Best Crypto Brokers and Trading Platforms in 2024

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Written By
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Michael MacKenzie
Michael is a writer and editor with over a decade in journalism and publishing. His niche lies in editing and fact-checking content in the financial services sector, with a focus on online brokers and trading platforms. Michael previously reported on politics and economics in the Middle East and edits books for established publishers.
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James Barra
James is an investment writer with a background in financial services. As a former management consultant, he has worked on major operational transformation programmes at prominent European banks. James authors, edits and fact-checks content for a series of investing websites.
Updated

Crypto brokers offer a way to trade cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin that’s safer than directly buying and selling tokens on exchanges, many of which we’ve seen go bankrupt following high-profile scandals.

We’ve evaluated dozens of platforms to find you the best cryptocurrency brokers, taking into account:

  • The trustworthiness of the crypto broker
  • The number of digital tokens available
  • The usability of the trading platform and app
  • The fees you will incur placing short-term crypto trades
  • The unique selling points that distinguish the top crypto brokers

Best Brokers For Cryptocurrency Trading In 2024

Our exhaustive reviews show that these are the 10 best crypto brokers and trading platforms in September 2024. Every cryptocurrency broker listed we assessed using either a real money or test account.

Click a broker for details
  1. 1
    eToro USA
    Invest $100 and get $10
    https://www.daytrading.com/ is not an affiliate and may be compensated if you access certain products or services offered by the MSB and/or the BD.

    Ratings
    4.3 / 5
    3 / 5
    3.9 / 5
    3.4 / 5
    4 / 5
    3 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4 / 5

    $10
    $10
    SEC, FINRA
    Stocks, Options, ETFs, Crypto
    eToro Trading Platform & CopyTrader
    ACH Transfer, Debit Card, PayPal, Wire Transfer
    USD
  2. 2
    Interactive Brokers

    Ratings
    4.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    3 / 5
    4.4 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.5 / 5

    $0
    $100
    1:50
    FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM
    Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies
    Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, eSignal, TradingCentral
    Cheque, ACH Transfer, Wire Transfer, Automated Customer Account Transfer Service, TransferWise, Debit Card
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF
  3. 3
    NinjaTrader

    Ratings
    4.3 / 5
    2.8 / 5
    2.9 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    4 / 5
    4 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    3 / 5
    3.2 / 5

    $0
    0.01 Lots
    1:50
    NFA, CFTC
    Forex, Stocks, Options, Commodities, Futures, Crypto
    NinjaTrader Desktop, Web & Mobile, eSignal
    ACH Transfer, Debit Card, Wire Transfer
    USD
  4. 4
    IG
    Forex trading involves risk. Losses can exceed deposits.

    Ratings
    4.9 / 5
    4 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    4.8 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    4.9 / 5
    5 / 5
    4.6 / 5
    4 / 5

    $0
    0.01 Lots
    1:30 (Retail), 1:250 (Pro)
    FCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA, FINMA, CONSOB, AFM
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting
    Web, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, MT4, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
    PayPal, Wire Transfer, Mastercard, Credit Card, Visa, Debit Card
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, ZAR, SEK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD
  5. 5
    OANDA US
    CFDs are not available to residents in the United States.

    Ratings
    4.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    2.8 / 5
    4 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    4.7 / 5
    3.7 / 5

    $0
    0.01 Lots
    1:50
    NFA, CFTC
    Forex, Crypto with Paxos (Cryptocurrencies are offered through Paxos. Paxos is a separate legal entity from OANDA)
    OANDA Trade, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist
    Wire Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Debit Card, ACH Transfer
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD
  6. 6
    Uphold
    Terms Apply. Cryptoassets are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk.

