Bitcoin Trading and Brokers 2024
The Bitcoin trading boom has seen traders invest in, deposit with and exchange huge volumes of cryptocurrency. Our guide explains what Bitcoin is and how you can trade Bitcoins. With the Bitcoin exchange rate now quoted among major currencies, market volume is huge and trading it is more accessible than you may first think. Learn all about Bitcoin trading here and compare the best Bitcoin brokers in the UK 2024.
Bitcoin Brokers List
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Traders can speculate on popular cryptos with commissions as low as 0.05% and high leverage up to 1:200. Additionally, the broker continues to improve its offering by introducing crypto futures as well as trading contests with real prizes.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- LTC
- ETH
- XRP
- EOS
- ADA
- DOT
- SOL
- UNI
- LINK
- DOGE
- BNB
- ICP
- SAND
- more
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IC Markets offers 20+ cryptocurrencies which are tradable via CFDs, including lesser-known tokens such as Avalanche, Kusama and Uniswap. Commission-free trading is available, and experienced crypto traders can access high leverage up to 1:200 in the MetaTrader platforms.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- BCH
- DOT
- DSH
- EMC
- EOS
- ETH
- LNK
- LTC
- NMC
- PPC
- XLM
- XRP
- ADA
- BNB
- DOG
- UNI
- XTZ
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OKX continues to offer a superb selection of 400+ tokens including Bitcoin and Ripple. You can buy and sell tokens or trade cryptos on margin via derivatives, including perpetual swaps, options and futures. OKX stands out for its low fees, extensive range of tokens and speedy crypto transactions.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- XCH
- ETH
- OKB
- OKT
- LTC
- DOT
- ADA
- DOGE
- XRP
- USDT
- ICP
- BCH
- LINK
- XLM
- ETC
- MATIC
- THETA
- UNI
- TRX
- EOS
- FIL
- XMR
- NEO
- USDC
- AAVE
- SHIB
- LUNA
- KSM
- BSC
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OANDA offers trading on leading cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin. You can place trades in the app hassle-free and practice in the unlimited demo account. The broker offers guaranteed stop-loss orders to help protect you against crypto market volatility.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- LTC
- BCH
- PAXG
- LINK
- UNI
- AAVE
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XTB offers an excellent selection of cryptos with more than 50 digital currencies. Spreads are tight starting from 0.22% on BTC and leverage reaches 1:5. The xStation platform also provides intra-crypto pairs like ETH/BTC and DSH/BTC. With the capability to trade cryptos 24/7, XTB ensures a secure environment with transparent accounts for cryptocurrency trading.
Crypto Coins
- ADA
- BTC
- BCH
- DSH
- EOS
- ETH
- IOTA
- LTC
- NEO
- XRP
- XLM
- TRX
- XEM
- XLM
- XMR
- DOGE
- BNB
- LINK
- UNI
- DOT
- XTZ
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BitMEX continues to offer a highly competitive crypto trading environment, with cheap $1 contracts and leverage up to 1:100. The broker’s proprietary platform offers cutting-edge trading features, including a customizable order book, a depth chart and dozens of technical indicators.
Crypto Coins
- BCH
- BTC
- ETH
- LTC
- XRP
- TRON
- EOS
- XMR
- ADA
- DOGE
- BNB
- DOT
- SOL
- SHIB
- AVAX
- GAL
- NEAR
- SUSHI
- AXS
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You can buy and sell 250+ crypto assets with fiat currencies or in crypto pairs using the straightforward mobile app or through Uphold's browser-based account homepage. This is significantly more than many rivals. You can also earn up to 16% APY by staking one or more out of 32 valid tokens, or send tokens to an external wallet.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- BTCO
- AAVE
- ALCX
- DYDX
- INH
- XYO
- API3
- GHST
- LSK
- AUDIO
- GLMR
- NMR
- CAKE
- GODS
- REQ
- CHR
- TRB
- DAO
- ROOK
- XRP
- ETH
- BAT
- ADA
- ALGO
- ATOM
- AVAX
- AXS
- BCH
- BAL
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IQCent offers 17 crypto pairs through its proprietary terminal, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin. Leverage on crypto CFDs is capped at 1:10, whilst binary options payouts vary by token but remain competitive. OTC assets, for example, pay out up to 95%.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- LTC
- ETC
- DOGE
- MATIC
- QNT
- SOL
- XRP
- USDT
- XMR
- BNB
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BlackBull supports short-term trading on 11 cryptos including Bitcoin and Ethereum with up to 1:5 leverage. Digital tokens are paired with USD, while the broker’s ‘Daily Opportunities’ excel for their excellent insights into emerging trends in the cryptocurrency space.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- XRP
- LTC
- ADA
- POLY
- XFET
- XINJ
- XNAKA
- XAX
- XCOTI
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You can trade cryptos against cryptos, fiat currencies, and even metals like gold. This separates the broker from many alternatives that only offer cryptos paired with the USD. Additionally, with high leverage up to 1:20, Kwakol Markets is a top choice for crypto traders.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- BCH
- ETH
- LTC
- XRP
- BNB
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OspreyFX offers a decent selection of crypto coins paired with USD, including Bitcoin. 1:10 leverage is available with starting deposits from just $10 and support for Expert Advisors (EAs).
