Bitget vs OKX vs Bybit (2026): Fees, Copy Trading, Safety and Availability in Australia and South Africa
Disclosure: This comparison contains my Bitget referral link. If you sign up through it and trade, I may receive a share of your trading fees from Bitget. I have no affiliate relationship with OKX or Bybit. Your fees are the same either way. This is general information, not financial advice.
Bitget, OKX and Bybit are often compared because all three are large offshore exchanges known for derivatives and copy trading. For readers in Australia and South Africa, though, the most important difference is not fees: it is whether the exchange serves your country at all, and through which entity. This guide compares the three on standard fees, safety record and local availability, using each exchange’s own pages, checked on 1 November 2026.
Quick comparison
| Bitget | OKX | Bybit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard spot fee (maker / taker) | 0.1% / 0.1% | 0.08% / 0.10% | 0.1% / 0.1% |
| Standard futures fee (maker / taker) | 0.02% / 0.06% | 0.02% / 0.05% | 0.02% / 0.055% |
| Native-token fee discount | 20% off spot with BGB | Not covered here | MNT discount on spot and USDT/USDC perpetuals (not for copy-trading followers) |
| Copy trading | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Australia | AUSTRAC registration; ASIC warning on futures | Local entities: AUSTRAC-registered exchange and an AFS licence for derivatives | Australia listed as an excluded jurisdiction |
| South Africa | FSCA CASP and ODP licences listed | Juristic representative of an authorised FSP (FSP 53709) | Juristic representative of an authorised FSP (FSP 52727) |
Rates are for regular, non-VIP users on each exchange’s standard or global schedule. All three say actual rates can depend on your region and VIP tier.
Fees compared
Spot
- Bitget: 0.1% maker / 0.1% taker. With BGB fee deduction switched on, 0.08%.
- OKX: 0.08% maker / 0.10% taker for regular users on standard pairs (OKX fee notice, September 2026). OKX uses different schedules in some regions, such as the EEA and the US.
- Bybit: 0.1% maker / 0.1% taker for non-VIP users on crypto-to-crypto pairs. Bybit’s fiat pairs and special zones use higher rates.
At the standard tier, OKX is slightly cheaper for maker (limit) orders. Bitget with BGB is cheapest of the three at the standard tier if you are willing to hold BGB.
Futures
- Bitget: 0.02% maker / 0.06% taker.
- OKX: 0.02% maker / 0.05% taker.
- Bybit: 0.02% maker / 0.055% taker on standard crypto perpetuals.
Maker fees are the same across all three. For taker (market) orders, OKX is cheapest and Bitget is the most expensive at the standard tier. All three charge funding on perpetual futures, which passes between traders.
Australian readers: this site does not recommend Bitget futures to Australians, because ASIC has warned about Bitget’s unlicensed futures products.
For the full Bitget breakdown, see Bitget fees explained.
Copy trading
All three offer copy trading, where you allocate funds to follow another trader’s positions. Bitget promotes it as a core feature. Points to know before you use it on any platform:
- Most copy trading on these platforms is on futures, so it carries leverage risk.
- Lead traders usually receive a share of followers’ profits, so check the profit-share terms.
- A trader’s past returns do not predict future returns, and followers can lose money even when the lead trader’s record looks strong.
- On Bybit, the MNT fee discount does not apply to copy-trading followers, according to its fee schedule.
Safety record
Bitget. On 24 September 2026 Bitget lost about $388 million from part of its hot and warm wallets after attackers exploited a zero-day in a third-party security product. Bitget says cold wallets and private keys were not compromised, user balances were not affected, the loss was covered by its Protection Fund, and all withdrawals resumed by 2 October 2026. Its October 2026 Proof of Reserves showed an overall ratio of 115% across 19 covered assets. More in Is Bitget safe?.
Bybit. In February 2025 Bybit lost about $1.5 billion in ether in a hack that the FBI attributed to North Korea. Bybit said client assets remained backed 1:1 and kept withdrawals open.
OKX. OKX publishes Proof of Reserves. As with any exchange, check its current reports and incident history on its own site.
All three publish Proof of Reserves. None of them can guarantee your funds are safe.
Availability in Australia
This is where the three differ most.
- Bitget. Bitget’s licence page lists a digital currency exchange provider registration with AUSTRAC (BTGT AUS PTY LTD). That is an anti-money-laundering registration, not an Australian Financial Services (AFS) licence. ASIC has issued an investor alert about Bitget’s unlicensed crypto asset futures products.
- OKX. OKX’s Australia help page (updated 15 October 2026) says Australian customers are served by local entities: OKX Australia Pty Ltd provides digital currency exchange services, and OKX Australia Financial Pty Ltd (AFSL 379035) issues derivatives and margin products. Verified wholesale clients can access higher leverage, while eligible retail clients can access selected derivatives with up to 2x leverage.
