Crypto Exchange comparison
Caleb & Brown vs Digital Surge
Caleb & Brown and Digital Surge are both Australian crypto-only exchanges, but they serve very different crowds. Caleb & Brown is a full-service broker with a human touch — think white-glove trading via phone, WhatsApp, and a 24/7 broker desk — while Digital Surge is a self-directed platform built for low-cost, automated investing. The biggest practical difference? Caleb & Brown charges no fees on the surface but requires a $500 minimum per trade, whereas Digital Surge is more accessible for smaller, regular buys.
Choose
Caleb & Brown
if…
- ›You want a dedicated broker you can call, message on WhatsApp, or email 24/7 for personalised crypto trades
- ›You're depositing $500 or more per trade and value zero withdrawal, inactivity, and conditional order fees
- ›You prefer a premium service with phone support and in-app chat — Caleb & Brown offers five support channels including a live broker desk
- ›You're a high-net-worth individual, trust, or SMSF looking for a concierge-style crypto service backed by Swyftx (acquired Oct 2025)
Choose
Digital Surge
if…
- ›You want to start small — Digital Surge has no disclosed minimum deposit, making it far more accessible than Caleb & Brown's $500 minimum
- ›You want stop-loss and conditional orders for more control over your crypto positions
- ›You value same-day withdrawals via PayID and faster bank transfers (typically 1 business day vs Caleb & Brown's 1-3 days)
- ›You use Sharesight or Navexa for portfolio tracking — Digital Surge integrates directly with both
- ›You prefer a straightforward app experience on both iOS and Android without needing to talk to a broker
Where they differ
| Fact | Caleb & Brown | Digital Surge |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum trade size | $500 minimum initial and subsequent purchase | No disclosed minimum deposit |
| Customer support channels | Phone, email, live chat, WhatsApp, in-app (24/7) | Live chat and email only |
| Order types | Market and limit orders only | Market, limit, stop-loss, and conditional orders |
| Withdrawal speed | 1-3 business days | 1 business day (same-day via PayID) |
| Portfolio tool integration | Not disclosed | Sharesight and Navexa integration |
Verdict
Choose Caleb & Brown for white-glove broker service; choose Digital Surge for low-minimum, self-directed crypto investing with better order types.
All data points side-by-side
Every verified fact for both platforms. Differences are highlighted.
| Field | Caleb & Brown | Digital Surge |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | — | custodian |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | — | Yes |
| Company account | Yes | Yes |
| Trust account | Yes | Yes |
| SMSF account | Yes | Yes |
| asset coverage | ||
| ASX shares supported | No | No |
| ASX ETFs supported | No | No |
| US shares supported | No | No |
| US ETFs supported | No | No |
| Other markets supported | — | |
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | No | No |
| Options trading | No | No |
| CFDs supported | No | No |
| Crypto trading | Yes | Yes |
| Managed funds | No | No |
| Bonds supported | No | No |
| IPO access | No | No |
| costs hidden | ||
| Market data fees | $0/month | — |
| Conditional order fees | $0 | $0 |
| Phone trade surcharge | $0 | — |
| costs visible | ||
| Monthly platform fee | $0/month | — |
| Annual platform fee | $0/year | — |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | — |
| Withdrawal fee (AUD) | $0 | $0 |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | Caleb and Brown Pty Ltd | Digital Surge Pty Ltd |
| AUSTRAC registration | Yes | Yes |
| Year founded | 2,016 | 2,017 |
| Parent / ownership | Swyftx (acquired October 2025; deal announced July 2025, valued ~AUD $100M+/USD $65.8M-$200M range — largest ANZ crypto M&A deal) | 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. |
| Country of incorporation | AU | AU |
| Public company status | private | private |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | $500 | — |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | $500 | — |
| Deposit methods | PayID, OSKO, Bank transfer (BSB/Account), Crypto deposit | PayID, Bank Transfer, OSKO |
| Settlement period | instant (crypto settlement) | — |
| Withdrawal time | 1-3 business days | 1 business day (typically same-day for PayID; up to 1-2 business days for standard bank transfer) |
| platform ux | ||
| iOS app | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | — | Yes |
| Desktop platform | No | No |
| Demo account | No | No |
| Free real-time market data | Yes | Yes |
| Free research reports | Yes | No |
| 2FA support | authenticator app | authenticator app |
| Customer support channels | phone, email, live chat, WhatsApp, in-app | live chat, email |
| Support hours (AU time) | 24/7 (live chat and broker desk) | Live chat available 365 days a year (Australian-based support team); specific hours not published |
| Education content | basic articles | basic articles |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | Yes | Yes |
| CGT calculator / report | Yes | Yes |
| Sharesight / Navexa integration | — | Yes |
| trading mechanics | ||
| Market orders | Yes | Yes |
| Limit orders | Yes | Yes |
| Stop loss orders | — | Yes |
| Conditional orders | — | Yes |
| Auto-invest / DCA | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-invest sophistication | multiple | multiple |
| After-hours / overnight trading | Yes | Yes |