Backpack vs Bitcoin.de Comparison
| 0.08 % Maker / 0.10 % Taker, Swap: 0.85 % | Fees | 0.5 % |
| not comparable | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 5.00 |
| ~50+ | Cryptos | 10 |
| Card, bank via Banxa; SEPA limited | Payment Methods | SEPA Transfer |
| VARA (Dubai); EU rollout via FTX EU only now | Regulation | Regulated in Germany as a marketplace of futurum bank AG |
Cost comparison
The basis is a Bitcoin purchase worth €1,000, calculated from the disclosed trading fee. A price markup in the spread is not included, because most providers do not publish it.
| not comparable | Minimum cost per €1,000 | € 5.00 |
| 0.08 % Maker / 0.10 % Taker, Swap: 0.85 % | Fees | 0.5 % |
| Not disclosed | Wallet transfer | € 3.73 |
| No; tiers + hidden swap costs | Cost transparency | Limited |
| Unclear | Minimum Amount | € 60 |
| Card, bank via Banxa; SEPA limited | Payment Methods | SEPA Transfer |
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
- Regulated in Germany as a marketplace of futurum bank AG
- Pioneer among German cryptocurrency platforms – active since 2011
- Trading fees of 0.5 %
- Wallet transfer possible
- Funds remain in the user’s own bank account
- Trading and deposits are paused until further notice. bitcoin.de suspended both because of its pending MiCAR authorisation, according to its own notice dated 21 August 2026. Withdrawals continue. Nothing can currently be bought.
- No granted MiCA authorisation in the ESMA register
- Selection of only 10 cryptocurrencies could be expanded
- Only SEPA bank transfer as a payment method
- Interface occasionally criticised as in need of modernisation
Features
| ✓ | Savings plan | ✓ |
| ✓ | Staking | ✓ |
| ✓ | Wallet transfer | ✓ |
| ✓ | Cost transparency | ✓ |
| ✓ | 2FA security | ✓ |
| ✓ | SEPA transfer | ✓ |
| ✓ | Credit card | ✓ |
| ✓ | Minimum amount | ✓ |
| ✓ | Mobile app (iOS/Android) | ✓ |
| ✓ | Web platform | ✓ |
| ✓ | Mobile app | ✓ |
- Maker fees starting at 0.08% are considered low
- VARA license in Dubai
- Wallet and exchange on one platform
- Pioneer among German crypto marketplaces – since 2011
- Regulated through futurum bank AG in Germany
- Euro balances remain in the user’s own bank account
- KYC via bank verification, VideoIdent or PostIdent
Details
| Trek Labs (FTX ties) | Company | futurum bank AG |
| Dubai (VARA) | Headquarters | — |
| 2023 | Founded | 2011 |
| VARA (Dubai); EU rollout via FTX EU only now | Regulation | Regulated in Germany as a marketplace of futurum bank AG |
| Unclear | Minimum Amount | € 60 |
| Yes | KYC | Bank verification, VideoIdent, PostIdent |
Verdict
In our overall rating Bitcoin.de leads with 3.2 against 2.1 for Backpack.
Neither provider reaches 4.0 out of 5 in our rating, so we do not give an unreserved recommendation here.
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.
Bitcoin.de is regarded as a pioneer among German crypto marketplaces and has been active since 2011 – making the platform one of the oldest providers in the German-speaking market. Regulation through futurum bank AG in Germany and the principle that euro balances remain in the user’s own bank account are viewed positively by security-conscious users.
The selection of just 10 cryptocurrencies is clearly room for improvement compared with modern exchanges. The limitation to SEPA as the only payment method, the lack of a mobile app, and 2FA protection only via SMS are also occasionally criticized. Some users consider the interface in need of modernization.
Bitcoin.de is seen as particularly suitable for investors who want to rely on a long-established, Germany-regulated platform and focus primarily on trading Bitcoin and a few other cryptocurrencies.