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- DASH
- EDO
- EOS
- ETH
- IOTA
- LTC
- NEO
- OMG
- SAN
- XMR
- XRP
- ZEC
- DOGE
- SHIB
- ADA
- SOL
- DOT
- AVA
- XLM
- TRON
- ETC
- BNB
- BCH
- BAT
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CloseOption traders can access high/low binary options on five major cryptos all paired with USD. Payouts of 40% are available due to digital assets' high market volatility, which compares well with rivals.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- BCH
- ETH
- LTC
- XBT
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Trade popular digital tokens against fiat currencies. Go long or short on Bitcoin and get 24/7 instant cashback when you trade in high volumes. However, traders looking for low-cap tokens should look at alternative brokers.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- LTC
- XRP
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Errante clients can speculate on price movements of 26 crypto tokens, all paired with USD. CFDs allow for leveraged trading, but note that you will not directly own the assets traded.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- LTC
- BCH
- XRP
- DASH
- EOS
- IOTA
- NEO
- OMG
- QTU
- TRX
- XMR
- ZEC
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Trade CFDs on BTC, ETH, LTC and XRP with 1:5 leverage, market execution and 0.01 micro lot trading. However, we weren't impressed with the narrow choice of cryptos with no emerging, smaller-cap tokens available.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- LTC
- XRP
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You can access 25 cryptocurrencies paired with USD, including BTC/USD and ETH/USD as well as smaller tokens like DOTUSD. The broker doesn’t offer a crypto wallet or exchange, although you can deposit via Bitcoin, Ethereum or Tether with zero fees.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- LTC
- BCH
- XRP
- DOT
- EOS
- LNK
- DOGE
- ADA
- XLM
- ATOM
- AAVE
- AVX
- BNB
- DASH
- ENJ
- FTM
- MATIC
- SNX
- WAVE
- XMR
- XTZ
- YFI
- SOL
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Trade tight-spread CFDs on BTC, LTC, ETH, DOGE, ADA and XRP paired with USD. This may be too small a range to satisfy many crypto traders, but it is a comparable offering to similar brokers.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ADA
- ETH
- LTC
- DOG
- XRP
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An impressive selection of 35 crypto pairs are on offer, including BTC/USD and DOGE/USD. There is also high leverage up to 1:100 for experienced crypto traders, which is more than you will find at most competitors.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- DASH
- ETH
- LTC
- BCH
- XRP
- NEO
- IOTA
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Take positions on dozens of leading cryptocurrencies with low fees and 24/7 investing. Traders need just $1 to start speculating on popular tokens like Bitcoin. Clients can also buy cryptos instantly in a few straightforward steps.
Crypto Coins
- ALGO
- AVAX
- BAT
- BTC
- BCH
- ADA
- LINK
- ATOM
- CRO
- CRV
- MANA
- DOGE
- ETH
- ETC
- FTM
- LTC
- LRC
- MATIC
- REN
- SHIB
- SOL
- XLM
- SUSHI
- GRT
- UNI
- YFI
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Traders can access CFDs on crypto assets through World Forex's dedicated W-CRYPTO accounts, which offer leveraged cryptocurrency trading with spreads from zero. We rate that you can trade on 10 cryptos paired with the USD and EUR, while crypto-crypto pairs are also available.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- DSH
- LTC
- ETH
- ZEC
- XRP
- BCH
- XMR
- EOS
- NEO
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Trade leveraged CFDs on eight of the most popular cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Ripple, in pairs with USD, EUR and JPY. The wider variety of fiat pairs make this an attractive offering, even if there is only a mediocre selection of crypto tokens to trade them with.
Crypto Coins
- ADA
- BTC
- DOT
- EOS
- ETH
- LTC
- XLM
- XRP
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Trade popular crypto-fiat crosses with low spreads. Clients can speculate on short-term price fluctuations with powerful trading tools, low fees and reliable risk management features.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- BCH
- ETH
- LTC
- XRP
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Trade five crypto pairs via leveraged CFDs. This is too small a range to satisfy dedicated crypto traders, but the digital tokens do have the advantages of ultra-fast execution and pure direct market access.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- LTC
- ADA
- XRP
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Clients can trade a modest handful of cryptos including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. Real-time quotes are available and fees are low. Commissions also drop if you trade digital currencies in high volumes.
