Orca vs Changenow: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Orca and Changenow 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 September 9, 2025

Orca

Changenow

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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

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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Orca is ideal if:

Builds on Solana’s fast, low-fee network, making it a great fit if you want quick, cost-effective token swaps.
User-friendly interface and tools like “Magic Bar” and Fair Price Indicator simplify DeFi for both beginners and seasoned users.
Concentrated liquidity (Whirlpools) offers efficient yield-earning potential—ideal if you seek to provide liquidity with precision.

Changenow is ideal if:

You value privacy and self-custody — ChangeNOW is non-custodial and doesn’t require registration for most swaps, keeping you in full control of your funds.
You seek convenience and speed — It enables fast, no-account-needed swaps across a wide range of cryptocurrencies, ideal for quick, frictionless trades.
You want flexibility to upgrade — With ChangeNOW Pro, you can access optional perks like cashback, enhanced security, and better transaction tools when you're ready to level up.

Orca isn’t ideal if:

Limited solely to Solana’s ecosystem—which may not suit users looking to trade assets across other blockchains.
Lacks advanced trading tools and detailed charting, making it less appealing for those who rely on technical analysis.
Concentrated liquidity (Whirlpools) introduces increased risk of impermanent loss for liquidity providers.

Changenow isn’t ideal if:

You want advanced trading features — If you're into charting tools, order types, margin, or futures, ChangeNOW's simple swap interface might feel too basic.
You expect swift, direct support — Without live chat or phone options, help is slower, often via tickets or messaging channels.
You prioritize strict regulation — ChangeNOW operates without formal licensing from leading financial regulators, which may concern users who value regulatory oversight.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

Orca doesn’t use traditional maker/taker models—spot trading occurs through liquidity pools structured via Automated Market Maker (AMM) mechanics, where pool creators set fixed or adaptive fee tiers (ranging roughly from 0.01% to 2%) that apply to all trades, and those fees are shared between liquidity providers, the protocol treasury, and a climate fund.

ChangeNOW doesn’t operate with traditional maker/taker fee tiers—its costs are embedded in floating (or optionally fixed) exchange rates that vary by currency pair and volume, with no public tier schedule or explicit native-token discounts, though using the NOW token can yield rebate perks through cashback mechanisms.

Futures/Derivatives

Orca is strictly a decentralized AMM-based spot platform on Solana and does not offer any futures or derivatives trading, meaning there are no maker/taker or funding fees to consider.

ChangeNOW does not currently offer futures or derivative trading, so there are no maker/taker or funding fees of that type.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

Because Orca routes trades through concentrated liquidity pools (Whirlpools) via its smart router, traders usually benefit from highly efficient execution and minimized slippage; though exact spreads fluctuate dynamically, these liquid pairs consistently enjoy tight pricing thanks to deep, targeted liquidity.

While ChangeNOW doesn’t publish spread data, it sources liquidity from partners and embeds margin within the quoted floating rate—spreads are typically competitive and dynamically adjusted based on real-time market conditions.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Orca operates entirely on-chain without direct fiat support—it doesn’t accept or process fiat deposits or withdrawals, meaning no time delays or fees, but you’ll need to convert external fiat to crypto before interacting with the platform.

Fiat purchases on ChangeNOW are facilitated through third-party providers (e.g., Simplex, Transak, Guardarian) using Visa or Mastercard; fees depend on the provider (typically a few percent), and processing times range from near-instant to several minutes.

On-chain Withdrawals

Orca doesn’t handle withdrawals across multiple blockchains—it functions solely on Solana, so on-chain fees consist only of Solana network transaction costs (typically a tiny, fixed amount of SOL), rather than dynamic variable fees across different networks.

ChangeNOW doesn’t charge separate withdrawal fees—network (mining) fees are passed through as dynamic costs based on the chosen blockchain (e.g., BTC, ETH, TRX), reflected in the quoted rate rather than stated separately.

Hidden Costs

Orca avoids most hidden fees—there are no inactivity penalties or express KYC charges, and currency conversion only incurs standard swap route costs; the main ongoing cost is network transaction fees and whichever pool fees apply when trading.

ChangeNOW doesn’t impose inactivity penalties or hidden fees; currency conversion and network fees are included in the exchange quote, and express KYC (if triggered) depends on transaction specifics, with any associated costs transparently presented before confirmation.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

Since Orca doesn’t support fiat on-ramps or BTC trading directly, a real-world purchase of €500 worth of BTC would involve using a separate service to convert euros to a Solana-compatible asset (e.g., USDC), then swapping via Orca to your target token—so total cost includes external fiat conversion spread, Orca’s pool fee tier (deducted from the input token), and the minimal Solana transaction fee.

Suppose you buy €500 worth of BTC via ChangeNOW’s fiat gateway—the quote would include the provider’s purchase margin (around a few percent), underlying spread to liquidity, and on-chain sending fee, all bundled in the total you see before confirming purchase.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

Orca supports approximately 490 tradable coins and over 1,300 trading pairs, with the most active including SOL/USDC, SOL/STSOL, and SOL/MSOL based on volume.

