Deriv offers CFDs on forex, stocks, indices, commodities, crypto and exclusive derived indices across MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView and its own platforms, with a commission-free Standard account.
Spreads from
0.1 pips
Commission
$0 (spread-only)
Min deposit
$0
Established
1999
Regulated by
MFSA (Malta) · CMA (UAE) · BVI FSC · CIMA (Cayman Islands) · Mauritius (FSC) · VFSC · Labuan FSA
Written byLaverlane Team·Updated21 Oct 2026
Researched with AI assistance and verified by our editors
Regulation
Deriv operates through many subsidiaries, with European and UAE oversight alongside international offshore entities.
Deriv manages European clients through Deriv Investments (Europe) Limited, licensed by the MFSA in Malta, and UAE clients through Deriv Capital Contracts & Currencies L.L.C, licensed by the UAE Capital Market Authority (CMA, formerly the SCA).
If you're an international client, you'll contract with one of the group's offshore subsidiaries. Some are licensed in Labuan (Deriv (FX) Ltd, renamed Deriv Investment Bank (Labuan) Ltd. in December 2025), the British Virgin Islands (BVI), the Cayman Islands, Mauritius (Deriv (Mauritius) Ltd, an FSC-licensed Investment Dealer) and Vanuatu. Others, such as Deriv (SVG) LLC and Deriv Capital International Ltd, don't list a financial regulator.
Operating from an offshore framework reduces structural oversight compared with Tier-1 jurisdictions, so international traders have no statutory compensation scheme if the entity fails.
Key facts
Deriv states it has served traders since 1999.
Client-facing entity
Deriv (FX) Ltd
Regulators
MFSA (Malta), CMA (UAE), BVI FSC, CIMA (Cayman Islands), Mauritius (FSC), VFSC, Labuan FSA
Restricted countries
US, CA, MY, IL, IR, KP, BY
Negative-balance protection
no
Minimum deposit
$0
Max leverage (UK/EU retail)
1:30
Max leverage (offshore entity)
1:1000
Max leverage (offshore entity)
1:800
Max leverage (offshore entity)
1:400
Max leverage (offshore entity)
1:10
Typical EUR/USD spread
1.1 pips
Platforms
MT5, cTrader, TradingView, Proprietary
Account currencies
USD, EUR, GBP, AUD
Deriv says the group has served traders since 1999 and, as of October 2026, reports more than three million customers worldwide. The holding company, Deriv.com Limited, is registered in Guernsey, and Deriv does not publish its listing status or group-level financial statements.
That structure poses little risk to casual traders, but high-volume accounts must manage counterparty risk carefully.
Best for
Pros & cons
Fund safety
Client funds are held in segregated accounts, but only the Maltese entity offers a statutory compensation scheme. International clients have no compensation cover, negative-balance protection is discretionary and corporate backing isn't disclosed.
If you're a European client of Deriv Investments (Europe) Limited, the Maltese Investor Compensation Scheme covers you. It pays up to 90% of a net loss, to a maximum of €20,000. Funds held with Deriv (FX) Ltd and the other offshore entities don't have statutory insolvency cover.
Deriv promotes zero-balance protection on its CFD page, but its terms say negative balance protection is offered only at Deriv’s sole discretion, so it should not be treated as guaranteed.
Account terms
Account terms give Deriv wide discretion over dormant accounts and negative balance protection.
The terms treat an account as dormant after 12 months without transactions, allowing Deriv to make an adjustment against the wallet every six months, with the amount not stated. Deriv MT5 real accounts can be restricted after 60 days of inactivity and archived after two years.
Negative balance protection may be offered at Deriv’s sole discretion, even though its CFD page promotes zero-balance protection.
Costs
The broker offers a commission-free Standard account with variable spreads, plus a commission-based Zero Spread account.
The Standard MT5 account charges no commission. Its specification tables show minimum spreads of about 1.1 pips on EUR/USD, 1.0 on GBP/USD and 1.4 on USD/JPY, and we use these as the typical spreads below. The account page advertises spreads from 0.1 pips. The Zero Spread account charges a commission instead. On the Zero Spread account the rate varies by instrument: Deriv's rate table lists $4 per 100,000 turnover on EUR/USD and $3 on GBP/USD, so check the current rate for your pair before you trade.