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Revolut has expanded its crypto offering, now featuring 185+ tokens. You can buy, sell and transfer cryptos on the iOS and Android app within a few taps. Revolut also stands out by allowing users to round up leftover cash from card transactions in crypto and use their crypto balance to make card payments, while recurring investments can be made for dollar cost averaging.
Crypto Coins
- ZRX
- 1INCH
- AAVE
- ALGO
- AMP
- ANKR
- BNT
- BAND
- BAT
- BTC
- BCH
- ADA
- CTSI
- CELO
- LINK
- CHL
- COMP
- ATOM
- CRV
- MANA
- DOGE
- ENJ
- EOS
- ETH
- FIL
- RLC
- ICP
- KEEP
- KNC
- LTC
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Traders can go long or short on popular cryptos like Bitcoin, Ethereum and Ripple paired with USD. Trading is available on the MT5 platform, which offers an excellent environment for short-term crypto strategies, with 21 chart timeframes and dozens of indicators.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- LTC
- XRP
- XMR
- ZEC
- BCH
- DASH
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Trade CFDs on 12 major cryptocurrencies including BTC and ETH in pairs with USD and with leverage up to 1:20. The dozen tokens on offer is very respectable for a CFD broker, though crypto traders looking for emerging tokens will prefer an exchange or dedicated crypto broker.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- BCH
- ETH
- LTC
- XRP
- BNB
- DOT
- EOS
- LINK
- UNI
- XTZ
- XLM
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Invest in 10 popular cryptos such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. A choice of six crypto account base currencies are available plus a welcome bonus for new traders.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- BCH
- DASH
- ETH
- LTC
- USDC
- USDT
- XMR
- XRP
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There's only 6 crypto CFDs available at Switch Markets, though I was pleased to see leverage of 1:3 available. I like that you can also benefit from BTC, ETH, XRP, USDT and USDTRC20 deposit options.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- LTC
- XRP
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With well over 1000 crypto assets available, Kucoin offers a great degree of flexibility. It is excellent to see an extensive range of tokens, as this allows traders to search for lesser-known tokens with a high upside. The crypto futures and perpetual swaps are also good additions to the roster, tradeable with 1:10 leverage.
Crypto Coins
- ETH
- BTC
- VRA
- LUNA
- KCS
- XRP
- LTC
- ALGO
- TEL
- DOT
- ADA
- XMR
- AVAX
- FTM
- VET
- XLM
- LINK
- MATIC
- ONE
- TRX
- HBAR
- ICP
- CRO
- EOS
- DOGE
- WBTC
- ATOM
- XDC
- DAG
- COTI
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With just five crypto CFDs and trading only available 24/5 rather than the usual 24/7, Rock Global is not the best for dedicated crypto traders. However, there are some attractive spreads on offer from 0.62 for Litecoin and 1.24 for Ethereum.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- BCH
- LTC
- ETH
- XRP
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Pocket Option offers a modest crypto offering with 10+ digital currencies including Bitcoin and 65+ tokens if you deposit $1000. The integrated analytics feature in the platform is helpful for finding opportunities, while the daily signals service makes it straightforward to act on short-term crypto opportunities.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- BCH
- LINK
- AAVE
- ALGO
- TLM
- ALPP
- ANT
- AVAX
- AXS
- BNB
- ADA
- CHZ
- COMP
- ATOM
- DASH
- MANA
- DGB
- DOGE
- ENJ
- EOS
- FIL
- GLMR
- ILV
- ICP
- KAVA
- LTC
- MKR
- MASK
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xChief’s range of 5 cryptocurrencies paired with USD is smaller than most competitors. In addition, the average BTCUSD spread of 30 pips is not the cheapest. That said, the broker does offer some useful crypto trading guides for beginners.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- BCH
- ETH
- LTC
- XRP
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Pacific Union offers leveraged cryptocurrency trading against the US Dollar. Spreads are tight and updated in real-time. Traders can analyze crypto markets using powerful trading software.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- BCH
- ETH
- LTC
- EOS
- XLM
