Pdax vs Safetrade: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Pdax and Safetrade 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 16, 2025

Pdax

Safetrade

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Europe

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Latin America

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India

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China

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Canada

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United Kingdom

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Pdax is ideal if:

Locally integrated experience Enables seamless PHP deposits and withdrawals through banks and e-wallets, making it highly convenient for users in the Philippines.
Regulated and secure Operates under the supervision of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, with features like two-factor authentication and cold storage to protect your assets.
User-friendly and inclusive Offers an intuitive interface, low minimum deposits, and access to crypto, bonds, and collectibles—perfect for both beginners and everyday investors.

Safetrade is ideal if:

Great for altcoin explorers If you're keen to trade lesser-known or emerging cryptocurrencies, SafeTrade offers a broad variety of altcoins alongside popular ones, making it a good match.
Ideal if low fees matter With a straightforward, flat trading fee structure that’s competitively lower than many industry standards, it's a smart choice for cost-conscious traders.
Suited for users valuing interface and support The platform features a beginner-friendly design and offers responsive support via channels like email and Discord, simplifying your trading journey.

Pdax isn’t ideal if:

Not ideal for advanced traders Lacks access to derivatives, margin trading, staking, or passive income tools—so seasoned traders may find its offerings too limited.
Highly localized to the Philippines Designed for Filipino residents with PHP-only support and local IDs, making it inconvenient for international users.
Potential technical hiccups Historical reports of service outages during peak activity suggest possible reliability concerns for time-sensitive trades.

Safetrade isn’t ideal if:

Regulatory safety is a must If you need the legal protection of a regulated exchange, SafeTrade’s lack of oversight may leave you exposed to unnecessary risk.
You prefer fiat trading options If entering via your local currency is important, SafeTrade’s predominantly crypto-only pairs can be limiting for newcomers.
You trade large volumes or need liquidity For high-volume trades or deep order books, SafeTrade’s thinner liquidity may result in unfavorable price slippage or delays.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

Maker orders cost around 0.4 % while taker orders are about 0.5 %, and there are no volume-based discount tiers or native-token rebates.

SafeTrade applies a flat trading fee of around 0.1 % for both maker and taker orders regardless of volume, with no tiered discounts or benefits tied to holding a native token like SAFE.

Futures/Derivatives

PDAX currently does not offer derivatives or futures trading, so maker/taker fees and funding rates are not applicable.

SafeTrade does not offer futures or derivative contracts, so there are no associated maker/taker or funding costs to consider.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

Specific spread data isn’t publicly listed, though local liquidity suggests competitive spreads similar to other regional spot-only platforms.

While SafeTrade uses direct crypto-to-crypto pairs, spread data isn’t formally published, and anecdotal experience shows reasonable execution on major pairs with moderate slippage for small to mid-sized trades due to lighter liquidity.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Fiat transactions are available via bank transfers, e-wallets, and over-the-counter options; PDAX itself charges little to no platform fee, though third-party processing fees may apply, and settlements typically complete within hours to a day.

SafeTrade does not support fiat deposits or withdrawals; you must deposit using cryptocurrencies only, so there are no fiat-based funding channels, fees, or timeframes to manage.

On-chain Withdrawals

Withdrawal fees vary by cryptocurrency and blockchain—for example, BTC withdrawals cost around 0.0004 BTC, while other tokens each have set blockchain-based fee rates adjusted dynamically by network conditions.

Withdrawal costs on SafeTrade follow variable blockchain network fees depending on the asset (e.g. BTC, ETH, TRX), so these on-chain charges are dynamic and not fixed by the platform itself.

Hidden Costs

There are no known inactivity or express KYC fees, but users should account for potential currency conversion charges and third-party processing fees that may not be explicitly itemized.

There are no hidden penalties; SafeTrade doesn’t charge for account inactivity, KYC speed upgrades, or fiat conversion—most extra costs are simply the blockchain fees for crypto withdrawals.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

If you were to convert €500 (equivalent to PHP), you’d incur roughly a 0.5 % trading fee plus any spread embedded in the quote, and then pay a blockchain withdrawal fee—like 0.0004 BTC—if you choose to withdraw, though exact totals depend on the real-time exchange rate and network conditions.

