Bitfinex vs Swissquote

Bitfinex or Swissquote – which is better for UK traders 2025? Compare Bitfinex and Swissquote in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.

Bitfinex vs Swissquote Comparison Table 2025
Bitfinex Swissquote
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3.9
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4
Bitfinex is ranked #31 among crypto brokers. Swissquote is ranked #57 among CFD brokers.
Review
Review
Founded in 2012, Bitfinex, headquartered in Hong Kong, is a significant force in the cryptocurrency market. It offers a robust proprietary platform with access to 180 cryptocurrencies and over 430 market pairs for spot and perpetual swaps trading. With recent additions such as new payment options, reduced entry barriers, and innovative products like crypto futures, Bitfinex is drawing an even broader spectrum of active traders. Founded in 1996, Swissquote is a prominent Swiss bank and broker, providing online trading opportunities for an impressive portfolio of three million products, including forex, CFDs, futures, options, and bonds. Renowned for its reliability, Swissquote has earned a solid reputation through pioneering trading solutions. It was the first bank to introduce cryptocurrency trading in 2017, and has since expanded its offerings to include fractional shares and the Invest Easy service.
Pros
  • While initially challenging, the Bitfinex platform excels for experienced traders. It offers an extensive charting suite with 12 timeframes, along with margin trading and a range of order types.
  • Bitfinex offers superb liquidity across its cryptocurrency trading pairs, minimising slippage and ensuring efficient order execution. This reliability makes it a trustworthy choice for traders, especially when handling large volumes.
  • Following an expansion of its offerings, Bitfinex now provides access to more than 180 cryptocurrencies. This includes major coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as volatile altcoins that might attract traders.
  • Bitfinex is ideal for algorithmic traders, offering automated trading via its Honey terminal and API. This setup allows traders to efficiently programme their strategies.
  • Swissquote is highly reputable due to its status as a bank, its presence on the Swiss stock exchange, and its authorisations from credible regulators such as FINMA in Switzerland, FCA in the UK, and CSSF in Luxembourg.
  • Swissquote is designed for rapid trading strategies, including scalping and high-frequency approaches. With an average execution speed of 9ms and a 98% fill ratio, it also supports FIX API.
  • Swissquote offers robust platforms for traders, including MetaTrader 4/5 and its proprietary CFXD (formerly Advanced Trader). During testing, these platforms stood out with their adaptable layouts, advanced charting tools, and comprehensive technical indicators.
  • Swissquote offers sophisticated research tools such as Autochartist for technical analysis and real-time news from Dow Jones. The firm's exclusive Market Talk videos and Morning News provide daily expert insights, catering to active traders.
Cons
  • Although Bitfinex has improved security by implementing two-factor authentication, it remains haunted by a persistent history of significant security breaches and regulatory penalties.
  • Bitfinex, similar to numerous crypto exchanges, functions within a regulatory grey area, potentially increasing risks for traders. This contrasts with more reputable trading platforms such as eToro.
  • Bitfinex no longer requires a $10,000 minimum deposit, thus becoming more accessible to new traders. However, its fee structure is complex. Fees depend on factors like trading volume and token holdings, which may cause confusion.
  • Testing indicates insufficient support, particularly for active traders. Email response times are sluggish, taking up to 12 hours. The user experience is also disappointing due to the lack of integrated live chat within the trading platform.
  • For traders and investors seeking a straightforward approach, platforms such as eToro, Gemini, and Kraken offer excellent choices.
  • Swissquote focuses on serving professional and high-net-worth clients, requiring substantial initial deposits, such as $1,000 for Standard accounts. This approach is less favourable for smaller traders who prefer brokers offering higher leverage and no deposit requirements.
  • Analysis indicates that Swissquote's charges are relatively high. Forex spreads on Standard accounts begin at 1.3 pips, whereas brokers such as Pepperstone or IC Markets offer starting spreads of 0.0 pips. Additionally, transaction fees for non-Swiss stocks and ETFs could accumulate significantly for active traders.
  • Unlike brokers like eToro that offer social trading capabilities, Swissquote does not provide tools for community interaction or replicating successful traders. This absence can reduce its attractiveness to those who prioritise peer-to-peer learning.
Awards
  • Top Innovative Companies 2025 – Statista
  • ETF Online Broker of the Year 2024 – Swiss ETF Awards
  • World’s Most Trustworthy Companies 2024 – Statista
FCA Regulated
No

