Combining two financial products, bitcoin binary options appeal to some aspiring crypto investors and experienced traders. In this guide, we explain how bitcoin binary options trading works. We’ve also vetted and listed the best brokers for bitcoin binary options trading.
Some brokers listed may not be regulated to offer binary options to retail investors in your country. Just because a firm accepts accounts from your location does not mean it is licensed. You may lose regulatory protections by opening an account.
Best Binary Options Brokers With Bitcoin
We've logged into all of these binary options platforms to check they offer Bitcoin with competitive payouts and trading conditions:
-
- Min. deposit: $5
- Payout %: 92% (218% on accumulator Express Trades)
- Expiry Times: 3 seconds - 4 hours
-
- Min. deposit: $5
- Payout %: 100%
- Expiry Times: 15 seconds - 365 days
-
- Min. deposit: $10
- Payout %: 98%
- Expiry Times: 5 seconds - 4 hours
-
- Min. deposit: $10
- Payout %: 95%
- Expiry Times: 60 seconds - 1 month
-
- Min. deposit: $5
- Payout %: 95%
- Expiry Times: 30 seconds - 1 month
-
- Min. deposit: $10
- Payout %: 93% (110% on InZone contracts)
- Expiry Times: 5 seconds - 23 hours
Learn how we test brokers and why you can trust our ratings.
Here is a short overview of each broker's pros and cons
- Pocket Option 4.2/5 Pocket Option offers ultra-short-term binaries from 3 seconds on one of the simplest web platforms for beginners. Typical payouts rival alternatives at 90%+ while the ‘Double Up’ and ‘Rollover’ features provide further opportunities to profit.
- Deriv 4.6/5 Deriv.com offers premium binary options on traditional and emerging financial markets with payouts up to 50,000 USD. Binaries are available 24/7, 365 days a year with around the clock customer support and one of the slickest trading platforms we've used.
- Quotex 4.4/5 Quotex continues its streak near the top of the industry with ultra-short-term binaries on a growing selection of 400+ assets and payouts up to 98%. The firm provides a web platform that delivers a smooth user experience with a clean design, multiple charting styles, dozens of indicators and daily signals for actionable trading ideas.
- IQ Option 4.0/5 IQ Option is a top-rated binary options and digital trading broker. Trade on a user-friendly platform with a low starting deposit. Simply decide whether the price of an asset will go up or down to win a predetermined payout up to 90%+.
- CloseOption 3.8/5 CloseOption offers binary options trading on 30+ fiat and digital currencies through an easy-to-use web-based platform. 15 contract timeframes are available from 30 seconds to 1 month, suiting both short-term and long-term traders. New users also get a joining gift.
- Olymp Trade 3.8/5 Olymp Trade offers fixed time trades (FTT) on a diverse but modest range of markets, from OTC currencies to composite indices. FTT commissions are charged between 5%-10% and you can trade with ultra-short time frames from 5 seconds. Payouts are available up to 93% for those who can afford the $2000 'Expert' status deposit.
Community Sentiment
See how users rate these brokers based on the average customer ratings submitted on DayTrading.com, plus ratings from Trustpilot, the Apple App Store and Google Play.
| Broker | Our Users' Rating | Trustpilot Score | Trustpilot Reviews | iOS App Rating | Android App Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket Option | - | - | - | ||
| Deriv | 73680 | ||||
| Quotex | - | - | - | ||
| IQ Option | - | - | |||
| CloseOption | - | - | - | - | |
| Olymp Trade | 1297 |
Pocket Option
Pocket Option stands out as one of the best binary brokers for active traders owing to its now industry-leading range of binary assets and frequent platform upgrades, including ‘AI Trading’ and a wider suite of expiry times, ranging from just 3 seconds up to 4 hours for short-term traders.
Jemma Grist, Reviewer
Pocket Option quick facts
- Minimum Deposit
- $5
- Payout %
- 92% (218% on accumulator Express Trades)
- Expiry Times
- 3 seconds - 4 hours
- Copy Trading
- ✔Yes
- Platforms
- Web, MT4, MT5
- Instruments
- Binary Options, Currencies, Commodities, Stocks, Indices, Cryptos
- Account Currencies
- USD
Pros
- The web platform shines for its straightforward design and usability that will appeal to beginners looking to speculate on popular financial markets in a few clicks
- Well-funded traders who deposit $1000+ can qualify for a 2%+ payout boost, more tradable assets and exclusive perks
- Pocket Option has introduced an ‘AI Trading’ feature that analyzes signals, technical indicators, and trader insights to determine the optimal trade direction and expiration time, though test carefully with small stakes given the limited transparency about how it works.