If you deposit €500 worth of BTC via another platform and transfer it in, you’d pay SafeTrade’s ~0.1 % trading fee when buying BTC, incur standard spread/slippage in the BTC/USDT pair, and finally pay only the normal network withdrawal fee—no additional markup.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

PDAX offers over 64 cryptocurrencies overall, including the top 20 by volume—major names like BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC, BNB, SOL and ADA—paired primarily with PHP for easy access.

SafeTrade lists approximately 44–50 cryptocurrencies across about 70–80 trading pairs, with the top 20 by volume typically featuring assets like QUBIC/USDT, QTC/USDT, BTC/USDT, ETH/BTC, and others—reflecting modest but focused coverage.

Product Range

The platform focuses on spot trading and also provides tokenized government bonds, collectibles, and access via an OTC desk for Prime users, but does not support margin, perps, options, ETFs, staking, lending, copy trading, grid bots, or automated DCA.

The platform offers spot trading only, with no support for margin, perpetuals, options, ETFs, copy trading, or bots—though it does provide staking in a simplified form, earning users passive rewards on holdings.

Liquidity

While exact 24-hour volumes and order-book depth data aren’t public, PDAX is known to maintain solid local liquidity, especially for major pairs like BTC/PHP and ETH/PHP, backed by visible order-book depth in Pro mode.

SafeTrade logs sub-1 million USD daily trading volume, led by a few pairs like QUBIC/USDT; its liquidity remains light, meaning deeper trades may face noticeable slippage due to limited order book depth.

Tools

PDAX supports basic tools such as limit, market, and stop-limit orders, Pro mode with order book and depth chart, advanced TradingView charts (with indicators like RSI and MACD), and offers API/WebSocket access for developers.

You’ll find basic limit and market orders, with no margin, OCO, advanced charting, alerts, API/WebSocket, or native TradingView support—simplifying the interface at the cost of advanced functionality.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

All trading services, including spot markets, are strictly limited to the Philippines—there is no availability for residents elsewhere, and derivative products are not offered in any region.

There are no specific geographic restrictions disclosed per region, but given the absence of regulated derivatives and full licensing, complex products like futures likely remain unavailable regardless of your location.

Innovation

PDAX includes features like an OTC Prime trading desk for institutional-level access, tokenized “Hold & Earn” bonds, and collectible offerings, but does not currently feature launchpads, launchpools, or flexible vs locked earn programs.

SafeTrade does not currently support launchpads, launchpools, or differentiated staking structures—staked assets earn simple rewards, with no flexible vs. locked variations or new token launch mechanisms.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

Operated by Philippine Digital Asset Exchange, Inc., founded in 2017 and headquartered in Taguig (Greater Metro Manila), the platform is incorporated under Philippine law.

SafeTrade operates under a centralized corporate entity founded around 2018, officially headquartered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with some references also linking it to Canada.

Licenses/Registration

PDAX is licensed by and fully compliant with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as a virtual currency exchange, operating under BSP Circular guidelines.

The platform operates without licensing from major financial authorities and lacks formal VASP or MiCA regulation, meaning it is essentially unregulated by top-tier or regional crypto oversight frameworks.

Custody

PDAX uses custodial wallets (holding private keys for users), and while there’s no public proof-of-reserves or audit reports, they emphasize internal security protocols for asset protection.

User assets are primarily held in cold storage with internal custody; there’s no public proof of reserves or third-party audit reports verifying holdings or cold-storage percentages.

Insurance & Protection Funds

Digital assets on PDAX are not insured under any deposit protection scheme, as crypto holdings are not classified as insured deposits by Philippine regulators.

There is no mention of insurance coverage or dedicated protection funds to compensate users in case of loss, hack, or operational failure.

Incident History

There are no publicly known major hacks, platform-wide freezes, or regulatory penalties affecting PDAX.

There are no widely confirmed reports of large-scale hacks, platform suspensions, or regulatory penalties, though user complaints exist; however, no official incident disclosure or transparency report is available.

Risk Controls

The platform supports strong security features such as two-factor authentication, anti-phishing measures, and a dedicated risk and compliance team to enforce AML and safeguard operations.

SafeTrade supports standard two-factor authentication (2FA), and employs cold storage and encryption; there’s no indication of advanced measures such as withdrawal whitelists, anti-phishing tools, sub-accounts, or granular API permissions.

Transparency

PDAX does not currently publish monthly proof-of-reserve reports or maintain publicly visible wallets, though they do communicate via their Help Center and Learning Hub on security topics.

