Crypto Exchange comparison
eToro vs KuCoin
eToro and KuCoin both let you trade crypto, but that's where the similarity ends. eToro is a regulated Australian broker that also offers ASX and US shares, ETFs, and CFDs under an AFSL — it's built for multi-asset investing. KuCoin is a pure crypto exchange based in Seychelles, offering hundreds of coins, futures, and margin trading with no access to traditional shares at all.
Choose
eToro
if…
- ›You want a single platform for crypto, ASX shares, US stocks, and ETFs under one login
- ›You value ASIC-regulated custody and an Australian AFSL (491139) with CHESS-like protections
- ›You need an Australian tax statement and CGT report generated for you
- ›You want to trade fractional shares in both ASX and US markets
- ›You prefer depositing with bank transfer, card, PayPal, or POLi and want zero brokerage on ASX and US shares
Choose
KuCoin
if…
- ›You want access to hundreds of cryptocurrencies, including altcoins and new token launches that eToro doesn't list
- ›You trade crypto futures with leverage up to 125x or use margin and options strategies
- ›You want near-instant AUD withdrawals via PayID/Osko rather than waiting days for bank transfers
- ›You need a full desktop trading platform with advanced charting and order types
- ›You want to avoid inactivity fees — KuCoin charges none, while eToro charges $10 after 12 months of no logins
Where they differ
| Fact | eToro | KuCoin |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional share trading | ASX & US shares, ETFs supported | Not supported — crypto only |
| Regulation | AFSL 491139, ASIC-regulated, Australian-incorporated | Seychelles-registered, AUSTRAC-registered but no AFSL |
| Custody model | Custodian (pooled, not in your name) | Self-custody wallet (you control private keys) |
| Inactivity fee | $10 AUD after 12 months of no login | $0 — no inactivity fee |
| Australian tax reporting | Annual tax statement & CGT report provided | No tax statement or CGT report available |
Verdict
Choose eToro for regulated multi-asset investing with shares and crypto; choose KuCoin for deep crypto-only trading with advanced features.
All data points side-by-side
Every verified fact for both platforms. Differences are highlighted.
| Field | eToro | KuCoin |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | custodian | — |
| Individual HIN | No | — |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | No | No |
| Company account | Yes | Yes |
| Trust account | Yes | No |
| SMSF account | Yes | No |
| Kids / minor account | No | No |
| asset coverage | ||
| ASX shares supported | Yes | No |
| ASX ETFs supported | Yes | No |
| US shares supported | Yes | No |
| US ETFs supported | Yes | No |
| Other markets supported | United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, Portugal | spot crypto, crypto futures (perpetuals up to 125x leverage), margin trading, leveraged tokens, options |
| Fractional shares (ASX) | Yes | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | Yes | No |
| Options trading | No | Yes |
| CFDs supported | Yes | No |
| Crypto trading | Yes | Yes |
| Managed funds | No | No |
| Bonds supported | No | No |
| IPO access | No | No |
| costs hidden | ||
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | 0.75% | — |
| Holds USD account | Yes | — |
| FX currency switch trick | No | — |
| Market data fees | $0/month | $0/month |
| Conditional order fees | $0 | $0 |
| Corporate action fees | eToro passes through cash dividends from non-leveraged real positions (debit/credit to wallet). It does not facilitate participation in rights issues, share purchase plans (SPPs), DRPs or shareholder votes because shares are held in a managed investment scheme by the custodian, not in the user's name. No explicit fee, but corporate action access is materially restricted. | — |
| costs visible | ||
| ASX brokerage minimum | $0 | — |
| ASX brokerage percentage | 0% | — |
| ASX free trade conditions | Zero commission applies to all non-leveraged (real) ASX share and ETF purchases. Leveraged / short positions are executed as CFDs and incur 0.15% open/close spread plus overnight financing. | — |
| US brokerage minimum | US$0 | — |
| US brokerage percentage | 0% | — |
| Monthly platform fee | $0/month | $0/month |
| Annual platform fee | $0/year | $0/year |
| Inactivity fee | $10 | $0 |
| Withdrawal fee (AUD) | $0 | $0 |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | eToro AUS Capital Limited | Peken Global Limited (operating as KuCoin) |
| AFSL number | 491,139 | — |
| AUSTRAC registration | Yes | Yes |
| Year founded | 2,017 | 2,017 |
| Parent / ownership | eToro Group Ltd (NASDAQ: ETOR) — listed 14 May 2025; originally founded in Israel by Yoni and Ronen Assia. eToro AUS Capital Limited is a wholly-owned Australian subsidiary. | Peken Global Limited (Seychelles); founded by Chun Gan, Ke Tang, Johnny Lyu (founders forced to exit operational roles per Jan 2025 DOJ settlement). Current CEO BC Wong. |
| Country of incorporation | Australia | SC |
| Public company status | public | private |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | $50 | — |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | $50 | — |
| Deposit methods | Bank transfer, Debit card, Credit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, POLi, Online banking | PayID, Osko bank transfer, crypto deposit, credit/debit card (third-party providers), P2P trading |
| Settlement period | T+2 ASX, T+1 US (settlement managed by the eToro Service custodian; user funds reflect immediately in eToro wallet) | — |
| Withdrawal time | 1-2 business days for eToro processing; total 2-10 business days end-to-end depending on payment method (bank transfer longer than card) | AUD withdrawals via PayID/Osko typically near-instant (NPP-dependent); crypto withdrawals processed within minutes after security review |
| platform ux | ||
| iOS app | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop platform | No | Yes |
| Demo account | Yes | Yes |
| Free real-time market data | Yes | Yes |
| Free research reports | No | No |
| 2FA support | SMS + authenticator app | authenticator |
| Customer support channels | Live chat (Club members only), Email / web ticket, Help centre | 24/7 live chat, email, support ticket portal, Twitter/X support |
| Support hours (AU time) | — | 24/7 (live chat and ticket) |
| Education content | video + courses | video + courses |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | Yes | No |
| CGT calculator / report | Yes | No |
| Sharesight / Navexa integration | No | 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 | single asset |
| DRP (dividend reinvestment) | No | — |
| After-hours / overnight trading | No | Yes |