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

Trying to choose between Interactive Brokers and Unocoin 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

Unocoin

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Available Countries

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Europe

Latin America

Yes

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.

Unocoin is ideal if:

Great for ease of entry – Offers a clean and intuitive interface with mobile apps, making it especially friendly for newcomers stepping into crypto trading.
Secure and self-custody options – Emphasizes safety with features like cold storage, paper wallets, AES-256 encryption, and mandatory KYC/2FA.
Built for Indian users – Seamlessly supports INR deposits and local payment methods, tailored to the Indian market and regulatory environment.

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.

Unocoin isn’t ideal if:

International traders excluded – Only accessible to Indian residents and supports just the Indian rupee as fiat, making it a non-starter for global users.
Limited advanced features – Lacks sophisticated trading tools and broader crypto asset coverage favored by experienced traders.
Support may lag – Users report limited documentation and slow response times from customer service, potentially frustrating for those needing prompt assistance.

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.

Unocoin applies a tiered maker/taker fee structure for spot trading, with lower rates (including zero maker fees) available to users with high 30-day trading volumes; there are no discounts tied to a native token.

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.

Unocoin does not offer futures or derivative trading, so there are no maker/taker or funding fees applicable.

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.

Specific or average spread data for BTC/USDT or ETH/USDT is not published prominently on Unocoin’s platform or support materials.

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.

You can deposit and withdraw INR using methods like NEFT, RTGS, IMPS, UPI, and instant options, with nominal or no fees for bank transfers and quick settlement—though third-party instant deposits (e.g., via Mobikwik) may incur a small percentage charge plus taxes.

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 are subject to network (miner) fees that vary dynamically per blockchain congestion rather than fixed amounts, and these are displayed at the time of withdrawal.

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.

There are no hidden conversion or KYC-express fees, but an inactivity-based custodial fee applies if your account remains idle—typically a small monthly Bitcoin-based charge.

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.

A real cost example isn’t feasible as Unocoin doesn’t support euro deposits, and detailed spread or consolidated cost data for such a scenario isn’t publicly available.

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.

Unocoin supports over 90 to 120 cryptocurrencies overall and includes most of the top 25 market-cap coins—though the exact number varies by source, the platform mainly offers pairs with INR and a few crypto-crypto options.

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.

Unocoin offers spot trading, an OTC desk, and a Systematic Buying Plan (SBP), alongside staking-like passive-income options and affiliate/referral programs, but lacks margin, perpetuals, options, ETFs, grid bots, copy trading, or lending services.

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 is relatively modest compared to global platforms—typical 24-hour volume sits in the tens of thousands USD range—and order book depth for BTC/ETH remains limited due to its domestic focus.

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.

Traders can use market, limit, and advanced order types like Split, Ladder, and Stack; the platform offers web-based TradingView charts, mobile apps, and API/WS access, though alerting tools are not clearly highlighted.

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.

All features on Unocoin are only available to Indian residents; derivatives and higher-risk instruments are broadly unavailable both by design and regulatory limitations.

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.

Unocoin includes periodic investment (SBP), affiliate programs, Elite and Crypto Wealth Clubs for VIP support, and offers staking-like earn options, but lacks innovative features like launchpad/launchpool or flexible vs locked earn tiers.

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.

Unocoin is operated by Unocoin Technologies Pvt Ltd, incorporated in 2015 and based in Bengaluru (formerly Tumkur), India, while functioning as a wholly owned subsidiary of a Singapore-based parent company.

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.

As a domestic crypto exchange in India, Unocoin is registered with the Indian Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act rather than holding a formal license like VASP in more regulated jurisdictions.

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.

Most user funds are held in cold storage (offline wallets secured with strong encryption), while live balances are held by Unocoin internally; there’s no publicly disclosed Proof of Reserves or formal audit percentage published.

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).

Unocoin does not publicly offer exchange-backed insurance or compensation funds to cover losses from hacks or operational failures.

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 known major hacks or public penalties involving Unocoin; their operations have continued uninterrupted, and regulatory authorities have not issued enforcement actions.

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.

User accounts benefit from security measures like AES-256 encryption, mandatory two-factor authentication, and cold storage, though advanced features like whitelisted addresses, sub-accounts, or granular API permissions are not emphasized.

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.

Unocoin does not publish regular reserve audits or monthly transparency reports, nor does it provide public wallet addresses or a formal uptime/service-level agreement (SLA).

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

Unocoin supports INR deposits via NEFT/RTGS/IMPS and unique virtual bank accounts, with daily minimums of around ₹100 (instant) or ₹1,000 (bank transfers) and maxima in the lakhs to crores range; funds typically hit your account within the hour when using virtual deposit, while traditional transfers may take longer.

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

Unocoin requires full identity verification—including PAN card, address proof, and selfie—before enabling deposits, withdrawals, and trading; there are no multi-level tiers like basic or advanced, just one verified status that unlocks all functions.

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

Crypto withdrawals incur dynamic network fees and are processed on standard blockchain networks (e.g., ERC-20 or TRC-20 where supported), while INR withdrawals to your linked bank account are fee-free and usually settled via NEFT/RTGS/IMPS according to banking times; specific per-coin limits are not prominently published.

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 through email, a help-center ticket system, and social channels; there’s no 24/7 live chat, and while Unocoin offers a knowledge base with FAQs, user feedback suggests response times are moderate rather than instant.

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 is localized for Indian users with English as the primary interface language and prices displayed in INR—not in euros or dollars—and it operates under India’s local crypto regulatory environment.

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.

Unocoin’s mobile app (3.5/5 on Android) offers essential trading and wallet features, and while it is generally functional with regular updates, user reviews note occasional stability issues and room for performance improvements.

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.

Unocoin boasts a clean, beginner-focused interface that makes getting started in crypto straightforward, though it doesn’t offer differentiated “Lite” or “Pro” modes; the unified experience emphasizes simplicity across both web and mobile platforms.

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 generally handles everyday trading efficiently with responsive order execution, but users have reported occasional delays during peak volatility and in processing KYC verifications when market activity surges.

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.

Unocoin provides a comprehensive beginner-focused trading course—covering theory, strategy, and technical analysis—but it doesn’t include demo accounts, simulators, or educational content in Spanish.

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.

There’s an active affiliate/referral program and initiatives like community seminars and events, though the platform does not appear to run official forums or Discord/Telegram channels.

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.

Unocoin supports TradingView-style charts on its platform and exposes an API via third-party integrations like SnapTrade, but it lacks built-in support for external bots or purpose-built tax/accounting tools.

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.

This platform is ideal for Indian beginners looking for a simple, mobile-friendly entry into crypto, whereas advanced or international traders may find its feature set and localization too basic for their needs.