Is Independent Reserve safe?

The short answer.

Safety

4/5 ISO 27001 since 2021; no major incident covered.

Regulation

3.5/5 AUSTRAC-registered; no AFSL covered in this review.

Worth knowing

• The 0.5% entry rate is higher than the entry rate on some other order books, such as CoinJar Exchange.
• Instant PayID/NPP withdrawals cost A$1.50; the free EFT option is slower.
• Security certifications and balance audits are described by the company itself; we have not independently verified them.

Ratings are Nodora’s own, from published sources, and are not a guarantee. A good rating does not protect you from scams, lost passwords or a falling market.

Regulation and security claims

Independent Reserve says it was founded in 2013, is registered with AUSTRAC as a digital currency exchange, has held ISO 27001 information-security certification since 2021, and runs its core servers in two Tier 3 data centres in Sydney. It also says independent audits verify the fiat and crypto balances it holds for clients.

AUSTRAC registration is about anti-money-laundering obligations; it isn't a guarantee against loss. Security certifications and audits are useful signals, but they come from the company's own pages here. Decide how much to leave on any exchange, and consider a wallet you control for long-term holdings.

How to protect yourself on any exchange.

1. Turn on two-factor authentication

   Use an authenticator app instead of SMS where the exchange offers it.

2. Check the web address

   Fake login pages are the most common way accounts are emptied. Type the address yourself or use a bookmark. How to spot crypto scams ↗

3. Do not store everything on an exchange

   Coins you plan to hold for years are safer in a wallet you control. Wallet security guide ↗

4. Test withdrawals early

   Send a small amount out before you need to move a large one, so you know the limits, fees and delays.

How Independent Reserve compares on safety.

Our safety and regulation ratings for all 13 exchanges, highest combined score first.

1. 1CoinbaseSafety 4 · Regulation 4.5 · Details4.25
2. 2CoinSpotSafety 4 · Regulation 4.5 · Details4.25
3. 3Crypto.comSafety 4 · Regulation 4 · Details4
4. 4CoinJarSafety 4 · Regulation 3.5 · Details3.75
5. 5Independent ReserveSafety 4 · Regulation 3.5 · Full review3.75
6. 6SwyftxSafety 4 · Regulation 3.5 · Details3.75
7. 7BTC MarketsSafety 3.5 · Regulation 3.5 · Details3.5
8. 8KrakenSafety 4 · Regulation 3 · Details3.5
9. 9OKXSafety 3.5 · Regulation 2.5 · Details3
10. 10Digital SurgeSafety 2 · Regulation 3.5 · Details2.75
11. 11BinanceSafety 3 · Regulation 2 · Details2.5
12. 12KuCoinSafety 3 · Regulation 1.5 · Details2.25
13. 13BybitSafety 1.5 · Regulation 2.5 · Details2

Common questions.

Is Independent Reserve regulated in Australia?

Independent Reserve says it is registered with AUSTRAC as a digital currency exchange. AUSTRAC registration covers anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism financing obligations; it isn't deposit insurance or a guarantee against loss.

Next steps.

Visit Independent Reserve ↗Official site