In order to trade successfully, it is very important to choose the right broker. in Europe, a large number of companies provide access to trading and you will have to choose the one for you among them. It is important to work only with reliable brokers providing all the required instruments for trading based on your trading strategy. TU analysts have selected the best bitcoin brokers for short selling in Europe 2026. You can compare their features and trading conditions.
1
Pepperstone - Best for short selling in Europe
Pepperstone (Pepperstone.com) was founded in 2010 in Melbourne, Australia, by professional traders who were not satisfied with the quality of services provided by most brokers. The founders decided to avoid many of the disadvantages of competitors, including high commissions, delayed execution of orders, etc. The founders therefore focused on improving the technical component. The company has set itself the goal of changing the “rules of the game” and setting the bar high for online trading.
Today, Pepperstone offers clients all over the world some of the best technological solutions and favorable trading conditions. The company also provides professional tools that help traders not only master the fine art of trading, but also significantly increase trading efficiencies. In addition, Pepperstone’s platform is scrutinized by seven regulatory authorities, including ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission, AFSL No.414530), FCA (UK Financial Conduct Authority, 684312), DFSA (F004356), BaFin (151148), CMA, SCB (SIA-F217), and CySec (388/20). Moreover, with Pepperstone, clients' assets are maintained in aggregated accounts with several major, global banking institutions.
👍 Advantages of trading with Pepperstone for traders from Europe:
•Attractive trading conditions.
•Fast order execution - 30 ms on average.
•1,200+ trading instruments.
•Low fees.
•No inactivity fee.
•Support service works only 24/7.
👎 Disadvantages of Pepperstone for traders from Europe:
•No cent account.
•Not available to US clients.
•Limited passive trading opportunities.
•Limited analytical materials available on the site.
•No news section.
•Demo accounts can trade for free for 60 days.
2
Fusion Markets - Best for short selling in Europe
Fusion Markets is a young broker from Australia. It was created in November 2017 and began to provide full services in 2019. Headquartered in Cremorne, Melbourne, Australia, the broker is regulated by ASIC (Australian Securities and Investment Commission, 385620), FSA (Financial Services Authority of Seychelles, SD096) and VFSC (Vanuatu Financial Services Commission, 40256).
👍 Advantages of trading with Fusion Markets for traders from Europe:
•Reliable regulation;
•No non-trading fees;
•Diversity of financial instruments.
👎 Disadvantages of Fusion Markets for traders from Europe:
•Limited educational opportunities;
•No cent accounts;
•Inability to trade with bonus funds.
3
Bybit - Best for short selling in Europe
Bybit is a leading cryptocurrency exchange specializing in derivatives trading. Its proprietary trading platform is user-friendly but caters primarily to experienced traders who are comfortable with advanced financial instruments. Integration with TradingView provides seamless market analysis and trade execution. Bybit is regulated by the AFSA (Astana Financial Services Authority - Kazakhstan), holds a preliminary license from the VARA (Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority - Dubai) and secures MiCAR (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) license from Austria’s Financial Market Authority (FMA).
Bybit allows highly leveraged trading of up to 100x with a clear and transparent fee structure. For those seeking alternative investment strategies, Bybit offers copy trading programs for both derivatives and spot markets, enabling users to automatically replicate the trades of successful investors. The exchange provides 24/7 customer support, a safe banking environment, and instant deposits/withdrawals. Additionally, Bybit offers a crypto debit card, allowing users to spend their digital assets on everyday purchases.
👍 Advantages of trading with Bybit for traders from Europe:
•Convenient trading platform;
•Integration with TradingView;
•Combination of futures and perpetual contracts trading;
•There is an order book;
•It has a minimum entry threshold;
•It is possible to open long and short positions with subsequent mutual recalculation;
•Opportunities for Muslim traders to participate in the crypto market.
👎 Disadvantages of Bybit for traders from Europe:
•Difficult conditions for trading futures;
•Lacks a mechanism to protect the interests of traders.
4
InstaForex - Best for short selling in Europe
Disclaimer: InstaForex Global services are not available to citizens and residents of the European Union. Service availability, trading conditions, leverage, promotions, and products may vary depending on jurisdiction and applicable regulations.
InstaForex is a leading broker with over 7,000,000 clients. The company provides access to 2,500+ trading instruments, including Forex pairs, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Clients can benefit from competitive spreads starting from 0 pips, leverage up to 1:1000, and access to non-standard technological solutions like synthetic securities. The average execution speed is 0.1 sec.
The broker offers a wide range of cryptocurrency CFDs, with over 70 instruments available and zero spreads on major cryptocurrencies. Additionally, it supports passive investment options including PAMM accounts, copy trading services, and unique offering - OYS portfolios. The company provides responsive client support and insurance coverage up to €20,000 under European regulation.
