Independent Reserve Review 2026

4.0 / 5

Registered exchange with real regulatory records.

Independent Reserve is a crypto exchange founded in 2013. It holds a AUSTRAC registration under number Registered.

The record

On file, Independent Reserve traces to 2013, with its operating base recorded in Australia. Ownership is private, and no equity trades on a public exchange. The order book covers 30 coins and trading pairs, spanning spot and, where a jurisdiction permits, derivatives. The mandate stays inside crypto, spot and derivatives, nothing more.

Execution runs through Independent Reserve's own web, mobile and API stack. No copy-trading layer is offered on the platform.

Founded2013
HeadquartersAustralia
Listed coins30
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, API
Copy tradingNo

Custody & proof

The Seychelles FSA is an offshore regulator. It requires exchange registration and basic conduct rules, but does not offer the same client protections as the FCA, MAS, or NYDFS. There is no compensation scheme and leverage limits are not imposed.

RegulatorLicenceEntity
AUSTRACRegistered ✓Independent Reserve Pty Ltd
MASRegistered ✓Independent Reserve SG Pte Ltd

Cross-check the AUSTRAC entry yourself at oracl8.com. Each record returns the licensed entity, its current authorisation state, and the exact activities it is cleared to run, a lookup that costs about a minute.

Fee schedule

The rates below are the standing fees on Independent Reserve. Both sides of the book move with your rolling 30-day volume, and holders of the venue's native token typically settle at a discount.

Taker fee0.5%
Maker fee0.40%
BTC/USD trading fee0.5%
ETH/USD trading fee0.5%
Withdrawal costNetwork fee only (varies by coin)

At 0.5%, the Independent Reserve taker fee reads above the cheapest venues, though it is what an entry-level platform tends to charge.

Withdrawals, cost and timing

Fee: None. Independent Reserve does not charge deposit or withdrawal fees. Your payment provider may apply their own transfer fees.

Processing time: 1 to 3 business days. E-wallet and card withdrawals are typically faster than bank wire transfers.

No payout clears until identity checks are settled. An account still short of full verification, identity and address on file, will see the timeline stretch. Once a record is complete, payouts track the figures above.

Minimum deposit, entity by entity

What you must fund to open depends on which Independent Reserve entity your country routes to. Offshore books tend to set the bar lower, in exchange for thinner regulatory cover.

EntityRegulatorMin depositMax leverage
Independent Reserve Pty LtdAUSTRAC RegisteredNone1:1
Independent Reserve SG Pte LtdMAS RegisteredNone1:1

Independent Reserve vs Kraken

Independent ReserveKraken
Primary regulatorAUSTRAC RegisteredFinCEN MSB Registered
Min depositNoneNone
Taker fee0.5%0.26%
Listed coins & pairs30+712+
Copy tradingNoNo
Withdrawal feeNoneVaries

Both records check out as registered venues. The case for Independent Reserve rests on its platform and the breadth of its coin list; Kraken pulls ahead where a trader weighs a lighter fee schedule more heavily.

Registrations on file

AUSTRACRegistered, Independent Reserve Pty Ltd
MASRegistered, Independent Reserve SG Pte Ltd

For retail accounts across the EU and UK, leverage on crypto derivatives is held to 1:1 by local rule.

Strengths and weak points

What works

  • MAS regulated, Independent Reserve SG Pte Ltd
  • No minimum deposit
  • No inactivity fee
  • Low taker fee from 0.5%

What does not work

  • No copy trading
  • High leverage only via offshore entity

The verdict

The records place Independent Reserve as a registered, operating crypto exchange, AUSTRAC number Registered confirms on the public file. The best fit is traders who want 30 coins and pairs reachable through a registered venue. Score: 4.0 out of 5.

Alternatives to Independent Reserve

Should Independent Reserve miss the mark, the registered venues below are worth setting side by side:

Kraken
FinCEN MSB regulated · Min None
Read review →
Binance
FinCEN MSB regulated · Min None
Read review →
Bitstamp
MiCA CASP regulated · Min None
Read review →

Frequently asked questions

Is Independent Reserve safe?

The Seychelles FSA is an offshore regulator. The AUSTRAC record, licence Registered, sits on the official register in public view, open to anyone who wants to confirm it.

What is the Independent Reserve minimum deposit?

None covers the primary regulated entity. Offshore books can set a different bar, so the entity table above is the place to read the figure that applies to your country.

What is the Independent Reserve trading fee?

On the record, Independent Reserve charges about 0.5% to take and 0.40% to make. The schedule tapers as 30-day volume climbs, and native-token holders usually clear at a reduced rate.

How long does Independent Reserve take to process withdrawals?

1 to 3 business days. E-wallet and card withdrawals are typically faster than bank wire transfers.

Does Independent Reserve charge withdrawal fees?

None. Independent Reserve does not charge deposit or withdrawal fees. Your payment provider may apply their own transfer fees.

Does Independent Reserve have an API?

Yes. Beyond its web and mobile front ends, Independent Reserve exposes a public REST and WebSocket API, the hook for automated strategies, custom bots, and outside portfolio tools that read from an account.

Trading crypto carries a real chance of loss, and leverage magnifies it. Weigh whether that exposure is one you can absorb before committing capital on Independent Reserve.