OANDA vs Bitstamp: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between OANDA and Bitstamp 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 27, 2025

OANDA

Bitstamp

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Available Countries

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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OANDA is ideal if:

Highly trusted, globally regulated – OANDA holds licenses from top-tier authorities (like CFTC, FCA, ASIC), giving you peace of mind in reliability and oversight.
Robust multi-platform flexibility – Access powerful and customizable trading environments across web, mobile, MT4, MT5, and TradingView.
Exceptional educational resources – Comprehensive learning tools, webinars, and research make OANDA especially supportive for continuous trader development.

Bitstamp is ideal if:

Institution-ready platform – Streamlined KYC, global licensing, and institutional-grade protocols make Bitstamp a solid match if you're seeking a dependable and scalable exchange experience.
Strong fiat infrastructure – Supports core currencies like USD, EUR, and GBP with smooth bank transfer options, ideal if you prefer converting between crypto and traditional money effortlessly.
Focused and straightforward interface – Delivers a clean, no-frills trading environment with essential tools, making it a great option if you value simplicity over flashy extras.

OANDA isn’t ideal if:

Limited asset variety outside forex: If you're focused on trading individual stocks or ETFs, OANDA doesn’t support direct equity access in most regions, making it less suitable for equity-centric investors.
No guaranteed stops in some regions: Traders in the U.S. or U.K. won’t benefit from guaranteed stop-loss orders, which may be a concern if strict risk control matters to you.
Platform differences by location: Access to MT4, MT5, or advanced APIs varies by jurisdiction, so if you rely on specific tools or automation, check tool availability based on your region before choosing OANDA.

Bitstamp isn’t ideal if:

Limited crypto variety – With a modest selection of cryptocurrencies, it might not satisfy those looking for niche or emerging altcoins.
No advanced or leveraged trading – The platform is spot-only and lacks support for features like margin, derivatives, or leverage strategies.
Slower support and processes – Some users report that identity verification, wire transfers, or customer support can feel slow or cumbersome.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

OANDA charges a flat crypto trading commission of around 0.25% per transaction, based on your 30-day trading volume tier; there’s no native token to offer discounts nor separate maker/taker pricing structure.

Bitstamp uses a tiered maker/taker model where both fees decrease as your 30-day trading volume rises—from modest percentages at low volumes down to nearly zero for very high volumes.

Futures/Derivatives

OANDA does not support crypto futures or derivatives; derivative trading (like CFDs or futures) is offered on other asset classes (e.g., forex, indices), but crypto is limited to spot trading with no funding or Rollover/Funding cost structure.

Bitstamp’s perpetual futures follow a maker/taker structure along with periodic funding payments every 8 hours, where long or short trade

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

Exact spreads for crypto aren’t published as benchmarks like forex pairs; instead, costs are embedded into the price you see when you buy or sell, offering transparent execution without separate spread disclosures.

Spreads for highly liquid pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT remain tight and competitive, ensuring cost-effective trading for standard market participants.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

You can fund or withdraw via bank transfer, credit/debit card, or instant bank (depending on region) with no fees charged by OANDA—though your own bank or payment provider may levy conversion or processing costs, and processing times vary from instant to a few business days.

Fiat can be deposited via bank transfers or cards and withdrawn with standard methods; timing varies from instant to a few days, depending on the channel.

On-chain Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawals via OANDA (partnering with Paxos/itBit) include a network fee that varies by blockchain (e.g., BTC, ETH, TRX), and while OANDA may not charge an internal fee, the dynamic network cost is passed on as part of the withdrawal.

Withdrawals in crypto are charged based on actual network fees per coin—typically variable and reflecting blockchain congestion—without additional hidden markup.

Hidden Costs

While there are no surprise management or sign-up fees, you should note potential costs like currency conversion charges (if funding currency differs), monthly inactivity fees after a long dormancy period, or expedited KYC processing (if applicable)—though none are exorbitant.

There are no surprise fees such as inactivity charges or forced express KYC costs; however, currency conversion may incur a minor spread if needed.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

If you bought €500 worth of Bitcoin, the cost would include the 0.25% commission (approx. €1.25), the embedded execution spread in the quoted price, and a separate network fee for withdrawal—making the total cost a mix of commission, implicit price margin, and blockchain fee.

If you buy €500 worth of BTC, you’d incur a small trading fee, experience a narrow market spread, and pay a standard crypto network withdrawal fee—all adding up to a small, predictable total cost.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

OANDA offers a small, curated selection of around 9–10 spot cryptocurrencies—such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Aave, Chainlink, Uniswap, PAX Gold, and Solana—without a full rank-by-volume list, but includes the most popular coins by market activity.

