Maximum crypto CFD leverage at IC's global company, by coin and platform.

Maximum crypto CFD leverage at IC's global company, by coin and platform.

You can trade cryptocurrencies at IC Markets as CFDs, seven days a week, on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader and TradingView. IC charges no commission on crypto CFDs, and its global company offers leverage of up to 1:500 on Bitcoin and Ethereum on MetaTrader, and 1:300 on cTrader and TradingView. You never own the coins: there is no wallet, no transfer and no staking.

IC describes crypto candidly on its own product page: volatile, unregulated, decentralised and driven mostly by retail speculators. That volatility is the attraction for day traders and the reason most beginners should stay away from high leverage here.

CoinsBitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and many more (IC lists 90+ beyond the big three)
Trading days7 days a week (not 24/7; some symbols pause at weekends)
CommissionNone
Max leverage BTC, ETH1:500 on MetaTrader; 1:300 on cTrader and TradingView
Max leverage BCH, LTC1:200
Crypto depositsBTC, ETH, USDC, USDT accepted for funding

Which cryptocurrencies can you trade?

IC's leverage page lists Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP "and 90 more". Its crypto product page describes a long list of CFDs including Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Dash, Polkadot, Stellar, Chainlink and older coins such as Emercoin, Namecoin and Peercoin. The swap-free schedule adds Avalanche, BNB, Kusama, Polygon and Solana among others.

Availability varies by platform, and liquidity in smaller coins is far thinner than in Bitcoin and Ethereum, which shows up as wider spreads. Stick to the most traded coins while you learn.

Leverage on crypto CFDs

IC's crypto leverage is tiered by net exposure, and the limits are stated per coin.

CoinLeverage (MetaTrader)Above the thresholdMT5 max net position
Bitcoin (BTCUSD)1:500 below 50 lots net1:300 above 50 lots100 BTC
Ethereum (ETHUSD)1:500 below 1,000 lots net1:300 above 1,000 lots2,000 ETH
Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin1:200
cTrader and TradingViewUp to 1:300

These limits apply to clients of Raw Trading Ltd, IC's global company. High leverage on an asset that can move 10% in a day is dangerous: at 1:500, a move of 0.2% against you equals your entire margin on that position.

Crypto is where leverage does the most damage. Many experienced traders use 1:10 or less on crypto, whatever the account allows. Set a lower leverage in the Client Area before you trade it.

When can you trade crypto at IC?

IC's crypto page says you can trade cryptocurrency seven days a week on all its platforms, with a note that some symbols may not be available at weekends. Its Help Centre adds that it doesn't currently offer 24/7 crypto trading: sessions have breaks, which are listed in the platform.

To see the exact session for a coin, right-click it in Market Watch and open Specification. Trying to trade outside the session gives a "market is closed" message. Our IC Markets trading hours guide covers every market.

What crypto trading costs at IC

There is no commission on crypto CFDs, so your costs are the spread and the overnight financing. Crypto spreads are wider than forex spreads and widen further when the market is thin, especially at weekends. Overnight financing on crypto positions can be significant; check the long and short swap in the Specification window before holding for days.

Swap-free accounts pay a holding fee instead, after the grace period. IC's schedule lists, per lot per night: BTCUSD $41.85 and ETHUSD $1.30, with small fees on smaller coins such as XRP, Solana and Litecoin.

Crypto CFDs vs buying coins

IC crypto CFDBuying on an exchange
Own the coinNoYes
Go shortYesOnly with derivatives
LeverageUp to 1:500 (BTC, ETH)Usually none on spot
Wallet and custody riskNoneYours to manage
Overnight costSwap or holding feeNone
SuitsShort-term tradingHolding for the long term

IC makes the same point on its own page: a CFD gives you price exposure without the security risk of storing coins or the counterparty risk of an exchange. The trade-off is that you pay to hold the position and never own the asset.

Funding your account with crypto

Separately from trading crypto CFDs, IC accepts deposits in Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC and USDT, credited instantly according to its funding page. Those deposits fund your trading account; you aren't holding coins in it, and the balance is shown in your account currency. Our minimum deposit guide lists every funding method.

How to size a crypto trade

Crypto prices move in dollars, not pips, and the value of each $1 move per lot depends on the contract size, which you can see in MetaTrader's Specification window for each coin. Size every trade from your stop loss and the amount you are willing to lose, never from the margin available.

  1. Decide the maximum loss, for example 1% of a $1,000 account: $10.
  2. Place the stop where the trade is wrong on the chart, for example $600 below a Bitcoin entry.
  3. Find the value of a $1 move per lot in Specification, and divide $10 by the stop distance times that value.
  4. Round down, and check the result against your free margin at your chosen leverage.

For most small accounts the answer is the platform's minimum trade size or close to it. If the maths gives a position smaller than the minimum, the stop is too wide for the account and the trade should be skipped. Our stop out guide explains what happens when a crypto move outruns your margin.

Crypto CFDs reward discipline more than conviction. Pick one or two liquid coins, trade them with small size and low leverage, and treat the weekend as a time to be flat unless you can watch the market.
Abir KhanWriter, FX Recap
Illustrative case: Tomás, 26, Arequipa

Tomás traded Bitcoin CFDs on IC's MT4 account at 1:500 and turned $400 into $700 in a week. On a Sunday, Bitcoin dropped 6% in an hour while he held a position sized by his free margin, and the account was stopped out. He restarted with $200 at 1:20, risks $4 per trade and closes positions before he goes to sleep.

Frequently asked

Can I trade crypto on IC Markets?

Yes, as CFDs on Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and many other coins, on MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView. You trade the price; you don't own or transfer the coins.

Can I trade Bitcoin on weekends at IC Markets?

IC says crypto can be traded seven days a week on its platforms, though some symbols may not be available at weekends and trading isn't fully 24/7. Check each coin's session in the platform's Specification window.

What leverage does IC Markets offer on Bitcoin?

Up to 1:500 on MetaTrader for positions below 50 lots of net exposure, and 1:300 above that, at IC's global company. cTrader and TradingView allow up to 1:300.

Does IC Markets charge commission on crypto?

No. Crypto CFDs at IC have no commission; you pay the spread and any overnight financing, or a holding fee on swap-free accounts.

Can I deposit crypto into IC Markets?

Yes. IC accepts Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC and USDT as deposit methods, credited instantly according to its funding page. You fund the account with crypto; you don't hold coins in it.

Is crypto CFD trading at IC safe?

The CFDs are offered by a licensed broker, but crypto itself is highly volatile and IC's global company doesn't guarantee negative balance protection. Use low leverage and small positions.