Cons
- Pocket Option offers a slimmed down iteration of the MT4 and MT5 that doesn't provide the full charting package for advanced traders
- Despite offering competitive payouts up to 92% on standard binaries and 218% on Express Trades (accumulator trades), some other binary brokers offer higher potential returns on standard binaries up to 98%
- You need to deposit $1000 to access the extended list of 250+ assets, otherwise just 130+ assets are available
Deriv
Deriv is ideal for active traders seeking alternative ways to speculate on global financial markets, from binaries, multipliers and accumulator options to its bespoke synthetic indices, which mimic real market movements and are available 24/7, allowing for continuous trading opportunities regardless of market hours. It remains one of the most trusted, longest-standing binary providers, earning the confidence of our team.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
Deriv quick facts
- Minimum Deposit
- $5
- Payout %
- 100%
- Expiry Times
- 15 seconds - 365 days
- Copy Trading
- ✘No
- Platforms
- Deriv Trader, Deriv X, Deriv Go, MT5, cTrader, TradingView
- Instruments
- CFDs, Multipliers, Accumulators, Synthetic Indices, Forex, Stocks, Options, Commodities, ETFs
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP
Pros
- Although response times trail alternatives in our personal experience, Deriv offers 24/7 support and is one of the few brokers to offer WhatsApp assistance.
- Deriv has doubled its leverage on ETFs, from 1:5 to 1:10, providing greater potential returns with the same outlay, though of course leverage cuts both ways - losses too are amplified.
- After integrating direct TradingView trading and adding MT5 web trader, Deriv now offers a first-class selection of charting tools across desktop, web and mobile devices.
Cons
- While the Academy launched in 2021 is a step in the right direction, there is limited education on advanced trading topics for seasoned traders and no live webinars to upskill new traders.
- Apart from the MFSA in the EU, Deriv lacks top-tier regulatory credentials, reducing the level of safeguards like access to investor compensation.
- Leverage up to 1:1000 will appeal to traders with a large risk appetite but frustratingly there is no ability to flex the leverage in the account area.
Quotex
Quotex may suit active traders seeking fast, fixed-return trades with above-average payouts of up to 98%. The fast, fully digital onboarding process and low $10 minimum deposit also make it especially accessible for aspiring traders. The binary platform is regularly improved, featuring daily trading signals and a genuinely intuitive interface.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
Quotex quick facts
- Minimum Deposit
- $10
- Payout %
- 98%
- Expiry Times
- 5 seconds - 4 hours
- Copy Trading
- ✔Yes
- Platforms
- Web Platform
- Instruments
- Binary Options on Stocks, Indices, Forex, Commodities, Cryptos
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, INR, JPY, MYR, IDR, RUB, BRL, NGN, THB, VND, UAH
Pros
- A free demo account with $10,000 in virtual funds lets new traders practice strategies and test the platform without risking real money. It's an excellent tool for beginners to gain experience.
- Quotex lets you start trading with just $10, making it accessible for beginners and those wanting to test the platform with minimal risk. Withdrawals also start from $10, allowing easy access to funds.
- The web-based platform and app are intuitive based on our hands-on tests, with a clean design and simple order execution. They include multiple indicators and built-in trading signals, making them practical solutions for both beginners and more experienced traders.
Cons
- Quotex is an offshore broker operating in a jurisdiction known for loose regulatory oversight. Unlike regulated brokers, it does not offer the same level of investor protection, dispute resolution, or fund security, making it riskier.
- Quotex offers few market analysis tools and lacks real-time financial news, economic calendars, or in-depth research reports. Educational resources, such as courses, webinars, and expert insights, are also absent, making it less ideal for beginners.
- Customer service is mainly available via a ticketing system, which can lead to slow response times in our experience. Some competitors provide 24/7 live chat and phone support, ensuring you get help quickly during technical or withdrawal problems.
IQ Option
After a raft of upgrades, including FX options, multipliers, added indicators and longer expiries - IQ Option is best suited to active short-term traders who want a user-friendly, fast platform for digital options alongside CFDs and multipliers in one place. With a track record stretching back to 2013, it's also one of the most established binary providers.
William Berg, Reviewer
IQ Option quick facts
- Minimum Deposit
- $10
- Payout %
- 95%
- Expiry Times
- 60 seconds - 1 month
- Copy Trading
- ✘No
- Platforms
- Own
- Instruments
- CFD, Forex, Crypto, Stocks, Digital Options
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, ZAR
Pros
- High payouts on binary options
- User-friendly platform for beginners
- Excellent range of payment methods
Cons
- No MetaTrader 4 integration
- €10 inactivity fee after 90 days
CloseOption
CloseOption is the most accessible binary broker we’ve evaluated for newer traders – signing up takes less than 5 minutes, the starting deposit is just $5, and the smallest stake is $1. CloseOption is also suitable for traders who want to compete in binary trading competitions, with weekly tournaments and cash prizes up to $1,000, as well as some winners getting $500 in prop trading accounts.
