Backpack vs Bitpanda Fusion Comparison
| 0.08/0.10% spot, 0.02/0.05% futures; 0.85% swap | Fees | 0.25 % |
| ~€5.75 | Cost for €1,000 | € 3.00 |
| ~50+ | Cryptos | 100+ |
| Card, bank via Banxa; SEPA limited | Payment Methods | SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, Credit Card, PayPal |
| VARA (Dubai); EU rollout via FTX EU only now | Regulation | MiCA license via BaFin |
Cost comparison
The basis is a Bitcoin purchase worth €1,000, including all fees and spreads.
| ~€5.75 | Cost for €1,000 | € 3.00 |
| 0.08/0.10% spot, 0.02/0.05% futures; 0.85% swap | Fees | 0.25 % |
| Not disclosed | Wallet transfer | € 2.91 |
| No; tiers + hidden swap costs | Cost transparency | Yes |
| Unclear | Minimum Amount | € 1 |
| Card, bank via Banxa; SEPA limited | Payment Methods | SEPA Instant Transfer, SEPA Transfer, Credit Card, PayPal |
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 fees from 0.25% down to 0.02%
- Pro order types: limit, stop-limit, stop-market, take-profit, OCO
- Native TradingView charts with advanced indicators
- Public REST and WebSocket API for algorithmic trading
- Shared account with standard Bitpanda -- no extra onboarding
- Liquidity from 12+ aggregated order books
- Learning curve compared to the standard Bitpanda app has room for improvement
- Savings plan feature not available on Fusion
- Lowest fee tiers only reachable from high 30-day volume onward
- Asset selection limited to spot pairs -- no precious metals or stocks like on standard Bitpanda
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 | ✓ |
| ✓ | Order Types | ✓ |
| ✓ | API | ✓ |
| ✓ | Charts | ✓ |
| ✓ | Aggregated Order Books | ✓ |
| ✓ | Savings Plan | ✓ |
| ✓ | Wallet Transfer | ✓ |
| ✓ | 2FA Security | ✓ |
| ✓ | BaFin License | ✓ |
| ✓ | Mobile App | ✓ |
- Maker fees starting at 0.08% are considered low
- VARA license in Dubai
- Wallet and exchange on one platform
- 7-tier maker/taker model from 0.25% down to 0.02%
- Native TradingView charts and pro order types
- Public REST and WebSocket API
- BaFin licensing via the Bitpanda ecosystem
Details
| Trek Labs (FTX ties) | Company | Bitpanda GmbH |
| Dubai (VARA) | Headquarters | — |
| 2023 | Founded | 2014 |
| VARA (Dubai); EU rollout via FTX EU only now | Regulation | MiCA license via BaFin |
| Unclear | Minimum Amount | € 1 |
| Yes | KYC | eID, Photo ID |
Verdict
In our overall rating Bitpanda Fusion leads with 4.6 against 2.1 for Backpack.
For most investors Bitpanda Fusion 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.
Bitpanda Fusion is the pro trading platform within the Bitpanda ecosystem and is aimed at active traders with higher volume. Instead of the flat 0.99% fee on the standard app, a 7-tier volume-based maker/taker model applies here, ranging from 0.25% down to 0.02%. Account, verification, and custody are shared with the regular Bitpanda platform -- no separate onboarding is required.
The trading interface is based on a classic limit order book with native TradingView integration and supports limit, stop-limit, stop-market, take-profit, and OCO orders. According to the provider, liquidity is sourced from more than twelve aggregated order books. A public REST and WebSocket API rounds out the offering for algorithmic trading. The learning curve compared to the standard Bitpanda app is occasionally criticized in user comments, as is the absence of the savings plan feature.
Bitpanda Fusion is considered particularly suitable for traders who value maker/taker conditions, pro order types, and API access. Those who mainly use savings plans, precious metals, or simple direct purchase are better served on the standard platform. This comparison does not constitute investment advice.