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Nexo offers trading on an impressive suite of around 70 tokens, including Bitcoin. Digital assets can be bought, sold and swapped directly on the exchange or traded in over 500 pairs. Digital assets can also be used as collateral for fiat loans or used to generate passive income with the ‘smart staking’ tool or from interest earned via peer-to-peer loans.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- NEXO
- USDT
- USDC
- AXS
- RUNE
- MATIC
- DOT
- APE
- AVAX
- KSM
- ATOM
- FTM
- NEAR
- BNB
- ADA
- SOL
- XRP
- LTC
- LINK
- BCH
- TRX
- XLM
- EOS
- PAXG
- UNI
- DOGE
- MANA
- SAND
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SuperForex offers cryptocurrency CFDs on 11 popular tokens including Bitcoin, Dash, Solana and Polkadot. 1:10 leverage is available for crypto assets and although this is a fairly limited selection of digital assets, it covers the most important tokens.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- LTC
- ZEC
- DASH
- BCH
- XMR
- NEO
- EOS
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Make spot, future and leveraged trades on 120 cryptocurrencies via Pionex's proprietary platform with built-in trading bots and highly customizable automated trading options. On the negative side, the range of tokens is narrower than many alternatives.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- LTC
- ETH
- BUSD
- EOS
- BTT
- TRX
- NFT
- DOGE
- XRP
- HT
- ALICE
- FIL
- DOT
- JST
- AXS
- UNI
- AAVE
- WIN
- SUN
- CAKE
- LINK
- BAKE
- BCH
- ETC
- SNX
- TFUEL
- ADA
- PUNDIX
- ICP
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AdroFx offers just four crypto CFDs, while the typical Bitcoin spread of around 59 USD is considerably higher than the industry average, making it a poor option for serious cryptocurrency traders. This broker does not work as an exchange or wallet, meaning that only derivatives trading and not ownership of crypto assets are available.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- LTC
- XRP
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Trade CFDs with leverage up to 1:100 on 23 crypto pairs with USD including popular tokens like Bitcoin and Ether and lesser-known options like OMG. On the downside, crypto-only pairs are not offered.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- XRP
- LTC
- DASH
- ETH
- EOS
- NEO
- TRX
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Bitfinex provides access to an exceptional variety of crypto assets, encompassing over 180 tokens. In addition to spot trading, the platform supports perpetual swaps trading, enabling traders to engage in margin trading on crypto assets with leverage up to 1:10. With digital tokens frequently listed and delisted, Bitfinex provides diverse opportunities to participate in the dynamic cryptocurrency market.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- USDT
- LTC
- XRP
- DOGE
- ETC
- EOS
- LINK
- BCHN
- DOT
- DASH
- IOTA
- SUSHI
- NEO
- ZEC
- UNI
- ADA
- OMG
- MDOGE
- BSV
- TRX
- XTZ
- SOL
- XLM
- YFI
- USDC
- ZRX
- FIL
- VET
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IBKR lets you purchase and hold Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin at competitive commission rates and without needing a crypto wallet. Additionally, there is a range of other diverse assets to explore, such as crypto indices like the NYSE Bitcoin Index, as well as futures contracts like the BAKKT Bitcoin Futures.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- LTC
- ETH
- XRP
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Gemini offers a relatively small range of 110+ cryptocurrencies on its exchange, which is anchored by the native Gemini Dollar stablecoin, as well as perpetual swap derivatives. The powerful ActiveTrader platform is optimized for online trading, delivering a wide range of technical indicators and up to 7 time frames.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- XRP
- ADA
- DOGE
- DOT
- BCH
- LTC
- UNI
- LINK
- FIL
- XLM
- WBTC
- EOS
- SOL
- AAV
- XTZ
- ATOM
- MKR
- DAI
- COMP
- ZEC
- ENJ
- GRT
- SNX
- BAT
- MANA
- YFI
- UMA
- ZRX
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Kraken is a specialized crypto exchange and supports more than 220 cryptocurrencies. These include all of the established tokens like Bitcoin as well as some altcoins. Traders can make trades on spot crypto markets with up to 1:5 leverage or on futures with up to 1:50. Fees are low and the platform is super easy to pick up.