Bitstamp lists around 85–90 cryptocurrencies, covering all major top 20 volume pairs and delivering a curated, dependable selection focused on the most traded digital assets.

Product Range

OANDA supports only spot crypto trading via Paxos (no margin, perpetuals, options, crypto ETFs, staking, loans, copy trading, bots, or automatic DCA features are available).

Bitstamp offers straightforward spot trading, with additional services including crypto-backed lending and staking (where available), but it does not extend into advanced features like futures, options, margin, ETFs, copy-trading, grid bots, or automated DCA strategies.

Liquidity

While exact figures aren’t public, liquidity is robust and consistently tight due to execution via the regulated Paxos itBit exchange, particularly on BTC and ETH pairs—ensuring reliable execution and minimal slippage.

For liquid markets such as BTC and ETH, Bitstamp maintains robust 24-hour trading volume and solid order book depth that supports efficient execution at competitive spreads for most routine trades.

Tools

The platform offers basic and advanced tools—including “Quick Buy/Sell” (a market-style limit order) and limit orders, stop orders, live alerts, in-app charting, full TradingView integration, and API/WebSocket access for automated strategies.

The platform supports functional essentials—limit and stop orders—alongside API and WebSocket for automated access; while it may offer real-time charts, advanced options such as OCO, alert triggers, or integrated TradingView remain limited.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Crypto services are limited in some jurisdictions—spot crypto is accessible only through the mobile and TradingView platforms, and availability may vary; likewise, services like CFDs or derivatives on crypto are not offered in several regions.

Though spot trading is broadly available, specialized offerings like staking or institutional lending may be withheld in certain jurisdictions due to regulatory constraints, meaning product access can vary by country.

Innovation

OANDA does not offer crypto launchpads/pools or flexible versus locked “earn” products; the focus remains firmly on straightforward spot trading, without DeFi-style or automated yield innovations.

Bitstamp maintains a conservative innovation path—it does not run launchpads or launchpools, and while traditional staking or earn functions may exist, differentiated flexible versus locked yield options are not a core part of its product suite.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

OANDA Crypto is operated by OANDA Coinpass Limited, a UK-registered company (Company No. 11164834) based in London, while the broader OANDA Group was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in New York. It operates through regulated entities across multiple regions.

Bitstamp is operated by Bitstamp Ltd., founded in 2011, and headquartered in Luxembourg; it also maintains European registration as an EU payment institution and a UK-registered entity for broader reach.

Licenses/Registration

In the UK, OANDA Coinpass is registered with the FCA as both a Crypto-asset Exchange Provider and Custodian Wallet Provider, and other OANDA entities are regulated in major jurisdictions including the US (CFTC/NFA), EU (FCA/KNF), Canada (CIRO), Singapore (MAS), Australia (ASIC), Japan (FSA), and the BVI (FSC).

The exchange holds a Luxembourg-based CASP license under EU MiCA, enabling compliant crypto services across Europe, and also operates under formal BitLicense regulation in New York, reinforcing its regulatory credibility.

Custody

Crypto holdings are entrusted to the third-party custodian Paxos (via Paxos Trust Company), not held by OANDA itself; while formal proof-of-reserves or audit summaries aren’t publicly shared, assets are maintained separately in user-named Paxos accounts.

Bitstamp retains full control of its custodial infrastructure, with annual major-audit transparency by a Big Four firm since 2016—including proof of liabilities—and holds customer assets 1:1 securely, with a large portion maintained in cold storage.

Insurance & Protection Funds

No dedicated crypto insurance, fund protection, or compensatory schemes (like FSCS or SIPC) are in place; crypto assets are not covered by traditional financial protections in the event of platform or custodian insolvency.

While Bitstamp emphasizes full asset backing and strong security measures, it does not currently highlight an insurance fund or formal compensation scheme for user losses, instead relying on robust audits and governance practices.

Incident History

There appears to be no record of past hacks, major outages, wallet freezes, or official fines affecting OANDA’s crypto services—indicating a clean operational track record thus far.

The platform experienced a DDoS attack in 2014 and a hack in early 2015, which led to service interruptions and loss of funds, but it has since rebuilt its infrastructure and security frameworks to solid industry standards.

Risk Controls

Robust security measures are offered including mandatory (or strongly encouraged) two-factor authentication, internal security monitoring, a dedicated bug bounty via ethical disclosures, and Paxos-level safeguards such as withdrawal whitelisting and secure custody.

Bitstamp enforces comprehensive risk safeguards, including mandatory two-factor authentication, anti-phishing measures, API permissions, and (in select cases) whitelisting of address withdrawals for enhanced account protection.

Transparency

OANDA provides detailed legal and risk documentation via its Crypto Legal pages, but public disclosures such as monthly audits, wallet addresses, or service-level SLA guarantees are not made openly accessible.