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer
CloseOption quick facts
- Minimum Deposit
- $5
- Payout %
- 95%
- Expiry Times
- 30 seconds - 1 month
- Copy Trading
- ✘No
- Platforms
- Own
- Instruments
- Binary Options on Forex & Cryptos
- Account Currencies
- USD
Pros
- Multiple global payment methods are available
- Crypto withdrawals lowered to USDT at $1, Bitcoin (BTC) at $10, and Ethereum (ETH) at $20
- CloseOption offers weekly trading tournaments with cash prizes
Cons
- CloseOption is not regulated by a well-regarded trading authority
- Binary options are only available on fiat and digital currencies
- Clients need to deposit $50,000+ to qualify for the best payouts
Olymp Trade
OlympTrade is built for short-term traders with contracts from just 5 seconds and fast execution. It also stands out as one of the few fixed time trade brokers to offer trading on ETFs, plus composite indexes, while its customer support excelled during testing, especially on live chat, where we got responses of under 1 minute. The trade-off is weak regulatory oversight making it higher risk.
Jemma Grist, Reviewer
Olymp Trade quick facts
- Minimum Deposit
- $10
- Payout %
- 93% (110% on InZone contracts)
- Expiry Times
- 5 seconds - 23 hours
- Copy Trading
- ✘No
- Platforms
- Olymptrade Platform
- Instruments
- Forex, CFD, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, ETFs, OTC, Fixed Time Trades
- Account Currencies
- USD
Pros
- Beginner-friendly blog section with analytics, trading education and market news
- Fixed time trades (FTT) on popular markets with payouts up to 93%
- Commission discounts up to 20% for experienced investors
Cons
- Only one proprietary platform available, with no access to popular third-party software such as MT4 or cTrader
- Weak regulatory oversight and offshore registration means traders receive limited statutory mandated safeguards
- Very limited range of charting tools and indicators on the platform
How Bitcoin Binary Options Work
Binary options are a form of fixed-odds financial betting. Depending on the outcome of a “yes/no” condition, there are typically just two possibilities: the trader either receives a payout or loses their stake. Usually, the trader bets on whether the price of an asset will be over or under a set strike price at a particular expiry time. If the trader is successful, the option is said to have expired “in the money”.
In bitcoin binary options trading, the underlying asset is, of course, bitcoin. Expiry times can last anywhere from 30 seconds to a whole day. As an example, imagine you bet $10 that bitcoin’s price will be above $60,000 by 11:00 AM. Your binary options broker offers you a payout of 80%. If you are correct, you receive $18 from the broker, else you lose your $10 bet. Binary options can also sometimes be closed before the expiration date with a reduced payout.
Bitcoin binary options trading is a high-risk, high-reward activity: losses usually outweigh potential returns. With a payout of 70%, traders need to be winning over 60% of the time to make money. Such a success rate is difficult to achieve without an effective trading strategy. After all, bitcoin binary options brokers function essentially like bookmakers – they need to turn a profit.
Bitcoin Explained
Bitcoin is the world’s most famous and widely traded cryptocurrency. Unlike traditional government-issued currencies, bitcoin exists only as a string of data stored on a blockchain. Bitcoin first pioneered blockchain technology, which now underpins all of the many digital currencies.
A blockchain acts as a ledger of every interaction on the bitcoin network. Users known as miners perform the calculations necessary to verify transactions, keeping the blockchain secure. As a reward for mining, they are paid in bitcoin currency (BTC).
Bitcoin has a volatile trading history, with its value going through several rallies and crashes since its inception in 2009. Despite not being accepted as legal tender in most countries, it remains a popular investment. There are now several ways to profit from the digital currency, including bitcoin binary options trading, which allows traders to bet on BTC’s short-term price movements.
How To Start Trading Bitcoin Binary Options
Step 1: Choose A Broker
Factors to consider when choosing a binary options broker include:
Payments
The best bitcoin binary options brokers offer accessible, low-cost deposits and withdrawals. Some brokers require a minimum deposit, typically ranging from $0 to $100. Crypto enthusiasts, on the other hand, may prefer a platform that accepts bitcoin. With that said, if a platform only uses BTC for deposits, be wary, as some dodgy brokers use this tactic to make them harder to trace.
Security
Unfortunately, the bitcoin binary options space is rife with scams. Some fraudulent platforms steal traders’ deposits while others manipulate trading conditions. As a result, it’s important to read platform reviews before registering for an account. It’s also worth being wary of brokers that offer huge profits with low risk.