    Ratings
    3 / 5
    0 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    2.3 / 5
    0 / 5
    0 / 5
    4.6 / 5
    4.4 / 5

    $0
    $1
    Cryptos
    Desktop Platform, Mobile App
    Wire Transfer, ACH Transfer, Bitcoin Payments, Debit Card, Credit Card, Mastercard, Visa, Ethereum Payments
    USD, EUR, GBP
  7. 7
    IQCent
    20% to 200% Deposit Bonus

    Ratings
    2.5 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    2.4 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    2.5 / 5
    3 / 5
    2 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.1 / 5

    $250
    $0.01
    1:500
    IFMRRC
    Binary Options, CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto
    Online Platform, TradingView
    Credit Card, Debit Card, Wire Transfer, Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum Payments, Visa, Mastercard
    USD, EUR
  8. 8
    Zacks Trade

    $2500
    $3
    FINRA
    Stocks, ETFs, Cryptos, Options, Bonds
    Own
    Wire Transfer, ACH Transfer, Cheque
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, INR, JPY, ZAR, TRY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD, RUB, PLN, CZK, HUF
  9. 9
    CloseOption
    $10 Welcome Gift

    $5
    $1
    National Bank of Georgia
    Binary Options on Forex & Cryptos
    Own
    PayPal, WebMoney, Mastercard, Perfect Money, Wire Transfer, Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum Payments
    USD
  10. 10
    xChief
    $100 No Deposit Bonus

    $10
    0.01 Lots
    1:1000
    VFSC
    CFDs, Forex, Metals, Commodities, Stocks, Indices
    MT4, MT5
    Wire Transfer, Bitcoin Payments, Credit Card, UnionPay, Skrill, Neteller, WebMoney, Perfect Money, Debit Card, Ethereum Payments, FasaPay, Volet
    USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF

This is why we think these brokers are the best in this category:

  1. eToro USA - eToro US offers 24 tradeable cryptoassets, with just a 1% buying/selling fee added to the spread. Additionally, there are 80 different coins available through the broker’s proprietary wallet service. You can also practice your crypto strategies easily by switching between live and demo mode. Crypto asset investing is highly volatile and unregulated. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply.
  2. Interactive Brokers - 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.
  3. NinjaTrader - 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.
  4. IG - IG's modest selection of 11 crypto CFDs trails top crypto brokers like Vantage which offers 40+ tokens. That said, it stands out with its crypto index, which tracks the value of the top 10 digital currencies by market cap and provides a holistic way to speculate on the value of the crypto market.
  5. OANDA US - Cryptocurrency trading is offered via Paxos, a separate entity from Oanda. You can speculate on the world’s biggest cryptos by market cap. Commissions are lower than many peers starting at 0.25%. Through the broker’s partnership with Paxos, clients can spot trade cryptocurrencies on the itBit exchange through the OANDA native platform.
  6. Uphold - 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.
  7. IQCent - 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%.
  8. Zacks Trade - 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.
  9. CloseOption - 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.
  10. xChief - 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.

Best Crypto Brokers and Trading Platforms in 2024 Comparison

Best Crypto Brokers and Trading Platforms in 2024 Comparison
Broker Bitcoin Trading Crypto Spread Crypto App Minimum Deposit
eToro USA logo
BTC 0.75% iOS & Android $10
Interactive Brokers logo
0.12%-0.18% iOS & Android $0
NinjaTrader logo
Floating iOS & Android $0
IG logo
Variable iOS & Android $0
OANDA US logo
$100 iOS & Android $0
Uphold logo
Up to 1.5% iOS & Android $0
IQCent logo
Variable iOS & Android $250
Zacks Trade logo
0.18% fee per trade iOS & Android $2500
CloseOption logo
No fee - payouts approx. 40% (Copper) iOS & Android $5
xChief logo
Variable iOS & Android $10

eToro USA

"eToro remains a top pick for traders looking for leading social investing and copy trading services. With a low deposit, zero commissions and an intuitive platform, the broker will meet the needs of newer day traders."

