Deriv Review 2026
Deriv is a synthetic indices and CFD broker running since 1999 that holds one Malta licence, while most client accounts sit with offshore units in the BVI and Vanuatu.
Min Deposit
$5
Spreads From
0.5 pips
Max Leverage
1:1000
Platforms
5
Pros
- Minimum deposit of just $5 opens the door for new traders
- Synthetic indices trade around the clock, even on weekends
- Works with MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, and its own apps
- Operating history stretching back to 1999 under earlier brand names
- Trustpilot score of 4.3 from more than 72,000 client reviews
Cons
- No tier one regulator such as the FCA, ASIC, or CFTC oversees it
- Users report frozen accounts and repeated ID checks on withdrawals
- Monthly inactivity fee of $25 is steeper than many rivals charge
- Standard account forex spreads average close to 1 pip
- Most trading happens through offshore units with light oversight
Deriv began in 1999 as Regent Markets, later Binary.com, and took the Deriv name in 2020. Only one small unit, Deriv Investments Europe Limited, holds a real Malta licence. Most clients instead open accounts through offshore units in the British Virgin Islands, Vanuatu, or Mauritius.
Deriv is best known for synthetic indices, computer built markets that trade all day and night, even on weekends, and ignore real news events. It also offers forex, stocks, and crypto CFDs through MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and its own Deriv Trader app. The minimum deposit is $5, the average forex spread sits near 1 pip, and leverage reaches 1:1000 outside the EU.
On Trustpilot, Deriv holds a strong 4.3 out of 5 from over 72,000 reviews. Yet a steady run of traders, some posting on Deriv's own forum, describe frozen accounts and repeated document requests that hold up withdrawals for weeks. With no tier one regulator, that pattern matters.
Min. Deposit
USD 5
Max Leverage
1:1000 outside the EU, 1:30 for EU retail clients
Spreads From
0.5 pips
Platforms
Deriv is the rebranded successor to Binary.com, one of the oldest online trading platforms in the industry, founded in 1999. Under the Deriv brand, the company has modernised its offering and now serves over 2.5 million active clients across 150+ countries, making it one of the world's most widely used trading platforms.
Deriv's signature product is its Synthetic Indices — a proprietary range of volatility indices that simulate real market conditions and are available 24/7, 365 days a year, regardless of market hours. This makes Deriv popular among traders in regions where traditional forex markets are less active. The broker also offers forex, commodities, and stock indices via CFDs.
The broker supports multiple platforms including DTrader (proprietary), MetaTrader 5, Deriv X (powered by cTrader), SmartTrader, and Deriv GO for mobile. Deriv is regulated by multiple authorities including MFSA in Malta, VFSC in Vanuatu, LFSA in Labuan, and FSC in BVI.
Standard
Advanced
Synthetic
40+ currency pairs available for trading
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Regulation, fund safety, track record
Spreads, execution, leverage
Platform quality, charting, features
Analysis, webinars, learning materials
Support quality, responsiveness
Mobile app quality, features
Regulators
Platforms
- MFSA (Malta)
- VFSC (Vanuatu)
- LFSA (Labuan)
- FSC (BVI)
