Two CFD brokers compete over crypto access, platform capability, and regulatory guardrails. Deriv blends a $5 minimum deposit with crypto CFDs; ThinkMarkets emphasizes strong FCA/ASIC oversight and polished platforms.
ThinkMarkets edges Deriv on editorial score and regulatory strength.
Find out which crypto exchange best suits your trading profile.
Choose Deriv if…
Choose Deriv if you want the lowest possible entry to crypto trading with a $5 minimum deposit. You also gain access to a compact crypto offering (5 coins) and multi-asset platforms, including MT5 and DXtrade, for flexible orders.
Choose ThinkMarkets if…
Choose ThinkMarkets if you seek strong regulatory protections and a mobile-first, intuitive trading experience. You benefit from phone support, a larger crypto selection (20+ coins), and a regulated framework with compensation schemes and negative balance protection across MT4, MT5, and ThinkTrader.
Which exchange wins for each type of crypto trader, based on security, fees, coin selection, and editorial scoring.
ThinkMarkets wins for security because it is FCA/ASIC regulated with compensation and negative balance protections.
| Criteria | ||
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 3.4/ 5 | 3.8/ 5 |
| Min Deposit | $5 | No minimum▼ lower |
| Spreads From | 0.5 pips | 0.4 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 | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fail |
| 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 |
The scores are close: Deriv rates 3.4/5 and ThinkMarkets rates 3.8/5. ThinkMarkets 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.
ThinkMarkets lists a lower spread from 0.4, 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.
ThinkMarkets has no minimum deposit, while Deriv requires at least $5. This makes ThinkMarkets more accessible for traders looking to start with a smaller crypto investment.
ThinkMarkets holds top-tier regulation (FCA, ASIC, FSCA), 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.
ThinkMarkets stands out for beginners: it has a lower entry point and provides negative balance protection, which caps losses at your deposited amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Deriv offers up to 2:1 on perpetual or margin products, versus ThinkMarkets'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.
ThinkMarkets 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 ThinkMarkets supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and Proprietary Web/Mobile. Deriv has exclusive access to DXtrade. ThinkMarkets has exclusive access to TradingView and MetaTrader 4.
ThinkMarkets 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.
ThinkMarkets potentially offers tighter spreads via ThinkZero; Deriv provides no comparable explicit fee advantage.
ThinkMarkets has no minimum deposit, easing onboarding for beginners.
Equally matched; neither supports DeFi, staking, or on-chain access.
| N/A |
| 1.1 pips |
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPayCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPayCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | LFSA FSC BVI MFSA VFSC | FCA ASIC FSCA JFSA |
|---|
| 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
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