The platform does not publish regular transparency reports, dedicate a public wallet explorer, or offer service-level agreements; overall visibility into operations and system integrity remains limited.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

Deposits in PHP are available via bank transfers, e-wallets, online channels, and OTC partners; minimums and fees vary by channel, and processing times range from near-instant to a few hours or up to a day depending on method.

SafeTrade does not currently offer fiat deposit options—no transfers, cards, or e-wallets are supported; you’ll need to deposit cryptocurrency instead, and specifics on deposit thresholds or timing are not outlined on platform.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

PDAX offers four account tiers—Basic, Verified, Premium, and Prime—with escalating daily, monthly, and annual transaction limits tied to each level.

SafeTrade requires KYC verification to activate trading, but details on tiered verification levels, or account limits tied to KYC status, are not clearly laid out—so expect a single-step process without published thresholds for trading limits.

Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawals are subject to tiered daily limits based on your account level, typically processed within minutes but occasionally taking up to an hour; networks such as ERC-20, TRC-20, and others are supported with fees assigned per token.

Withdrawals are processed on-chain with support for networks like BSC, Tron, and Ethereum—with BSC and Tron being faster and cheaper; exact daily limits or withdrawal lead times vary by asset and are not standardized publicly.

Customer Support

Support is available by email and support tickets with variable response times; there is no live 24/7 chat, but users can access a knowledge base for self-help.

They offer support through email, support tickets, Telegram, and occasionally live chat; there’s an FAQ and announcements hub, but response times vary according to user feedback—some praise responsiveness on Discord, while others report delays.

Languages & Localization

The platform is fully localized for the Philippines, with a native English/PHP interface, showing fees only in PHP and tailored to compliant local regulation.

The interface and customer communications are primarily in English, fees are displayed in crypto or US dollars, and there’s no strong indication of local regulatory alignment or multi-currency display beyond that.

App Quality & Stability

The PDAX mobile app is generally stable and user-friendly, with regular updates visible in app stores and few reports of crashes among regular users.

SafeTrade offers mobile-friendly access without native iOS or Android apps, and while the web interface is generally smooth and stable, there are user-reported occasional bugs and no public data on crash rates or recent update frequency to assess overall app reliability.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

PDAX offers a gentle learning curve with its toggleable Lite (Convert) mode for beginners and Pro mode showcasing order books and depth charts, enabling users to seamlessly transition from simplified to more advanced tools

SafeTrade delivers a clean and minimalistic interface with a very gentle learning curve—no Lite/Pro toggle, just a straightforward, uncluttered trading view that makes it feel welcoming for newcomers and efficient for casual users.

Performance

Users generally enjoy responsive order execution under normal market conditions, though occasional reports hint at brief downtime or slower processing during sharp volatility spikes—typical of regional exchanges with growing demand

Trading on SafeTrade generally sees fast order execution and prompt deposit/withdrawal processing, even during spikes; there are no widely reported system crashes or KYC bottlenecks, suggesting functional resilience under load.

Education

The platform includes a rich “PDAX Learn” section featuring crypto basics, market insights, and educational content; however, there’s no dedicated demo or simulated trading environment, and Spanish-language content is currently absent

SafeTrade doesn’t currently offer a dedicated academy, demo environment, or Spanish-language educational materials; its support comes through FAQs and announcements rather than structured learning or simulation tools.

Community

PDAX maintains official presence on Discord, Telegram, and Facebook, and runs engaging referral and reward programs—like PDAX Quests and influencer promos—to encourage peer participation and user-driven growth

SafeTrade fosters an active community presence via its official Discord channel and supports an affiliate referral program, allowing users to engage directly and participate in platform discussions or growth initiatives.

Integrations

The platform comes equipped with TradingView-powered charts but currently lacks direct integrations for external trading bots, tax tools, or accounting services, limiting advanced automation and financial tracking options

Integration options are minimal—SafeTrade does not embed TradingView charts or support third-party bots or tax/accounting tools; its ecosystem remains lightweight and self-contained.

Who Each One Is Best For

PDAX is ideal for everyday Filipino users and crypto newcomers seeking a familiar, regulated, PHP-based experience; seasoned traders seeking derivative trading or deep automation may find its ecosystem less aligned with their advanced strategies.

SafeTrade is well-suited for a casual or beginner trader seeking a clean, no-frills interface for spot trading of familiar cryptocurrencies—less ideal for professionals, power users, or those needing advanced tools or rich educational resources.