Summary of Deriv's trading conditions - Account Types, Spread, Leverage and more

Deriv structures its trading conditions in a way that is very transparent for Forex and CFD traders. Instead of treating everything as a single generic account, the broker links each platform and asset class to clear parameters: account type, spreads, leverage, margin, swap policy, contract size, and risk controls. This makes it easier to build a Forex trading plan that matches your style and risk tolerance.

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Overview of Deriv’s markets and trading style

Deriv focuses on derivatives: CFDs, multipliers, and options. For Forex traders, the core is CFD trading on platforms like Deriv MT5 and Deriv cTrader.

• Major and minor Forex pairs
• Synthetic (Derived) indices that run around the clock
• Stocks and stock indices
• Commodities such as gold, silver, oil and other raw materials
• Cryptocurrencies and selected ETFs

Most Forex and CFD positions are opened on Deriv MT5 or Deriv cTrader, where pricing is built around spreads and leverage, rather than fixed ticket commissions on every account.

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MT5 account types and what they mean for trading conditions

Deriv MT5 is the main platform for Forex and multi-asset CFDs. The broker offers several MT5 account types, each with its own combination of spreads, commissions and asset coverage.

Standard account

• Spreads from 0.1 pips
• No commission
• No specific minimum deposit at the MT5-account level
• Asset classes: financial instruments and Derived Indices

This account suits traders who want tight, floating spreads without worrying about per-lot commissions. For Forex trading, it gives flexible access to major, minor and some exotic pairs with spreads that are competitive even at small position sizes.

Zero Spread account

• Spreads from 0 pips on selected assets
• Commission charged per trade
• No specific minimum MT5 deposit
• Asset classes: financial instruments and Derived Indices

This structure appeals to traders who prefer to see nearly flat bid–ask spreads and are comfortable paying a fixed commission instead. It supports precise Forex scalping and short-term strategies where every fraction of a pip matters, especially during high-liquidity trading hours.

Swap-Free account

• Spreads from 0.3 pips
• No commission
• No specific minimum MT5 deposit
• Asset classes: financial instruments and Derived Indices

The Swap-Free account removes overnight financing charges on covered instruments. It is structured for traders who hold positions for multiple days and do not want ongoing swap debits, especially on Forex and synthetic indices that run continuously.

Financial account

• Spreads from 0.2 pips
• No commission
• No specific minimum MT5 deposit
• Asset classes: financial instruments only (no Derived Indices)

This account focuses on “classic” markets: Forex, stock indices, commodities, stocks and crypto. Spreads are tuned for high-frequency trading styles, including intraday Forex strategies that rely on tight spreads and quick execution.

Gold account

• Spreads from 25 pips on gold and other precious metals (quoted in points appropriate for that contract)
• No commission
• No specific minimum MT5 deposit
• Asset classes: commodities, with focus on gold

This is a niche account for traders who specialise in metals, especially XAU-based instruments. It keeps the product set narrow but optimises the pricing table for that category.

Financial STP account

• Spreads from 0.4 pips
• No commission
• No specific minimum MT5 deposit
• Asset classes: financial instruments

The Financial STP account offers broader spreads compared to some other MT5 accounts but keeps commissions at zero, while providing direct access style pricing for financial assets. It is designed for traders who want STP-style execution while still working with spread-only pricing.

Across all MT5 account types, the key pattern is simple:

• Pricing is either “spread-only” with zero commission,
• Or “zero/near-zero spread plus commission”,
• With leverage and margin rules determined per symbol.

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Spreads on Forex, Derived Indices and other CFDs

Deriv publishes detailed contract specifications for every CFD symbol, including minimum spread, target spread, contract size and effective leverage.

Forex spreads on non-EU entities

On many non-EU entities:

• Standard Forex pairs such as AUDCAD or AUDUSD have contract sizes of 100,000 units per full lot.
• Minimum trade size is often 0.01 lots, meaning 1,000 units of the base currency.
• Minimum spreads shown in contract specs are frequently fractions of a pip, such as 0.00024 or 0.00011 for some liquid pairs.

