FXCM Cryptocurrencies: Complete Guide for Traders

A clear, comprehensive guide to trading cryptocurrencies at FXCM — what crypto CFDs are, the instruments available, how to get started, leverage and costs, risks, and a comparison with other crypto trading options.

1. Topic Overview

FXCM offers cryptocurrency CFDs (Contracts for Difference), allowing traders to speculate on the price movements of digital assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin without owning the underlying cryptocurrency. This means you don't need a crypto wallet, exchange account, or custody arrangement to trade.

Crypto CFDs at FXCM are traded on margin (using leverage) and can be both long and short, enabling you to profit from rising or falling prices. All crypto instruments are available on FXCM's trading platforms, including Trading Station, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), and TradingView.

It's important to note that cryptocurrency CFDs are significantly more volatile than traditional forex or commodity CFDs. This creates both opportunities and elevated risks.

⚠️ Risk warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with FXCM in the EU. Cryptocurrencies have higher volatility than any other product available to trade at FXCM. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford the high risk of losing your money.

2. Key Facts You Need to Know

What Are Crypto CFDs?

A contract between you and FXCM to exchange the difference between the opening and closing price of a cryptocurrency. You can profit from both rising (long) and falling (short) markets.

Key benefit No need for a crypto wallet or exchange account — trade purely on price movements

Available Crypto Instruments Individual coins BTC/USD, ETH/USD, LTC/USD, BCH/USD, XLM/USD, ADA/USD, DOGE/USD, DOT/USD Basket product CryptoMajor — a basket of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash (25% each) Trading hours Crypto CFDs trade 24/5 (closed over weekends)

Costs & Leverage Pricing model Spread‑only — zero commission on crypto CFDs Default leverage (crypto) Up to 400:1 for new accounts Leverage by equity >$10,000 equity: up to 100:1 · >$50,000 equity: up to 50:1 Overnight financing Higher than other CFDs — displayed as "Rollover" in Trading Station

Platforms & Execution Trading platforms Trading Station (proprietary), MetaTrader 4, TradingView Contract sizes BTC: 1 contract = 1% of BTC price · ETH/BCH: 1 contract = 10% of price · LTC/XLM: 1 contract = 1 full coin Demo account Free demo with virtual funds — includes all crypto instruments

            💡 Key takeaway: FXCM offers a range of crypto CFDs with zero commission
            and leverage up to 400:1. All costs are built into the spread. You can trade
            individual coins or the diversified CryptoMajor basket. However, crypto CFDs are
            highly volatile and carry higher overnight financing costs than
            other instruments.
        

3. Step-by-Step Guidance

How to Start Trading Crypto CFDs with FXCM

Open an FXCM account Visit the FXCM website and click "Open Account". Choose your account type (Standard or Active Trader). The minimum deposit is $50.
Complete verification Upload Proof of Identity (passport, driver's license, or national ID) and Proof of Address (utility bill or bank statement dated within the last 3 months). Verification typically takes 1–2 business days.
Fund your account Make a deposit via bank wire, credit/debit card, or e-wallet (Skrill, Neteller, etc.). The minimum deposit is $50.
Choose your platform Download your preferred platform: Trading Station (proprietary), MetaTrader 4 (MT4), or TradingView (with direct execution). All platforms support crypto CFD trading.
Find your crypto instrument In the platform, search for the specific crypto CFD you want to trade (e.g., BTC/USD, ETH/USD, CryptoMajor). You can find all crypto products in the instrument list.
Check the spread and margin Review the live spread and margin requirement for your chosen instrument before placing a trade.
Place your trade Decide whether to go long (buy) or short (sell). Set your position size, stop-loss, and take-profit levels. Execute the trade on your platform.
Monitor and manage Track your open positions and monitor margin levels. Be aware that overnight financing costs apply if you hold positions past 5 PM EST. Consider closing positions before the weekend to avoid gap risk.

            📌 Pro tip: Before trading with real money, open a free demo account
            to practice trading crypto CFDs without risk. Demo accounts include all crypto instruments and
            mirror live market conditions.
        

Understanding Crypto CFD Contract Sizes

FXCM uses fractional contract sizes for crypto CFDs, which allows you to trade with smaller position sizes:

BTC/USD (Bitcoin): 1 contract = 1% of the Bitcoin price (100 contracts = 1 BTC)
ETH/USD (Ethereum) and BCH/USD (Bitcoin Cash): 1 contract = 10% of the asset price
LTC/USD (Litecoin) and XLM/USD (Stellar): 1 contract = 1 full coin
CryptoMajor basket: Combines BTC, ETH, LTC, and BCH (25% each) into one instrument

4. Risks and Limitations

Trading crypto CFDs carries significant risks. Here are the key risks and limitations to be aware of before trading with FXCM.

1. Extreme Volatility

Higher Than Any Other Product

Cryptocurrencies have higher volatility than any other product available to trade at FXCM. Percentage moves that would be significant in FX can occur within hours in crypto.

2. Weekend Gapping

Crypto CFDs Trade 24/5, Not 24/7

While cryptocurrencies trade 24/7, FXCM's crypto CFDs trade 24/5 — they close over the weekend. Large price movements can occur between Friday close and Monday open, causing significant gaps.

3. Higher Overnight Financing Costs

Costs Are Higher Than Other CFDs

The cost of carrying a position past 5 PM EST is higher (as a % of notional volume) on cryptocurrency CFDs than on other instruments.