Jemma Grist, Reviewer

eToro USA Quick Facts

Bonus OfferInvest $100 and get $10
CoinsBTC, ETH, BCH, DASH, LTC, ETC, MIOTA, XLM, EOS, NEO, ZEC, XTZ, MKR, COMP, LINK, UNI, YFI, DOGE, AAVE, ALGO, MANA, ENJ, BAT, MATIC, FLR, SHIBxM
Crypto MiningNo
Auto Market MakerNo
Crypto SpreadBTC 0.75%
Crypto LendingNo
Crypto StakingNo
PlatformseToro Trading Platform & CopyTrader
Minimum Deposit$10
RegulatorSEC, FINRA
Account CurrenciesUSD

Pros

  • The broker's Academy offers comprehensive learning materials for beginners to advanced-level investors
  • The online broker offers an intuitive social investment network with straightforward copy trading on cryptos
  • The $10 minimum deposit and straightforward account opening process means beginners can get started quickly

Cons

  • There's a narrower range of day trading instruments available compared to competitors, with only stocks, ETFs and cryptos
  • There's no MetaTrader 4 platform integration for traders who are accustomed to using third-party charting tools
  • The proprietary terminal doesn't support trading bots and there are no additional stock market analysis tools

Interactive Brokers

"Interactive Brokers is one of the best brokers for advanced day traders, providing powerful charting platforms, real-time data, and customizable layouts, notably through the new IBKR Desktop application. Its superb pricing and advanced order options also make it highly attractive for day traders, while its diverse range of equities is still among the best in the industry."

Christian Harris, Reviewer

Interactive Brokers Quick Facts

CoinsBTC, LTC, ETH, XRP
Crypto MiningNo
Auto Market MakerNo
Crypto Spread0.12%-0.18%
Crypto LendingNo
Crypto StakingNo
PlatformsTrader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, eSignal, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit$0
RegulatorFCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF

Pros

  • The new IBKR Desktop platform takes the best of TWS while adding bespoke tools like Option Lattice and Screeners with MultiSort to create a genuinely impressive trading experience for day traders at every level.
  • IBKR continues to deliver unmatched access to global stocks with tens of thousands of equities available from 100+ market centres in 24 countries.
  • The TWS platform has clearly been built for intermediate and advanced traders and comes with over 100 order types and a reliable real-time market data feed that rarely goes offline.

Cons

  • Support can be slow and frustrating based on tests, so you might find it challenging to reach customer service representatives promptly or encounter delays in resolving issues.
  • IBKR provides a wide range of research tools, but their distribution across trading platforms and the web-based 'Account Management' page lacks consistency, leading to a confusing user experience.
  • TWS’s learning curve is steep, and beginners may find it challenging to navigate the platform and understand all the features. Plus500's web platform is much better suited to new traders.

NinjaTrader

"NinjaTrader continues to meet the demands of active futures traders looking for low fees and premium analysis tools. The platform hosts top-rate charting features including hundreds of indicators and 10+ chart types."

Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

NinjaTrader Quick Facts

CoinsBTC
Crypto MiningNo
Auto Market MakerNo
Crypto SpreadFloating
Crypto LendingNo
Crypto StakingNo
PlatformsNinjaTrader Desktop, Web & Mobile, eSignal
Minimum Deposit$0
RegulatorNFA, CFTC
Account CurrenciesUSD

Pros

  • NinjaTrader is a widely respected and award-winning futures broker and is heavily authorized by the NFA and CFTC
  • NinjaTrader continues to deliver comprehensive charting software for active day traders with bespoke technical indicators and widgets
  • Traders can get free platform access and trade simulation capabilities in the unlimited demo

Cons

  • The premium platform tools come with an extra charge
  • Non forex and futures trading requires signing up with partner brokers
  • There is a withdrawal fee on some funding methods

IG

"IG continues to provide a comprehensive package with an intuitive web platform and best-in-class education for beginners, plus advanced charting tools, real-time data, and fast execution speeds for experienced day traders."

Christian Harris, Reviewer

IG Quick Facts

CoinsBTC, BCH, LTC, ETH, ADA, DOT, DOGE, LINK, UNI, XLM
Crypto MiningNo
Auto Market MakerNo
Crypto SpreadVariable
Crypto LendingNo
Crypto StakingNo
PlatformsWeb, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, MT4, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit$0
RegulatorFCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA, FINMA, CONSOB, AFM
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, ZAR, SEK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD

Pros

  • IG offers an extensive collection of professional and engaging educational resources, including webinars, articles, and analysis
  • The proprietary web-based platform continues to caters to traders of all levels, with advanced charting tools and real-time market data useful for day trading
  • The IG app offers a superb mobile trading experience with a clean design that helped it secure Runner Up at our Best Trading App award

Cons

  • While there is negative balance protection in the UK and EU, there is no account protection or guaranteed stop losses for US clients
  • IG applies an inactivity fee of $12 per month after 2 years, deterring casual investors
  • IG has discontinued its swap-free account, reducing its appeal to Islamic traders

OANDA US

"OANDA remains an excellent broker for US day traders seeking a user-friendly platform with premium analysis tools and a straightforward joining process. OANDA is also heavily regulated with a very high trust score."