These minimums represent the tightest spreads the market can hit in ideal conditions. The “target spread” metric expresses typical spreads as a small percentage of price, giving Forex traders realistic expectations for average trading costs.

Micro symbols (for example, AUDCADmicro) use a smaller contract size (often 1,000 units) and a different minimum volume (for instance, 0.1 lots on that micro instrument), while keeping spreads proportionally tight for smaller accounts.

Forex spreads on EU entities

On EU-regulated entities, the public CFD page shows:

• Forex spreads from 4 points
• Stock indices from 8 points
• Commodities from 12 points
• Cryptocurrencies from 3 points

These spreads reflect stricter regulatory rules and risk caps for European clients, which affect both leverage and average trading costs.

Spreads on Derived Indices and other CFDs

For synthetic (Derived) indices, the trading specifications page lists:

• Contract sizes in index “units”
• Minimum spreads often in the 0.0–1.5 point area for liquid volatility indices
• Trading hours that run continuously throughout the week

Synthetic indices such as Volatility series, Boom/Crash and Basket indices are designed with narrow spreads relative to their volatility profile. Many of them trade with stable target spreads and very tight minimum spreads compared to their typical intraday ranges.

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Leverage and margin: how exposure is controlled

Leverage is one of the most important parts of Deriv’s trading conditions. The broker applies symbol-specific leverage, rather than a single figure across all instruments. This means each Forex pair, synthetic index, stock or commodity carries its own leverage cap and margin requirement.

Effective leverage on non-EU entities

On many non-EU contracts, especially Forex and synthetic indices, contract specs show:

• Effective leverage on many Forex pairs at 1:1000
• Synthetic indices with leverage that can reach 1:1000 or even 1:2000 on some Boom/Crash instruments
• Margin requirements expressed as a small percentage of notional value, such as 0.10% for 1:1000 or 0.05% for 1:2000

This allows a relatively small account balance to control large positions, provided margin is managed correctly.

Effective leverage on EU entities

On EU entities, leverage is capped in line with local regulations. The EU CFD page lists:

• Forex: maximum leverage 1:30
• Stock indices and some commodities: up to 1:20
• Stocks and ETFs: up to 1:5
• Cryptocurrencies: up to 1:2

These caps are significantly lower than those on non-EU entities, which is why global reviews of Deriv often mention different leverage numbers for Forex trading.

Margin formula and volume calculation

Deriv’s trading calculator shows a clear formula for required margin:

Required Margin = Volume ÷ Effective Leverage

Key ideas:

• Volume is the notional value of the position.
• For Forex:
  • Volume = Lots × Contract size × BSE/USD conversion (if needed).
  • With a 1-lot EURUSD trade on a 100,000-unit contract size, the volume approximates 100,000 units of base currency.
• For other CFDs:
  • Volume = Lots × Contract size × Execution price × currency conversion factor if required.

Once you know the volume and the effective leverage, you can compute the exact margin requirement. That margin is then compared against account equity to determine free margin and available room for additional trades.

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Swap structure, swap-free trading and commissions

Deriv’s cost structure extends beyond spreads and leverage. Swaps, swap-free options and commissions also matter for Forex traders.

Swaps and overnight charges

For standard MT5 and cTrader CFD accounts:

• Each instrument has a swap-long and swap-short rate, shown in the contract specs.
• These rates are charged or credited once per day on open positions, either as points or as a percentage of notional value.

This swap system applies across Forex, stock indices, commodities and many other CFDs.

Synthetic indices are treated differently:

• Many synthetic indices trade with no swaps, especially on swap-free or dedicated synthetic setups.

Swap-free account conditions

The MT5 Swap-Free account is designed so that:

• There are no overnight swap charges on supported Derived and financial instruments.
• Spreads are slightly wider than the tightest MT5 account types (from 0.3 pips), reflecting the absence of swaps.

