Every product review on CryptoAlgo runs through the same scoring framework. The framework is published, weighted, and applied consistently — so a review is reproducible, not vibe-based.
Scope
This methodology covers two product types: (1) crypto exchanges available to Australian residents, and (2) crypto trading bots / algorithmic-trading platforms. The two have separate rubrics because what matters is different.
Exchange review rubric
Each exchange is scored out of 100 across these weighted dimensions:
| Dimension | Weight | What we look for |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory standing & security | 25 | AUSTRAC registration, security history, cold-storage policy, insurance, two-factor authentication, withdrawal-address allowlists. |
| Fees | 20 | Maker / taker fees, deposit and withdrawal fees, the spread, hidden fees on AUD transfers (PayID, OSKO, BPAY). |
| Supported assets & pairs | 15 | Number of listed assets relevant to Australian retail traders, AUD pairs, on-chain support. |
| Liquidity & execution | 10 | Order-book depth on top 5 AUD pairs, average slippage on a $10k market order, partial-fill behaviour. |
| Australian fiat rails | 10 | PayID/OSKO support, BPAY, NPP timing, transfer caps, weekend/holiday delays. |
| Tax reporting | 10 | Native CGT report, raw transaction CSV exports, integration with Australian crypto-tax software (Koinly, CryptoTaxCalculator, Crypto Tax Calculator AU). |
| User experience | 5 | Onboarding flow, mobile app, web UI, charting, order types. |
| Customer support | 5 | Live-chat availability, response time on a real test ticket, quality of response. |
Bot & algo platform rubric
| Dimension | Weight | What we look for |
|---|---|---|
| Strategy library & flexibility | 25 | Pre-built strategies (DCA, grid, rebalancing, signal-following), custom strategy support, no-code vs. code-required. |
| Backtesting & paper trading | 15 | Historical-data depth, walk-forward / out-of-sample testing, paper-trading mode, realistic slippage and fee modelling. |
| Exchange compatibility | 15 | Australian-relevant exchange coverage (Coinbase, Binance, Kraken, OKX, Bybit), API stability, latency. |
| Cost & pricing model | 15 | Subscription tiers, per-bot costs, profit share vs. flat fee, hidden costs. |
| Security model | 15 | API key handling, IP allowlists, withdrawal restrictions, 2FA, audit history, on-disk vs. cloud key storage. |
| Reporting & tax export | 5 | Australian-friendly P&L reports, raw trade-export CSVs, integration with crypto-tax software. |
| Documentation & community | 5 | Quality of docs, presence of community Discord/forum, official support responsiveness. |
| Real-world testing | 5 | Our own results running a small live account on the platform for at least 30 days where possible. |
How we collect data
- First-hand testing. We open accounts, complete KYC, fund the account where possible, and place real test trades. For bots, we run a small live capital allocation for at least 30 days.
- Primary documents. We read the full PDS / TOS / fee schedule rather than relying on summary marketing pages.
- Public registers. AUSTRAC’s DCE register, ASIC searches, court records, regulator media releases.
- Live querying. Order-book snapshots, latency probes, support-ticket round-trips.
- Community signal. Reddit r/AusFinance, Whirlpool, Twitter/X — used as leads, not as facts.
How we score
Each dimension is scored 0-10 against published thresholds. The weights above produce a final score out of 100. Reviews show the dimension-by-dimension breakdown so readers can see where the score came from.
We don’t round up. A 71/100 stays 71/100.
How often we update
- Money pages and “best of” lists: reviewed every 90 days minimum, plus on any material event (regulator action, fee change, hack).
- Individual product reviews: reviewed every 180 days minimum, plus on material events.
- Guides and explainers: reviewed at least once a year and on regulatory change.
Last review date is shown at the top of every article.
What this isn’t
This methodology produces an opinionated score. It’s not a personal recommendation. The right exchange or bot for you depends on factors we can’t see — your trade size, frequency, asset preferences, tax position, and risk tolerance. Use the score to shortlist, then make your own call. See our disclaimer.