In order to trade successfully, it is very important to choose the right broker. in the UK, 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 crypto brokers for short selling in the UK 2026. You can compare their features and trading conditions.
1
XM - Best for short selling in the UK
XM is a globally recognized broker, operating in nearly 190 countries and serving over 15 million traders. In 2025, the company marks its 15th anniversary. It provides access to more than 1,400 trading instruments, including Forex pairs, stocks, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and precious metals. Licensed by CySEC (Cyprus), FSCA (South Africa), DFSA (Dubai), FSC (Belize), FSA (Seychelles), FSC (Mauritius), CMA (Kenya) and SCA (United Arab Emirates), XM offers a secure and regulated trading environment.
The broker ensures high-speed order execution without requotes, with 99.35% of trades executed almost instantly. Leverage is up to 1:1000 in some non-EU countries, while strict European compliance applies in other regions, and spreads start from 0.8 pips.
XM runs multiple bonus programs, adapts trading conditions to each client’s country, and provides negative balance protection. Accounts are available for traders of any level and strategy, and for passive income, the broker offers a copy trading platform for investors as well as experienced traders willing to share their strategies.
👍 Advantages of trading with XM for traders from the UK:
•Regulation in six jurisdictions;
•Accounts designed for different strategies and levels of trader experience;
•Minimum deposit of $5;
•Various bonuses, trading competitions, and an affiliate program;
•100% order execution;
•No markup on tight market spreads;
•Access to more than 1,400 instruments;
•No deposit or withdrawal fees;
•24/7 multilingual support in over 30 languages.
👎 Disadvantages of XM for traders from the UK:
•Copy trading and stock trading accounts are not available in all countries.
2
Pepperstone - Best for short selling in the UK
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 the UK:
•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 the UK:
•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.
3
Deriv - Best for short selling in the UK
Deriv has been operating in the financial markets since 1999 and is one of the largest online brokers in the world. All Deriv divisions are operated by the holding company Deriv.com Limited. The broker operates on an STP model with MT5 platforms and offers proprietary software for trading options called Deriv Trader. Today, traders from 190 countries around the world use Deriv's services. The company's multi-regulatory approach provides free access to its products. Its activities are regulated by MFSA (The Malta Financial Services Authority), Labuan Financial Services Authority, VFSC (Vanuatu Financial Services Commission), and BVI FSC (British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission). Deriv specializes in leveraged trading of Forex and CFD instruments and trades in options contracts with multiples.
👍 Advantages of trading with Deriv for traders from the UK:
•Membership in The Financial Commission.
•Investment protection of up to €20,000.
•Zero trading fees and a wide range of derivatives with floating and fixed spreads.
•The minimum amount to trade options is $5.
•Initial deposit starting from 5 units.
•Trading platforms are customized to specific markets.
•Client funds are held in segregated accounts in major banks.
•Accounts are protected with 2FA.
👎 Disadvantages of Deriv for traders from the UK:
•The broker does not offer the MetaTrader 4 platform for beginners.
•Investment in PAMM or MAM accounts is not available.
•There is limited educational content on the company's website.
4
IFC Markets - Best for short selling in the UK
IFC Markets was established in 2006. The company is owned by IFCM Group, a financial corporation that turned the services of providing access to international asset markets into a separate business. The broker focuses on two areas – classical trading services and synthetic instrument trading services. The broker is regulated by BVI FSC SIBA/L/14/1073 (British Virgin Islands). Deposits of the traders are insured at AIG Europe Limited.
👍 Advantages of trading with IFC Markets for traders from the UK:
•Unique instruments for trading: portfolio quoting, continuous stock indices and derivatives, and a proprietary trading platform.
•Insurance against risks of professional liability.
•Over 600 trading assets of different classes, including synthetic instruments.
👎 Disadvantages of IFC Markets for traders from the UK:
•Relatively high spread – from 1.8 pips.
•Complex verification. Certification of the documents by a notary public and their translation into English may be required.
•Offshore regulation, which is unlikely to help a trader in any way.
•The broker’s proprietary platform does not envisage the use of an advisor and indicators on MQL. Translation into the platform’s language is performed at the trader’s expense.
•There are no passive income programs.
5
FXTRADING.com - Best for short selling in the UK
FXTRADING.com is headquartered in Sydney, Australia. It is duly authorized and supervised by one of the most trustworthy Australian regulatory bodies ASIC (ACN: 620 052 548) and Vanuatu (VFSC, 40256). FXTRADING.com is a highly reliable partner in the Forex market. FXTRADING.com operates from Australia due to the country’s strong financial, economic, and political foundation. Professional traders and investors from all over the world value FXTRADING.com for its convenient and secure trading environment. Zero Fees: You keep 100% of your deposit and withdrawal amounts (minus any fees your bank or payment provider may charge). Speed: Deposits are instant for most methods. Withdrawals are processed within 24 hours. The company has a reputation for being remarkably efficient with payouts.
