Crypto Brokers

Crypto brokers connect UK traders with the $1 trillion digital asset market. The best cryptocurrency brokers offer a wide selection of coins with low fees, reliable platforms like MT4 or MT5, plus derivatives such as CFDs.

In this guide, we explain how crypto brokers work, from margin trading opportunities and UK regulations to the difference vs online exchanges. Our experts have also compiled a list of the safest cryptocurrency brokers in 2025.

How Crypto Brokers Works

Cryptocurrencies are a type of digital asset that are usually bought and sold on a blockchain – a decentralised public ledger that records transactions across a network of computers. Crypto assets are known today for their eye-watering returns on investment – the original cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, went from being worth pennies at its inception to an all-time high above $69,000 (£51,000) in November 2021.

But they are also known for being risky investments, both because of their extreme price volatility and the prevalence of scams and collapsed projects in this largely unregulated world.

At the most basic level, crypto brokers act as mediators between retail traders and cryptocurrency markets. They serve as a channel through which retail traders can purchase digital assets, or they may offer derivative products such as CFD crypto trading, that allow investors to speculate on token prices without actually owning and storing the coins themselves.

Crypto Brokers Vs Exchanges

At the outset, the only way to acquire cryptocurrencies was to mine them or reach an agreement with a seller and conduct a peer-to-peer transfer. Crypto exchanges solved this problem by creating an online marketplace where orders could be placed and filled, allowing for real-time transactions in the same vein as a traditional stock exchange.

Crypto exchanges are the most popular way to buy digital assets today, and some including market leader Coinbase offer derivative products, decentralised finance support and other features. However, the downside of exchanges is that they come with inherent risk – crypto assets are largely unregulated, any assets you have on an exchange are no longer in your custody, and if the exchange fails you risk losing everything. Even some of the largest exchanges – such as FTX in 2022 – have been led to ruin by poor management or unscrupulous practices, leaving clients with losses worth many millions of pounds.

Online brokers are generally a safer way to get involved in the crypto market, since many are overseen by reputable regulators and have a track record of offering legitimate investing products to aspiring traders. Any broker regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), for example, is legally obligated to segregate clients’ funds in a separate bank account and provide negative balance protection, among other measures designed to lower the risk of clients losing their funds.

Additionally, crypto brokers in the UK usually offer a long list of other tradable instruments in various asset classes, from stocks to forex and commodities. This means they are less exposed to the volatility of the crypto market, and less likely to collapse if there is a drastic crash or an unexpected rally.

The availability of derivative products at crypto brokerage firms is another big advantage for traders. With products like CFDs, spread betting and binary options, retail traders can speculate on price movements without the hassle involved in actually buying, storing and selling digital assets.

Although regulated brokers in the UK are not permitted to offer margin on cryptocurrency derivatives, it is available from some crypto brokers in different regulatory jurisdictions, including the European Union and United States.

How To Compare Cryptocurrency Brokers

Choosing the right broker gives traders the best chance to capitalise on crypto’s profit potential. Every trader has their own needs and preferences, but there are some general points to consider when comparing the best crypto brokers:

Range Of Coins

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and other well-known tokens are now offered by a variety of online brokers, but traders who are clued up on crypto investing may want a brokerage with more choice.

Generally, brokers will only offer a coin or token that is reasonably well established, so it is unlikely you will be able to trade the latest meme coins before they go on a big run. However, there are some crypto brokers that will support a wider range of digital assets, including Cardano, Dogecoin, Polkadot and more.

Crypto Tokens – PrimeXBT

Also look out for the different asset classes offered by crypto brokers – they will often offer stocks, forex, commodities, and ETFs among others. Importantly, this means more opportunities to build a diverse investment portfolio.

Trading Vehicles

One of the most important things to consider in a crypto broker is the investing products that will be available to you. Retail traders will often have a choice between a few derivatives:

• CFDs – Contracts for difference, or CFDs, are an agreement between broker and customer that allows the trader to bet on the price movement of an asset. If the trader’s prediction comes through, they will earn the difference between the asset’s price at the start and end of the contract; if the price moves against them they will need to pay the difference.
• Spread betting – Traders can use spread betting to speculate on whether crypto prices will rise or fall in a similar way to CFDs. The profit (or loss) is determined by the extent that the spread moves past the token’s price when the contract begins. Profits from spread betting are also usually free from tax in the UK.
• Binary options – These derivatives are popular among retail traders because they are simple – the contract’s length, price, potential loss and profit are all determined before the contract begins, and the trader only needs to correctly guess whether the cryptocurrency’s price will go up or down.