Deriv also runs weekend swap-free windows on synthetic indices across MT5 and cTrader, allowing traders to hold certain positions across the weekend without paying financing for those days while markets remain open.

Commissions

Commission rules on MT5 accounts are straightforward:

• Standard, Swap-Free, Financial, Gold, Financial STP:
  • Trade with spreads only, no explicit ticket commission.
• Zero Spread:
  • Trade with spreads from 0 pips on selected financial assets,
  • A separate commission is charged per trade.

On the CFD marketing page, Deriv highlights commission-free CFD trading on MT5 as the baseline, which matches the spread-only accounts above. The exception is the Zero Spread account where commissions substitute spreads.

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Contract sizes, minimum volumes and trading hours

To plan position sizes and risk on Forex and other CFDs, it helps to know how Deriv defines contract sizes and trading sessions.

Contract sizes and minimum volume

From the trading specifications page:

• Standard Forex pairs (e.g., AUDCAD, AUDUSD, AUDCHF):
  • Contract size: 100,000 units of the base currency.
  • Minimum volume: 0.01 lots.
• Micro Forex symbols (e.g., AUDCADmicro, AUDCHFmicro):
  • Contract size: 1,000 units of the base currency.
  • Minimum volume: 0.1 lots, which corresponds to 100 units.

For synthetic indices such as Boom 1000, Crash 1000 and Basket indices:

• Contract size is often 1 index unit per lot.
• Minimum volume can be 0.2 lots, 0.5 lots or other small figures depending on the index.
• Volume limits (maximum aggregate open lots) are clearly listed.

This layout lets both small and large Forex accounts scale positions accurately, whether you trade in micro lots or full lots.

Trading hours

Trading hours differ by asset class:

• Forex CFDs:
  • Operate through the standard weekday cycle with short daily maintenance breaks.
• Stocks, stock indices, some commodities:
  • Follow the trading sessions of the underlying exchanges, adjusted to contract specification schedules.
• Synthetic Indices:
  • Trade 24/7, with just brief technical pauses if specified.

For Forex traders, this means:

• You can trade currency pairs continuously during the weekday Forex session.
• You can hedge or diversify with synthetic volatility indices even when traditional Forex markets are closed.

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Risk controls, balance protection and order tools

Trading conditions also include protective mechanisms built into Deriv’s platforms and policies.

Zero-balance protection

Deriv promotes zero-balance protection on its CFD offering, which guarantees that clients do not lose more funds than they have deposited. If the market moves sharply against a leveraged position, the platform’s margin and stop-out logic prevents the balance from falling below zero.

Margin calls and stop-out

Although the exact stop-out level is documented in Deriv’s trading terms rather than a marketing page, the structure is standard:

• As equity falls toward used margin, available free margin shrinks.
• At a predefined threshold, the platform closes positions automatically to protect the account from going deeply negative.

Combined with symbol-specific leverage and margin requirements, this creates a layered defence:

• Tight spreads and high leverage can be used,
• But margin and stop-out logic keep exposure aligned with account equity.

Order types and risk tools

In addition to core trading conditions, MT5 on Deriv supports:

• Market orders for instant Forex and CFD execution
• Pending orders (limit and stop) to enter at predefined prices
• Stop loss and take profit attached to each position
• One-click trading and access to a detailed Market Watch window
• Built-in calculators and indicators for position sizing and margin monitoring

These order tools are part of the overall trading conditions because they influence how efficiently and safely you can take advantage of spreads and leverage.