Jemma Grist, Reviewer

OANDA US Quick Facts

CoinsBTC, ETH, LTC, BCH, PAXG, LINK, UNI, AAVE
Crypto MiningNo
Auto Market MakerNo
Crypto Spread$100
Crypto LendingNo
Crypto StakingNo
PlatformsOANDA Trade, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist
Minimum Deposit$0
RegulatorNFA, CFTC
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD

Pros

  • Beginners can get started easily with $0 minimum initial deposit
  • OANDA is a reliable, trustworthy and secure brand with authorization from tier-one regulators including the CFTC
  • The proprietary OANDA web platform continues to deliver a highly competitive charting environment, including 65+ technical indicators powered by TradingView

Cons

  • There's only a small range of payment methods available, with no e-wallets supported
  • It's a shame that customer support is not available on weekends
  • The range of day trading markets is limited to forex and cryptos only

Uphold

"Uphold remains a top choice for crypto investors looking for a one-stop-shop solution to accessing the markets. There are over 250 tokens to buy, sell and trade through flexible platform options."

William Berg, Reviewer

Uphold Quick Facts

CoinsBTC, 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, BTG, CSPR, COMP, CRV, DASH, DCR, DGB, DOGE, DOT, EGLD and many more
Crypto MiningNo
Auto Market MakerNo
Crypto SpreadUp to 1.5%
Crypto LendingNo
Crypto StakingYes
PlatformsDesktop Platform, Mobile App
Minimum Deposit$0
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP

Pros

  • Two-step authentication bolsters user security
  • The proprietary app is extremely easy to use with a slick design and navigation
  • Uphold continues to remain ahead of the industry, often being one of the first platforms to list new crypto tokens

Cons

  • There is a 2.49% fee if you want to use debit or credit cards
  • The charting analysis features on the platform trail specialist exchanges
  • Uphold operates with limited regulatory oversight

IQCent

"IQCent will appeal to day traders looking for a straightforward binary options and CFD trading platform with low fees, a range of accounts, and copy trading. Getting started takes less than 1 minute and a $250 deposit. "

Jemma Grist, Reviewer

IQCent Quick Facts

Bonus Offer20% to 200% Deposit Bonus
CoinsBTC, ETH, LTC, ETC, DOGE, MATIC, QNT, SOL, XRP, USDT, XMR, BNB
Crypto MiningNo
Auto Market MakerNo
Crypto SpreadVariable
Crypto LendingNo
Crypto StakingNo
PlatformsOnline Platform, TradingView
Minimum Deposit$250
RegulatorIFMRRC
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR

Pros

  • CFD trading fees are competitive based on tests, including 0.7 pips on major forex pairs such as EUR/USD
  • Keen traders can take part in trading contests with cash prizes
  • There's an accessible $0.01 minimum stake for new day traders with a small budget

Cons

  • The broker is not overseen by a respected regulator, though this is common among binary options firms
  • IQCent trails binary brokers like Quotex with its narrow investment offering of around 100 assets with no stocks
  • IQCent charges a punitive $10 monthly inactivity fee if you fail to place at least 1 trade per month

Zacks Trade

"Zacks Trade will suit active day traders with experience using powerful platforms. Fees and margin rates are low while the market research is excellent."

Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

Zacks Trade Quick Facts

Crypto MiningNo
Auto Market MakerNo
Crypto Spread0.18% fee per trade
Crypto LendingNo
Crypto StakingNo
PlatformsOwn
Minimum Deposit$2500
RegulatorFINRA
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, INR, JPY, ZAR, TRY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD, RUB, PLN, CZK, HUF

Pros

  • Regulated by FINRA with access to the Securities Investor Protection Corporation
  • Customizable proprietary trading platform and mobile app
  • 20+ account denominations

Cons

  • Shortcomings regarding platform loading times and technical glitches
  • No forex, commodities or futures trading
  • Withdrawal fees apply if removing funds more than once per month

CloseOption

"CloseOption is a good pick for traders seeking a user-friendly binary options platform with high payouts and joining bonuses."

Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

CloseOption Quick Facts

Bonus Offer$10 Welcome Gift
CoinsBTC, BCH, ETH, LTC, XBT
Crypto MiningNo
Auto Market MakerNo
Crypto SpreadNo fee - payouts approx. 40% (Copper)
Crypto LendingNo
Crypto StakingNo
PlatformsOwn
Minimum Deposit$5
RegulatorNational Bank of Georgia
Account CurrenciesUSD

Pros

  • Multiple global payment methods are available
  • CloseOption offers weekly trading tournaments with cash prizes
  • New traders can get started with a $5 minimum deposit

Cons

  • CloseOption is not regulated by a well-regarded trading authority
  • Clients need to deposit $50,000+ to qualify for the best payouts
  • Binary options are only available on fiat and digital currencies

xChief

"xChief continues to prove popular with investors looking to trade highly leveraged CFDs on the popular MetaTrader platforms. The broker's rebate scheme and investment accounts will particularly appeal to seasoned traders. However, the lack of top-tier regulatory oversight is a major drawback."

William Berg, Reviewer

xChief Quick Facts

Bonus Offer$100 No Deposit Bonus
CoinsBTC, BCH, ETH, LTC, XRP
Crypto MiningNo
Auto Market MakerNo
Crypto SpreadVariable
Crypto LendingNo
Crypto StakingNo
PlatformsMT4, MT5
Minimum Deposit$10
RegulatorVFSC
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF

Pros

  • The low minimum deposit of $10 will appeal to beginners, as well as the beginners’ guides in the Library
  • Traders can access a copy trading solution via the MetaQuotes Signals service
  • xChief delivers a high-quality day trading environment via the MT4 and MT5 platforms, with market-leading charts, indicators and tools

Cons

  • The Classic+ and Cent accounts provide access to fewer instruments than the other account types, at 50+ and 35+, respectively
  • The broker trails competitors when it comes to research tools and educational resources
  • The total range of 150+ assets is much lower than most competitors who typically offer hundreds

Regulatory variations may result in the unavailability of specific crypto brokers in some regions.

How Did DayTrading.com Choose The Best Crypto Brokers?

  • We selected crypto brokers that year after year have earned the trust of our in-house experts, helping to ensure your funds are secure. AvaTrade excels as a highly trusted crypto broker with authorization from 9 regulators, including 4 top-rate bodies.
  • We favored online crypto brokers that offer an excellent range of cryptocurrencies, from major tokens like Bitcoin to up-and-coming tokens, ensuring you have a wide range of trading opportunities. XTB stands out with a list of 45+ digital currencies, including crypto-fiat pairs like BTC/USD and crypto-crypto pairs like ETH/BTC.
  • We chose cryptocurrency brokers with platforms and apps that offer a terrific user experience with an easy-to-use design for beginners and excellent analysis tools for advanced traders. OANDA continues to tick these boxes for us, with OANDA Trade excelling for its ease of use and MetaTrader 4 serving advanced day traders.
  • We prioritized cryptocurrency brokers with low fees because we’ve seen that high costs can seriously erode the profits of active day traders, in particular. IC Markets routinely impresses for its low fees, with tight spreads from 8.710 on Bitcoin, as well as no inactivity fees that can penalize casual investors.
  • We opted for crypto brokers with unique features that elevate the trading experience and your ability to discover market opportunities. Eightcap continues to impress here with its Crypto Crusher market scanner that’s great for finding live trading ideas.

Find out more about how we test.

Methodology snapshot

What Is A Crypto Broker?

Crypto brokers provide an online platform to trade cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC).

