Backpack vs Binance Pro Comparison
| 0.08/0.10% spot, 0.02/0.05% futures; 0.85% swap | Fees | 0.1 % |
| ~€5.75 | Cost for €1,000 | € 1.10 |
| ~50+ | Cryptos | 370+ |
| Card, bank via Banxa; SEPA limited | Payment Methods | SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, Credit Card |
| VARA (Dubai); EU rollout via FTX EU only now | Regulation | License in Germany refused by BaFin |
Cost comparison
The basis is a Bitcoin purchase worth €1,000, including all fees and spreads.
| ~€5.75 | Cost for €1,000 | € 1.10 |
| 0.08/0.10% spot, 0.02/0.05% futures; 0.85% swap | Fees | 0.1 % |
| Not disclosed | Wallet transfer | € 7.47 |
| No; tiers + hidden swap costs | Cost transparency | Limited |
| Unclear | Minimum Amount | € 1 |
| Card, bank via Banxa; SEPA limited | Payment Methods | SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, Credit Card |
Pros & Cons
- Low maker fees starting at 0.08% and taker fees starting at 0.10%
- Staking is available
- Wallet and exchange in one ecosystem
- VARA license in Dubai
- Cost transparency is seen as room for improvement – hidden costs occasionally criticized
- Wallet transfer fees are not disclosed
- No savings plan available
- Swap fees of 0.85% occasionally criticized
- Volume-based maker/taker model from 0.10%/0.10%
- BNB discount: 25% additional fee reduction when paying in BNB
- Pro order types: limit, market, stop-limit, OCO, trailing stop, limit-maker, iceberg
- API access: REST, WebSocket, and FIX (institutional)
- Very broad pair universe from the Binance spot market
- Shared account with standard Binance -- seamless switch between Convert and Pro
- BaFin license application in Germany withdrawn
- MiCA license via Binance France not yet finally granted as of April 2026
- Margin and futures trading for EU retail investors restricted by MiCA
- Learning curve compared to standard direct-purchase interface has room for improvement
- Lowest VIP tiers only reachable from high 30-day volume onward
Features
| ✓ | Savings plan | ✓ |
| ✓ | Staking | ✓ |
| ✓ | Wallet transfer | ✓ |
| ✓ | Cost transparency | ✓ |
| ✓ | 2FA security | ✓ |
| ✓ | SEPA transfer | ✓ |
| ✓ | Credit card | ✓ |
| ✓ | Minimum amount | ✓ |
| ✓ | Mobile app (iOS/Android) | ✓ |
| ✓ | Web platform | ✓ |
| ✓ | Maker/Taker Model | ✓ |
| ✓ | BNB Discount | ✓ |
| ✓ | Order Types | ✓ |
| ✓ | API | ✓ |
| ✓ | Charts | ✓ |
| ✓ | Margin Trading | ✓ |
| ✓ | Futures | ✓ |
| ✓ | BaFin License | ✓ |
| ✓ | MiCA License | ✓ |
| ✓ | Mobile App | ✓ |
- Maker fees starting at 0.08% are considered low
- VARA license in Dubai
- Wallet and exchange on one platform
- Maker/taker model from 0.10% with 25% BNB discount
- Pro order types incl. OCO, trailing stop, and iceberg
- API access via REST, WebSocket, and FIX
- Very broad pair universe from the Binance spot market
Details
| Trek Labs (FTX ties) | Company | Binance Holdings Ltd. |
| Dubai (VARA) | Headquarters | — |
| 2023 | Founded | 2017 |
| VARA (Dubai); EU rollout via FTX EU only now | Regulation | License in Germany refused by BaFin |
| Unclear | Minimum Amount | € 1 |
| Yes | KYC | Photo ID |
Verdict
In our overall rating Binance Pro leads with 4.1 against 2.1 for Backpack.
For most investors Binance Pro is therefore the better choice.
Backpack is operated by Trek Labs, a team that also includes former FTX employees. The exchange holds a VARA license in Dubai, but does not have EU regulation – according to comparison data, EU access is provided via FTX EU. The low maker fees starting at 0.08% and the integration of wallet and exchange in one ecosystem are appreciated by users.
Cost transparency is seen as room for improvement – in particular, the undisclosed wallet transfer fees and swap fees of 0.85% are occasionally criticized. The selection of around 50 cryptocurrencies is limited compared with larger exchanges, and the lack of a savings plan limits the options for long-term investors.
The connection to former FTX employees is viewed differently in the market. Backpack is aimed primarily at technically savvy users who are looking for low trading fees and integrated wallet features and are willing to make compromises on cost transparency, coin selection, and regulatory coverage in the EU.
Binance Pro is the professional trading environment within the Binance ecosystem and is aimed at experienced traders. Instead of the flat direct-purchase fee on the standard interface, a volume-based maker/taker model applies here, with entry rates of 0.10% maker and 0.10% taker, decreasing as 30-day volume and BNB holdings rise to levels below 0.02%. Those who pay fees in BNB receive an additional 25% discount, bringing the entry rate effectively to around 0.075%.
The order set covers limit, market, stop-limit, OCO, trailing stop, limit-maker, and iceberg orders. Margin trading and futures are mapped through separate interfaces within the Binance account, but are restricted in the EU by MiCA rules for crypto derivatives for retail investors. API access is provided via REST, WebSocket, and FIX for institutional users. The regulatory situation is central here: the BaFin license application in Germany has been withdrawn; a MiCA license is being pursued via Binance France and as of April 2026 has not yet been finally granted.
Binance Pro is considered particularly suitable for traders who value low maker/taker conditions, a broad pair selection, and pro order types. Those who place importance on a BaFin license or a fully MiCA-compliant setup should keep an eye on the regulatory development. This comparison does not constitute investment advice.