Crypto Coins
- AAVE
- ALGO
- ANT
- REP
- REPV2
- BAT
- BAL
- XBT
- BCH
- ADA
- LINK
- COMP
- ATOM
- CRV
- DAI
- DASH
- MANA
- XDG
- EWT
- EOS
- ETH
- ETC
- FIL
- FLOW
- GNO
- ICX
- KAVA
- KEEP
- KSM
- KNC
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M4Markets offers a decent range of 15 crypto CFDs paired with USD. Traders can get started with as little as $5 and enjoy zero commissions on crypto trades. Spreads on BTCUSD average around 14.1 which is competitive and in line with the top low-cost crypto brokers.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- LTC
- XRP
- DOGE
- DASH
- XMR
- OMG
- NEO
- QTUM
- ZEC
- DOT
- SOL
- ETX
- AXS
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Trade a selection of the top cryptos against the US Dollar, including Bitcoin, Polkadot and Stellar with 50% leverage. Traders also benefit from fast execution speeds of <20ms.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- LTC
- ETH
- XRP
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I found 5 crypto products at Tradeview: BTCUSD, ETHUSD, LTCUSD, XRPUSD and BTCJPY. Whilst this isn’t the widest range, beginners should have enough opportunities to explore the market. Plus, with STP/ECN execution, traders should be able to access relatively competitive prices.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETC
- LTC
- XRP
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Global Prime crypto CFDs cover a good range of 35 tokens with impressive commissions of 0.1% and leverage available in some jurisdictions. The tokens include Bitcoin, Ethereum and other popular choices as well as smaller tokens like Sandbox and Avalanche.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- BCH
- LTC
- ETH
- XRP
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Cryptocurrencies are available through the broker's Bahamas entity. Traders can access thousands of indicators to tailor their crypto trading strategies and there are no hidden charges.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- LTC
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Over 10 of the most popular cryptos are available with leverage of 1:2. With just a $100 minimum deposit, traders can benefit from advanced crypto analysis tools.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- BCH
- DSH
- ETH
- LTC
- XRP
- DOT
- EOS
- LINK
- XLM
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Traders can speculate on crypto prices in pairs with USD and CNY through binary options and CFDs. The range of digital currencies is fairly narrow vs alternatives but major tokens like Bitcoin are available.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- QUANT
- UNI
- SOL
- BNB
- DOGE
- XRP
- XMR
- MATIC
- USDT
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Trade five crypto CFDs with BTC, BCH, ETH, LTC and XRP paired with USD and leverage available up to 1:20. Digital currencies can be traded around the clock, including on weekends.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- LTC
- XRP
- ETH
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Trade 15+ of the most know cryptos, including Bitcoin and Ethereum. Digital currencies can be traded around the clock with no hidden fees. 1:10 leverage is also available on major tokens like BTC.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- LTC
- BCH
- DOT
- EOS
- LINK
- XLM
- NEO
- ADA
- SOL
- XRP
- BNB
- XMR
- AVAX
- DOGE
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SimpleFX’s strongest offering is its crypto trading environment, with a growing range of tokens, bolstered in 2024, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Filecoin paired with the USD. Its crypto-based accounts also ensure a smooth trading experience for crypto enthusiasts, while the bespoke staking service allows capital to be utilized for margin trading.
Crypto Coins
- ADA
- APE
- ARB
- AVA
- BCH
- BNB
- DASH
- DOT
- EOS
- ETC
- ETH
- FET
- FIL
- INJ
- LNK
- LTC
- MATIC
- NEO
- SOL
- TIA
- WAVE
- XTZ
- YFI
- ZEC
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A strong range of cryptocurrencies are available with 35+ tokens including popular assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum. You can also make convenient Bitcoin deposits within minutes, with no transfer fees.
Crypto Coins
- BCH
- BTC
- DASH
- EOS
- BIT
- ETP
- LTC
- BTC
- OMG
- ZEC
- USDT
- BCH
- ETP
- QTUM
- XMR
- DOT
- ETC
- IOS
- NEO
- SAN
- ZRX
- EDO
- ETH
- IOT
- NEO
- SAN
- XRP
- BTG
- EDO
- ETH
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Trade a small selection of CFDs on crypto tokens in USD pairs. While the selection of cryptocurrencies is very limited, the 1:5 maximum leverage is higher than many similar brokers, making this a decent option for forex traders to dip into if not for dedicated crypto traders.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- DSH
- ETH
- LTC
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FXTrading offers CFDs on 11 cryptocurrencies in 17 pairs, with six large cryptos including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin available to trade against USD or AUD. All other cryptos trade in USD pairs. Decent leverage of 1:10 or 1:20 is available depending on the crypto.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- XRP
- ADA
- BCH
- BNB
- DOG
- DOT
- EOS
- LTC
- XLM
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EZ Invest offers a narrow selection of popular cryptos paired with the US Dollar and Euro. However crypto-Euro pairs are less common so the broker is a good fit if you want these products.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- LTC
- XRP
- XMR
- DASH
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Trade 60+ cryptocurrencies in CFD pairs with USD, AUD, CHF, EUR, GBP and more, and access leverage up to 1:10. Crypto traders will pay a 0.5% commission.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- BCH
- DSH
- ETC
- ETH
- LTC
- XMR
- ZEC
- BAT
- EOS
- IOT
- NEO
- OMG
- BNB
- XLM
- TRX
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FP Markets supports CFDs on popular cryptos including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin. Yet while you can speculate on price movements through CFDs, direct ownership of coins is not supported. FP Markets also doesn’t add up-and-coming tokens for crypto enthusiasts on the pulse.
