Which ASIC regulated brokers offer crypto CFDs?
Pepperstone does, through Pepperstone Group Limited (AFSL 414530), and it is our first choice. Capital.com holds an ASIC licence too (AFSL 513393), but we have not verified its crypto CFD range for Australian retail clients, so check its product list. XS holds no ASIC licence: its licences come from Seychelles, Cyprus, South Africa and Mauritius.
An ASIC licence matters for crypto because it brings the retail protections with it: the 1:2 leverage cap, the margin close-out rule and negative-balance protection. If Pepperstone fits, you can open a Pepperstone account and try its crypto CFDs on the demo first.
Our three brokers and Australian crypto CFDs
| Broker | ASIC licence | Crypto CFDs for Australian retail |
|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | Yes, AFSL 414530 | Yes, retail leverage 1:2 |
| Capital.com | Yes, AFSL 513393 | Not verified by us; check its product list |
| XS | No | Not an ASIC-regulated option |
Can I trade Bitcoin CFDs in Australia?
Yes. Pepperstone lists Bitcoin against the US dollar as a CFD in Australia, alongside Ether, Litecoin and many other coins. Pepperstone's figures for the range do not match: its accounts page counts 31 crypto CFDs, while its current ASIC margin table lists 44 coins against the US dollar, plus Bitcoin and Ether in AUD, EUR and GBP. Check the live symbol list in your platform.
Pepperstone charges no commission on crypto CFDs, even on Razor. Your cost is the spread, plus overnight funding if you hold a position past the daily cut-off.
Pepperstone's published crypto CFD spreads in Australia (minimum / average)
| Symbol | Razor | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| BTCUSD | 10 / 15.15 | 15 / 20.15 |
| ETHUSD | 2 / 2.01 | 2.5 / 2.51 |
| LTCUSD | 2.5 (minimum) | Not published |
What leverage can I use on crypto CFDs in Australia?
1:2 for retail clients, on Bitcoin, Ether and every other coin. That is ASIC's cap for retail crypto CFDs, and Pepperstone's Australian table applies it. In practice, you post half the value of the position as margin: a $2,000 Bitcoin position needs $1,000.
Professional clients get more on Bitcoin and Ether, 1:10 in Pepperstone's table, but other coins stay at 1:2 even for pros. A low cap is useful here. Bitcoin can move several percent in an hour, and at 1:2 a 50% fall is what it takes to wipe out the margin on a position.
What is the difference between a crypto CFD and buying crypto?
A CFD is a contract on the price; buying crypto means owning the coin. With a CFD you never hold Bitcoin, so you cannot send it, stake it or store it. In exchange, you can go short as easily as long, use a regulated broker's account, and trade crypto next to forex and gold on the same platform.
Crypto CFD vs owning crypto
| Point | Crypto CFD at Pepperstone | Buying crypto |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | None; you trade the price | You own the coins |
| Wallet | Not needed | Needed, on an exchange or your own |
| Going short | Yes | Not by simply buying |
| Leverage | 1:2 for retail | None on a plain purchase |
| Holding cost | Overnight funding on open positions | No funding; possible custody or transfer fees |
| Counterparty | Pepperstone, an ASIC-licensed company | The exchange, or yourself |