Ingot Brokers or BitMEX – which is better for UK traders 2026? Compare Ingot Brokers and BitMEX in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.
Ingot Brokers, established in 2006, is a well-regulated brokerage firm. It provides opportunities for CFD trading on over 1,000 instruments, encompassing forex, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. The firm supports both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms, offering account options with raw spreads as well as commission-free trades.
BitMEX, established in 2014, is a cryptocurrency exchange specialising in derivatives. The platform provides a seamless way to convert fiat to crypto, engage in spot trades, and trade crypto derivatives like perpetual contracts, traditional futures, and quanto futures. BitMEX is known for its significant market liquidity, standing as one of the top exchanges in this aspect.
Pros
Traders have access to the top-tier MT4 and MT5 platforms. Together, these platforms provide numerous advanced technical indicators and charting tools, facilitating comprehensive analysis.
Ingot Brokers provides a trading service that allows experienced strategy providers to earn passive income.
The modest minimum deposit of $100 and the absence of commission fees are attractive to novice traders.
Ingot Brokers is regulated by multiple authorities, including ASIC, a leading regulatory body.
Numerous free payment options exist, such as bank transfers and cryptocurrency transactions.
BitMEX introduced the perpetual swap in 2016 and has operated a specialised derivatives exchange since. Its extensive expertise in managing liquidations, funding systems, and order books during extreme scenarios is challenging for generalist exchanges, which treat derivatives as a secondary focus, to replicate.
BitMEX functions as a peer-to-peer exchange without internal market makers, ensuring trades are only matched between external parties on a transparent order book. This structure is crucial for traders wary of potential conflicts of interest between exchanges and clients, especially after notable industry scandals involving proprietary trading desks and retail orders.
While many exchanges disclose their reserves monthly, often due to external pressure, BitMEX stands out by releasing Proof of Reserves and Liabilities data twice weekly. These figures are independently verifiable on-chain. With exchange solvency now a serious due diligence issue, BitMEX’s frequent reporting and segregated, non-lent funds set a transparency benchmark few rivals achieve.
Cons
The selection of over 30 currency pairs falls short of the industry standard and may not meet the needs of dedicated forex traders.
The broker's educational resources and market research lag behind most competitors.
The ECN account provides a more limited range of assets compared to other account types.
All BitMEX transactions are in crypto, from deposits to withdrawals, with fiat conversions handled externally by third parties. Traders who use bank accounts face additional costs, exchange rate risks, and operational challenges absent on platforms with direct fiat support.
The platform lacks accessibility. Its dense interface, unclear link between mark price and liquidation, and lack of guided onboarding create challenges for traders from spot exchanges. While rivals work to ease these issues, BitMEX's steep learning curve is a significant attrition risk.
Excluding US residents permanently affects more than just market size. It restricts US institutional transactions, retail trading volume, and market-making activities from BitMEX's ecosystem. This notably impacts liquidity depth, particularly in newer, thinner contracts, a challenge competitors with US access experience less intensely.
Awards
Best Trading Experience APC 2021 - European Global Banking & Finance Awards
Most Trusted Forex Brand APAC 2021 - European Global Banking & Finance Awards
Most Trusted Forex Broker Asia 2021 - International Investors Awards
Best Online Trading Support Middle East 2021 - International Investors Awards
Ingot Brokers provides a customised trading app that allows users to replicate experienced traders' actions, featuring low fees and comprehensive performance insights. Novice traders can gain knowledge from experts, while the latter can earn additional income by sharing their trading strategies.
Social Trading
No
Yes
VPS Hosting
No
No
Tournaments
No
No
Demo Competitions
No
No
Ethical Investing
No
No
Custodial Account
No
No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No
No
Inactivity Fee
$0
Islamic Account
Yes
No
Account Currencies
USD
AUD
Commodities
Coffee
Cocoa
Sugar
Corn
Wheat
Soybeans
Oil
Natural Gas
Gold
Silver
Platinum
CFD
Ingot Brokers provides trading opportunities across over 1,000 instruments, including stocks, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. The MT4 and MT5 platforms come equipped with advanced features for active traders, such as various order types and built-in technical tools.
Leverage
1:500
FTSE Spread
From 0 pip
GBPUSD Spread<
From 0 pip
Oil Spread
From 0 pip
Stocks Spread
From 0 pip
Forex
Ingot Brokers provides trading services for over 30 currency pairs on the MT5 platform with competitive raw spreads. Traders can freely employ short-term strategies such as hedging, scalping, and the use of Expert Advisors (EAs) without any restrictions.
Assets
30+
GBPUSD Spread
From 0 pip
EURUSD Spread
From 0 pip
EURGBP Spread
From 0 pip
Cryptocurrency
You have access to 25 cryptocurrencies with USD pairings, such as BTC/USD and ETH/USD, along with smaller tokens like DOTUSD. While the broker lacks a crypto wallet and exchange, you can deposit using Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Tether without incurring any fees.
BitMEX provides an exceptionally competitive environment for crypto trading, offering low-cost $1 contracts and leverage up to 100:1. Its unique platform delivers advanced trading tools, featuring a customisable order book, a depth chart, and numerous technical indicators.