Crypto Coins
- ADA
- BCH
- BTC
- DOG
- DOT
- EOS
- ETH
- LNK
- LTC
- RPL
- SOL
- XLM
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Trade 42 crypto CFDs including 10 crypto cross pairs and 32 fiat pairs with USD and EUR. This is a very competitive offering for a CFD broker that gives diverse and flexible trading options.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- BCH
- DSH
- EOS
- ETC
- ETH
- LTC
- XLM
- XMR
- XRP
- ZEC
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FXOpen offers over 40 crypto CFDs, including crypto-only pairs, as well as tokens paired with fiat currencies such as GBP, USD and JPY. You can trade crypto CFDs with 1:2 leverage and choose between three order types (market, limit, and stop) with scripts also available to auto trade crypto.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- BCH
- ETH
- LTC
- ETC
- EOS
- DSH
- XRP
- IOT
- XMR
- NEO
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CFD trading is available across a diverse selection of cryptocurrencies. This range includes not only leading cryptos like Bitcoin and Ethereum but also extends to smaller tokens such as Polkadot. These digital assets can be traded against a variety of global currencies, including the USD, JPY, and MXN, as well as precious metals like gold and silver, marking Hantec out from the majority of brokers who only offer cryptos paired with the USD.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- BCH
- XRP
- LTC
- ETH
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Take positions on popular cryptos against the US Dollar. Traders can go long or short with decent leverage up to 1:5. Clients of Dukascopy are also protected to the tune of CHF 100'000 in the event of broker insolvency.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- LTC
- BCH
- XLM
- DSH
- EOS
- TRX
- ADA
- UNI
- LNK
- MAT
- AVE
- MKR
- CMP
- ENJ
- YFI
- BAT
-
You can get exposure to micro Bitcoin futures through the CME Group’s centralized exchange, which is highly regulated by the US CFTC. Micro contracts allow you to trade a fractional size of one Bitcoin, giving you more risk control and order flexibility.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
-
Take positions on leading cryptos including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Ripple. Competitive spreads are available with no hidden fees and a stable trading platform.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- LTC
- XRP
- BCH
-
easyMarkets excels for serious crypto traders, featuring 20 popular digital tokens, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, paired with the US dollar. Its introduction of a BTC account also makes for a seamless user experience for dedicated crypto traders while cutting conversion fees.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- XRP
- ETH
- LTC
- BCH
- XLM
- ADA
- ALG
- SOL
- UNI
- DOT
- LNK
- ZEC
- OMG
- MTC
- DSH
- DOG
- XMR
- CHZ
- AVA
-
You can trade some of world's most popular digital coins with zero commission and leverage. FXCM also stands out for its crypto major basket which offers exposure to Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash in one trade.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- LTC
- BTC
-
BinaryCent offers trading on a decent list of cryptocurrencies, including major tokens like Bitcoin. The broker also accepts crypto deposits and withdrawals, making it straightforward to fund, trade and manage your activities in digital currencies.
Crypto Coins
- ZEC
- XRP
- XMR
- SAN
- OMG
- LTC
- BTC
- IOT
- ETH
- ETC
- EOS
- DSH
-
Trade popular crypto CFDs with leverage up to 1:30 and utilize convenient crypto funding in Bitcoin, Ethereum or other altcoins. You can also enjoy fully flexible, 24/7 crypto trading at home or on the go. Cryptos are paired with USD and CNY.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
-
Pepperstone continues to prove itself as one of the most trusted crypto brokers. Although its selection of digital tokens is average, you can trade popular cryptos like Bitcoin and altcoins like Ripple with up to 1:10 leverage, while its crypto indices provide a holistic view of the digital currency markets not found on most trading platforms.
Crypto Coins
- BCH
- BTC
- ETH
- LTC
- DASH
- ADA
- LINK
- DOGE
- EOS
- DOT
- XRP
- XLM
- XTZ
- UNI
- BNB
-
Spreadex offers spread betting on Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ether, Litecoin and Ripple in pairs with USD, allowing traders to make leveraged bets on crypto price movements through a derivative contract without owning the digital assets.
Crypto Coins
- BCH
- BTC
- ETH
- LTC
- XRP
-
Fusion Markets offers the best-known crypto tokens paired with USD, and up to 1:10 leverage depending on your location. Bitcoin spreads are competitive starting from 0.04%, while it shines for its top-notch charting tools in MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- BCH
- ADA
- ETH
- LTC
- EOS
- XLM
- DOT
- LNK
- AVAX
- SOL
- MATIC
- DOGE
- BNB
-
Focus Option clients can trade binary options on an extensive list of 80+ cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum plus smaller altcoins like Tron and 0x. Crypto CFDs are also available through the broker's mobile app with high leverage.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- XRP
- USDT
- BTC
- LTC
- ADA
- AAVE
- ATOM
- DOGE
- KSM
- CRO
- THETA
- LINK
- YFI
- YCC
- MATIC
- RUNE
- SOL
- MANA
- MIOTA
- XMONEY
- XMR
- SUSHI
- BAT
-
Axi provides 24/7 short-term trading opportunities on 30 popular cryptos paired with fiat currencies, other tokens and more unusually, metals. It also stands out with its high leverage up to 1:200 for advanced crypto traders, amplifying potential returns but also losses.
