Nexo or Swissquote – which is better for UK traders 2025? Compare Nexo and Swissquote in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.
Nexo, a centralised cryptocurrency exchange established in Bulgaria in 2018, now operates from Switzerland in approximately 200 regions. Its offerings include spot and futures trading, peer-to-peer lending, cold wallet storage, and fiat on-ramps for purchasing crypto tokens. Nexo is registered with respected financial bodies like the ASIC. Additionally, it provides unique services, such as a credit card.
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
A well-regarded crypto exchange, established in 2018, has initiated steps towards regulatory compliance.
Nexo Pro is an intuitive platform tailored for traders, offering robust charting tools that enhance strategic trading.
The trading platform features essential tools such as asset-specific newsfeeds and social media analysis.
Traders can utilise perpetual futures to take long or short positions on crypto assets, thereby enhancing strategic opportunities.
Nexo's platform facilitates cryptocurrency lending and borrowing through its staking and credit features, offering traders some of the most competitive yields in the market.
Traders receive bonuses and incentives, such as complimentary trading funds given to lenders and cashback through the exchange's native Nexo token.
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
While Nexo is registered with certain reputable regulators, trading with it carries more risk compared to established crypto brokers such as AvaTrade and Vantage.
High deposit and withdrawal fees for cards and e-wallets may deter many traders from using these convenient payment methods.
Limited educational resources diminish its attraction for newcomers, who may discover more valuable materials with leading platforms such as eToro.
Elevated maker/taker fees result in traders incurring higher costs for trading derivatives compared to competing exchanges such as Binance.
The selection of tokens is broad relative to many crypto brokers, yet it remains limited when compared to similar crypto exchanges such as Kraken.
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
Best Cryptocurrency Wallet – FinTech Breakthrough Awards, 2023
Best Use of Crypto and/or Blockchain in Financial Services – PAY360 Awards, 2022
Top Innovative Companies 2025 – Statista
ETF Online Broker of the Year 2024 – Swiss ETF Awards
World’s Most Trustworthy Companies 2024 – Statista
The Swissquote app, refined over the years, combines banking and trading, giving you instant access to an industry-leading selection of more than three million instruments, including stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. It goes beyond most trading apps we’ve tested – providing a comprehensive financial app, complete with dynamic charts and unique features.
iOS App Rating
3.8
4.5
Android App Rating
4
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
No
No
Spot Trading
Yes
Yes
Auto Trading
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
$0
Islamic Account
No
Yes
Account Currencies
USD
EUR
GBP
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
Nexo provides trading services for approximately 70 tokens, including Bitcoin. Users can buy, sell, and exchange digital assets directly on the platform, with access to over 500 trading pairs. Additionally, these assets can serve as collateral for fiat loans or generate passive income through the ‘smart staking’ option and interest from peer-to-peer loans.
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.
