Bitaroo Review

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What is Bitaroo?

When crypto trading got the green light in Australia back in 2017, I was like most people — sticking with international exchanges because that’s what I was used to. I knew there were a few local options out there, but I didn’t give them much thought at the time.

That changed when I hit a snag trying to deposit AUD into one of those big offshore platforms. The whole process was clunky, slow, and a bit of a headache. 

That’s when I came across Bitaroo — a Brisbane-based exchange that launched in 2018. It’s built for Aussies, and it shows. Deposits and withdrawals are dead easy, and it focuses solely on Bitcoin, which I’ll be honest, is exactly what I was looking for.

My Overall Thoughts on Bitaroo

If you’re in Australia and your main game is Bitcoin, Bitaroo is actually a pretty decent exchange to work with. It’s local, straightforward (once you get used to it), and has a couple of standout features that made life easier for me.

What I liked most:

  • Express BTC buying: Nice and quick — no charts, no fluff, just punch in the amount and hit buy.
  • Low Bitcoin withdrawal fees: Some of the cheapest I’ve seen, not just in Australia, but globally.

That said, if you’re interested in buying or trading crypto other than Bitcoin, you won’t be able to do that on Bitaroo. If that’s you, take a look at the top crypto exchanges in Australia here.

Key Features and Advantages of Bitaroo

Here’s a breakdown of what Bitaroo brings to the table — the good stuff that stood out for me as a regular user:

Negatives and Disadvantages of Bitaroo

Of course, no exchange is perfect. Here are a couple of things I reckon Bitaroo could improve on:

What Services Does Bitaroo Offer?

Bitcoin-only Community

Some folks might see the lack of altcoins as a downside, but I actually liked the simplicity. If you’re just here for Bitcoin, Bitaroo doesn’t waste your time with dozens of coins you’re never going to touch.

Trades feel faster, more direct, and better optimised because the whole platform is built around BTC. It really leans into being Australia’s biggest Bitcoin-only exchange — and that focus shows in the performance.

Low Withdrawal fees for BTC

I’ll say it straight — Bitaroo has some of the lowest BTC withdrawal fees I’ve seen anywhere. While other platforms were hitting me with 0.0005 BTC or higher, Bitaroo came in at 0.0001 BTC for economy withdrawals.

Even the “priority” withdrawals only cost 0.0003 BTC, which is still cheaper than most. If you move Bitcoin regularly, this makes a huge difference over time.

Auto Buy and Auto Withdrawal

This feature is a lifesaver if you’re into dollar-cost averaging or just want to keep your crypto setup on autopilot. You can set up recurring AUD deposits and automatically convert them into BTC using Bitaroo’s express buy feature.

There’s also an auto-withdraw option, so you can have BTC sent back to your bank on a schedule — daily, weekly, fortnightly, whatever works. I didn’t use it much at first, but once I did, I saw the benefit — especially for passive investing.

Integrated with the Lightning Network

This one’s a bit of a hidden gem. As far as I know, Bitaroo is the only Aussie exchange that supports the Lightning Network — and that’s a big deal if you value instant transactions.

The catch? Lightning withdrawals do cost a bit more. But if you need speed, it’s absolutely worth it. Nice to see a local platform staying ahead of the curve tech-wise.

Easy Deposits

Depositing AUD was super straightforward. I used both a regular bank transfer and PayID. The bank transfer took around 1–3 business days, but the PayID funds landed in my account almost instantly.

A lot of exchanges claim to make fiat deposits easy — Bitaroo actually delivers. No clunky forms or weird third-party services, just your bank to the exchange, nice and smooth.

Features for Advanced Traders

If you’re a bit more experienced, there’s a lot under the hood here. Bitaroo runs on a maker-taker fee model, so if you’re placing limit orders and adding liquidity, you can actually get paid via negative trading fees once your volume gets high enough.

There’s also solid charting tools, order books, and detailed market data to help you plan entries and exits. It’s not the prettiest layout, but it’s functional, and for me, it did the job just fine.

Thorough ID Verification

To trade on Bitaroo, you’ll need to complete ID verification — pretty standard stuff under AUSTRAC laws. The process was smooth and only cost me $4.95, which is a one-off fee.

Honestly, I didn’t mind paying it. It adds a layer of trust and lets you access all features without limits.

Express Purchase of Bitcoin

Perfect for when BTC dips and you want to scoop some up quick. You just punch in how much AUD you want to spend, hit the button, and you’re done.

The catch? The fees on express buys are a bit higher than the standard trading fees — but that’s the price you pay for speed and convenience. Handy in a pinch, but probably not something I’d use every time.

Good Customer Support

Customer support was actually way better than I expected. I fired off a couple of questions before diving in properly and got helpful replies back within about 15 minutes.

If you run into any real issues, you can lodge a support ticket — but so far, I haven’t had to.

Strict KYC Protocols

These are part of Australia’s legal requirements, and Bitaroo takes them seriously. That $4.95 ID verification fee might seem annoying, but it’s a small trade-off for a more secure and compliant platform.