Demo Accounts
Demo accounts can be a good way to get to grips with bitcoin binary options trading. These accounts allow traders to practice with a limited amount of virtual capital. Many bitcoin binary options brokers offer demo accounts free of charge to new clients.
Bonuses
Brokers often offer attractive deposit bonuses to new BTC binary options traders, however, it’s worth comparing the various promotions on offer. If a bonus seems too good to be true, it might be – only accept promotional offers from reputable firms. Untrustworthy brokers sometimes use deposit bonuses to prevent clients from withdrawing funds, so make sure you read the terms and conditions.
Step 2: Create A Strategy
Many brokers now offer several different contracts for bitcoin binary options trading:
- Over/Under: The classic binary options trade. Clients bet on whether bitcoin’s value will be over or under the strike price by the expiry.
- In/Out: The bet is placed on whether bitcoin’s price will fall inside or outside a particular range. Also known as the ‘tunnel’.
- Touch/No Touch: If bitcoin’s price ‘touches’ a set value before it expires, the trader receives an immediate payout.
- Ladder: Similar to up/down trades, the ladder has strike prices that are staggered up or down. These normally involve a substantial price move to reach. Payouts are often higher than in other contracts, though.
- Highline/Lowline: The trader wins if the Highline target price is higher than the current price, while the Lowline is lower than the current price.
It’s worth remembering that short-term fluctuations in bitcoin’s price are driven by supply and demand. The key to predicting the price movement of BTC is in deciphering the behaviour of other traders. To do this, it is helpful to know how to interpret important charts (like candlesticks) and be familiar with a few technical indicators.
Step 3: Take A Position And Time Your Entry
Is bitcoin’s price going to rise or fall before the option expires? This call will decide what type of binary option you buy. Once you’ve chosen a bullish or bearish position, the final step is timing your entry into the market. Deciding when to hit buy will depend on your strategy, and should be informed by technical analysis.
Pros Of Trading Bitcoin Binary Options
Advantages of investing in bitcoin binary options include:
- Simple, fixed-odds trading – Binary options have two outcomes: win or lose, with a set expiry time. This reduces the number of factors traders have to take into consideration, like when to sell.
- Limited losses – It is impossible to lose more than your initial stake when bitcoin binary options trading.
- Good for crypto experts – Traders familiar with the behaviour of cryptocurrency markets can use bitcoin binary options to exploit trends.
- High volume – Short-term BTC binary options trades can be repeated many times over the course of a single day.
- 24-hour trading – Crypto markets are always open, and the majority of binary options platforms offer round the clock trading.
Cons Of Trading Bitcoin Binary Options
Drawbacks of bitcoin binary options trading include:
- Risks – The payouts for most short-term bitcoin binary options tend to be small (less than 70%). Options which have larger payouts are unlikely to pay off. This means that the odds are generally stacked in favour of the broker.
- Limited trading tools – Many binary options trading platforms have a smaller range of trading tools than other brokers, although the situation is improving. Technical charts and indicators are often key to successful bitcoin binary options strategies.
- Possible scams – Dodgy brokers are common in the bitcoin binary options world. However, by taking the necessary precautions (outlined above), traders can avoid being defrauded.
Bottom line
Bitcoin binary options can be a lucrative tool in a trader’s toolbox: they are a simple, straightforward form of trading. By using a well-designed strategy, some bitcoin binary options traders can use their technical knowledge to turn a profit.
To avoid potential scams, traders should approach all new platforms with caution, making use of a demo account where possible. Head to our list of top bitcoin binary options trading brokers to get started today.
FAQ
Are Bitcoin Binary Options Legal?
Some territories, like the UK, have prevented brokers from offering bitcoin binary options trading. However, individuals from these countries can still trade BTC options by using a firm based abroad, though they may receive limited legal protection.
Are Bitcoin Binary Options A Good Investment?
Bitcoin binary options are high risk, even for experienced crypto traders. Without an effective trading strategy, it may be difficult to turn a profit. Whether they’re right for you depends on your risk appetite and strategy.
Are Bitcoin Binary Options Brokers Safe?
Fraudulent binary options brokers are all-too-common online. Both bitcoin and binary options are high risk on their own, and when combined into a single trading vehicle, so they cannot be thought of as safe.
Do Binary Options Brokers Accept Bitcoin?
A number of binary options brokers will let you deposit in bitcoin. Beware of brokers who only accept bitcoin, however, as this may make it difficult to get your money back.
Can I Trade Binary Options Using A Cryptocurrency Other Than Bitcoin?
Yes, several brokers offer binary options trading using cryptos other than bitcoin, including Pocket Option, Deriv, IQ Option and Quotex.