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Risk·77–82% of retail CFD accounts lose money. Trade only with capital you can afford to lose.
Disclosure·Affiliate links. Editorial ranking is independent. How we're paid
Brokerlist2026

Tracked byIndependent review teamUpdated MethodologyEditorial top pick: Libertex

Crypto Brokers, 2026

Independent ranking of crypto-active brokers and exchanges — covering Bitcoin, Ethereum and major altcoin trading on spot and CFD venues. We compare published fees, regulator licences and platform realities, tracking broker-disclosed pricing across spot and derivatives. Each profile lists the regulated entity that applies in your jurisdiction, the typical fee per trade and the published leverage cap. We don't reorder when an affiliate pays more — just what brokers themselves disclose, with a clear note when those disclosures are vague.

3brokers tracked this quarter. Pricing copied from broker specification pages; regulators verified weekly.

Broker-published pricing · Regulator checks · Weekly refresh

Ranking · 3 brokers · crypto

sorted by editorial score

  1. Editorial top pick

    01Libertex

    SVG FSA
    Open account at Libertex →
    Avg spread
    0.50pip
    midpoint of broker range
    Cost / lot
    $5.00
    no commission
    Min deposit
    $10
    Max leverage
    1:999
    Libertex International (St. Vincent & the Grenadines). EU/EEA residents are served by the separate CySEC-regulated entity at 1:30.

    $10 minimum + Forex Club heritage (founded 1997) — long operating history · Offshore SVG (St. Vincent & the Grenadines) registration only — no tier-1 (FCA/ASIC) or EU (CySEC) oversight

    Fits ifYou have $10 to start — one of the lowest entry minimums in our list
    PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Libertex Platform

    Founded in 1997 · Verified Jun 1, 2026

    Full Libertex details →

  2. 02AvaTrade

    ASICFSCACBIBVI
    Open account at AvaTrade →
    Avg spread
    0.90pip
    broker-published typical
    Cost / lot
    $9.00
    no commission
    Min deposit
    $100
    Max leverage
    1:400
    EU/UK/AU retail: 1:30 · FSCA / BVI entities: up to 1:400

    Regulated in 6 jurisdictions · Spread-only pricing at 0.9 pip = ~$9/lot round-turn — wider than ECN/Raw brokers at similar volume

    Fits ifYou are AU or EU retail and want CBI + ASIC double cover with 20 years of operating history
    PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaOptions, DupliTrade

    Founded in 2006 · Verified Jun 1, 2026

    Full AvaTrade details →

  3. 03Bybit

    VARA1 action
    Open account at Bybit →
    Avg spread
    0.10pip
    broker-published typical
    Cost / lot
    $4.00
    incl. $3 commission
    Min deposit
    None
    Max leverage
    1:500
    Up to 1:500 on FX/CFD via MT5 · 1:100+ on crypto perpetuals · no ESMA cap (offshore crypto-CFD exchange)

    MT5 CFD offering with ~0.1 typical spread + ≈$3 RT equivalent — cost-competitive with ECN tiers despite crypto-first business · FX CFDs are secondary product — Bybit core business is crypto derivatives, FX depth and liquidity differ from dedicated forex brokers

    Fits ifYou already trade crypto at Bybit and want FX CFDs in the same unified-margin account
    PlatformsMetaTrader 5, Bybit

    Founded in 2018 · Verified Jun 1, 2026

    Full Bybit details →

Tracking crypto broker and exchange pricing

Crypto pricing splits two ways: brokers offering crypto-CFDs typically use spread-only pricing on BTC/USD and ETH/USD pairs, while exchanges charge maker/taker fees as a percentage (typically 0.05-0.20%) of trade size. We capture both models so the per-trade cost comparison is consistent across CFD venues and spot exchanges.

Regulator coverage is thinner here than in forex or equities. Most crypto-active brokers operate under FCA or CySEC for derivatives only, with the underlying spot trading under separate VASP licences (or none). Each profile flags whether the entity serving you is regulated for crypto specifically or just for derivatives that reference crypto.

Spot exchange vs CFD broker is the most consequential decision in crypto: a regulated spot exchange (Coinbase, Kraken, Bitstamp) settles real BTC/ETH to a wallet you control or to custody you can withdraw, with regulator coverage focused on fiat on-ramp and AML. A crypto-CFD broker (eToro, Plus500, IG, Pepperstone) offers a derivative on the price — no token settlement, no withdrawal of underlying coin, regulated under MiFID II as a complex financial instrument. Both are legitimate; which fits depends on whether you're investing in the asset or speculating on the price.

Common crypto pitfalls: promo 'high leverage' offers (1:100 on BTC) come with strict liquidation and aren't available to MiFID-II retail clients (capped 1:2); spread-only crypto pricing on broker quotes typically marks up 30-100 basis points over spot exchanges; deposit/withdrawal in crypto often charges a fixed fee plus network gas that can dominate small transfers. Hybrid 'broker-exchange' venues (e.g., Bitstamp Pro, Coinbase Advanced) sit between the two models — check whether your account class is custody-based or contract-based before depositing.

How we score

Full methodology →

Editorial rating is a weighted score across four categories. The largest weight goes to actual per-lot trading cost, because it is the one metric every retail trader materially feels.

We verify regulator status against the FCA, ASIC, CySEC and other registries. Spread figures are broker-published — copied from each broker's specification page, not live-tracked. We do not run live execution tests, time withdrawals, or open support tickets.

Affiliate relationships do not move positions in this list. When a broker pays us more per lead, that shows in our paid-placement disclosure — not in the ordering.

Cost of trading
35%
Regulation & fund safety
30%
Operating history
20%
Accessibility
15%

Currently tracking 14 brokers across 55 regulators · 2 regulatory actions on file · pricing verified June 1, 2026.

Regulator registries: FCA · ASIC · CySEC · FSCA · SEC EDGAR

Frequent questions

5
Should I use a crypto broker or an exchange?

Brokers offering crypto-CFDs let you trade with leverage but you never own the coins. Exchanges (Coinbase, Kraken, Binance) sell you the actual coin you can withdraw to a wallet. For short-term trading, CFDs are simpler. For accumulation or self-custody, exchanges are required.

What fees do crypto brokers charge?

Two pricing models: CFD brokers use spread (typically 0.5-2.0% on BTC/USD), exchanges use maker/taker (typically 0.05-0.20% per side). On a $10,000 BTC trade, that's $50-200 round-turn for CFD vs $10-40 for an exchange. Withdrawal fees apply on exchanges; not on CFD brokers since you never withdraw the asset.

Are crypto brokers regulated?

Crypto-CFD brokers are typically regulated for derivatives (under FCA, CySEC, ASIC) but the underlying spot trading sits under separate VASP frameworks — or none. The regulator covering your derivatives trade isn't necessarily covering the spot price feed. Each broker profile flags which licences apply to which products.

What leverage can I use for crypto trading?

Under FCA, CySEC and ASIC retail rules: 1:2 maximum on crypto-CFDs. Offshore entities offer up to 1:100. Bybit and other crypto-native venues offer 1:100 perpetual futures contracts. High leverage on volatile assets means most positions liquidate inside 24-48 hours.

Should I leave crypto on a broker or use cold storage?

Crypto-CFDs are book-entry positions, not movable assets — there's nothing to move. For exchange-bought crypto, withdrawing to self-custody (hardware wallet) protects against exchange insolvency. The trade-off: self-custody means you alone are responsible for keys. Loss = total loss.

Other asset categories

Crypto brokers by country