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How these conditions matter for Forex traders

Putting all of this together, a typical Forex trader on Deriv can:

• Choose an MT5 account that matches their style:
  • Standard or Financial for tight spreads and no commissions,
  • Zero Spread for near-flat spreads plus commission,
  • Swap-Free for long-term positions without overnight charges,
  • Financial STP for STP-style access to financial instruments,
  • Gold for metals-focused strategies.
• Trade Forex pairs with leverage that can reach 1:1000 on many non-EU entities, while EU accounts operate under 1:30 caps for added regulatory protection.
• Work with contract sizes of 100,000 units per lot (or 1,000-unit micro versions) and minimum volumes starting at 0.01 lots, which is friendly to smaller accounts and precise risk management.
• Rely on negative balance protection, symbol-specific margin requirements and stop-out rules to keep downside controlled.
• Use swap-free options and swap-free synthetic index periods to structure strategies around weekend holds or long-term positions.

For Forex traders who care about clear, rule-based conditions, Deriv’s setup is straightforward: every symbol and every account type has defined spreads, leverage caps, contract size, margin requirements and swap policy. Once you understand those parameters and how they interact with your strategy, you can tune position sizes and account type selection so that your Forex trading on Deriv runs under a well-defined framework.

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Deriv Account Opening Procedure

Deriv keeps its account opening procedure structured and consistent, so a new Forex trader knows exactly what to expect from the first sign-up screen to the point where live trades run on MT5, cTrader, Deriv X or web platforms. Instead of splitting everything into separate logins, it uses a single profile that controls demo accounts, real wallets, and all trading platforms.

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How Deriv structures accounts behind the scenes

Deriv organises trading access around one personal account and a central wallet:

• You register one Deriv profile with an email address or social login.
• That login gives access to Trader’s Hub, the main dashboard where all real and demo accounts live.
• Inside Trader’s Hub you see:
  • A Deriv wallet (multipliers/“main” account) for real money.
  • Separate CFD accounts for Deriv MT5, Deriv X, Deriv cTrader and sometimes options platforms.

• One client opens one main account.
• That account can include one fiat wallet, crypto wallets, and multiple platform sub-accounts (for example, several MT5 accounts), but not multiple personal profiles under different emails.

Once you understand this structure, the account opening procedure becomes much clearer: you first create the profile, then activate the wallet and platform accounts underneath it.

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Step one: start the sign-up process

To open a Deriv account, you start by creating login credentials.

Deriv supports two sign-up paths:

• Email registration
• Social login using Google, Facebook or Apple

With email registration, the procedure is:

• Visit the Deriv site and select “Open account”.
• Enter the email address you want to use for trading.
• Confirm that you accept the terms and conditions.
• Check your inbox and click the verification link Deriv sends to that email.
• Create a password that meets the security requirements (mix of uppercase, lowercase, digits and special characters).

From that point, your Deriv profile exists and you can log in to Trader’s Hub.

With social login, Deriv links your Google, Apple or Facebook identity to the Deriv account. You still end up with the same single profile that can later use an email-and-password login if needed.

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Step two: complete basic personal details

Immediately after the first login, Deriv asks for basic profile data that it uses to configure your access:

• Country of residence
• Currency selection for the main account
• Personal details such as full legal name and date of birth

This information is required so Deriv can:

• Assign you to the correct regulated entity.
• Apply the correct leverage rules and product set, especially for Forex and CFDs.
• Enforce its policy of one personal account per client.

If the country you select is restricted, the system stops the process, because Deriv does not permit registration from every jurisdiction. Where registration is allowed, you move directly into the main dashboard.

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Step three: see Trader’s Hub and the demo environment

Once your profile data is saved, Deriv sends you into Trader’s Hub. This is the page where all future account opening actions occur.

On Trader’s Hub you see:

• A demo/real toggle at the top.
• Tiles for:
  • Deriv wallet under “Multipliers” (sometimes also labelled as “Deriv account”).
  • CFDs such as Deriv MT5, Deriv X and Deriv cTrader.
  • Other platforms depending on your region.

By default, your first experience is a demo account:

• Deriv assigns virtual funds to demo platforms.
• You can start exploring Forex pairs, indices and other contracts in MT5 demo or other demo accounts.
• No documents are required at this stage, and there is no risk to actual money.