4. Slippage and Liquidity Risk

Common on Stop and Market Orders

Market liquidity fluctuates. Jumps in price are common and negative slippage can occur frequently on Stop and Market Orders. Liquidity varies — BTC and ETH typically have better liquidity than smaller crypto instruments.

5. Variable Spreads

Spreads Widen in Low Liquidity

Spreads are variable and will narrow and widen depending on market liquidity and volatility. This can significantly impact trading costs during volatile periods.

6. Price Referencing Risk

FXCM's Price May Vary from Exchanges

Cryptocurrency prices vary across exchanges. FXCM forms its prices with reference to selected price sources and applies a mark-up. FXCM's price will vary from the current price of any specific underlying exchange.

📌 Important: Crypto CFDs are not suitable for all investors. The risks associated with trading crypto CFDs at FXCM include extreme volatility, weekend gapping, higher financing costs, slippage, variable spreads, and price referencing risk. Always ensure you understand these risks and trade responsibly. Never trade with money you cannot afford to lose.

5. Comparison: FXCM Crypto vs. Other Crypto Trading Options

Here's how FXCM's crypto CFD offering compares to other ways of trading cryptocurrencies.

Feature	FXCM Crypto CFDs	Crypto Exchanges (e.g., Binance, Coinbase)	Other Crypto CFD Brokers
Ownership of crypto	No — you trade price movements only	Yes — you own the actual cryptocurrency	No — CFD trading only
Leverage	Up to 400:1 (varies by equity)	Limited (or none for spot trading)	Varies by broker (typically lower than FXCM)
Go short	✅ Yes — profit from falling prices	❌ Limited (shorting is complex on exchanges)	✅ Yes
Custody / wallet	❌ Not required	✅ Required (or use exchange wallet)	❌ Not required
Trading hours	24/5 (weekend gap risk)	24/7	Varies (many are 24/7)
Overnight financing	✅ Yes — higher than other CFDs	❌ No (spot trading)	✅ Yes (varies by broker)
Regulation	FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSCA	Varies by exchange	Varies by broker
Best for	Traders who want leveraged exposure to crypto without owning it	Investors who want to own and hold crypto long-term	Traders who want CFD exposure with different fee structures

Note: Leverage, spreads, and fees are indicative and may vary based on market conditions, region, and account type. Always check the FXCM website for the most current information.

6. Frequently Asked Questions

What cryptocurrencies can I trade at FXCM?

FXCM offers CFDs on the following cryptocurrencies:

Individual coins: BTC/USD, ETH/USD, LTC/USD, BCH/USD, XLM/USD, ADA/USD, DOGE/USD, DOT/USD
Basket product: CryptoMajor — a basket of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash (25% each)

Does FXCM charge commission on crypto trades?

No. FXCM does not charge commission on crypto CFD trades. All trading costs are built into the spread. There are no additional charges for opening or closing a position.

What leverage does FXCM offer on crypto CFDs?

Leverage depends on your account equity:

New accounts (default): Up to 400:1 on crypto CFDs
Accounts > $10,000 equity: Up to 100:1 on crypto
Accounts > $50,000 equity: Up to 50:1 on crypto

Can I trade crypto CFDs on MetaTrader 4?

Yes. MT4 supports crypto CFD pairs and allows you to run existing strategies and automated systems (EAs) on them without rebuilding your setup.

What are the risks of trading crypto CFDs?

Key risks include:

Extreme volatility: Higher than any other product at FXCM
Weekend gapping: Crypto CFDs trade 24/5, not 24/7
Higher overnight financing costs: More expensive than other CFDs
Slippage: Common on Stop and Market Orders
Variable spreads: Spreads widen in low liquidity
Price referencing: FXCM's price may vary from exchange prices

What is the CryptoMajor basket?

The CryptoMajor basket is a unique product that combines Bitcoin (BTC/USD), Ether (ETH/USD), Litecoin (LTC/USD), and Bitcoin Cash (BCH/USD) into one instrument, with each component weighted at 25%. It is a benchmark designed to reflect the change in USD value of a basket of cryptocurrencies.

Does FXCM charge overnight financing on crypto CFDs?

Yes. The cost of carrying a position past 5 PM EST is higher (as a % of notional volume) on cryptocurrency CFDs than on other instruments. Financing costs are displayed as "Rollover" in the Simple and Advanced Dealing Rates windows in the Trading Station Platform.

What are FXCM's crypto CFD contract sizes?

BTC/USD: 1 contract = 1% of the Bitcoin price (100 contracts = 1 BTC)
ETH/USD and BCH/USD: 1 contract = 10% of the asset price
LTC/USD and XLM/USD: 1 contract = 1 full coin

Can I trade crypto CFDs on the weekend?

No. FXCM's crypto CFDs trade 24/5 — they are closed over the weekend. This means you cannot enter or exit positions during weekends, and large price movements can occur between Friday close and Monday open, creating gap risk.

Is FXCM regulated for crypto CFD trading?

Yes. FXCM is a well-regulated broker with oversight from top-tier regulators including the FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), and FSCA (South Africa). However, traders outside these regions may be onboarded through Stratos Global LLC in St Vincent, which offers less regulatory protection.

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Trading crypto CFDs involves significant risk and may not be suitable for all investors. 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with FXCM. Cryptocurrencies have higher volatility than any other product available to trade at FXCM. Always conduct your own research and consider your financial situation before trading. Regulatory status, fees, and product offerings are subject to change. Please refer to the official FXCM website and regulatory disclosures for the most current information.