Best Crypto CFD Brokers in 2025 | Top Platforms for Trading Crypto with Leverage

Finding the best crypto Contract for Difference (CFD) brokers in 2025 can be difficult because of the ambiguity around these trading instruments. However, with $BTC hitting an all-time high of $112K just recently, the crypto derivative market is hotter than ever.

If you want to make the most of the crypto bull run, trading in crypto CFDs can be an excellent choice, given that you know what you’re doing.

With CFDs, you don’t actually have to buy the asset to make a profit; you can simply enter into a contract with the broker, which will be settled based on the underlying asset’s price movement.

However, finding a good crypto broker can be a real challenge. To help you out, we’ve dug in and identified the best CFD trading platforms in this guide. We’ll discuss parameters like leverage, commission, and assets offered, and a handy guide on trading crypto CFDs.

What is Crypto CFD Trading?

A crypto CFD (Contract for Difference) is a derivative trading instrument offered by select brokers that allows traders to speculate on the underlying asset’s price without actually owning it.

Let’s say that you expect the price of Bitcoin to go up. Traditionally, to benefit from this outlook, you’d have to buy and hold $BTC in your crypto wallet. With a CFD, however, you can enter into a contract with your broker to trade on the asset’s price movement over a specific period.

Now, if the price goes up by the end of the contract period, the difference between your entry and closing prices will be your profit. The best part? You never actually owned $BTC to make this profit.

Think of it as betting on the price of an asset with your friend. Let’s say Bitcoin is currently priced at $100K, and you predict it will increase by 1%. Your friend, on the other hand, says that it will decrease by 1%. Four days later, the price climbs to $101K (+1%).

As a result, you won the ‘bet’ and your friend will pay you $1K ($101K – $100K), i.e., the difference between your entry price and $BTC’s current price. Notice that none of you actually purchased any Bitcoin, yet you still walked away with a $1K profit.

This is precisely how crypto CFDs work; just replace the ‘friend’ in this example with a certified broker.

Leverage and Maintenance Margin

Leverage is one of the most important aspects of modern-day crypto trading. Essentially, it’s a tool that allows you to open positions worth more than your deposited balance.

For example, if a broker offers 10x leverage, you can open a crypto CFD position worth $10K by depositing just $1K in your broker account ($1,000*10). Every 1% move will result in 10% profit (or loss) on your investment. So, for you to lose the entire $1K, Bitcoin will have to fall by 10%.

However, that’s not the entirety of it. Brokers also have predefined maintenance margins to cover brokerage charges and other fees. So, if you opened a $10K $BTC position with $1K using 10x leverage and the price drops by 10%, the entire $1K is lost, and your balance becomes zero.

What about the brokerage fee, though? After all, trading isn’t free. This is where the maintenance margin comes in. Let’s say the maintenance margin is 1% of your initial margin, which would be $100 (1% of $10K).

So, your trade will continue until your deposit balance reaches $100, not zero. At this point, the broker will trigger a ‘margin call,’ which means you’ll have to deposit more funds if you want to hold the trade. If not, the position will be liquidated.

In practice, you have a breathing space of 9% on the downside, not 10%, due to the maintenance margin. It’s worth noting that this may differ from broker to broker, ranging from as low as 0.2% to 1%.

Why Trade Crypto Using CFDs?

The single biggest benefit of trading crypto CFD is the low capital requirement, thanks to leverage, which allows you to open larger positions with minimum funds. This allows you to earn magnified profits on your deposits.

Plus, crypto CFDs allow you to open both long and short positions. If you physically buy a token, you can make a profit only if the token price goes up.

However, crypto CFD brokers allow you to enter into short contracts. In other words, you can sell the crypto at a higher price and then buy it again when the price goes down, thereby making a profit even during downtrends.

CFDs also allow you to trade a wide range of cryptos, including big-name ones like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP, and exotic minor meme coins such as $DOGE, $AVAX, $AAVE, and the like.

Moreover, you don’t have to worry about on-chain liquidity because you’re simply entering into a contract with the broker, not actually buying the asset.

However, trading crypto CFDs comes with a lot of risk as well. For instance, if you’re holding a highly leveraged position, say 50x or 100x, a small drop in price may wipe out your entire account.

So, while CFDs might be attractive for traders with limited funds, they also require a keen understanding of risk management strategies and a robust trading psychology and mindset.

How to Trade Crypto CFDs

Here, we’ll walk you through an entire crypto CFD trade with the help of an elaborate example.

In this scenario, you can open a position worth $5K in $BTC (0.05 $BTC). If the price increases by 1% and Bitcoin rises to $101K, you make a $50 profit ($1,000*0.05), which is 10% on your initial investment of $500.