Trader’s Hub is also where you later add real accounts and control transfers between the wallet and each platform.

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Step four: open a real Deriv wallet (main account)

To move from demo Forex trading to real trading, you activate a real Deriv wallet. This is your main multipliers account and central cash hub.

In Trader’s Hub, you:

• Switch the account selector from Demo to Real.
• Under the Multipliers section, click Get on the Deriv main account tile.
• Select a fiat currency such as USD or EUR as your wallet currency.
• Confirm or enter contact details such as address and phone number.
• Accept the account terms and confirm.

After this:

• The Deriv wallet shows as a real account with balance 0.
• This wallet becomes the source and destination for all deposits and withdrawals.
• You are ready to open real CFD accounts (MT5, Deriv X, Deriv cTrader) that link to this wallet.

Every future platform account is “fed” from this wallet via internal transfers.

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Step five: complete KYC verification when requested

Deriv integrates Know Your Customer (KYC) checks into account opening because of regulatory obligations and anti-money laundering rules.

When your profile needs verification, Deriv activates two pages under Settings:

• Proof of identity
• Proof of address

The verification procedure is:

• Log in and go to Settings → Proof of identity.
• Upload a valid government-issued ID, such as:
  • Passport
  • National ID card
  • Driving licence
  • Regional identity cards where Deriv supports them
• Complete the selfie / liveness check using your device camera. Deriv compares this selfie against the ID photo.
• Go to Settings → Proof of address.
• Upload a document that shows your full name and residential address, such as:
  • Bank statement
  • Utility bill (electricity, water, gas)
  • Government-issued letter
  • Valid ID document that contains an address block

Deriv only accepts clear, full-page images where all text is readable and matches your profile details. Proof of address documents must be recent and must show the exact address you entered during registration.

After both identity and address are verified:

• Your account is fully authenticated.
• Deriv removes restrictions that apply to unverified profiles and allows the normal range of deposits and withdrawals.

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Step six: add Deriv MT5 accounts inside Trader’s Hub

With a real wallet and KYC in place, the next step for most Forex traders is to open Deriv MT5 accounts.

Deriv uses a simple flow for MT5 creation:

• In Trader’s Hub, stay in the Real section.
• Under CFDs, find the Deriv MT5 tile.
• Click Get next to the MT5 account type you want.
• Create a Deriv MT5 password.
• The MT5 account is created and appears under the MT5 section with its own balance line.

This single MT5 password works across all your MT5 accounts.

Deriv offers multiple MT5 account types (Standard, Financial, Swap-Free, Zero Spread and others depending on region). Each MT5 account type uses the same opening procedure; you just select the right one from the list when you click Get.

For demo MT5 accounts, Trader’s Hub uses a similar flow in the Demo section. You select the demo MT5 account type, click Get and receive virtual funds immediately.

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Step seven: add Deriv X and cTrader accounts

If you want to use Deriv X or Deriv cTrader instead of, or alongside, MT5, you open those accounts from the same Trader’s Hub area.

The procedure is nearly identical:

• In Trader’s Hub under CFDs, locate Deriv X or Deriv cTrader.
• Click Get on the platform card.
• Confirm basic settings (for example, leverage or account label where applicable).
• The account is created and shows as a new CFD account line.

For demo versions, you repeat the process while the Demo toggle is active at the top. You then see separate demo balances for Deriv X and Deriv cTrader.

The important point is that every platform account you open is always tied back to the single Deriv profile and wallet.

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Step eight: fund the wallet and transfer to trading accounts

Once real accounts are open, you fund them in two stages:

• Deposit into the Deriv wallet
• Transfer from the wallet to platform accounts

Deriv supports a wide range of deposit methods, including:

• Bank transfers
• Cards (Visa, Mastercard and regional alternatives)
• E-wallets such as Skrill and Neteller
• Cryptocurrencies
• Local agents and other regional options

The flow is:

• Open the Cashier / Deposit section from Trader’s Hub.
• Choose the payment method and specify the amount.
• Complete the payment steps required by the provider.
• See the funds in your Deriv wallet balance.

