Deriv Review

Synthetic index and CFD traders

MFSA LFSA BVI FSC VFSC FSC SCA

Founded 1999 · Malta

Why investors choose this broker

No commissions on any account type
No deposit or withdrawal fees
Minimum deposit of $5
Proprietary synthetic indices tradeable 24/7

Review summary

Deriv is a multi-asset online broker founded in 1999 offering forex, CFDs, crypto, synthetic indices, and digital options across seven trading platforms.

Pros

No commissions on any account type
No deposit or withdrawal fees
Minimum deposit of $5
Proprietary synthetic indices tradeable 24/7
Seven trading platforms including MT5, cTrader, and DBot
Free $10,000 virtual-funds demo account
Regulated in multiple jurisdictions including Malta (MFSA)

Cons

Forex spreads wider than industry average on standard accounts
Inactivity fee of up to $25 after 12 months of no trading
Most regulatory coverage is offshore (Tier 3); only MFSA provides Tier 1 oversight
No MetaTrader 4 support
Limited research and educational content compared to larger brokers
No phone customer support
Synthetic indices are proprietary; Deriv acts as counterparty

Company background

Deriv is an online trading broker with roots going back to 1999, when the Regent Markets Group was established. The business evolved through Binary.com before officially rebranding to Deriv in May 2020. The rebrand introduced new platforms, multiplier options, and a broader suite of CFD products. Deriv is headquartered in Birkirkara, Malta, and serves over 2.5 million clients worldwide across multiple regulated entities.

Deriv offers over 300 tradeable instruments including 70+ forex pairs, 500+ stock CFDs, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies, and proprietary synthetic indices such as Volatility Indices, Crash/Boom Indices, and Step Indices, which can be traded 24/7 including weekends.

Fees and pricing

Deriv does not charge commissions, deposit fees, or withdrawal fees. The minimum deposit is $5. Trading costs are built into floating spreads: EUR/USD starts from around 0.5 pips on the Financial STP account, though standard account spreads on major forex pairs can be wider than the industry average, around 1.4-1.6 pips for EUR/USD. Swap and overnight financing fees apply to leveraged CFD positions held beyond the trading day.

An inactivity fee of up to $25 USD, EUR, or GBP applies after 12 consecutive months of no trading activity, then charged every six months while the account remains dormant.

Regulation and safety

Deriv Investments (Europe) Limited is authorised by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), a Tier 1 regulator. Eligible EU clients are covered by the Malta Investor Compensation Scheme for up to EUR 20,000. Further entities are regulated by the LFSA (Labuan), BVI FSC, VFSC (Vanuatu), FSC Mauritius, and SCA (UAE). Client funds are held in segregated accounts, and the Malta entity provides negative balance protection.

Platform experience

Deriv provides seven trading platforms. MetaTrader 5 (DMT5) supports CFDs on forex, stocks, commodities, crypto, ETFs, and synthetic indices with Expert Advisor support. Deriv cTrader offers Level II Depth of Market for scalpers. Deriv X is a customisable web-based CFD platform. DTrader and SmartTrader handle digital options and multipliers. DBot builds automated strategies without coding. A free $10,000 virtual-funds demo account is available on all platforms.

Pros and cons

Deriv's main advantages are zero commissions, no deposit or withdrawal fees, a $5 minimum deposit, proprietary 24/7 synthetic indices, and seven trading platforms. The main drawbacks are wider-than-average forex spreads on standard accounts, an inactivity fee after 12 months, predominantly offshore regulation outside the Malta entity, no MetaTrader 4, and limited research and educational content.

Ready to open an account at Deriv?

Open an account directly with the broker. Confirm current fees and account eligibility on the broker's website before depositing.

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Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Trading fees & commissions

Deriv charges no commissions, no deposit fees, and no withdrawal fees. An inactivity fee of up to $25 USD/EUR/GBP applies after 12 months of no trading activity, charged every six months thereafter.

Fees

Item	Fee
Cfds	Spread-based; no commission; overnight swap fees apply to positions held beyond the trading day
Crypto	Spread-based; no commission
Margin	Swap/overnight financing fees apply to leveraged positions held overnight
Account	No account opening or management fee
Deposit	No deposit fee; minimum deposit $5
Inactivity	Up to $25 USD/EUR/GBP after 12 months of no trading activity; charged every 6 months while dormant
Withdrawal	No withdrawal fee charged by Deriv; third-party provider fees may apply

Trading platform & features

Platforms

MetaTrader 5
Deriv Trader
Deriv X
Deriv cTrader
Deriv Bot
SmartTrader
Web app
iOS app
Android app

Regulation and investor protection

Deriv operates through entities regulated by the MFSA (Malta), LFSA (Labuan, Malaysia), BVI FSC, VFSC (Vanuatu), FSC Mauritius, and SCA (UAE). Client funds are held in segregated accounts separate from the firm's operational funds, and the Malta entity provides negative balance protection.

