Two CFD-focused brokers, AvaTrade and Saxo Bank, clash over pricing, platform reach, and regulatory depth in a crypto comparison that invites closer inspection.
Both AvaTrade and Saxo Bank are closely matched in crypto CFDs. The clearest differentiator is pricing transparency, with Saxo Bank offering transparent pricing while AvaTrade uses fixed spreads.
Find out which crypto exchange best suits your trading profile.
Which exchange wins for each type of crypto trader, based on security, fees, coin selection, and editorial scoring.
Saxo Bank wins for security due to a Danish banking licence and broader regulator footprint.
Equally matched on fees with similar nominal scores for both brokers.
| Criteria | ||
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 3.9/ 5 | 3.9/ 5 |
| Min Deposit | $100 | No minimum▼ lower |
| Spreads From | 0.9 pips | 0.6 pips▼ lower |
| Taker Fee | N/A | N/A |
| Inactivity Fee | $50/month (after 3 months)▼ lower |
A closer look at the specific criteria each exchange meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | AvaTrade | Saxo Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Security | ||
| Cold storage for assets | Fail | Fail |
| Proof of reserves published | Fail | Fail |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees | ||
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Fail | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Staking available | Fail | Fail |
| DeFi integration | Fail | Fail |
| NFT trading | Fail | Fail |
| 500+ coins listed | Fail | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
AvaTrade and Saxo Bank share the same editorial score of 3.9/5. One concrete differentiator: Saxo Bank requires a lower minimum deposit.
Saxo Bank lists a lower spread from 0.6, compared with AvaTrade's 0.9. Crypto trading costs are typically quoted as a percentage of the trade value; check each exchange's full fee schedule, as maker/taker rates and volume discounts vary.
Saxo Bank has no minimum deposit, while AvaTrade requires at least $100. This makes Saxo Bank more accessible for traders looking to start with a smaller crypto investment.
Both AvaTrade and Saxo Bank hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each exchange's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, two factors stand out: Saxo Bank has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and both exchanges provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
AvaTrade offers up to 2:1 on perpetual or margin products, versus Saxo Bank's 2:1 cap. Margin and futures trading carry higher risk than spot crypto; confirm product availability and jurisdiction-specific limits on each exchange's website.
AvaTrade supports ZuluTrade, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4, while Saxo Bank supports SaxoTraderGO, Proprietary Web/Mobile. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. AvaTrade has exclusive access to ZuluTrade and MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. Saxo Bank has exclusive access to SaxoTraderGO.
Equally matched; both list around 20 coins.
Equally matched; neither offers DeFi, staking, or on-chain access.
| $100/quarter (low-balance accounts) |
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transfer |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC FSCA MFSA CBI ADGM | FCA ASIC JFSA MAS DFSA FINMA Finanstilsynet ACPR CNMV Finanstilsynet MFSA SFC Finansinspektionen CBI KNF CMA FSC |
|---|
| Cold Storage | No | No |
|---|
| Proof of Reserves | No | No |
|---|
| Staking | No | No |
|---|
| DeFi Integration | No | No |
|---|
| NFT Trading | No | No |
|---|
| 500+ Coins | No | No |
|---|
| P2P Trading | No | No |
|---|
| Crypto Earn / Savings | No | No |
|---|
| Token Launchpad | No | No |
|---|
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.9 / 5
Score 3.9 / 5
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