Deriv and IC Markets sit at opposite ends of the crypto CFD spectrum, trading off regulatory reach and platform depth. This matchup weighs fee clarity and the breadth of coins.
IC Markets edges Deriv on overall score thanks to stronger regulation, clearer pricing, and broader platform support.
Find out which crypto exchange best suits your trading profile.
Choose Deriv if…
Choose Deriv if you want a very low minimum deposit and crypto CFDs via MT5 and DXtrade. You also gain a proprietary web and mobile platform with flexible order types.
Choose IC Markets if…
Choose IC Markets if you value strong regulation and clear pricing with 20+ crypto CFDs. You also access MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView from a single account.
Which exchange wins for each type of crypto trader, based on security, fees, coin selection, and editorial scoring.
IC Markets wins for security thanks to ASIC and CySEC oversight.
| Criteria | ||
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 3.4/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
| Min Deposit | $5▼ lower | $200 |
| Spreads From | 0.5 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
| Taker Fee | N/A | 7.00% |
A closer look at the specific criteria each exchange meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Deriv | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Security | ||
| Cold storage for assets | Fail | Fail |
| Proof of reserves published | Fail | Fail |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, etc.) | Fail | Pass |
| Fees | ||
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | Pass |
| 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 | Pass |
| Phone support | Fail | Pass |
IC Markets rates 4.1/5 versus 3.4/5 for Deriv. IC Markets edges ahead on our composite score, though both exchanges meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
IC Markets lists a lower spread from 0, compared with Deriv's 0.5. 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.
Deriv has $5, while IC Markets requires at least $200. This makes Deriv more accessible for traders looking to start with a smaller crypto investment.
IC Markets holds top-tier regulation (FSCA, ASIC, CySEC), providing stronger investor protections. Deriv may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Verify regulatory status on each regulator's public register before depositing funds.
For beginners, two factors stand out: Deriv requires a lower minimum deposit ($5), lowering the barrier to entry, and IC Markets provides negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Deriv offers up to 2:1 on perpetual or margin products, versus IC Markets'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.
IC Markets charges $7 per trade on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Deriv 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.
Deriv supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, DXtrade, while IC Markets supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5. Deriv has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile and DXtrade. IC Markets has exclusive access to cTrader and TradingView and MetaTrader 4.
IC Markets scores better on fee criteria (no deposit fee, no inactivity fee). Always check both exchanges' current fee schedules, as maker/taker rates and withdrawal fees vary and are subject to change.
IC Markets wins for low fees with ECN-adjacent spreads.
Equally matched; neither offers DeFi features or NFT trading.
| N/A |
| 0.7 pips |
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPayCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPayPal |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPayCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FSC BVI LFSA MFSA VFSC | FSCA 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 3.4 / 5
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