Swap points are published per instrument, and gold shows a minimum spread of 0.16 and the S&P 500 index 0.36, but live spreads vary with market conditions.
| Instrument | Asset class | Typical spread | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Forex CFD | 1.1 | pips |
| GBP/USD | Forex CFD | 1 | pips |
| USD/JPY | Forex CFD | 1.4 | pips |
| US 100 (Nasdaq) | Index CFD | 0.9 | points |
| US 500 (S&P 500) | Index CFD | 0.36 | points |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | Commodity CFD | 0.16 | $ / oz |
| US Crude Oil | Commodity CFD | 0.019 | $ / bbl |
| BTC/USD | Crypto CFD | 18.42 | $ |
Spreads shown are typical, not guaranteed, and widen during volatile sessions or outside main market hours. Figures reflect the broker's standard retail account.
Markets
Market coverage spans forex, stocks, indices, commodities, crypto, ETFs and exclusive derived indices.
Forex CFD
70 pairs
Index CFD
18 indices
Commodity CFD
Metals, energies, softs
Single-Stock CFD
456 shares
Crypto CFD
Available ✓ · Weekend trading ✓
Real ownership: Stocks / ETFs
N/A for this broker, CFDs only
The broker lists around 70 forex instruments including micro lots, 456 US stock CFDs, 18 stock indices, 17 commodities, 37 crypto CFDs, 31 ETFs and 105 derived indices that trade round the clock. Stock leverage is limited to 1:10.
Real share and crypto ownership is not offered.
Platforms
Trading platforms include Deriv MT5, Deriv cTrader, TradingView, DTrader, DBot and SmartTrader.
Deriv MT5 supports Expert Advisors, Deriv cTrader adds built-in copy trading, and TradingView provides charting with 400+ indicators. DBot allows visual drag-and-drop strategy creation without coding.
Beginners may face a steep learning curve when building automated scripts.
Execution
Execution depends on the Deriv entity that holds the account.
Deriv (FX) Ltd says it acts as an agent and isn't the counterparty (the other side of your trade). Deriv (BVI) Ltd is the counterparty and may act as principal. Deriv (Mauritius) Ltd may execute orders or deal on its own account. It does not publish execution statistics, so slippage quality cannot be benchmarked before live trading.
Clients should check their entity’s terms to understand who they are trading against.
Leverage
Leverage depends on location and instrument, up to 1:1000 offshore.
European retail clients are capped at 1:30, while offshore clients can use up to 1:1000 on forex, 1:800 on gold and major crypto, 1:400 on US indices and 1:10 on stock CFDs. The broker reserves the right to change leverage on open positions.
High leverage greatly increases the risk of rapid liquidation.
Account types
Deriv MT5 offers Standard, Zero Spread, Swap-Free, Financial and Gold accounts.
| Account | Min deposit | Commission | Swap | Spread | Demo | Islamic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $0 | Spread-only | Variable overnight swap charges applied | From 0.1 pips · Variable | Yes | No |
| Zero Spread | $0 | $4 per lot round-turn | Variable overnight swap charges applied | From 0 pips · Variable | Yes | No |
The Standard MT5 account advertises spreads from 0.1 pips, no commission and no minimum deposit, and the Swap-Free account removes overnight swaps on eligible assets. The Zero Spread account advertises spreads from 0 pips and charges a commission.
The table lists the Standard and Zero Spread accounts.
Funding
Deposit and withdrawal options include cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, mobile money and crypto.
As of October 2026, the broker lists around 72 payment methods, with deposits mostly instant and withdrawals from instant to one working day. Cards require $10 and many other methods start from $5. The Standard account itself has no minimum deposit.
Charges and transfer adjustments may apply by method, so check the details before depositing.
Support
Customer support runs 24/7 through live chat alongside a help centre.
The broker offers 24/7 live chat and a help centre. The global contact page does not list a phone number.
Automated chat helps with simple questions, but complex issues may need escalation.
Availability
Deriv serves residents of selected countries and excludes restricted jurisdictions.
The broker states it only provides services to residents of certain countries and may change that list. Residents of the United States and Canada are among those commonly excluded, so check eligibility when registering.
Offshore onboarding enables wide access, but restricted region residents must seek domestic regulated platforms.
Verdict
Deriv stands out for its wide market range, commission-free Standard account and proprietary tools, including automated bot builders and derived indices. Payment methods starting from $5 lower the entry threshold for retail traders. However, international accounts operate under offshore entities without compensation protections, and the terms give Deriv wide discretion over dormant accounts and negative balance protection, making rigorous risk management essential.