ChangeNOW supports over 1,225 cryptocurrencies and more than a million exchange pairs, giving you access to virtually any major or niche token in the market.

Product Range

Orca focuses on spot swapping and liquidity provision—there’s no margin, derivatives, options, ETFs, loans, copy-trading, grid bots, or automatic DCA. It does reward LPs and enables staking of liquidity positions.

ChangeNOW offers instant spot swaps, non-custodial swaps, native wallet staking, and crypto-backed loans via ChangeNOW Pro, but it does not currently provide margin, perpetuals, options, ETFs, copy trading, grid bots, or automatic DCA.

Liquidity

Orca handles hundreds of millions in daily volume—CoinGecko reports about $440–$540 million 24h across the platform, with deep liquidity especially in major pairs like SOL/USDC.

Liquidity is aggregated through multiple exchange partners, ensuring robust 24-hour volumes and order depth for major assets like BTC and ETH—even though precise statistical metrics are not publicly disclosed.

Tools

Orca offers core AMM functionality—no limit, stop, OCO orders or alerts—though it includes handy UI features like the “Magic Bar” and Fair Price Indicator, and there’s SDK, developer APIs (TypeScript), and native Solana wallet integration.

The platform refrains from offering advanced tools—no limit, stop, OCO orders, custom alerts, charting, TradingView integration, or APIs are openly provided; its focus is on simplicity and instant swaps rather than complex trading infrastructure.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Orca does not officially restrict any regions—however, users are advised not to access the platform if local laws deem it prohibited.

As a swap-first platform, ChangeNOW does not typically impose product-based geographic blocks, but advanced features like Pro loans or staking may have regional restrictions depending on local compliance and third-party partner availability.

Innovation

Orca enables permissionless pool launches (via token-creation tools), supports concentrated liquidity with Whirlpools, and offers Double-Dip pools (earning dual rewards)—but it doesn’t include launchpads, launchpools, or separate flexible vs locked earn options.

While ChangeNOW lacks crypto ETFs or launchpad offerings, it has innovated in token utility—offering automatic staking of its native NOW token in Pro accounts, flexible crypto loans collateralized with major coins, and easy wallet-integrated staking in NOW Wallet.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

Orca is a decentralized, non-custodial protocol built on Solana with no central operating company handling custody; governance and UI are supported by an autonomous protocol structure, not a traditional corporate entity.

ChangeNOW is operated by CHN Group LLC, registered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with roots dating back to 2017 and additional administrative presence in the Netherlands. (Information compiled from official sources.)

Licenses/Registration

Orca does not hold industry-standard exchange licenses like VASP or MiCA, given its decentralized architecture—there is no regulatory registration as it doesn’t engage in fiat transactions or centralized trading.

While it doesn’t hold specific exchange licenses or operate as a regulated VASP (Virtual Asset Service Provider) under frameworks like MiCA, ChangeNOW complies with global AML/KYC mandates by triggering identity checks when its risk engines flag transactions.

Custody

The platform is fully non-custodial—users always retain control of their assets in their own wallets. Orca does not hold user funds, nor does it provide formal proof-of-reserves or cold storage backing, since liquidity is deposited by users in smart contracts.

The platform is primarily non-custodial—users send and receive directly from their own wallets—but offers optional custodial service via ChangeNOW Pro Custody (a hot wallet model). It does not publicly share PoR, audit results, or precise cold storage ratios.

Insurance & Protection Funds

Orca does not currently offer formal insurance or compensation funds for user losses; instead, it relies on strong security design and audit practices to safeguard the protocol and users’ liquidity.

There’s no public mention of insurance coverage or dedicated asset protection funds, though ChangeNOW demonstrates active anti-fraud and risk-response measures when unauthorized activity is detected or reported.

Incident History

Orca has maintained a clean security record over its history—no hacks, fund losses, or regulatory sanctions have been recorded since its launch, and the team celebrates its continuous uptime and safety focus.

ChangeNOW has a strong track record of catching suspicious transactions in real time—successfully halting and assisting recovery of funds in cases like SIM-swap thefts and phishing scams, working with law enforcement to return millions to victims.

Risk Controls

Access is secured via users’ wallets; there are no built-in features like two-factor authentication, whitelists, or sub-account structures. Orca promotes a zero-trust design and encourages secure wallet use without centralized API permission controls.

The platform enforces automated AML checks, address whitelisting for Pro users, and KYC triggers as needed. However, it doesn’t offer typical user security features such as 2FA, sub-accounts, granular API permissions, or anti-phishing tools.

Transparency

The protocol publishes regular security audits and adheres to standards like ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 for information security and quality management, offering clear documentation—but it does not offer monthly financial reports, formal SLAs, or public on-chain dashboards beyond smart contract visibility.

ChangeNOW publishes trust-focused updates—highlighting recovered funds and AML activity—but does not provide continuous transparency tools like public wallets, monthly reserve reports, or service-level agreements (SLAs).

