Crypto Exchange comparison
BTC Markets vs OKX
BTC Markets is the seasoned Australian veteran — founded in 2013, privately owned in Melbourne, and built for local investors who want straightforward crypto trading with tax reporting built in. OKX only launched its Australian entity in 2024 but brings a global exchange's firepower: derivatives, a demo account, 24/7 support, and a desktop platform. The biggest practical difference is that BTC Markets gives you an Australian tax statement and CGT calculator, while OKX offers advanced trading tools that BTC Markets doesn't touch.
Choose
BTC Markets
if…
- ›You want an Australian tax statement and CGT calculator generated for you at tax time
- ›You prefer a locally owned exchange with a decade-long track record and Melbourne headquarters
- ›You need SMSF or trust account support — OKX doesn't offer either
- ›You want zero-fee AUD withdrawals and deposits via PayID, Osko or BPAY with no minimums beyond $30
- ›You value Sharesight/Navexa integration for portfolio tracking
Choose
OKX
if…
- ›You want to trade crypto derivatives and CFDs — BTC Markets is spot-only
- ›You need a demo account to practise strategies before committing real money
- ›You want 24/7 live chat support and a desktop trading platform
- ›You prefer a more sophisticated auto-invest feature that supports multiple assets in one plan
- ›You want to deposit with a debit/credit card via third-party on-ramps like Simplex or MoonPay
Where they differ
| Fact | BTC Markets | OKX |
|---|---|---|
| Year founded | 2013 | 2024 |
| AFSL | Not directly licensed for spot crypto (via sister entity) | 379035 |
| Tax statement & CGT report | Yes | No |
| SMSF & Trust accounts | Yes (both) | No (neither) |
| Desktop platform & demo account | No | Yes (both) |
Verdict
Choose BTC Markets for local tax reporting, SMSF support and peace of mind; choose OKX for derivatives, a demo account and global exchange features.
All data points side-by-side
Every verified fact for both platforms. Differences are highlighted.
| Field | BTC Markets | OKX |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | No | No |
| Company account | Yes | Yes |
| Trust account | Yes | — |
| SMSF account | Yes | No |
| Kids / minor account | No | No |
| asset coverage | ||
| ASX shares supported | — | No |
| ASX ETFs supported | — | No |
| US shares supported | — | No |
| US ETFs supported | — | No |
| Fractional shares (ASX) | — | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | — | No |
| Options trading | — | Yes |
| CFDs supported | — | Yes |
| Crypto trading | Yes | Yes |
| Managed funds | — | No |
| Bonds supported | — | No |
| IPO access | No | No |
| costs hidden | ||
| Market data fees | $0/month | $0/month |
| Conditional order fees | $0 | $0 |
| costs visible | ||
| Monthly platform fee | $0/month | $0/month |
| Annual platform fee | $0/year | $0/year |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | $0 |
| Withdrawal fee (AUD) | $0 | $0 |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | BTC Markets Pty Ltd | OKX Australia Pty Ltd |
| AFSL number | AFSL via sister entity BTCM Payments Pty Ltd (BTC Markets itself is not AFSL-licensed for spot crypto, as spot crypto is not a regulated financial product) | 379,035 |
| AUSTRAC registration | Yes | Yes |
| Year founded | 2,013 | 2,024 |
| Parent / ownership | Privately owned, Australian; headquartered in Richmond, Melbourne (Victoria) | OKX Group (Seychelles-headquartered global crypto exchange, formerly OKEx) |
| Country of incorporation | AU | AU |
| Public company status | private | private |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | $30 | $0 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | $30 | $0 |
| Deposit methods | PayID, Osko, BPAY, Direct Credit / EFT bank transfer, Bank card (debit/credit) | PayID, Osko, bank transfer, debit/credit card (via Simplex, MoonPay, Banxa), crypto deposit |
| Settlement period | — | instant (crypto settles on-chain confirmation; AUD via PayID near-instant) |
| Withdrawal time | AUD withdrawals typically 1 business day (NPP/Osko often same-day where available) | near-instant via PayID/Osko (under 30 minutes typical) |
| platform ux | ||
| iOS app | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop platform | No | Yes |
| Demo account | No | Yes |
| Free real-time market data | Yes | Yes |
| Free research reports | No | No |
| 2FA support | authenticator | authenticator |
| Customer support channels | email, support portal / help centre | email, live chat, in-app help centre |
| Support hours (AU time) | Business hours (approx. 9am-5pm AET), Mon-Fri; help centre 24/7 self-service | 24/7 live chat and email support |
| Education content | basic articles | video + courses |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | Yes | No |
| Distribution component breakdown | — | No |
| CGT calculator / report | Yes | No |
| 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 | single asset | multiple |
| After-hours / overnight trading | Yes | Yes |