Bitstamp vs Bitvavo: a near tie on open data
Bitstamp scores 9.18/10 and Bitvavo 9.16/10 on CoinPulse's crypto exchange ranking (#3 and #4 of 19), on data collected October 19, 2026. Both have 100% of the score measured. The 0.02-point gap is the net of two opposite strengths: Bitstamp holds far more on-chain reserves tracked by DefiLlama, while Bitvavo has no hack on record and Bitstamp has one from 2015. Before the scores matter, check availability: Bitvavo is a Europe-focused exchange and third-party trackers list the US as restricted.
Data collected October 19, 2026 · No affiliate links
Bitstamp scores higher: 9.18/10 against 9.16/10. It leads on 1 of 5 criteria, Bitvavo on 1.
Criterion by criterion
Same category, same weights, heaviest criterion first. Open a row for each side’s reasoning and evidence.
Scale of value trusted28% of the scoreBitstamp leadsBitstamp9Bitvavo7Why these marks ↓Hide ↑
Track record20% of the scoreLevelBitstamp10Bitvavo10Why these marks ↓Hide ↑
Status transparency18% of the scoreLevelBitstamp10Bitvavo10Why these marks ↓Hide ↑
Security record18% of the scoreBitvavo leadsBitstamp7Bitvavo10Why these marks ↓Hide ↑
Latency16% of the scoreLevelBitstamp10Bitvavo10Why these marks ↓Hide ↑
Why it is a near tie
- Reserves (+0.56 to Bitstamp). On the log scale, $4.67B earns 9 and $296.6M earns 7. Bitstamp's tracked reserves are roughly 16 times larger. Two marks at 28% weight is 0.56 points.
- Security record (+0.54 to Bitvavo). Bitstamp's January 2015 phishing loss of $5.2M scores 5, plus two points for being more than three years old: 7. Bitvavo has nothing in DefiLlama's database of 1,307 incidents: 10.
- Net: 0.56 − 0.54 = 0.02.
A gap this small is within what one changed mark at the next collection would undo. Treat the two as level overall and decide on the criterion you care about.
Where the numbers need care
- Latency surfaces differ. Bitstamp was timed at a public API endpoint, Bitvavo at its live interface, each scored on its own bands. Both reach 10, but 60 ms vs 33 ms is not a like-for-like speed comparison.
- Outage history, shown but not scored. Over the 90-day window Bitvavo's status feed logged 8.33 incidents per 30 days with a median of 2,553 minutes from report to resolution; Bitstamp's logged 2 per 30 days with a median of 312 minutes. Companies log differently, so this is context, but readers who depend on uptime may want to open both status archives and read the entries.
- Track record is a floor. Both clear the full-mark band. Bitstamp has run seven more years.
What is not measured
Fees, spreads, supported coins, deposit methods (for example SEPA or iDEAL), products, app experience, support, licensing and country availability are not scored. Bitvavo is described by a third-party availability tracker as serving European countries and restricting US residents (CryptoWinRate, updated September 30, 2026); confirm on Bitvavo's own terms. Bitstamp has been owned by Robinhood since June 2025 (The Block); the method rates it on its own record. Background: Bitstamp profile · Bitvavo profile.
Which fits which reader
- You want the larger verifiable reserves and the longer history: Bitstamp ($4.67B; 15.3 years).
- You want no hack on record: Bitvavo.
- You are in the US: check eligibility first; Bitvavo is not listed as available to US residents by third-party trackers.
- Uptime matters to you: read both status archives; Bitvavo's logged more incidents and longer median repair times in this window (not scored).
The numbers side by side
| Measured | Bitstamp | Bitvavo |
|---|---|---|
| Value locked | $4.67B | $296.6M |
| Track record | 15.3 yr | 8.3 yr |
| Latency (our probe) | 60 ms | 33 ms |
| Hacks on record | 1 | 0 |
| Status feed | statuspage | statuspage |
Where each one falls short
Bitstamp
Security record: 1 hack on record in DefiLlama’s database: 2015-01 phishing ($5.2M). Scored on what users lost after any funds were returned, with older incidents weighing less.
Bitvavo
Scale of value trusted: $296.6M in value locked (DefiLlama). Capital is the market voting with its money — scored on a log scale, so the jump from $10M to $100M counts for more than $10B to $20B.
Which to choose
Which scores higher, Bitstamp or Bitvavo?+
Bitstamp, 9.18 to 9.16 — effectively level. Bitstamp leads on reserves; Bitvavo leads on hack record.
Is Bitvavo safe compared with Bitstamp?+
Bitvavo has no hack recorded in DefiLlama's database; Bitstamp has one 2015 phishing loss. Bitstamp's tracked reserves are much larger. Neither fact is a safety guarantee, and both exchanges are custodial.
What are good Bitvavo or Bitstamp alternatives?+
The full crypto exchange ranking lists all 19 measured exchanges with the same criteria. Check which serve your country before comparing scores. Compare more: Gemini vs Bitstamp · Bitvavo vs Crypto.com