In a head-to-head look at regulated CFD crypto offerings, CMC Markets and FXOpen compete on regulatory strength, platform depth, and fee structures.
CMC Markets posts a higher editorial score than FXOpen (4.1 vs 3.6), making it the overall winner. The gap reflects stronger trust/regulation and a top-tier platforms & tools score for CMC Markets.
Find out which crypto exchange best suits your trading profile.
Choose CMC Markets if…
Choose CMC Markets if you want a $0 minimum deposit and access to 100+ crypto CFDs. You also benefit from 24/5 live chat support and broader regulation.
Choose FXOpen if…
Choose FXOpen if you prefer ECN/STP crypto execution with low spreads. You trade on MT4, MT5, or cTrader under FCA and ASIC regulation.
Which exchange wins for each type of crypto trader, based on security, fees, coin selection, and editorial scoring.
CMC Markets offers broader regulatory oversight across FCA, ASIC, BaFin, FMA, DFSA, boosting perceived security.
| Criteria | ||
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 3.6/ 5 |
| Min Deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $100 |
| Spreads From | 0.7 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
| Taker Fee | N/A | 3.00% |
A closer look at the specific criteria each exchange meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | CMC Markets | FXOpen |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Pass | 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 |
The scores are close: CMC Markets rates 4.1/5 and FXOpen rates 3.6/5. CMC Markets has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
FXOpen lists a lower spread from 0, compared with CMC Markets's 0.7. 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.
CMC Markets has no minimum deposit, while FXOpen requires at least $100. This makes CMC Markets more accessible for traders looking to start with a smaller crypto investment.
Both CMC Markets and FXOpen 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: CMC Markets 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.
CMC Markets offers up to 2:1 on perpetual or margin products, versus FXOpen'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.
FXOpen charges $3 per trade on commission-based accounts. Commission details for CMC Markets are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing. Crypto fees are typically quoted as maker/taker rates rather than fixed per-trade commissions; check each exchange's fee schedule for volume-based discounts.
CMC Markets supports ProRealTime, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4, while FXOpen supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 4. CMC Markets has exclusive access to ProRealTime and Proprietary Web/Mobile. FXOpen has exclusive access to cTrader and MetaTrader 5.
FXOpen offers low crypto spreads via ECN/STP execution.
CMC Markets lists far more coins, about 100, than FXOpen's eight.
CMC Markets offers a $0 minimum deposit, lowering entry barriers.
Equally matched; neither offers DeFi access or on-chain staking.
| N/A |
| 0.3 pips |
| Inactivity Fee | £10/month (after 12 months) | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerCrypto |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerCrypto |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC DFSA FMA BaFin | FCA ASIC CySEC |
|---|
| 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 3.6 / 5
Personalised recommendation
Answer 6 quick questions and we’ll match you with the brokers that best fit your trading style, experience level, and country.
Find my broker