Similarly, if Bitcoin swells by 10% and reaches $110K, you make a $500 profit ($10,000*0.05).

Before you get too excited about the profit potential with CFDs, it’s essential to look at the other side of the coin is important. If Bitcoin decreases by 1% and reaches $99K, you make a $50 loss ($1,000*0.05). And if $BTC crashes to $90K, you lose all your money.

As you can see, a 1% move translates into a 10% profit or loss on your initial deposit. This means that the higher the leverage, the riskier the trade. If you had taken the same trade with 100x leverage, a 1% downward move could have blown your entire account.

So, while CFD trading can be exciting and open you up to huge gains, it’s not without risks. CFDs are highly risky trading instruments and must only be dealt in by fairly experienced traders who know what they’re doing.

What Are the Fees Involved with Trading CFDs?

Let’s examine the fees you must shell out when trading crypto CFDs.

💰 Spreads: Spread is the difference between bidding and asking prices while executing a trade. This difference arises due to a lack of liquidity and market participation. For example, if you want to buy Bitcoin at $100K, but there’s no one willing to sell $BTC at that price and you can only buy it at $100,100, then the $100 difference is known as the spread.

This implies that the price must move in your favor by at least the spread amount so that you can break even on that trade. Naturally, the higher the spread, the fewer profits you would make on a trade.

💰 Commission: The broker you’re trading CFDs with will charge you a certain percentage of your trade amount as commission. The commission might be fixed for a contract or vary, ranging from 0.05% to 0.20% per trade.

💰 Overnight fees: Since you’re trading CFDs on leverage, you borrow funds from the broker. Now, if you hold the CFD position overnight (beyond the broker’s cut-off time, usually 10 PM GMT), you’ll have to pay a fee to cover the interest on this borrowed capital, known as overnight financing cost.

This usually ranges from 15 to 25% annually, which boils down to just 0.04% to 0.06% for one day. For example, if you’re long on 1 $BTC at $100K using 2x leverage, you have borrowed $100K  from the broker and have to pay $50 per day at an overnight rate of 0.05%.

💰 Inactivity fees: As the name suggests, if you stop trading with a broker for a specific period of time, usually 3 to 12 months, you will be charged a monthly inactivity fee. This could range from $10 to $50 monthly until you resume trading.

Top 5 Best Crypto CFD Brokers for 2025

Now that you know all about trading crypto CFDs, let’s jump into detailed reviews of our top picks for the best crypto CFD brokers.

1. FP Markets – Best CFD Broker with Low Spreads and Quick Transaction Executions

Established in 2005, FP Markets has more than 15 years of experience and is one of the most trusted CFD brokers. Currently, it allows you to trade in up to 5 cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin.

The best thing about FP Markets is its low spreads – the minimum is zero pips. Even on pairs like $BTC/$USD, the average spread is as low as 20.56 pips.

This translates into perfect trade entries, ensuring you don’t lose money because of low volume and high spreads. Moreover, the trade execution is pretty quick, too, at around 40ms.

FP Markets is a one-stop broker for all your trading needs. Besides the best crypto CFDs, you can trade 10,000+ stocks, 70+ forex instruments, 19 indices, commodities, and bonds.

There’s incredible platform support, with MT4, MT5, WebTrader, cTrader, and TradingView, alongside advanced charts, indicators, and real-time alerts, allowing you to elevate your trading game.

FP Markets also makes it a breeze to kickstart your CFD trading journey. Over 30 deposit options, including credit/debit cards, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and crypto.

Plus, there’s no deposit fee on any of the available methods. You can skip paying any payout fee altogether if you use specific withdrawal methods, including Visa cards, domestic and international bank wires, and crypto.

It’s also worth mentioning that FP Markets offers up to 500x leverage on the forex and commodities markets. This makes it great for experienced traders who like to trade various markets simultaneously.

For crypto CFDs, however, you’ll get a maximum of 2x leverage, which should be more than enough for most trader archetypes.

VISIT THE OFFICIAL FP MARKETS WEBSITE TODAY

2. PrimeXBT – Trade 40+ Crypto CFDs with Leverage up to 200x

PrimeXBT is a popular CFD broker with a beefed-up roster of 1M+ clients in more than 150 countries. It offers 40+ crypto CFD contracts, including standard instruments such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, EOS, DOT, and more exotic ones like Filecoin, MANA, and VET.

The best thing about PrimeXBT, besides the availability of exotic cryptos, is its low minimum deposit requirement of just $1.

Moreover, it charges an affordable trading fee of 0.05% on crypto CFDs. All deposits and withdrawals are free, too, and the only extra amount you pay is the blockchain fee. There are no account maintenance charges as well.