After the wallet is funded, you move money internally:

• On Trader’s Hub, click Transfer next to the MT5, Deriv X or cTrader account you plan to use.
• Choose From: Deriv wallet and To: MT5/Deriv X/cTrader account.
• Enter the transfer amount.
• Confirm the transfer.

Internal transfers are structured as instant balance moves with no additional Deriv fees, so you shift capital between Forex accounts and other platforms as required without leaving the broker’s ecosystem.

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Step nine: log in to platforms and start trading

After funding is in place, you connect your trading platforms to the accounts you just opened.

To log in to MT5 you need three items:

• MT5 login ID
• Server name
• MT5 password you created earlier

Trader’s Hub provides these details:

• Click Trade/Open on the relevant MT5 account.
• A panel shows the login ID and server name.
• Use the MT5 password in the MT5 desktop, web or mobile app.

Once connected, you have full access to Forex pairs, indices, commodities, crypto CFDs and synthetic indices, depending on your MT5 account type.

For Deriv X:

• You launch it directly from Trader’s Hub with Open or Trade.
• The platform uses your Deriv login and shows the balance of the linked CFD account.

For Deriv cTrader:

• You click Open next to the cTrader account.
• cTrader uses an identity tied to the same email as your Deriv profile.
• The funded balance you transferred from the wallet appears within cTrader.

At this stage, the account opening procedure is complete: profile, KYC, real wallet, platform accounts and funding are all active.

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Corporate and business account opening

Deriv also supports corporate or business accounts. The procedure adds a few steps and documents on top of the personal account flow.

The core process is:

• Contact Deriv through live chat and request a corporate account.
• Prepare company documents, such as:
  • Certificate of incorporation
  • Memorandum and articles of association (or equivalent)
  • List of directors and shareholders
  • Board resolution or letter of authorisation for the person who will operate the account
• Provide KYC documents for directors and beneficial owners, similar to those for personal accounts:
  • Passport or national ID
  • Proof of address documents
• Once the company account is approved, Deriv links it into Trader’s Hub, and you open MT5, Deriv X or cTrader accounts under the corporate profile.

The rest of the steps (deposits, transfers and platform logins) work in the same way as they do for individual Forex traders.

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Common mistakes that slow down account opening

The procedure itself is straightforward, but certain mistakes cause delays. The most frequent issues are:

• Mismatched names
  • The name on the identity document must be identical to the name in your Deriv profile.
• Incorrect address
  • The address on proof of address documents must match the profile address, including house number and postal code.
• Blurry document images
  • Photographs must be sharp, full-colour and show the entire page.
• Old proof of address
  • Address documents must be recent; outdated statements are rejected.
• Multiple personal accounts
  • Attempting to open more than one personal profile goes against Deriv’s terms and leads to account restrictions.

Avoiding these errors keeps the approval process smooth and prevents interruptions in Forex funding and withdrawals later.

Putting everything together, Deriv’s account opening procedure for Forex and CFD trading follows a clear, linear path:

• Start sign-up with email or social login and verify the email.
• Enter country of residence and personal details so the system assigns the correct regulatory setup.
• Access Trader’s Hub and explore demo platforms with virtual funds.
• Open a real Deriv wallet under the Multipliers section in Trader’s Hub.
• Complete KYC by submitting identity documents, a selfie and proof of address.
• Add CFD accounts on MT5, Deriv X and cTrader using the Get buttons in the CFD section.
• Deposit into the Deriv wallet with your chosen payment method.
• Transfer funds from the wallet to each platform account.
• Log in to MT5, Deriv X or cTrader and start trading Forex, indices, commodities, crypto and synthetic indices according to your account types.

Everything is controlled from one login and one wallet, which keeps the workflow consistent whether you trade a small Forex account or manage multiple CFD platforms under the same Deriv profile.

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