👍 Advantages of trading with FXTRADING.com for traders from the UK:
•Licenses issued by the regulatory authorities of Australia (ASIC) and Vanuatu (VFSC);
•Leverage Offered: Up to 2000:1 (Maximum) ;
•Trading on the MT4 and MT5 platforms;
•Wide selection of assets for trading;
👎 Disadvantages of FXTRADING.com for traders from the UK:
•Minimum deposit is $50;
•Minimum withdrawal amount is $50.
TOP 5 Comparison
This table makes it easy to compare the best crypto brokers for short selling in the UK for 2026 by placing their information side by side all in one place. The table includes the categories that are most important when deciding on a broker to work with. The data contained in this table is verified and only includes the most reputable brokers.
| XM | Pepperstone | Deriv | IFC Markets | FXTRADING.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Trading platform |
MT4, MT5, Mobile Trading, XM App |
MT4, Mobile Trading, WebTrader, cTrader, MT5, TradingView |
Deriv Trader, MetaTrader5 |
MT4, MT5, NetTradeX |
IRess, MT4 |
|
Min deposit |
$5 |
$1 |
$5 |
$1 |
$200 |
|
Leverage |
From 1:1 |
From 1:1 |
From 1:1 |
From 1:1 |
From 1:30 |
|
Trust management |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
Accrual of % on the balance |
No |
No |
1.00% |
No |
No |
|
Spread |
From 0.8 points |
From 0 points |
From 0.4 points |
From 0.4 points |
From 0 points |
|
Level of margin call / stop out |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
Execution of orders |
Market Execution |
Instant Execution |
Market Execution |
Market Execution, Instant Execution |
Market Execution |
|
No deposit bonus |
$30 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
Cent accounts |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
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.
XM Commissions and Fees
Traders Union analysts have analyzed the main and additional commissions for each XM Broker account. There are no additional commissions on all accounts.
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
|
Ultra Low |
From 6 USD |
No |
|
Zero |
From 0 USD |
No |
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 |
Deriv Commissions and Fees
The accounts provided by Deriv are STP, which means there is no broker fee for executing trades. Traders pay the trading spread, the size of which may vary depending on the market situation. Deriv's minimum spreads for the EUR/USD pair are 0.4 pips, with the target value being 0.6 pips. Spreads for synthetic indices are fixed. The broker does not charge fees for clients' financial operations, such as deposits and withdrawals, but fee accrual is possible as payment systems conduct transfers in accordance with internal regulations. For the maintenance of inactive accounts for 12 months, the broker deducts $25 or the equivalent in another currency every 6 months.
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
|
STP MT5 |
From $4 |
Banks and payment providers may deduct fees |
IFC Markets Commissions and Fees
Traders Union analysts have examined the trading conditions of IFC Markets to uncover any hidden commissions or pitfalls. The broker’s trading conditions are transparent and there are no hidden commissions. In terms of additional fixed fees, there is a commission per each open trade in Stock CFD trading. The commission is charged in the amount of 0.01% of the position volume or $0.02 per share.
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
|
All accounts on NetTradex and МТ4 |
from $18 |
No |
|
All accounts on МТ5 |
from $4 |
No |
FXTRADING.com Commissions and Fees
The broker compensates for non-trading fees on deposits and withdrawals. As a fee for performance of transactions with financial instruments, FXTRADING.com charges spread (Standard accounts) or spread + commission per lot (Pro accounts).
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
|
Standard |
$10 |
No |
|
Pro |
$3.5 |
No |
Summary
Many brokers are available for traders from the UK, but not all of them offer good conditions. In this review, TU experts chose the Best crypto brokers for short selling in the UK 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 Crypto Brokers For Short Selling in the UK
| XM | Pepperstone | Deriv | IFC Markets | FXTRADING.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall score |
9.3 |
9.25 |
8.45 |
6.52 |
7.56 |
|
Execution of orders |
9.35 |
9.15 |
9.82 |
3.15 |
5.15 |
|
Investment instruments |
10 |
10 |
7.7 |
9.5 |
9.2 |
|
Withdrawal speed |
7 |
7 |
5 |
4 |
8 |
|
Customer Support work |
9.6 |
7 |
5.4 |
2.8 |
8.2 |
|
Variety of instruments |
8.02 |
6.32 |
5.12 |
6.45 |
4.97 |
|
Trading platform |
8.9 |
7.3 |
8.8 |
4.4 |
7.9 |
|
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FAQ
Does the choice of a beginner differ from the choice of an experienced trader?
Yes. A novice trader should primarily consider the availability of educational tools and a demo account, as well as basic assets. A more experienced trader is interested in wider opportunities on advanced account types, a wider choice of instruments for technical analysis, and a greater number of trading instruments.
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 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.
Can you earn passive income in the financial markets?
Yes, the best brokers in the UK offer passive income options. These could include copy trading, PAMM accounts, managed portfolios, etc.
Best Crypto Brokers For Short Selling by Countries
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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.