What we also liked about the broker is its easy-to-use online web trading terminal that comes with a customizable interface. Unlike traditional trading terminals, you won’t need to download any software and sync it with live markets every time you want to take a trade.

PrimeXBT also boasts excellent security credentials. It’s a recognized Member of the Financial Commission.

As a result, you can receive up to $20K per complaint for any significant technical issues from the broker’s end that result in unfair losses for you. You can also enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to add security to your account.

Because PrimeXBT offers a high leverage of up to 200x, we believe it’s more ideal for experienced traders who know how to manage risk. That said, the broker allows you to open and test a demo account before depositing any real money. You can use this to learn the ropes around the platform and manage the high leverage.

VISIT THE OFFICIAL PRIME XBT WEBSITE TODAY

3. XTB – Crypto CFD Broker with No Min Deposit and Negative Balance Protection

With over 1.6M users worldwide and 20+ years of experience in the industry, XTB is a trusted CFD broker with a wide range of CFD instruments. You get more than 2,300 tradable instruments, including indices, commodities, crypto, stocks, and even ETFs.

XTB’s crypto CFD collection includes Bitcoin, Cardano, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, and 30+ more options. Plus, the spreads are as low as 0.22% of the market price.

They also offer 2x leverage on crypto CFDs, which may seem modest compared to other platforms, but we believe it’s a wise choice for most traders, as it’d help them minimize risk and trade responsibly.

That said, if you’re an experienced trader who knows what they’re doing, you can choose PrimeXBT, which offers up to 200x leverage.

XTB also has a feature called the ‘Negative Balance Protection.’ Even if an ongoing trade results in a negative balance on your account (meaning below $0), the negative amount owed is dissolved, and your account is reset to zero.

This means you can never lose more money than you have deposited, which is often the case with leveraged trading.

Another good thing about XTB is that there’s no minimum deposit, meaning you can start trading with less than $100, which is the usual bare minimum with other brokers. The minimum order requirement is just 0.01 lots, the smallest position size you can open.

No minimum deposits and low leverage make XTB ideal for beginners who want to test crypto CFDs before exposing themselves to much risk. Also, there are no fees on withdrawals of more than 100 EUR (or equivalent).

VISIT THE OFFICIAL XTB WEBSITE TODAY

4. Admiral Markets – Best Crypto CFD Broker for Automated Trading and Institutional Traders

Admiral Markets is a global broker offering access to over 4,000 instruments, including equity CFDs, commodity CFDs, currency pairs, and crypto CFDs. It currently offers 24 crypto CFD pairs with a 2x leverage for retail clients and up to 20x leverage for institutional traders.

You get several options to choose from as far as the trading platform is concerned: MT4, MT5, cTrader, and the broker’s proprietary trading terminal. Admiral Markets offers 3 account types for MT5 and 2 for MT4, with different trading instruments in each.

If you’re trading crypto CFDs, you won’t have to pay any commission on your trades. And similar to XTB, Admiral Markets also offers negative balance protection, ensuring you never incur losses more than your deposited funds.

Speaking of deposits, they’re entirely free of charge. However, you do have to incur a small withdrawal fee, depending on the mode of payment. Also, unlike other brokers on this list, you’ll need at least $100 in your account to start trading with Admiral Markets.

The broker also supports automated trading algorithms that can be programmed using the MetaQuotes Language (MQL) within the MetaTrader platform. This means you can design your algo-trading setups via Admiral Markets, ideal for experienced traders who want to automate their trading strategies.

Besides excellent trading mechanics (fast and accurate executions, for instance), we also found a lot of analytical tools on the platform. For instance, Admiral Markets’ heat map shows you a graphical snapshot of price movements across various markets in a single, easy-to-use dashboard.

Similarly, on a single page, you’ll find all critical information about a particular instrument, such as multi-year charts, spreads, lot size, and minimum margin. This makes it easier for traders to plan their setups and risk strategy.

5. Pepperstone – Global Crypto CFD Broker Best for Copy Trading

Pepperstone is a global CFD broker with over $320B in trading volume and $50M in monthly withdrawals. It has 10 global branches and is regulated by various authorities in countries like the UK, Australia, Cyprus, UAE, Kenya, the Bahamas, and Germany.

More than anything else, we’re a fan of Pepperstone’s selection of crypto CFD pairs. In addition 10 major pairs, such as $BTC/$USD, $BTC/$GBP, $ETH/$GBP, and $ETH/$USD, you also get access to 18 minor pairs, including $BCH/$USD, $LINK/$USD, $DOGE/$USD, and $XRP/$USD.

Besides crypto, you can trade 1,350+ CFDs across various asset classes, such as forex, commodities, indices, ETFs, and stocks. This means that Pepperstone traders can tap into both major and emerging crypto assets, as well as other instruments.