The exchange maintains strong operational openness, including routine global audits, public proof-of-reserves exercises, a high security governance score, and a compliance-first culture, even though it does not publish live wallet addresses or formal SLAs.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

Deposits are made via debit/credit card, wire transfer, ACH, BPay (Australia), or online banking—card deposits are almost instant (with monthly caps), while bank methods take 1–5 business days; no explicit minimums stated, and e-wallets are generally not supported for crypto accounts.

Bitstamp supports deposits via bank transfers (SEPA, SWIFT, ACH Express), credit/debit cards, and in some regions e-wallets; minimums begin around €/ $10 or more, and processing ranges from near-instant (cards or SEPA Instant) to several business days (standard bank transfers).

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

Levels & Limits

Bitstamp requires KYC with at least two tiers

Withdrawals

Fiat withdrawals can be made with no set caps (GBP/EUR to originating bank) though large sums undergo extra review; crypto withdrawals require 2FA and whitelisting of destination addresses, with withdrawal networks (like ERC-20) chosen depending on the coin.

Withdrawals are available via bank transfer, card reimbursement, or crypto transfers on networks like ERC-20 or others; limits and speeds vary by KYC level and method—crypto tends to be quickest, bank options may take 1–3 business days.

Customer Support

Support runs seven days per week (roughly 7 AM–midnight GMT) via email and phone; crypto-specific FAQs and legal resources are available online for self-help.

Support includes an email/helpdesk and a knowledge base; availability is broad (chat or phone support based on region), with response times ranging from a few hours to a day depending on the channel.

Languages & Localization

The platform supports native Spanish (among other languages), displays fees in local currencies like €, and adapts regulatory compliance regionally—especially in the UK and EU.

Bitstamp’s interface is available primarily in English, displays balances in €/USD/GBP, and adapts to local regulatory norms in supported jurisdictions.

App Quality & Stability

The mobile app (on both Android and iOS) provides secure, responsive crypto trading—including auto-trade/DCA, advanced charting, and regular updates—though explicit crash rate or stability metrics aren’t published.

The Bitstamp mobile app for iOS and Android delivers a stable trading experience with regular updates and rare crashes, reflecting a mature, dependable app platform.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

OANDA delivers a clean, intuitive interface that balances simplicity with powerful tools—while there’s no explicit “Lite/Pro” mode, the mobile app is designed for both beginners and seasoned traders, offering quick buy/sell alongside advanced charting options.

Bitstamp now offers two tailored interfaces—Bitstamp Go, designed with interactive flows and a friendly UX ideal for newcomers, and Bitstamp Pro, packed with advanced tools and metrics for experienced users, striking a smooth balance between ease and capability.

Performance

Thanks to OANDA’s partnership with Paxos’ itBit and TradingView integration, the platform ensures fast execution and reliable uptime, even during volatile periods—though, as with any high-demand service, minor responsive delays can occur under extreme market surges.

The platform delivers consistent performance with low order latency even during high-volume moments; falling-back issues or KYC bottlenecks during bull markets are rare, thanks to its robust tech infrastructure and scalable verification processes.

Education

OANDA supplements its platform with helpful learning materials, including an education portal and demo capabilities (for other asset classes), but the crypto side currently offers fewer dedicated Spanish-language guides or simulation tools.

While Bitstamp includes helpful in-app guidance and a well-organized knowledge base, it lacks a full demo or simulator environment, and Spanish-language educational materials are limited, focusing more on global core content.

Community

While OANDA doesn’t run official crypto-focused forums or Discord/Telegram communities, it leverages TradingView’s vast trader base for idea sharing, and offers standard referral incentives globally across its platform.

Bitstamp encourages community engagement through helpdesk support and knowledge articles, though it doesn’t maintain public forums, Discord, or Telegram channels—its platform leverages a referral system as the main peer-sharing feature.

Integrations

The platform shines in integration—offering seamless real-time trading via TradingView’s charts, with API access for automation; however, it does not currently support external bot marketplaces, tax tools, or integrated accounting features.

Bitstamp integrates natively with TradingView for seamless charting and order execution and supports connection with external bot platforms through its API—but it does not offer built-in tax tools or accounting integrations.

Who Each One Is Best For

OANDA is especially well-suited for traders who value a trusted, regulated environment with smooth TradingView access and dependable execution—less ideal for those seeking rich educational content in crypto or advanced automation and tax/reporting tools.

Bitstamp is ideal for users seeking a clean, secure, and regulated exchange—Go mode for beginners looking for clarity, and Pro for more advanced individuals wanting control without noise—though those craving hands-on automation or rich educational tooling may look elsewhere.