Broker FAQs

Is Deriv safe?

Deriv operates through entities regulated by the MFSA (Malta), LFSA (Malaysia), BVI FSC, VFSC (Vanuatu), FSC Mauritius, and SCA (UAE). Client funds are held in segregated accounts separate from the firm's operational funds.

Is Deriv a scam?

No. Deriv is a regulated broker operating through multiple licensed entities, including authorisation from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), a Tier 1 regulator. The business traces its origins to 1999 and serves over 2.5 million clients globally.

Is Deriv regulated and by whom?

Yes. Deriv entities are regulated by the MFSA (Malta), LFSA (Labuan, Malaysia), BVI FSC (British Virgin Islands), VFSC (Vanuatu), FSC Mauritius, and SCA (UAE).

Does Deriv keep client funds in segregated accounts?

Yes. Deriv states that client funds are held in segregated accounts, separate from the firm's operational funds, across its regulated entities.

What happens to my money if Deriv goes bankrupt?

Clients of the Malta (MFSA) entity may be covered by the Malta Investor Compensation Scheme for up to EUR 20,000 per eligible client. The Malta entity also provides negative balance protection. Coverage and protections vary by the regulatory entity through which a client is registered.

What products does Deriv offer?

Deriv offers forex CFDs, stock CFDs, ETF CFDs, commodity CFDs, cryptocurrency CFDs, proprietary synthetic indices, digital options, and multipliers. Over 300 instruments are available across its platforms.

Does Deriv offer forex trading?

Yes. Deriv offers CFDs on 70+ forex pairs accessible through MetaTrader 5, Deriv X, Deriv cTrader, and other platforms.

Does Deriv offer crypto trading?

Yes. Deriv offers CFDs on a range of major and alternative cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum. Crypto CFDs are available on MetaTrader 5 and Deriv X.

What are synthetic indices on Deriv?

Synthetic indices are proprietary instruments offered exclusively by Deriv, powered by a secure random number generator. They include Volatility Indices, Crash/Boom Indices, and Step Indices, and can be traded 24/7 including weekends.

Does Deriv offer CFDs on stocks?

Yes. Deriv offers CFDs on 500+ stocks. These are CFD instruments, not direct share ownership.

What does Deriv charge for forex trading?

Deriv does not charge commissions. Costs are built into spreads, which start from around 0.5 pips on the Financial STP account. Standard account spreads on major forex pairs such as EUR/USD can be around 1.4-1.6 pips, which is wider than the industry average.

Is there a withdrawal fee at Deriv?

Deriv does not charge a withdrawal fee. Third-party payment providers may charge their own fees depending on the method used.

What is Deriv's inactivity fee?

Deriv charges a dormancy fee of up to $25 USD, EUR, or GBP after 12 consecutive months of no trading activity. The fee is then charged every six months while the account remains dormant.

Does Deriv charge a deposit fee?

No. Deriv does not charge deposit fees. The minimum deposit is $5.

Does Deriv have a demo account?

Yes. Deriv offers a free demo account loaded with $10,000 in virtual funds, accessible on all platforms with no deposit or KYC verification required.

Does Deriv have a mobile app?

Yes. Deriv offers mobile trading through Deriv GO, available on iOS and Android, as well as mobile versions of MetaTrader 5 and cTrader.

Is Deriv good for beginners?

Deriv's low minimum deposit of $5, free demo account with $10,000 in virtual funds, and simple account-opening process make it accessible to beginners. However, some platforms and products such as synthetic indices and multipliers carry high risk and may require prior trading experience.

Is Deriv good for long-term investing?

Deriv is primarily a short-to-medium term trading platform offering CFDs, digital options, and multipliers. It does not offer direct ownership of stocks or ETFs, so it is less suited to long-term buy-and-hold investors. Overnight financing fees also apply to leveraged positions held beyond the trading day.

Bottom line

Deriv suits users who want commission-free CFD and forex trading, access to proprietary 24/7 synthetic indices, a very low minimum deposit, and a choice of multiple trading platforms including MT5 and cTrader. It may not suit users who want direct share ownership, Tier 1 regulation across all entities, tighter forex spreads, or comprehensive research and educational resources.

Deriv

Synthetic index and CFD traders

Open Account

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.