👍 Advantages of trading with InstaForex for traders from Europe:
•2,500+ trading instruments.
•Passive investment products.
•Non-standard technological solutions.
•European regulation and IFC compensation fund.
•Comfortable trading conditions.
👎 Disadvantages of InstaForex for traders from Europe:
•Tough conditions for retail European traders due to regulations.
•Transaction copy delay — up to 15 seconds.
•Low leverage for European clients.
5
PU Prime - Best for short selling in Europe
PU Prime (Pacific Union) is a broker that allows trading in contracts for difference (CFDs) on hundreds of assets from the following categories: currencies, stocks, bonds, indices, commodities, metals, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). New users receive a free demo account with a balance of 100,000 virtual dollars. Real accounts come in five types, differing in trading parameters and catering to traders of different levels. The minimum deposit is $20, and spreads are floating, starting from 0 or 1.3 pips depending on the chosen account. The maximum leverage is 1:1000. The broker's clients operate through MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and WebTrader trading platforms. The company also has a highly-rated mobile platform. In addition to active trading, traders can earn through a standard referral program and register in an integrated copy trading service. PU Prime offers attractive bonuses through five active programs. The broker provides free technical and fundamental analysis tools and news analytics. It also has an extensive educational system.
👍 Advantages of trading with PU Prime for traders from Europe:
•The minimum deposit is lower than the market average, and a free demo account and high-quality training ensure a low entry threshold.
•Traders can work with hundreds of assets with high leverage and no trading restrictions, resulting in high-profit potential.
•Narrow spreads combined with low commissions guarantee minimal trading costs.
•Traders can choose from five real account options, including an Islamic account with no swaps or interest charges.
•A wide selection of trading platforms, including mobile versions, allows traders to work comfortably in most conditions.
•The copy trading platform is transparent, fast, and features an intuitive interface.
•Customer support is available through the main communication channels, operates round the clock without interruptions, and has received numerous positive reviews.
👎 Disadvantages of PU Prime for traders from Europe:
•This broker only offers trading with CFDs.
•Apart from copy trading, the company does not provide other passive income options such as joint accounts, cryptocurrency staking, etc.
•Residents of Singapore, and some other countries cannot collaborate with this broker.
Commissions & Fees
Brokerage fees are the amount of money that you pay for using the services that a brokerage offers in order to perform trading and manage investments. The brokerage fee structure and regulations vary from broker to broker, and there are two primary fee types which are:
Trading Fees: This type of fee is only charged when you perform a trade. It can be a conversion fee, margin rate, financing rate, spread, or commission.
Non-Trading Fees: This type of fee isn't directly related to your trading activity, and it can include inactivity fee, withdrawal fee, deposit fee, etcetera.
Pepperstone Commissions and Fees
Pepperstone’s commissions and fee structure has been reviewed by our professional analysts for trading and non-trading commissions. The company's spread was considered as a trading commission. Our professional analysts also categorized additional fees charged for withdrawing funds as non-trading commission additional fees.
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
|
Razor |
From $0 |
No |
|
Standard |
From $1 |
No |
Fusion Markets Commissions and Fees
The results of the analysis carried out by the Traders Union specialists showed that trading and non-trading fees at the Fusion Markets broker are low. On Classic accounts, the brokerage commission is included in the spread. Zero accounts are charged an additional base commission per lot of $4.5 per round (open and close). Non-trading fees are $0. The broker does not charge commissions when depositing/withdrawing funds. However, warns that commissions may be charged on the side of the bank or the client's payment system.
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
|
Zero |
4,5$ |
No |
|
Classic |
9$ |
No |
|
Swap Free |
0$ |
No |
Bybit Commissions and Fees
The Traders Union experts analyzed the Bybit platform documents regulating the trading conditions for differentiation of commissions. The commission depends on which category is assigned to the trader: Maker or Taker. The Taker commission is 0.075%; whereas the Maker commission is 0.025%.
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
|
Standard |
From $ 20 |
No |
InstaForex Commissions and Fees
Traders Union specialists have analyzed InstaForex trading conditions for explicit and hidden commissions. All information on the size of commissions contained is on the broker's website. Trading account replenishment through the popular payment system takes place without commission. The commission is charged only by the bank or e-payment system. Information on the amount of commission fees is available on their website. Withdrawal fees range from 0.5% to 3.5%, depending on the electronic payment system. PayCo does not charge a withdrawal fee.