It works well if you need flexible trading bots or continuous derived index trading outside standard market hours. It fits experienced traders who manage high-leverage exposure independently without reliance on regulatory safety nets.
Algorithmic traders who write custom scripts and retail clients seeking flexible low-deposit platforms will find Deriv effective. Conservative traders requiring strict European or UK regulatory oversight should evaluate alternative brokers.
FAQ
Deriv lists withdrawal times from instant to one working day depending on the method, with Neteller and most mobile money options instant and cards taking one working day. Deriv P2P withdrawals take up to one hour, and actual times can vary with verification checks and payment providers.
Deriv does not set an account minimum for its standard MT5 account, but each payment method has its own minimum. Most e-wallets, mobile payments and crypto start from $5, and cards from $10.
Deriv GO is available on Google Play, or you can download the Android installation file (APK) directly from the official website. Traders must grant installation permissions when downloading the file directly from the broker website. The mobile application provides real-time charting, order management, and account balance controls.
Deriv integrates technical indicators and charting tools directly into DTrader, SmartTrader, and DBot platforms. Traders can also connect their accounts to TradingView for advanced technical analysis setups. Additional market insights are available through the online Deriv Academy portal.
Deriv Investments (Europe) Limited is licensed by the MFSA in Malta for European clients, and Deriv Capital Contracts & Currencies L.L.C is licensed by the UAE Capital Market Authority (CMA, formerly the SCA). International accounts contract with offshore subsidiaries licensed in Labuan, the BVI, the Cayman Islands, Mauritius and Vanuatu, or with Deriv (SVG) LLC, which lack statutory compensation schemes. Retail traders must verify their contracting entity.
Alternatives
Eightcap offers CFDs on 850+ markets through TradingView, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and TradeLocker, with a Raw account that starts from 0.0 pips. Clients outside the regulated regions contract with Eightcap Global Limited in The Bahamas, which carries no statutory compensation scheme.
Octa offers swap-free forex and CFD trading on OctaTrader, MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, with no trading commission and a $25 minimum deposit. Accounts on octabroker.com are with Versustrategy Inc, registered in Saint Lucia, and the legal documents page lists no financial regulator.
JustMarkets offers leverage of up to 1:3000, swap-free trading and MT4, MT5 and its own app, but international clients contract with an offshore Seychelles entity without a statutory compensation scheme.
FXCM offers forex and CFD trading on Trading Station, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and TradingView. Accounts on the international website are with Stratos Global LLC, an offshore entity in St Vincent and the Grenadines that sits outside the group’s regulated companies.
ThinkMarkets offers ThinkTrader, TradingView, MT4 and MT5 with 4,000+ instruments and leverage of up to 1:500 on Standard and ThinkZero accounts. International clients contract with a Seychelles-licensed entity.
IronFX operates as a retail CFD broker providing high leverage up to 1:1000 on MetaTrader 4, but international clients contract through an offshore entity without statutory compensation protection.
CFI Financial offers MT5, TradingView and its own app with no minimum deposit and leverage of up to 1:500. International clients trade with CFI International Ltd, licensed in Mauritius.
EC Markets offers MT4, MT5 and its own app with a $10 minimum deposit on STD and ECN accounts and leverage of up to 1:1000. International clients trade with the Mauritius-licensed entity.
General CFD risk warning
CFDs are complex leveraged products and carry a high risk of rapid losses. They do not give you ownership of the underlying asset. Depending on your jurisdiction, broker entity and client classification, protections such as leverage limits and negative-balance protection may differ or may not apply. Where negative-balance protection is not provided, losses may exceed the funds you deposit. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford the high risk of losing your money.
Disclaimer
This page is provided for general information only. Nothing on this page constitutes investment, tax or trading advice, or a recommendation to open an account or trade with a particular broker. Laverlane does not provide personalised investment advice. We are not a broker or financial institution, we do not arrange or execute trades, and we do not hold client funds.
Broker availability, spreads, fees, leverage, products and legal protections, including compensation schemes and negative-balance protection, vary by the broker’s legal entity, your country of residence and your client classification, and may change over time. Where a broker is required to publish its retail CFD loss rate, that figure is shown on its review page. Spreads shown are typical figures as at our verification date; they are not guaranteed and may widen, particularly during volatile market conditions.
Laverlane Scores reflect the information available at our most recent review. They are editorial assessments, not guarantees of a broker’s financial strength, reliability or future performance. Where we report a regulator warning or enforcement notice, it reflects the official public information available at the time of our review.
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