What I Don’t Like About Bitaroo

No Security Information is Available

I had a good look through their site and couldn’t find much about how they store funds or protect user data. No mention of cold storage, insurance, or any of that stuff.

To be fair, they’ve never had a breach or hack in the years they’ve been operating — which says something — but still, I’d like to see more transparency.

The User Interface Appears Complicated

This is probably my biggest gripe. The layout feels a bit 2015, and if you’re brand new to crypto, it might be a bit overwhelming at first.

Once you’ve got the hang of it, it works fine — but a bit of a design refresh wouldn’t hurt.

Bitaroo Fees

Bitaroo Deposit Fees

Bitaroo Trading Fees

Bitaroo uses a tiered structure based on monthly trade volume:

Tier

Monthly Volume

Maker/Taker Fee

Investor

Up to $10,000

0.15% / 0.19%

Trader

$10K – $10M

0.10% / 0.15%

Market Maker

$1M – $5M

0.05% / 0.09%

Market Shaker

$5M – $10M

-0.01% / 0.07%

Whale

Over $10M

-0.03% / -0.05%

Bitaroo Withdrawal Fee

Pros & Cons of Bitaroo

Pros

  • Bitcoin-only exchange — focused on BTC transactions
  • Supports several payment and transaction options
  • Withdrawal and trading fees are highly reasonable
  • Advanced trading options and automatic deposits/withdrawals
  • Lightning Network for instant transactions
  • Dedicated customer support

Cons

  • User experience is complex
  • No information published on security measures

The Verdict

All up, I reckon Bitaroo is a top choice if you’re an Aussie who mainly trades or invests in Bitcoin. It’s efficient, cost-effective, and does the basics really well — without getting bogged down in altcoin hype.

The fees are low, the deposit options are local, and the auto-invest tools are genuinely handy. It’s not the flashiest platform out there, and the UI could use a polish — but once you’re past that, it’s a very solid exchange.

If you’re looking for something that supports a wide range of coins, this probably isn’t for you (see the top Australian crypto exchanges instead). But if you’re Bitcoin-only and want a reliable Aussie platform, Bitaroo is absolutely worth checking out.

Comparison Table of the Best Crypto Exchanges in Australia

Bybit CoinSpot Swyftx Digital Surge Coinstash
Fiat Currencies AUD, USD, GBP, EUR, NZD & more AUD AUD, NZD AUD AUD
Cryptocurrencies BTC, ETH, LTC, XRP, EOS & 280+ more BTC, ETH, LTC, XRP, BCH, ADA & 530+ more BTC, BTG, BCH, ADA, ETH, ETC & 440+ more BTC, ETH, XRP, BCH, LTC & 400+ more BTC, ETH, DOGE, DOT, XRP, LINK & 1,000+ more
Deposit Methods Visa/Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayID, Cryptocurrency PayID, Direct Deposit, Cash, Card, Cryptocurrency PayID, OSKO, Bank transfer, Credit card, Cryptocurrency PayID, Bank Transfer, Cryptocurrency Bank Transfer, PayID, Cryptocurrency
Trading Fees 0.1% for spot, 0.02/0.055% for derivatives Market order: 0.1%, Instant buy: 1% 0.6% 0.1%–0.5% 0.85%
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bitaroo safe and regulated in Australia?

Bitaroo is an Australian-based exchange (founded 2018, Brisbane) and complies with AUSTRAC’s KYC/AML requirements via thorough ID verification. They have not had any reported breaches, though they don’t publicly document specific security measures (cold storage, insurance, etc.) — something to keep in mind.

What are Bitaroo’s fees?

Trading fees use a maker/taker tiered model from 0.15%/0.19% (Investor tier) down to negative fees (-0.03%/-0.05% Whale tier) for high-volume traders. AUD bank deposits incur $1.95 if under $1,000 (free above); BTC deposits are free. AUD withdrawals cost $1; BTC withdrawals are 0.0001 BTC (Economy) — among the lowest globally. ID verification is a one-off $4.95 fee.

Why is Bitaroo Bitcoin-only?

Bitaroo focuses solely on Bitcoin to keep the platform fast, optimised and simple. There’s no altcoin distraction, and the entire infrastructure is tuned for BTC trading and withdrawal — including Lightning Network support. If you want altcoins, you’ll need a different exchange.

Does Bitaroo support the Lightning Network?

Yes. Bitaroo is one of the only Australian exchanges that supports Lightning Network withdrawals, enabling near-instant Bitcoin transactions. Lightning withdrawals cost slightly more than on-chain economy withdrawals but are dramatically faster.

Does Bitaroo have a mobile app?

No. Bitaroo is web-only — there is no native iOS or Android app. The website works on mobile but a dedicated app isn’t available.

Robert McDougall
Written by
Robert McDougall
Lead Crypto Reviewer at Marketplace Fairness
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Robert reviews cryptocurrency exchanges for Marketplace Fairness, and he tests them the hard way: opening accounts, funding them, placing live trades and messaging customer support to see how long a reply actually takes. His side-by-side spread and fee comparisons cover the platforms readers use most, and he writes the free crypto trading courses published on this site.