Crypto CFD brokers: what you gain, and what you give up
These are not exchanges. A crypto CFD gives you exposure to the price and nothing you can withdraw — in return you get a firm that usually holds a genuine investment licence.
- Typical BTC spread
- —
- Regulation
- FCA
- Assets listed
- 30
You do NOT own the coin — contract only, no withdrawal
Open account- Typical BTC spread
- —
- Regulation
- FCA, CySEC
- Assets listed
- 25
You do NOT own the coin — contract only, no withdrawal
Open account- Typical BTC spread
- —
- Regulation
- CySEC, ASIC
- Assets listed
- 58
You do NOT own the coin — contract only, no withdrawal
Open account- Typical BTC spread
- —
- Regulation
- CySEC
- Assets listed
- —
You do NOT own the coin — contract only, no withdrawal
Open accountCost & scale
| Pepperstone | Capital.com | XM | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fees | — | — | — | — |
| Max leverage | 5× | 2× | —× | —× |
| Assets listed | 30 | 25 | 58 | — |
Trust & regulation
| Pepperstone | Capital.com | XM | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 85 | 85 | 75 | 78 |
| Regulation | FCA | FCA, CySEC | CySEC, ASIC | CySEC |
| Incidents on record | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Can I withdraw Bitcoin from a CFD broker?
No. A CFD is a contract on the price. You are never sent a coin and there is no wallet address to withdraw to. If owning the asset matters to you, use an exchange instead.
Why use a CFD broker for crypto at all?
Two honest reasons: the firm usually holds a real investment licence with conduct rules and negative-balance protection, and you can go short or use leverage in a regulated wrapper. You pay for that with spread and daily financing.
How much leverage can I use on crypto CFDs?
In the UK and EU, retail crypto CFD leverage is capped at 2:1. Offshore entities of the same brand may advertise far more — the cap that applies is the one for the entity that actually opens your account.
Do most people make money trading crypto CFDs?
No. Regulated brokers must publish the share of retail accounts that lose money, and it is typically between 70% and 80%. Treat any marketing that omits this as a warning sign.
We earn a commission on some links. It never changes the ranking — our method is published and the data is sourced.
Crypto is volatile and largely unregulated. CFDs are leveraged and most retail accounts lose money. Never risk money you cannot afford to lose.
Information only. This is not investment advice.