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

Orca is fully on-chain and does not accept direct fiat deposits via bank transfer, cards, or e-wallets—users must first convert fiat to crypto outside the platform, typically via a centralized exchange or on-ramp service.

ChangeNOW facilitates fiat-to-crypto purchases through third-party partners such as Simplex, Transak, and Guardarian, enabling payment via Visa/MasterCard, Apple/Google Pay, SEPA, SWIFT, PIX, Revolut, and more. Minimum purchase amounts typically start around $50 (or equivalent), with no firm maximum on classic exchanges, and most transactions finalize within minutes though timing can vary by provider and method.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

Orca is a decentralized, non-custodial platform with no institutional KYC structure—there are no defined user levels (basic or advanced), identity checks, or trading limits based on KYC.

ChangeNOW generally operates registration-free and KYC-free for smaller transactions, but it may prompt identity verification via its third-party partner if transactions are large or flagged. Completing KYC under the Pro tier unlocks higher transaction and withdrawal limits, rate advantages, and additional Pro features, with verification typically processed in minutes.

Withdrawals

Limits, Durations & Networks

On-chain crypto withdrawals occur across supported networks—like ERC-20, TRC-20, BEP-20, etc.—and are processed in real time based on network conditions; there are no preset withdrawal limits for classic exchanges, though Pro users may benefit from elevated thresholds.

Customer Support

Users can open support tickets directly in the Orca UI, and also reach out via Discord or Telegram; requests are verified via wallet signature, and responses appear in the UI live ticket chat.

ChangeNOW offers 24/7 customer support via live chat and email/ticket systems, backed by a comprehensive help center. Response times are generally quick (particularly via live chat), and its self-help knowledge base covers most common topics—though dedicated response patience may vary depending on case complexity.

Languages & Localization

Orca’s documentation and FAQs are available in multiple languages (including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese) though the platform UI doesn’t show fiat prices or localized fees in currencies like EUR; regulatory localization is up to the user.

The platform supports multiple languages (around 15) and displays pricing in common fiat formats (€, $, etc.), offering localized experiences in many regions; however, availability of features and compliance may differ by jurisdiction.

App Quality & Stability

Orca is known for its smooth, highly responsive performance on Solana—it delivers a seamless experience, with low incidence of crashes and consistent updates, drawing praise for reliability in its V2 build.

The ChangeNOW mobile apps are available on Android and iOS and deliver a streamlined experience for swaps; while formal crash-rate data isn’t public, user rankings are strong (around 4.7–4.8/5 on app stores), and the app receives regular updates to enhance performance and fix bugs.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

Orca’s interface is clean and intuitive for beginners, featuring playful visuals and straightforward navigation; it doesn’t currently provide separate “Lite” or “Pro” modes, so both newcomers and experienced users share the same streamlined experience.

The platform features a clean, intuitive interface ideal for beginners—swaps proceed in just a few clicks—while the Pro tier introduces a richer dashboard with transaction history, analytics, cashback tracking, and more advanced features tailored to power users

Performance

Built on Solana, Orca delivers rapid execution with minimal latency, and gracefully handles market surges—its decentralized design avoids KYC queues and centralized congestion even during intense volatility.

ChangeNOW delivers near-instant swap execution thanks to its aggregator model, even during volatile periods; KYC processing within Pro remains efficient, and there’s no known backlog during bull-market surges.

Education

Orca offers multilingual FAQs and guided documentation—including Spanish resources—but does not yet include a dedicated academy, demo environment, or simulator for hands-on learning or live practice.

While there’s no formal academy or simulation tools, ChangeNOW provides educational articles (especially via its blog) covering topics like crypto strategy and security practices—though Spanish content appears limited

Community

Orca maintains active, developer-friendly channels on Discord and Telegram, fostering a collaborative community; while referral programs aren’t a featured part of its offering, users benefit from strong ecosystem engagement.

Community engagement centers around Telegram, Twitter Spaces AMAs, and blogs; additionally, ChangeNOW rewards referrals with customizable affiliate links offering commission—developers and partners can integrate swaps via widget, API, or bot for seamless referrals

Integrations

Orca provides robust integration via its high-level SDKs, enabling automated trading and infrastructure use, though it doesn’t yet offer built-in links to TradingView charts, external trading bots, or tax/accounting platforms.

ChangeNOW offers a robust API with 99.99% uptime and sub-second response times, enabling integration into bots, widgets, or partner platforms; while there’s no native TradingView or tax tool, users can export swap history via CSV for external accounting or analytics

Who Each One Is Best For

Orca is ideal for on-chain DeFi users rooted in Solana, developers seeking modular liquidity functionality, and traders who value fast, transparent swapping—while those needing advanced charting, fiat tools, or demo environments may find it less suitable.

The platform shines for users who seek fast, private, no-frills crypto swaps—regular users will appreciate the simplicity of the Lite experience, while frequent traders and businesses benefit from Pro’s added tools, cashback, loans, and AML features.