This comparison is really about choosing between two very different ways to access crypto. 1inch is built around self custodial, wallet based trading and DEX aggregation. It suits people who want to swap assets directly from their own wallet, use liquidity from multiple decentralized sources, and trade across supported chains such as Ethereum, Arbitrum, Polygon, Base and BNB Chain. There is no standard identity check for normal protocol use, although frontend restrictions and third party services can have separate requirements.
Independent Reserve is a conventional exchange with mandatory account verification, AUD and SGD fiat support, and features aimed at users who want an established platform for buying, selling and managing crypto.
| Feature | 1inch | Independent Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Fees & Rates | 8.1/10 | 7.2/10 |
| Transaction Speed | 8.2/10 | 8.0/10 |
| Security & KYC Policy | 8.4/10 | 8.8/10 |
| Reputation & Track Record | 8.8/10 | 8.7/10 |
| Customer Support | 6.3/10 | 7.3/10 |
| KYC Policy | none | mandatory |
| Supported Coins | Ethereum, Wrapped Bitcoin, USDC, USDT, DAI, 1INCH | Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, Cardano, Polkadot, Chainlink, USD Coin |
| Mobile App | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Founded | 2019 | 2013 |
| Service type | Decentralized exchange aggregator | - |
| Standard swap fee | No standard 1inch platform fee | - |
| Custody model | Self custodial wallet connection | - |
| Native token | 1INCH | - |
| Fusion disclosure | 2023 | - |
| Starting trading fee | - | 0.5% |
| Lowest maker fee | - | 0.02% |
| Lowest taker fee | - | 0.05% |
| Singapore licence | - | Major Payment Institution, 2021 |
| Main fiat currencies | - | AUD and SGD |
Key Takeaways
- 1inch is a self custodial DEX aggregator, while Independent Reserve is a verified centralized exchange.
- Independent Reserve supports AUD and SGD fiat rails, a feature not listed for 1inch.
- 1inch does not normally require KYC for standard protocol use, while Independent Reserve requires identity verification.
- 1inch can face gas and price impact costs, while Independent Reserve starts trading fees at 0.5%.
Fees & Rates
1inch and Independent Reserve present different cost considerations rather than a clean low fee versus high fee result. Independent Reserve lists a 0.5% starting trading fee, which is clearly not positioned as cheap in the review data. With 1inch, the stated concern is gas and price impact, both of which can make swaps expensive.
Transaction Speed
The public record does not provide a transaction speed figure, settlement estimate, or execution comparison for either provider. 1inch supports DEX aggregation, Fusion orders and multi chain swaps, while Independent Reserve offers an exchange service with API trading, but those features alone do not establish that one is faster.
Security & KYC Policy
Their security models are fundamentally different. 1inch is based on self custodial wallet trading, so the user trades through their own wallet rather than using a standard verified exchange account. Independent Reserve lists proof of reserves as a feature and requires identity verification for accounts. Neither approach removes the need for care, but they place the user in different setups.
Reputation & Track Record
Independent Reserve has a defined track record in the public record as an Australian exchange founded in 2013. That is its strongest reputation point in this comparison. 1inch receives a slightly higher review score, 8.2 out of 10 versus 8.1 out of 10 for Independent Reserve, but the public record does not state a founding year or comparable operating history for 1inch.
Customer Support
Customer support cannot be fairly compared from the available data. Neither provider's supplied review details include support channels, response times, hours of availability, or a stated service standard. Independent Reserve's mandatory verification and potential enhanced due diligence may mean account users need to provide information in some cases, but the data does not explain how support
KYC Policy
The KYC difference is direct. Standard 1inch protocol use does not normally require identity verification, which suits users who want wallet based trading without opening a conventional exchange account. Its frontend restrictions and third party services may still apply separate requirements, so no KYC should not be read as unrestricted access in every situation.
Supported Coins
1inch lists Ethereum, Wrapped Bitcoin, USDC, USDT, DAI and 1INCH among its supported assets, and it supports Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, Base, BNB Chain and Avalanche networks. Independent Reserve lists Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, Cardano, Polkadot, Chainlink and USD Coin, with Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and Cardano networks.
Mobile App
Both 1inch and Independent Reserve offer mobile apps for iOS and Android, so there is no stated platform availability advantage between them. The public record does not compare app design, wallet connection flow, trading tools, reliability, security controls, or feature parity with their web services. What can be said is that their apps support two different service models.
| Capability | 1inch | Independent Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| No-KYC | ✓ | ✗ |
| iOS App | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android App | ✓ | ✓ |
1inch: Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Self custodial wallet based trading | Gas and price impact can make swaps expensive |
| Aggregates liquidity across DEX sources | No reversal for incorrect on chain transactions |
| No standard platform fee on regular swaps | Token approvals create phishing risk |
| Fusion can avoid direct gas payment | Less beginner friendly than a centralized exchange |
| Broad EVM network support | - |
Independent Reserve: Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Established Australian exchange founded in 2013 | 0.5% starting trading fee is not cheap |
| AUD and SGD fiat support | Smaller asset selection than major global exchanges |
| Proof-of-reserves verification program | Mandatory KYC and possible compliance reviews |
| Strong fit for SMSFs and serious investors | Limited appeal for derivatives traders |
| AUSTRAC registration and Singapore MPI licence | - |
Who Should Use Each
Choose 1inch if you already use a self custodial wallet and want access to decentralized liquidity across several supported networks. It is the more suitable option for someone who values wallet based trading, multi chain swaps, Fusion orders and standard protocol access without normal identity verification. It also makes more sense for users whose preferred assets include DAI, USDT, Wrapped Bitcoin or 1INCH.
See our full scoring methodology for how these numbers are calculated.
Does 1inch require KYC like Independent Reserve?
No. Standard 1inch protocol use does not normally require identity verification. Independent Reserve requires identity verification for accounts and may request further due diligence or source of funds information.
Which supports AUD and SGD deposits or fiat rails?
Independent Reserve lists AUD and SGD fiat rails. No fiat rail support is listed for 1inch in the public record.
Which has lower trading costs, 1inch or Independent Reserve?
The data does not support a universal winner. Independent Reserve starts at a 0.5% trading fee, while 1inch swaps can become expensive because of gas and price impact.
Are both available as mobile apps?
Yes. Both 1inch and Independent Reserve offer iOS and Android apps.