- Bybit. Bybit’s Platform Terms and Conditions (effective 2 September 2026) list Australia among its excluded jurisdictions, where it does not offer services. Australians should not open a Bybit exchange account.
If you are in Australia, OKX is the only one of the three with an Australian AFS licence for derivatives, and Bybit is not an option.
Availability in South Africa
- Bitget. Bitget’s licence page lists an FSCA Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) licence and an Over-the-Counter Derivatives Provider (ODP) licence. Bitget’s Stock+ FAQ names Parsa Financial Services (Pty) Ltd, FSP 52563, as the FSCA-licensed entity for that service.
- OKX. OKX’s South Africa Terms Addendum (September 2026) says its services are provided by Aux Cayes FinTech Co. Ltd. as a juristic representative of CurrenC Group (Pty) Ltd, an authorised FSP (licence 53709). OKX states that Aux Cayes does not itself hold an FSCA licence.
- Bybit. Bybit’s ZAR Instant EFT help article says Bybit Fintech South Africa (Pty) Ltd is a juristic representative of Altify SA Capital (Pty) Ltd, an authorised FSP (FSP 52727).
You can confirm any of these on the FSCA’s public register.
Which should you choose?
- In Australia: Bybit is excluded. OKX has the most complete local setup, including an AFS licence for derivatives. Bitget is AUSTRAC-registered for exchange services, but this site does not recommend its futures to Australians.
- In South Africa: all three serve the country. Bitget lists its own FSCA licences; OKX and Bybit operate as juristic representatives of authorised FSPs.
- Lowest standard futures taker fee: OKX.
- Copy trading: all three offer it. Compare the lead-trader terms, not just the headline returns.
If you choose Bitget and it is available where you live, you can sign up through my referral link. For the steps, see the Bitget sign-up and KYC guide, and for how referral rewards work, see the Bitget referral code guide.
Risk warning
Crypto assets are highly volatile, and you can lose all of the money you put in. Exchange hacks, outages and regulatory action can delay or prevent withdrawals. Futures, margin and copy trading carry higher risk because leverage magnifies losses. Nothing in this article is financial, tax or legal advice.
Bottom line
On standard fees the three are close, with OKX slightly cheaper for futures takers. The bigger differences are regional: Bybit excludes Australia, OKX has a licensed Australian derivatives entity, and in South Africa Bitget lists its own FSCA licences while OKX and Bybit work through authorised FSPs. If Bitget suits you, you can open a Bitget account here.
FAQ
Which has lower fees: Bitget, OKX or Bybit?
At the standard tier, OKX charges 0.08% maker and 0.10% taker on spot and 0.02% / 0.05% on futures. Bitget and Bybit charge 0.1% / 0.1% on spot; for futures takers Bitget charges 0.06% and Bybit 0.055%. Bitget’s BGB discount cuts its spot fee to 0.08%.
Can Australians use Bybit?
No. Bybit’s Platform Terms and Conditions, effective 2 September 2026, list Australia as an excluded jurisdiction.
Is OKX regulated in Australia?
OKX says Australian customers are served by OKX Australia Pty Ltd for exchange services and OKX Australia Financial Pty Ltd, which holds AFSL 379035, for derivatives and margin products.
Which of the three are available in South Africa?
All three. Bitget lists FSCA CASP and ODP licences; OKX and Bybit operate as juristic representatives of authorised financial services providers.
Do Bitget, OKX and Bybit all have copy trading?
Yes. All three offer copy trading. It is usually based on futures and carries leverage risk, and past performance does not guarantee future results.
Sources (checked 2026-11-01): Bitget fee page (bitget.com/fee); Bitget Trading Fees FAQ (bitget.com/support/articles/12560603892734); Bitget security incident explainer (bitget.com/academy/bitget-security-incident-what-happened-timeline-impact-response); Bitget October 2026 PoR report (bitget.com/blog/articles/bitget-october-2026-proof-of-reserves); Bitget regulatory licences (bitget.com/promotion/regulatory-license); OKX spot and futures fee notice, Sept 2026 (okx.com/en-us/help/advance-notice-spot-and-futures-trading-fee-adjustment); OKX Australia help page (okx.com/en-au/help/okx-australia-launch-what-can-i-use-in-australia); OKX South Africa Terms Addendum (okx.com/en-us/help/sa-tos-addendum); Bybit Trading Fee Structure (bybit.com/en/help-center/article/Trading-Fee-Structure); Bybit futures fee schedule (bybit.com/en/announcement-info/fee-rate); Bybit Platform Terms and Conditions, effective 2 Sep 2026 (bybit.com legal); Bybit ZAR Instant EFT help article (bybit.com/en/help-center/article/How-to-Buy-Crypto-with-ZAR-via-Instant-EFT); ASIC investor alert on Bitget futures (asic.gov.au).