List of FCA Regulated Brokers

Yes
Instruments
Cryptocurrencies CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Bonds, Options, Futures, ETFs, Crypto (location dependent)
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$0 $1,000
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
$10 0.01 Lots
Regulator
FCA, FINMA, CSSF, DFSA, SFC, MAS, MFSA, CySEC, FSCA
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android iOS & Android
Trading App
Bitfinex offers a mobile app replicating its web platform's full features, enabling smooth trading on the go. It has a Lite Mode for a simplified experience, providing a user-friendly interface for trading, staking, and lending cryptocurrencies with just a few taps. Available on both Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store, user ratings indicate a better experience on iOS devices. The Swissquote app, honed over time, seamlessly merges banking with trading, offering swift access to a top-tier selection of over three million instruments, such as stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. It surpasses the majority of trading apps we've reviewed, delivering a complete financial app with dynamic charts and distinctive features.
iOS App Rating
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4
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4.5
Android App Rating
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3.5
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3.4
Margin Trading
Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4
No Yes
MetaTrader 5
No Yes
cTrader
No No
AlgoTrader
No No
OmniTrader
No No
TradingView
No No
Autochartist
No Yes
eSignal
No No
Trading Central
No Yes
STP Account
No Yes
ECN Account
No No
DMA Account
No Yes
MAM Account
No Yes
PAMM Account
No No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
No Yes
Robo Advisor
No Yes
Negative Balance Protection
No Yes
Market Maker
No Yes
P2P Trading
Yes No
Spot Trading
Yes Yes
Auto Trading
Yes Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader and FIX API solutions
Copy Trading
No No
Social Trading
No No
Trade Signals
Integrated in CFXD
VPS Hosting
No No
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
No Yes
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Inactivity Fee
$5 $0
Islamic Account
No Yes
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • JPY
  • TRY
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • JPY
  • ZAR
  • TRY
  • SEK
  • NOK
  • CHF
  • HKD
  • SGD
  • PLN
  • AED
  • SAR
  • HUF
  • THB
  • QAR
  • MXN
Commodities
  • Oil
  • Gasoline
  • Silver
  • Gold
  • Palladium
  • Platinum
  • Natural Gas
  • Copper
  • Cocoa
  • Sugar
  • Soybeans
  • Coffee
  • Precious Metals
CFD
Swissquote has become a reliable CFD broker, offering trading opportunities across a broad range of global markets with rapid execution. The broker provides the intuitive CFXD platform as well as MetaTrader, and delivers insights from respected third-party sources such as Autochartist and Trading Central.
Leverage
1:30
FTSE Spread
0.9
GBPUSD Spread<
1.7
Oil Spread
0.03
Stocks Spread
N/A
Forex
Swissquote provides attractive terms for active forex traders, offering over 80 currency pairs. It ensures rapid execution speeds averaging 9ms and grants access to the popular MT4 platform.
Assets
80+
GBPUSD Spread
1.7
EURUSD Spread
1.3
EURGBP Spread
1.5
Cryptocurrency
Bitfinex offers a wide range of crypto assets, featuring more than 180 tokens. Besides spot trading, the platform allows perpetual swaps, enabling traders to use up to 1:10 leverage on crypto assets. With tokens regularly added and removed, Bitfinex presents varied opportunities for active participation in the evolving cryptocurrency market. Swissquote has become a top cryptocurrency provider, now offering more than 30 digital tokens. It has also launched its own SQX exchange, offers crypto staking, and provides custodian services for professional traders. This all comes from a highly trusted and well-regulated brand in the crypto industry.
Spread
Taker (0.2% to 0.055%) and maker (0.1% to 0.0%) 71 BTC (Prime Account)
Coins
  • BTC
  • ETH
  • USDT
  • LTC
  • XRP
  • DOGE
  • ETC
  • EOS
  • LINK
  • BCHN
  • DOT
  • DASH
  • IOTA
  • SUSHI
  • NEO
  • ZEC
  • UNI
  • ADA
  • OMG
  • MDOGE
  • BSV
  • TRX
  • XTZ
  • SOL
  • XLM
  • YFI
  • USDC
  • ZRX
  • FIL
  • VET
  • XMR
  • COMP
  • BTG
  • DAI
  • LUNA
  • CEL
  • ALGO
  • ATOM
  • EGLD
  • FTT
  • AVAX
  • MKR
  • LEO
  • BTT
  • CHZ
  • BAT
  • BAND
  • QTUN
  • CLO
  • AAVE
  • XDC
  • HEZ
  • KNC
  • ZIL
  • MANA
  • BAL
  • UOS
  • BTC
  • ETH
  • USDT
  • USDC
  • XRP
  • SOL
  • AVAX
  • ATOM
  • ENS
  • ONDO
  • ICP
  • NEAR
  • IMC
  • RNDR
  • GRT
  • LDO
  • ALGO
  • DOT
  • ADA
  • XTZ
  • APE
  • LINK
  • POL
  • GALA
  • SAND
  • AXS
  • MANA
  • DOGE
  • UNI
  • FIL
  • MKR
  • CHZ
  • AAVE
  • COMP
  • XLM
  • ENJ
  • BCH
  • LTC
  • ZRX
  • BNT
  • EOS
  • AUDIO
  • ETC
  • HBAR
Crypto Lending
Yes Yes
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
Yes Yes
Auto Market Maker
No No
Bitfinex Swissquote
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