Crypto Coins
- BCH
- BNB
- BTC
- LTC
- OMG
- FTT
- BTC
- BCH
- DOG
- LTC
- XLM
- AAVE
- COMP
- LRC
- MKR
- SUSHI
- UNI
- BAT
- CRV
- ENJ
- LNK
- MANA
- MATIC
- SAND
- XRP
- LNK
- XRP
- KSM
- AVAX
- ETH
-
Binance is one of the world's largest crypto exchanges. There is a vast range of products available including Binance Pool, Staking and an NFT Marketplace.
Crypto Coins
- DOGE
- VET
- USDT
- BTC
- BNB
- ETH
- VTHO
- ADA
- ONE
- SOL
- NEO
- LINK
- XLM
- NANO
- LTC
- BUSD
- HBAR
- ALGO
- MANA
- ZIL
- ENJ
- BCH
- MATIC
- EGLD
- HNT
- EOS
- QTUM
- RVN
- DAI
- IOTA
-
Trade cryptocurrency CFDs on 11 popular digital tokens, including Bitcoin, Avalanche, and Dogecoin. Enjoy competitive floating spreads and accessible minimum lot sizes starting at just 0.01, perfect for aspiring crypto traders and experienced investors.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- ETH
- LTC
- XRP
-
Go long or short on popular cryptos against the USD and EUR
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- LTC
- ETH
- XRP
- SOL
- BNB
-
FXCC offers 8 of the most popular cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin. High leverage up to 1:10 is available on BTC and 1:5 on other cryptos. There are no restrictions on crypto trading strategies with Expert Advisors (EAs) also permitted.
Crypto Coins
- BTC
- BCH
- ETH
- LTC
- XMR
- ZEC
- DAS
- XRP
-
FxPro traders (outside the UK) can trade CFDs on over 25 popular cryptos, including Bitcoin and Ethereum as well as smaller tokens like Tron. In 2021, the broker introduced 24/7 trading on crypto, however where it stands out is its ultra-fast execution that lends it to active traders.
Crypto Coins
- BAT
- BCH
- BTC
- DOG
- DOT
- DSH
- EOS
- ETC
- ETH
- IOT
- LNK
- LTC
- NEO
- XLM
- XMR
- XRP
- ZEC
What is Bitcoin?
Cryptocurrencies, of which Bitcoin is the best known, are arguably the most significant technology development since the dawn of the internet. Bitcoin was first launched in 2009 and is now, along with a couple of the other of the more widely adopted cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, on the verge of a mainstream breakthrough. If, as currently seems inevitable, adoption does hit tipping point, cryptocurrencies are set to revolutionise financial transactions, the banking system and even the wider economy.
In a clear sign that cryptocurrencies are now taken seriously by the financial establishment, Bitcoin and others can now be traded online in the same way as fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar, British pound and euro. Several big, well known online trading platforms have introduced Bitcoin as a tradable instrument over the past couple of years and more are following.
Cryptocurrencies Explained
A natural starting point is a brief explanation of what cryptocurrencies are. The currencies we are familiar with and have used on a day-to-day basis throughout most of our lives are called fiat currencies. Fiat currencies are ‘centralised’ in the sense that they are controlled by an issuing central bank, like the Federal Reserve in the case of the U.S. dollar, which issues the currency.
Central banks can, in theory, issue as much ‘new’ fiat currency as they wish. Newly created fiat currency is then injected into the economy through the purchase of government bonds or loans. When transferred electronically between owners, fiat money requires a third party to process that transaction to ensure that the electronic currency is not ‘copied’.
The ability of a central bank to create as much fiat currency as it wishes, which reduces the value of all the currency already in circulation by increasing supply, is viewed by many as an inherent problem. Likewise, the requirement for a third party to process currency transfers between two entities.
Decentralised Banking
Cryptocurrencies are seen as the answer to those inherent ‘flaws’ in how fiat currency works. Created by software using cryptography, cryptocurrencies are ‘decentralised’. When a cryptocurrency is created there is a fixed volume of it that can never be added to. In bitcoin’s case, this is 21 million bitcoin units. The limited supply means that, in theory, individual currency units have inherent value than can never be entirely lost.
Cryptocurrency units are brought into circulation through an intensive computerised process of solving complex puzzles called ‘mining’. When computer processing power solves the crypto-graphed code of a unit of currency it is rewarded to the ‘miner’ and enters the supply in circulation. The pace of mined cryptocurrency units is adjusted through time by increasing the difficulty and amount of processing power required to solve the puzzles which limits supply and maintains relative value.
Blockchain Explained
Another aspect of cryptocurrencies’ decentralised character also eliminates the need for any third parties to process transactions to avoid the risk of ‘copying’ currency. Cryptocurrency ownership and transaction records are built on an electronic ledger system called ‘blockchain’ technology. Blockchain works by every holder of a cryptocurrency unit also holding a copy of the currency’s blockchain ledger.
