Marcus Reid is a Brisbane-based cryptocurrency researcher and digital assets analyst with 7 years of experience in the Australian crypto market. He first entered the crypto space in 2017 and has followed the Australian regulatory landscape since AUSTRAC’s first Digital Currency Exchange registration requirements came into effect in 2018.
At KolaTrading, Marcus covers all cryptocurrency exchange comparisons, wallet security guides, ATO tax treatment of digital assets and emerging DeFi developments relevant to Australian retail investors. He has personally opened and tested accounts at more than 15 Australian crypto platforms — including Swyftx, CoinSpot, Independent Reserve, Binance AU and Kraken — evaluating them on fees, security practices, coin selection and AUD deposit options.
Marcus is particularly focused on helping beginner Australian investors navigate the regulatory environment safely — including understanding AUSTRAC registration requirements, identifying scam platforms and meeting their ATO reporting obligations. He witnessed the FTX collapse first-hand as a user and has since made custody security and exchange transparency central to his research criteria.
He holds a Bachelor of Information Technology from the Queensland University of Technology and a Certificate in Blockchain Strategy from Oxford Saïd Business School. He currently holds BTC, ETH and a diversified basket of layer-1 assets in self-custody.