Just like XTB, Pepperstone, too, offers a low leverage (2x) on crypto CFDs, making it ideal for cautious traders looking to limit risk. Experienced traders looking to maximize their profit potential through leverage might find this restrictive.

Platform support is quite impressive as well. Pepperstone offers various trading platforms, such as MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView, as well as its native platform.

The commission you’re charged depends on the platform you use and can range from $3.5 per lot to $7 per lot. Spreads on Pepperstone are also relatively low. For instance, the average BTC spread is around $10, while for EHT it’s $4.

Also, there are no deposit or withdrawal fees on any method, including bank transfers. Moreover, there’s no minimum deposit requirement, making Pepperstone ideal for beginners.

We also appreciate that Pepperstone supports copy trading, which allows you to imitate the plays of successful traders on the platform in exchange for a share of your profits.

Like PrimeXBT, you can also open a demo account to get a hang of the platform’s features and tools without risking a single penny.

How to Choose a Crypto CFD Broker

If you’re confused about how to pick a crypto CFD broker, here are a few things to look into. It’s worth mentioning that these are the same criteria we focused on during our evaluations, so you can rest assured that our reviews are both thorough and reliable.

Is Crypto CFD Trading Legal & Safe?

Trading in Contracts for Difference (CFDs) is expressly banned in the US by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for various reasons.

For starters, CFDs are not traded on exchanges and are over-the-counter instruments offered by brokers. This means that there’s overall less transparency when compared to publicly traded instruments, such as stocks, futures, and ETFs.

Secondly, since trading CFDs involves the use of leverage, retail traders can end up losing a lot of money if they’re overly tempted by high-leverage trading, which is a highly common occurrence. The SEC wants to prioritize investor protection, so CFDs are banned in the US.

Even if you look globally, only countries like Australia, South Africa, and the UK, as well as other EU countries, allow CFD trading, and that, too, with very strict regulations. Only brokers registered and licensed in these jurisdictions can offer CFDs to their clients.

Pros & Cons of Crypto CFD Trading

Here’s a quick look at the significant advantages and disadvantages of crypto CFD trading that could help you make a quick decision.

Wrapping Up Our Guide on the Best Crypto CFD Brokers

Ultimately, the best crypto CFD broker depends on the type of trader you are. For instance, if you prioritize low spreads and quick trade executions, FP Markets is an excellent choice.

As our top pick for the best crypto CFD brokers, it allows you to trade all major cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin, on platforms like MT4 and MT5, offering a seamless trading experience.

If you’re an experienced CFD trader with excellent risk management etiquette, you can consider PrimeXBT, which offers up to 200x leverage on CFD trades.

Alternatively, institutional traders who want to automate CFD trading can go with Admiral Markets, which gives MetaQuotes Language (MQL) for automation strategies and a leverage of up to 20x.

Regardless of your choice of broker, though, bear in mind that trading crypto CFDs is a highly risky endeavor, with around 90% of crypto traders losing money. This calls for meticulous and disciplined trading strategies and risk management.

Also, this article isn’t financial advice, and we strongly recommend doing your own research before jumping into trading crypto CFDs.

FAQs

1. Is it safe to trade crypto CDFs?

Yes, although CFD trading is banned in the US, all the brokers we recommend are registered and regulated by appropriate regulatory bodies in their respective jurisdictions. They have a long history of seamless brokerage services all across the globe, so you can rely on them to keep your funds safe and your trading flawless.

2. What’s the difference between crypto CFDs and real crypto?

When you trade crypto CFDs, you’re not actually buying the underlying asset. You’re entering into a contract with the broker that will be settled based on the price difference.

For example, if you think $BTC’s price will increase, you can enter into an extended contract and profit when the price goes up, all without actually owning Bitcoin. However, if you trade real crypto, you must deploy more funds and buy $BTC to make a profit.

3. Which brokers offer high leverage for crypto CDFs?

PrimeXBT offers leverage up to 200x for traders dealing in crypto CFDs. However, you must be extremely careful while executing highly leveraged positions because a slight unfavorable price movement can lead to magnified losses.

That’s why we recommend trading crypto CFDs with a low leverage of 2x to 5x. Only if you’re vastly experienced do we suggest choosing higher leverage.

4. What’s the best crypto CFD broker for beginners?

FP Markets is the best crypto CFD broker for beginners because it offers a low leverage 2x and a minimum deposit amount of just $100. This is ideal for beginners who would not be tempted to overly leverage their position, which could result in account liquidations.

Additionally, the spreads are tight and execution is rapid (less than 40 ms), meaning you won’t miss any trades due to platform delays.