2B uses a tiered structure based on 30-day trading volume, starting at 0.2 % for both maker and taker, decreasing gradually to as low as 0.01 % maker and 0.1 % taker at the highest volume tiers.

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.

P2B does not currently offer futures or derivatives trading on its platform.

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.

Typical spread data isn’t publicly listed, but high liquidity in top pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT suggests spreads are likely competitive and in line with other major spot exchanges.

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.

Users can deposit fiat via wire transfer or credit card; withdrawals are available for fiat but come with percentage-based fees (e.g., 1 % for USD, 5 % for EUR) and processing time varies by method and currency.

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.

Crypto withdrawals such as BTC are charged a fixed network-based fee (for example, around 0.0005 BTC), with similar fixed fees applied across supported blockchains like Ethereum and Tron.

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.

Users may encounter extra charges—including currency conversion fees, inactivity penalties, or expedited KYC service fees—though specifics are not always disclosed, and should be factored into overall costs.

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 purchased €500 worth of BTC, you’d pay the trading fee (~0.2 %) plus any embedded spread, and then send funds on-chain—incurring the fixed BTC withdrawal fee—resulting in a slightly lower net amount of BTC received than the nominal purchase suggests.

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.

P2B currently supports around 118 to 120 cryptocurrencies and approximately 185 trading pairs, with its top 20 pairs including highly liquid ones such as ETH/USDT, BTC/USDT, BTC/USD, LTC/USDT, BNB/USDT, SOL/USDT, ADA/USDT, AVAX/USDT, and XRP/USDT.

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 offers spot trading, access to launchpad/IEO/IDO participation, staking/earning opportunities, API-based trading, but does not offer margin, futures or derivatives like perpetuals, options, ETFs, lending, copy trading, grid bots, or automated DCA.

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.

P2B delivers notable liquidity, with 24-hour volumes exceeding one billion USD; ETH/USDT alone often sees hundreds of millions in daily volume, while BTC/USDT also ranks among the most traded, indicating solid order book depth.

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.

P2B’s trading interface includes limit and market orders (stop, OCO not clearly offered), customizable charts with drawing tools, real-time API access, but lacks native TradingView integration and order alerts as detailed features.

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.

Some advanced offerings like derivatives are simply not available globally—P2B lacks complex products, and certain country-specific access (e.g., full product access in the U.S.) may be limited by regulation and platform policy.

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.

P2B distinguishes itself with a launchpad (IEO/IDO) that has grown over 2,000 projects and raised significant funds, supports multiple blockchains (24 integrated) and offers both flexible and structured earn/staking opportunities for users and projects.

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.

P2B is operated by a Lithuania-based company (often referenced as Partida Services), established around 2018, with links also to Ukraine and Spain, while ambiguously listing the UK as a “competent jurisdiction” despite lacking clear legal basis there.

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.

P2B is not officially licensed under top-tier global regulators or registered as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) under EU MiCA or equivalent frameworks, making its regulatory standing opaque and reinforcing its classification among less-regulated platforms.

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.

There is no public evidence that P2B uses third-party custody services, publishes standard Proof of Reserves (PoR), or discloses the percentage of assets in cold storage—indicating limited transparency in how user assets are safeguarded.

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).

P2B does not advertise any insurance coverage or protective funds for user assets, such as those that might cover losses from hacks or insolvency, which implies users bear most of the custodial risk themselves.

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 recorded instances of major hacks or service suspensions publicly documented, but the platform’s downgraded compliance rating and warnings from regulators like the Canadian BCSC raise concerns about its operational risk profile.

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.

P2B generally supports basic safety features including two-factor authentication (2FA) and KYC processes, though more advanced security tools like API key whitelisting, sub-account structure, anti-phishing protection, or fine-grained API permissions are either limited or not clearly 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 exchange lacks routine public reporting such as monthly transparency reports, does not offer a publicly verifiable wallet address list, and does not present any formal service-level agreements (SLA), making its transparency practices minimal.

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

Users can fund their account via credit/debit cards (e.g., Visa/Mastercard via Simplex), third-party e-wallets like ADVcash or Perfect Money, and bank wire transfers; deposit minimums vary by provider while processing ranges from near-instant (cards) to a few days (wires).

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

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

KYC is optional; unverified users face a daily withdrawal cap (~$1,000–$2,000), while completing full identity verification—providing documents, selfie, address—removes these limits and unlocks full account functionality.

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

Withdrawal time depends on the asset and wallet (up to 24 hours or 36 hours for cold storage); users choose networks (e.g., ERC20, TRC20, BEP20) when available, with limits and speeds tied to asset and verification level.

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 offered 24/7 via live chat, email, Telegram, and a comprehensive knowledge base, with response times generally fast; resource materials and FAQs help resolve most routine inquiries quickly.

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 platform interface is available in several languages (including English, Spanish, Korean, Russian, Turkish, Thai), displays fees and balances in EUR or USD, but doesn’t tailor regulatory details per region beyond the general operating framework.

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.

The web interface is modern and robust with advanced charting and API stability, but mobile apps are inconsistently available—Android is claimed but hard to find, and iOS may be missing—possibly affecting mobile reliability.

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 is crafted to balance simplicity with functionality—while there’s no explicit “Lite/Pro” toggle, the trading dashboard presents a clean design with candlestick charts, multiple technical indicators, and customizable layout elements, allowing both newcomers and more experienced users to tailor their view.

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.

Thanks to its high-speed matching engine capable of handling up to 10,000 transactions per second, P2B maintains notably fast order executions even during high-volatility periods; user reports indicate the platform remains stable with minimal latency spikes, though KYC delays can occur during sharp bull runs.

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.

The platform lacks a formal academy or demo simulator, but it does offer educational value through blog content, project launch tutorials, and insights in Spanish and other languages—though no structured demo or Spanish-language academy currently exists.

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.

P2B supports community engagement via official Telegram and live support messaging, has a referral program and periodic airdrop or trading competition incentives, but lacks a formal forum or Discord-based discussion hub for broader peer interaction.

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.

The exchange offers its own graphical trading tools and APIs, yet it doesn’t provide direct integration with TradingView or external trading bots, nor specialized tax or accounting tool integrations at this time.

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.

P2B suits traders who value a fast, intuitive trading experience with easy token launch participation—especially project creators or early investors—while those seeking advanced educational tools, trading automation, or social trading features may find it less fitting.