Unlike crypto exchanges that are generally used to buy and sell digital currencies directly and often operate with little to no regulatory oversight, brokers can be established firms that deal in other asset classes and have obtained multiple regulatory licenses, so we consider them as a more reliable and trustworthy way to trade cryptocurrencies.

Some cryptocurrency brokers may allow traders to directly buy and sell the crypto tokens, but most will provide trading through derivatives like CFDs.

These derivatives typically allow for leveraged trading, meaning you can magnify your profits (or losses) by a factor, though this is often at levels far below those mandated for other assets due to crypto’s volatility.

For example, the majority of crypto brokers we’ve reviewed offer 1:2 leverage on cryptocurrencies, while retail trading on traditional currencies is often available up to 1:30 in major jurisdictions like Europe.

Should I Trade With A Crypto Broker Or Crypto Exchange?

Crypto exchanges like Binance offer popular ways to trade tokens, since their clients can place buy and sell orders in the same way as you would on a stock exchange.

In addition, some exchanges offer margin trading and decentralized finance (DeFi) functionality that lets you put your digital assets to work.

So, why sign up with crypto brokers?

There are many good reasons – and foremost among them is safety. From the 2014 collapse of the Mt. Gox exchange to 2022’s FTX fiasco, the largely unregulated exchanges have time and again fallen foul of poor management, unscrupulous business practices or bankruptcy, losing clients’ assets worth billions.

Brokers offer similar services to exchanges, but many are overseen by reputable regulators, reducing the risk factor in our view. Although, it’s important to note that not every cryptocurrency broker is regulated for their activities in digital currency trading.

Since they are generally not wholly invested in the crypto sector, online brokers are also usually better able to withstand the crypto markets’ wild swings. eToro, for example, offers stocks and commodities as well as cryptocurrencies.

Finally, many cryptocurrency brokers offer derivative products such as CFDs or binary options that can be difficult to find on an exchange. These allow you to make leveraged bets on crypto assets without having to actually purchase and hold them – meaning you don’t need to worry about an exchange being hacked or about keeping their crypto keys safe.

Table showing crypto CFDs at IC Markets
IC Markets Crypto CFDs

What Do I Need To Start Trading Crypto?

The first step is to open an account with brokers that offers cryptocurrency trading.

As part of the sign-up process, you will normally need to provide contact details, verify your identity and make a minimum deposit (typically ranging from $0 to $500).

Most cryptocurrency brokers then offer the opportunity to trade tokens using fiat currency through pairs such as USD/BTC.

When you have decided on a crypto you want to trade, you can place an order directly through your brokerage platform or mobile app.

Whether you make a profit or loss, and the size, will depend on the direction and extent the market moves when you close the trade, as well as any fees.

Top Crypto Platforms - eToro
eToro Crypto Trading Platform

Bottom Line

Crypto brokers offer an excellent way to make short-term trades on digital assets, benefiting from the market’s notorious volatility while avoiding some of the risks associated with crypto exchanges.

Which crypto brokerage you choose to trade with is ultimately a personal decision. However, you can use our list of the best crypto brokers to find the right firm for your needs.

💡
Tip: If you are new to day trading cryptos start with a demo account. They use virtual funds and operate under real market conditions, making them a great way to get comfortable trading this volatile asset class before risking money.

FAQ

Can Crypto Brokers Be Trusted?

We see crypto brokers as a step up from exchanges in terms of security since they tend to have better regulatory oversight and a longer track record.

That said, not all crypto brokers are necessarily regulated for their digital currency operations. Also, not all brokerages are equal in terms of service and security.

You should deal with one that is reputable and trusted.

Do Crypto Brokers Offer Leverage?

Yes, there are online crypto brokers that offer leverage. Rates are usually capped at around 2x (1:2) your deposit amount, however, some firms offer up to 5x (1:5) leverage on certain digital assets.

It’s worth noting that some regulators, including the UK’s FCA, have imposed blanket restrictions banning leverage for crypto markets.

Which Is The Best Crypto Broker For Day Trading?

Our analysis shows that AvaTrade, OANDA, EightcapIC Markets and NordFX are all excellent brokers for day trading cryptocurrencies. They offer a good range of digital currencies including Bitcoin, low fees, great charting tools, access to leverage, and are trusted.