Crypto Exchange comparison
Digital Surge vs Webull
Digital Surge is a pure crypto exchange born in 2017, while Webull is a full-blown broker that added crypto alongside ASX, US and Hong Kong shares. The biggest practical difference: Webull gives you CHESS-sponsored share trading and zero-commission US stocks, whereas Digital Surge is crypto-only with no access to traditional markets.
Choose
Digital Surge
if…
- ›You want a dedicated crypto exchange that has weathered the 2022 FTX crisis and resumed operations under a Deed of Company Arrangement with Australian ownership
- ›You want zero withdrawal fees and free deposits via PayID or OSKO
- ›You want a simple, no-frills platform focused solely on crypto without the distraction of shares, ETFs or options
- ›You want Australian-based live chat support available 365 days a year
Choose
Webull
if…
- ›You want CHESS-sponsored ASX trading with your own HIN, not a custodian arrangement
- ›You want zero-commission US stocks and ETFs, plus access to Hong Kong and China A-shares
- ›You want a desktop trading platform, a demo account, and structured educational content
- ›You want options trading and fractional US shares alongside your crypto
- ›You want a publicly listed parent company (Webull Corp on NASDAQ) with institutional backing from Xiaomi and General Atlantic
Where they differ
| Fact | Digital Surge | Webull |
|---|---|---|
| CHESS sponsorship | Custodian model | CHESS-sponsored with individual HIN |
| Markets available | Crypto only | ASX, US, Hong Kong, China A-shares, and crypto |
| Minimum initial deposit | Not disclosed | $500 AUD |
| Market data fees | Free real-time data included | $49.99/month for real-time data |
| Options trading | Not supported | Supported |
Verdict
If you want a multi-market broker with CHESS-sponsored shares and crypto under one roof, choose Webull. If you want a simple, Australian-owned crypto-only exchange, choose Digital Surge.
All data points side-by-side
Every verified fact for both platforms. Differences are highlighted.
| Field | Digital Surge | Webull |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | custodian | chess |
| Individual HIN | — | Yes |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | Yes | Yes |
| Company account | Yes | Yes |
| Trust account | Yes | Yes |
| SMSF account | Yes | Yes |
| Kids / minor account | — | No |
| asset coverage | ||
| ASX shares supported | No | Yes |
| ASX ETFs supported | No | Yes |
| US shares supported | No | Yes |
| US ETFs supported | No | Yes |
| Other markets supported | — | Hong Kong, China (A-shares) |
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | No | Yes |
| Options trading | No | Yes |
| CFDs supported | No | No |
| Crypto trading | Yes | Yes |
| Managed funds | No | No |
| Bonds supported | No | No |
| IPO access | No | No |
| costs hidden | ||
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | — | 0.5% |
| FX spread (other currencies) | — | 0.5% |
| Holds USD account | — | Yes |
| Market data fees | — | $49.99/month |
| Conditional order fees | $0 | $0 |
| costs visible | ||
| ASX brokerage minimum | — | $1 |
| ASX brokerage percentage | — | 0.03% |
| ASX brokerage threshold | — | $3,333 |
| ASX free trade conditions | — | ASX ETFs: $0 brokerage on all trades, no conditions. ASX shares: not free — $1 minimum or 0.03% (whichever greater). |
| US brokerage minimum | — | US$0 |
| US brokerage percentage | — | 0% |
| Monthly platform fee | — | $0/month |
| Annual platform fee | — | $0/year |
| Inactivity fee | — | $0 |
| Withdrawal fee (AUD) | $0 | $0 |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | Digital Surge Pty Ltd | Webull Securities (Australia) Pty Ltd |
| AFSL number | — | 536,980 |
| AUSTRAC registration | Yes | Yes |
| Year founded | 2,017 | 2,022 |
| Parent / ownership | Digital Surge Pty Ltd (privately held, Australian-owned; co-founded by Dan Rutter (CEO) and Josh Lehman). Following the 2022 FTX exposure event, an associated company 'Digico' provided a A$1.25M loan as part of the Deed of Company Arrangement that allowed the business to resume operations. | Webull Corporation (NASDAQ: BULL), Cayman Islands holding company; originally backed by Hunan Fumi Information Technology (China) with investors including Xiaomi, General Atlantic, Coatue, Lightspeed |
| Country of incorporation | AU | Australia |
| Public company status | private | public |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | — | $500 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | — | $0 |
| Deposit methods | PayID, Bank Transfer, OSKO | PayTo, Bank transfer (EFT), International wire |
| Settlement period | — | T+2 for ASX; T+1 for US |
| Withdrawal time | 1 business day (typically same-day for PayID; up to 1-2 business days for standard bank transfer) | 1-2 business days for AUD bank transfer; 1-5 business days for international wire |
| platform ux | ||
| iOS app | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop platform | No | Yes |
| Demo account | No | Yes |
| Free real-time market data | Yes | No |
| Free research reports | No | No |
| 2FA support | authenticator app | authenticator |
| Customer support channels | live chat, email | Phone, Email, In-app chat |
| Support hours (AU time) | Live chat available 365 days a year (Australian-based support team); specific hours not published | Phone: Mon-Fri 08:30-18:00 AEST/AEDT. In-app chat: advertised 24-hour. |
| Education content | basic articles | structured |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | Yes | Yes |
| CGT calculator / report | Yes | Yes |
| Sharesight / Navexa integration | Yes | Yes |
| trading mechanics | ||
| Market orders | Yes | Yes |
| Limit orders | Yes | Yes |
| Stop loss orders | Yes | Yes |
| Conditional orders | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-invest / DCA | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-invest sophistication | multiple | weighted |
| DRP (dividend reinvestment) | — | No |
| After-hours / overnight trading | Yes | Yes |