Two brokers compete on crypto access, regulation, and product structure. Exness offers crypto CFDs with a low deposit, while Interactive Brokers provides real crypto ownership under a broader regulatory framework.
Interactive Brokers edges Exness on editorial score; IBKR offers real crypto ownership and broader multi-jurisdictional regulation, while Exness remains CFDs only.
Find out which crypto exchange best suits your trading profile.
Choose Exness if…
Choose Exness if you want ultra-low minimum deposits and crypto access via MT4/MT5 CFDs.
Choose Interactive Brokers if…
Choose Interactive Brokers if you want real crypto ownership and a broad regulatory footprint.
Which exchange wins for each type of crypto trader, based on security, fees, coin selection, and editorial scoring.
Interactive Brokers wins for security due to broad regulatory oversight.
Interactive Brokers wins with transparent 0.12-0.18% commissions and no spread markup.
| Criteria | ||
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 3.8/ 5 | 4.0/ 5 |
| Min Deposit | $1 | No minimum▼ lower |
| Spreads From | 0.3 pips | 0.2 pips▼ lower |
| Taker Fee | 3.50% | 2.00%▼ lower |
A closer look at the specific criteria each exchange meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Exness | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Pass | 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 | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: Exness rates 3.8/5 and Interactive Brokers rates 4/5. Interactive Brokers 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.
Interactive Brokers lists a lower spread from 0.2, compared with Exness's 0.3. 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.
Interactive Brokers has no minimum deposit, while Exness requires at least $1. This makes Interactive Brokers more accessible for traders looking to start with a smaller crypto investment.
Both Exness and Interactive Brokers 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: Interactive Brokers 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.
Exness offers up to 2:1 on perpetual or margin products, versus Interactive Brokers's 1:1 cap. Margin and futures trading carry higher risk than spot crypto; confirm product availability and jurisdiction-specific limits on each exchange's website.
Interactive Brokers charges $2 per trade, lower than Exness's $3.5 per trade. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day. 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.
Exness supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while Interactive Brokers supports Trader Workstation (TWS), Proprietary Web/Mobile. Exness has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. Interactive Brokers has exclusive access to Trader Workstation (TWS) and Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Interactive Brokers wins for beginners due to $0 minimum deposit.
Equally matched; neither offers DeFi or Web3 features.
| 0.65 pips |
| 0.4 pips▼ lower |
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPerfect MoneyCryptoP2P | Bank transferACH |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerPerfect MoneyCrypto | Bank transferACH |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | First withdrawal/month free |
|---|
| Regulators | FSCA FCA OJK CySEC | JFSA IIROC DFSA FCA CNB CMVM CNV ASIC AMF SEC MFSA SFC SEBI CBI CMF NFA FSC FINRA |
|---|
| 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 3.8 / 5
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