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
|
Insta.Standard (FSC) |
From 3-7 USD |
yes |
|
Insta.Eurica (FSC) |
From 0 USD |
yes |
|
Cent.Standard (FSC) |
From 3-7 USD |
yes |
|
Cent.Eurica (FSC) |
From 0 USD |
yes |
|
ECN.MT4 (CySEC) |
From 10 USD |
Yes |
|
ECN VIP.MT4 (CySEC) |
From 3 USD |
No |
|
ECN Pro.MT4 (CySEC) |
From 7 USD |
Yes |
|
All ECN-accounts MT5 (CySEC) |
From 0 USD |
No |
PU Prime Commissions and Fees
All brokers generate their main income from spreads and trading commissions, and some also impose withdrawal fees. If a raw spread is used, the commission is always higher, while a standard spread may have no commission at all. Spreads can also be fixed or floating. PU Prime offers floating spreads on its accounts, starting from 0 or 1.3 pips depending on the account type. Traders should also consider that the Prime account incurs a trading commission of $3.5 per standard lot. The Islamic account also has a fee, but it is floating and starts from $0, with a maximum of $3.5. Withdrawal fees are only charged when using the following channels: Skrill (1%), Neteller (2%), and Faspay (0.5%). In all other cases, including withdrawals to Visa or MasterCard bank cards, the broker does not charge fees. However, fees may be imposed by other parties involved in the withdrawal process, such as a bank. Considering the overall factors, PU Prime's commission policy appears attractive, and transparent and does not impose significant costs on traders.
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
|
Cent |
From $1.3, no commission |
No, for most withdrawal methods |
|
Standard |
From $13, no commission |
No, for most withdrawal methods |
|
Pro |
From $13, no commission |
No, for most withdrawal methods |
|
Prime |
From $0, the commission is $3.50 per lot |
No, for most withdrawal methods |
|
Islamic |
From $13, the commission is $0-3.50 per lot |
No, for most withdrawal methods |
Summary
Many brokers are available for traders from Europe, but not all of them offer good conditions. In this review, TU experts chose the Best bitcoin brokers for short selling in Europe 2026. These are the most trusted companies that offer the best conditions for traders. You will also be able to review the general assessment of each broker.
Overall score of the best Bitcoin Brokers For Short Selling in Europe
| Pepperstone | Fusion Markets | Bybit | InstaForex | PU Prime | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall score |
9.3 |
9.25 |
9.2 |
7.8 |
7.36 |
|
Execution of orders |
9.15 |
7.95 |
8.57 |
8.85 |
6.21 |
|
Investment instruments |
10 |
9.2 |
9.8 |
9.3 |
10 |
|
Withdrawal speed |
7 |
10 |
9.3 |
5 |
7 |
|
Customer Support work |
7 |
9.1 |
9.7 |
7 |
5.7 |
|
Variety of instruments |
6.32 |
7.23 |
0 |
8.02 |
4.12 |
|
Trading platform |
7.3 |
8.9 |
9.2 |
9.1 |
4.3 |
|
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FAQ
What is a demo account and why is it important?
On a demo account, you trade by using virtual funds. It is important to choose a broker offering a demo account both for beginners, who are only learning, and for experienced traders, who can use this account type to test new strategies or EAs risk-free.
Why is a license important for a broker?
License is the key document testifying to the broker’s reliability. It means that the company complies with the requirements of the financial regulatory authority that issued it. It is recommended that you choose brokers with licenses from top financial regulators: the USA, European Union, the UK, as these jurisdictions have the strictest licensing requirements.
What factors are important when you are choosing a broker?
When you are choosing a broker, it is important to make sure it is a reliable company, consider its fees, the list of trading instruments, deposit and withdrawal methods and other factors. It is important to study a broker in detail, before opening an account with it.
How much money do I need in order to start working in the financial markets?
The initial capital depends on the assets you plan to trade. However, in the majority of cases, $300-500 is a good amount for a start.
Best Bitcoin Brokers For Short Selling by Countries
Team that worked on the article
Mikhail Vnuchkov joined Traders Union as an author in 2020. He began his professional career as a journalist-observer at a small online financial publication, where he covered global economic events and discussed their impact on the segment of financial investment, including investor income. With five years of experience in finance, Mikhail joined Traders Union team, where he is in charge of forming the pool of latest news for traders, who trade stocks, cryptocurrencies, Forex instruments and fixed income.
Olga Shendetskaya has been a part of the Traders Union team as an author, editor and proofreader since 2017. Since 2020, Shendetskaya has been the assistant chief editor of the website of Traders Union, an international association of traders. She has over 10 years of experience of working with economic and financial texts. In the period of 2017-2020, Olga has worked as a journalist and editor of laftNews news agency, economic and financial news sections. At the moment, Olga is a part of the team of top industry experts involved in creation of educational articles in finance and investment, overseeing their writing and publication on the Traders Union website.