Bear in mind that since the FCA’s 2021 ban on margin trading cryptocurrencies, brokers in the UK are less likely to offer all of these products. However, if you are registered with a broker in some EU countries or elsewhere, you should be able to trade crypto derivatives through popular brokers without restrictions.

Fees

Traders should consider a broker’s pricing structure to get an idea of how much they will need to pay per trade.

Crypto brokers will often charge a commission per trade – eToro, for example, charges 1% for crypto trades, though there are also brokers with a lower percentage or 0% commissions.

Another way crypto brokers earn is through the spread – essentially, they pay traders less for an asset than they sell it for. Cryptocurrency brokers may earn both from a spread and commission fees, or they may advertise as a no-commission brokerage and earn solely from the spread.

BTC/USD CFD Fees – Plus500

It is also worth checking the top crypto brokers for details on any additional charges for deposits and withdrawals, account maintenance, and inactivity.

Importantly, the best crypto brokers will be transparent about pricing, so be wary if their fee schedule is hidden or if it does not include key information.

Platforms

Some crypto brokers have proprietary platforms that work through a browser or app, others allow traders to use third-party software such as TradingView, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), or MetaTrader 5 (MT5).

Beginners may wish to start with a simple browser-based platform, but many traders prefer the power and flexibility of a platform like MT4, which is home to customisable charts and graphs, plus a suite of technical indicators and order types.

Also check that the broker’s desktop platform is available on mobile and tablet devices, with mobile-optimised features and seamless integration.

Regulation

The UK is home to several reputable crypto brokers which are regulated by the FCA. However, since the regulator banned crypto derivatives for the retail market in 2021, the choice is fairly limited for non-professional traders.

UK investors who want to benefit from a cryptocurrency broker may be able to set up an account with a brokerage based abroad. Trusted foreign regulators include Cyprus’s CySEC, Australia’s ASIC, plus the SEC and FINRA in the United States.

Payment Methods

The payment methods accepted by a broker can make a big difference as certain methods can be expensive, slow or otherwise impractical. Most brokers accept debit/credit card payments and bank transfers, but there are many that accept PayPal and other e-wallets.

The top crypto brokers also offer deposits and withdrawals via popular digital assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum and Tether. This can make it easier to both fund and trade in your favoured cryptocurrencies.

Also take note of any minimum deposit requirements. The best crypto brokers in the UK will offer a low minimum deposit of <£200 for beginners.

Security

Make sure that your crypto broker uses up-to-date security measures. Good safety features to look for include secure protocols on their website and payment gateway, two-factor authentication and voice/face recognition on their mobile app.

Legitimacy and reliability is a key difference between many crypto brokers and exchanges. While high-profile exchanges have been plagued with accusations of financial mismanagement and even fraud, major crypto brokers typically have a long track record of serving retail clients with robust accounting processes and third-party audits.

Customer Support

A quick and responsive customer support department can be the difference between a good and a great online broker.

Ideally, your cryptocurrency broker should have a live chat function available 24/7 and a phone hotline. Additionally, many leading crypto brokers now offer customer support through popular social media channels.

Additional Tools

Copy trading, in particular, can be a good way for rookie or time-poor traders to benefit from the expertise of experienced investors.

Crypto brokers such as PrimeXBT offer this service, which allows you to search out and select a trader whose profile and strategy match your requirements. Invest your chosen amount in the trader and automatically mirror their trades in your own account.

Other useful tools include support for automated algorithms and bots, signals, advanced charts and market analysis.

Educational Resources

Some crypto brokers provide beginner-friendly educational resources, including blogs, videos and even live seminars.

These are invaluable to newer traders as they provide a good framework to learn the fundamental facets of investing in cryptocurrencies, including technical analysis and risk management.

Bottom Line On Crypto Brokers

Crypto brokers are a great way for British traders to invest in cryptocurrency markets while mitigating some of the biggest risks of other avenues, such as exchanges. As well as allowing traders to speculate on leading coins and tokens, they also offer educational resources, benefits such as social investing, and margin on derivative products.

Use our ranking of the best crypto brokers for UK traders to get started.

FAQ