When any transaction is made and a unit of the cryptocurrency changes ownership that transaction is updated on every copy of the ledger once verified. This means that units of the currency cannot be ‘copied’ like an mp3 file and also means that there is not any one point of weakness allowing security breaches to compromise the integrity of the system. An illegitimate alteration of one ledger will be spotted and reversed.
Why Bitcoin?
While all cryptocurrencies operate in much the same way on a technical level, they do have some differentiations that distinguish one from the others. The most significant differential of bitcoin, compared to other cryptocurrencies is that it is the most widely adopted, which history has shown to be key when it comes to any emerging technology format.
More exchanges, merchants, software and hardware support it. It’s adoption head start mean bitcoin is far more liquid than any other cryptocurrency. Many businesses have also now been built around it and many more are in the pipeline. Bitcoin has also proven the security of its system over 8 years, an advantage that means a lot.
While bitcoin is not guaranteed to end up as the core cryptocurrency, or one of a core few, it is certainly currently in the strongest position to achieve this status.
Trading Bitcoin
Bitcoin trading works in exactly the same way as trading any fiat currency. When trading bitcoin on a CFD or spread betting platform, the trader does not actually own units of the actual currency. Trading bitcoin doesn’t need to involve any deep technical understanding of how the cryptocurrency works. Traders simply take a position on how they predict its price will move in relation to the few major currencies brokers pair it with as a tradable instrument. The most common bitcoin currency pair is, predictably, BTC (bitcoin)/USD(U.S. dollar).
Brokers who offer bitcoin trading base their prices on the underlying market made available to them by the major exchanges and market-makers with which they trade. Some brokers are even now allowing traders to use bitcoin as their account’s base currency as an alternative to their local fiat currency.
Advantages
There are several reasons why bitcoin is an attractive instrument to trade. The first is that its decentralised quality means that unlike fiat currency trading there are no ‘market hours’ and bitcoin can also be traded 24/7. This is particularly attractive for non-professional traders who have day jobs and limited time to follow markets and take trading positions during the working week.
High volatility is another reason why bitcoin is popular with traders. As the market matures, bitcoin’s volatility would be expected to drop to something more akin to that of established fiat currencies. However, at least for now daily movement ranges of up to 3% are commonplace.
Double digit moves during particularly volatile periods are also not uncommon, meaning traders can potentially make much larger profits on bitcoin than with other tradable currencies. The flipside of this is of course that big losses can also be potentially sustained if a trader is wrong.
Non-correlation with other financial markets is another plus for bitcoin as a tradable instrument. Because it is not connected to any one local economy its value is not impacted by the same geo-political and localised economic events. This makes it a good hedge against other positions traded.
Disadvantages
We’ve already mentioned bitcoin’s volatility as a major advantage to trading it and that this must also be inherently counted as a disadvantage as the potential for bigger profits also means the same potential for bigger losses.
The other disadvantage to trading bitcoin is that its price movements result from different factors than those which impact fiat currency fluctuations. Bitcoin’s value is mainly impacted by events and news related to its rate of adoption and security so traders have to learn anew where to look for relevant information and how it influences price trends.
Bitcoin Chart
How To Invest in Bitcoin
There is now a significant degree of choice when it comes to where to trade bitcoin. As recently as six months to a year ago options were limited and mainly smaller brokers offered bitcoin/fiat pairs as a tradable CFD as a niche product. Now most of the big established brokers have also introduced bitcoin pairs, opening up the market. For those who already have a CFDs or spread betting trading account, there is a good chance your broker now offers bitcoin trading and if not will likely do so in the near future.
Investors have a choice of trading options;
- Invest in Bitcoin Directly.
Some brokers give direct access to cryptocurrencies including bitcoin. This allows traders to buy and bitcoin as an underlying asset, exactly as they can a commodity such as oil or gold. - Trade Bitcoin Exchange Rates.
Bitcoin is now being quoted alongside major forex pairs. So BTCUSD for example, is the rate of exchange for Bitcoin and the US dollar. Other pairs can be traded in the same way. A lack of correlation creates interesting diversification opportunities too. - Trade with Bitcoin
There are now broker who will accept bitcoin as a deposit method. Traders can fund their account, trade with, and be paid in cryptocurrencies. This is another step along the path to the currencies getting a genuine foothold.
Deposit With Bitcoin
As mentioned, brokers are now racing to be at the head of the queue for cryptocurrency traders. There are now brands that will accept deposits in Bitcoin. So a trader can fund their account, trade in a full range of assets in the usual way, and be paid in Bitcoin too.
One established, regulated brand offering this service is eToro. They led the way in allowing retail investors to access crypto, and are doing so again in allowing traders to fund accounts this way too: