CMC Markets vs 50X: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between CMC Markets and 50X This side-by-side comparison reveals total cost (fees + spreads), security & licenses, coins/derivatives, deposits/withdrawals, and app quality. In 2 minutes you’ll see who wins for beginners, active traders, and long-term holders. Clear pros/cons, a quick verdict, and safe links to get started.

Last updated on September 3, 2025

CMC Markets

50X

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Available Countries

United States

Europe

Yes

Latin America

India

China

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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CMC Markets is ideal if:

Designed for experienced derivative traders, especially those who value advanced customization and powerful analytical tools across multiple platforms.
Ideal if you seek a highly regulated, globally trusted provider with deep sector expertise and mature infrastructure.
Great choice for anyone wanting access to a wide spectrum of tradable instruments and rich educational resources in one robust ecosystem.

50X is ideal if:

Instant coin-to-coin trades — You can swap any listed cryptocurrency directly for any other in a single transaction using its unique Any-to-Any trading core, without extra conversion steps.
Passive income through native tokens — Holding STE or A2A tokens entitles you to profit-sharing or dividend-style earnings from the platform’s performance.
Advanced trader tools with liquidity boost — The platform offers professional-grade interfaces, customizable layouts, and aggregates liquidity from major exchanges to enhance execution and depth.

CMC Markets isn’t ideal if:

50X isn’t ideal if:

Liquidity limitations — Lower trading volumes can result in occasional liquidity tightness, which may affect large or rapid trades.
No fiat access or KYC — You won't be able to fund your account with traditional currencies or use fiat deposits and withdrawals in the usual way.
Offshore registration — Its incorporation in an offshore jurisdiction may offer less regulatory protection and oversight compared to more regulated platforms.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

CMC Markets does not operate a traditional maker/taker fee structure or tiered volume discounts and does not offer any cost reductions tied to a native token.

50 X charges the same flat 0.20 % fee for both maker and taker spot trades; holding and paying with the internal A2A token for applicable pairs (like A2A/BTC or A2A/ETH) cuts that fee in half.

Futures/Derivatives

CMC Markets provides CFDs and spread bets on derivatives, but it does not publish distinct maker/taker pricing or funding rates as you’d find on crypto futures exchanges.

For futures contracts on 50 X, both maker and taker fees are effectively zero, but as with most platforms, funding fees apply periodically to align futures prices with spot.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

For major crypto pairs like Bitcoin and Ethereum, the platform offers relatively tight spreads—even for top-tier tokens—thanks to aggregated pricing feeds and fast execution.

The platform’s “Any-to-Any” matching and relatively low volume can widen average spreads on major pairs compared to high-liquidity competitors.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Users can fund their account via bank transfers or cards; processing times vary by method, and while there may be standard processing delays, no explicit deposit or withdrawal fees are highlighted.

There are no direct fiat deposit or withdrawal options—though you can buy USDT via a third-party gateway using cards or Advcash, but the fees vary significantly and are set by the provider.

On-chain Withdrawals

CMC Markets does not support direct withdrawals to crypto wallets, so there are no on-chain network fees—either fixed or dynamic—to consider.

50 X applies fixed withdrawal fees per crypto and network—e.g. modest flat fees for BTC, ETH, XRP—rather than dynamic per-network pricing.

Hidden Costs

While the platform primarily centers on spreads and overnight costs, indirect expenses may include currency conversion margins or potential costs if accounts go dormant, though these are not prominently marketed.

You won’t face inactivity or KYC express charges, but currency conversion and payment-gateway fees (when buying via card) can be steep and are charged externally.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

If you purchased €500 worth of Bitcoin through CMC Markets via CFDs, your effective cost would stem from the spread on the BTC position; since direct crypto ownership and withdrawals aren’t offered, you wouldn’t incur any separate withdrawal costs—just the cost implied by spread and position closure.

If you spent €500 to acquire BTC, you’d pay the platform’s spot fee (≈0.20 %), absorb the BTC/fiat spread from the gateway, and then pay the fixed network fee to withdraw on-chain.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

CMC Markets offers CFDs on more than 35 cryptocurrencies—including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, XRP, meme coins, and newly added altcoins—though it doesn’t show distinct listings for “top 20 by volume.” Their platform also provides indices that bundle both major and emerging crypto for broader exposure.

50 X offers around 24 cryptocurrencies and roughly 105 trading pairs in total; their top 20 pairs by volume typically include BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT, LTC/USDT, TRX/ETH, LINK/USDT, XRP/USDC, and other active altcoin-to-cryptocurrency combinations.

Product Range

All crypto offerings come exclusively as leveraged derivative CFDs or spread bets; there’s no true spot crypto, no futures/perps, options, ETFs, staking, lending, copy-trading, grid bots, or automated DCA tools available.

The platform focuses on spot trading and spot-margin (leveraged crypto-to-crypto), and also offers perpetual futures via A2A liquidity, token-based passive income (through dividends and managed accounts), but doesn’t provide options, crypto ETFs, savings staking, lending, copy trading, grid bots, or automated DCA tools.

Liquidity

While CMC doesn’t disclose specific 24-hour volumes or depth metrics, its aggregated pricing across multiple sources ensures consistently deep, responsive liquidity, especially for BTC and ETH.

Trading volume on 50 X remains modest—24-hour volume is under $100k—so book depth on BTC/ETH pairs is relatively shallow, leading to potential slippage or less depth during larger trades.

Tools

The platform supports advanced trading features, including limit, stop, and OCO orders, real-time alerts, rich charting tools (including native TradingView integration), and robust API and WebSocket access for automated trading.

You’ll find essential order types like limit, market, stop-loss, and trailing stops with charting tools integrated into the interface; there’s support for API and WebSocket access, but there’s no fully integrated TradingView experience or alerting system built in.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Certain products like CFDs and spread bets are unavailable in jurisdictions that ban them—such as the U.S.—meaning crypto derivatives are accessible only in regions where CFD trading is permitted under local regulation.

Derivatives and margin are generally accessible globally, but some countries with strict crypto regulations may not have full access; the platform doesn’t explicitly list those banned regions.

Innovation

CMC Markets does not offer crypto-focused innovation services like launchpads, launchpools, or flexible/locked staking; its emphasis remains on delivering traditional CFD-based trading experiences rather than DeFi-style earn mechanisms.

50 X brings innovation in its Any-to-Any core and dividend token model allowing passive income through profit-sharing or token loans, but it does not currently support launchpad/pool projects or offer separate flexible vs locked earning products.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

CMC Markets plc, founded in 1989 and headquartered in London, operates globally with regional subsidiaries under local regulatory oversight.

Operated by Smart Token Exchange LTD, established in 2017 and headquartered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, this offshore structure allows for privacy but offers limited regulatory oversight.

Licenses/Registration

The firm holds multiple high-tier licenses—including from the UK’s FCA, Germany’s BaFin, Australia’s ASIC, Singapore’s MAS, and Canada’s CIRO—providing broad regulatory coverage.

The platform does not hold formal regulatory licenses such as VASP or MiCA/UE; it functions under the jurisdiction of its offshore registry without public regulatory accreditation.

Custody

Client deposits are segregated in reputable banks and undergo daily reconciliations and annual audits, though no public proof-of-reserves or cold storage percentages are provided.

Assets are custodial on the platform, though it claims 98 % of funds are kept in cold storage and a small share is hot for liquidity; there’s no publicly available proof-of-reserves or third-party audit confirmation.

Insurance & Protection Funds

Eligible retail clients benefit from compensation schemes such as the UK’s FSCS and Canada’s CIPF, alongside negative balance protection, where applicable.

The exchange mentions insurance coverage and security provisions, but no clear details are provided on the scope, provider, or coverage limits of such protection.

Incident History

CMC Markets has a clean cybersecurity record with no reported hacks or major incidents, though it faced legal scrutiny over CFD practices in Australia and regulatory breaches in past years.

There are no publicly known major security breaches or regulatory penalties, though occasional user reports mention withdrawal delays and some technical hiccups in trading operations.

Risk Controls

The platform offers strong security features including two-factor authentication (via app or SMS, required for withdrawals), encrypted data, anti-fraud mechanisms, and secure API access.

Security features include enforced two-factor authentication (3-factor via Google Auth), customizable withdrawal delays, address whitelisting, and emergency master keys; granular API permissions and anti-phishing tools are not explicitly detailed.

Transparency

CMC Markets provides regular reporting on execution quality and fund segregation, but does not publish public wallet addresses or formal SLA guarantees.

The platform does not publish regular transparency reports, public wallet addresses, or formal service-level agreements—transparency remains limited to user-facing guides and token dividend mechanisms.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

CMC Markets accepts deposits via bank transfer, credit/debit cards, and sometimes e-wallets; card deposits can go up to around $50,000 per transaction (depending on card issuer), while bank limits depend on your bank, and funds are typically available almost instantly for cards or on the next business day for bank transfers.

No direct fiat transfers, bank cards, or e-wallets are supported for deposit; only crypto deposits are accepted, and the timing depends on blockchain confirmation speeds.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

No direct fiat transfers, bank cards, or e-wallets are supported for deposit; only crypto deposits are accepted, and the timing depends on blockchain confirmation speeds.

KYC (Verification Levels)

You must complete identity verification before trading; while CMC does not publish tiered verification levels or trading limits, verification is mandatory for full access and withdrawal capabilities.

No KYC is required—there’s no basic or advanced verification, allowing full functionality without identity disclosure.

Withdrawals

Withdrawals are possible via card, bank transfer, or PayPal (where available); there’s a daily cap (e.g., ~$40,000 to card, up to €10,000 to PayPal), unlimited withdrawals to registered bank accounts, and typical processing ranges from same-day to a few business days; direct crypto withdrawals (TRC20/ERC20/BEP20) are not supported.

Cryptocurrency withdrawals are allowed across supported networks like ERC-20, but fiat withdrawals aren’t supported; processing time depends on network congestion, with dynamic fees reflecting real-time blockchain conditions.

Customer Support

CMC Markets provides support through email, phone, and live chat (operating during business hours), supported by a rich knowledge base—response times vary but generally align with office hours.

Support is available via email and Telegram chat, with varied response times—community-created guides serve as informal knowledge resources since no official 24/7 live support is guaranteed.

Languages & Localization

Services are localized across regions—platforms often display in local languages (including native Spanish where available), show pricing in local fiat (€, etc.), and operate under applicable local regulations.

The interface is available in English and other languages, displays amounts in common fiat like USD/EUR via third-party gateways, but lacks localization or regulatory adaptations for specific jurisdictions.

App Quality & Stability

The mobile and desktop apps are regularly updated and known for robust stability, with very low crash rates reported, though exact metrics aren’t published—users generally report smooth and reliable performance.

There’s no dedicated mobile app—users rely entirely on the web interface, which shows regular updates on the site and supports stable performance without known crash issues.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

CMC Markets’ flagship interface, Next Generation, is feature-rich and award-winning, offering saved layouts and module linking for efficient navigation; while there’s no explicit “Lite” mode, their platforms cater to both seasoned traders (via advanced tools and customizable dashboards) and those who prefer a streamlined setup.

The interface presents a learning curve due to its rich functionality and customization options, including color theming and layout flexibility, but doesn’t explicitly offer separate “Lite” or “Pro” modes; instead, it adapts dynamically for both beginner and advanced users, though novices may feel slightly overwhelmed at first.

Performance

Their co-located London data centers and proprietary API connectivity deliver low-latency order execution—even under high loads—though occasional freezing or slippage can happen during peak volatility; KYC processing tends to follow regular timing without widespread reports of long queues during market surges.

The platform performs quickly due to its single-page application design and responsive internal core, although lower liquidity may lead to slowed fills or slippage during high volatility; since there’s no KYC, there’s no issue with verification queues.

Education

CMC Markets offers a rich education suite including video guides, platform tutorials, webinars, and articles, plus a risk-free demo account that stays active indefinitely and supports strategy testing—with materials often localized, including Spanish-language versions in select regions.

There’s no formal academy or demo environment; educational content comes via guides and third-party reviews, primarily available in English—Spanish-language resources are limited or largely community-generated rather than official.

Community

The platform includes an integrated trading forum where users can share strategies and sentiment, however CMC does not officially promote Discord or Telegram channels, and while referral programs may exist regionally, they’re not prominently advertised.

An active Telegram channel serves as the main community hub, and their multilevel referral program offers generous commission-sharing incentives—no official forums or Discord are indicated.

Integrations

Users benefit from native TradingView-grade charting and pattern tools, plus API/WebSocket access for third-party automation, although there’s no direct integration with tax-reporting or portfolio accounting platforms.

Charts use TradingView’s charting library, and the platform supports API access for external trading bots; however, it lacks built-in tax compliance or portfolio/accounting integrations.

Who Each One Is Best For

The platform is ideal for analytical, advanced traders who value deep charting tools, customization, and learning resources; it may be less suited to those seeking social trading, mobile-first simplification, or integrated accounting and bot ecosystems.

It’s best suited for proactive crypto traders who value fast, flexible coin-to-coin swaps and deep interface customization; casual users or those needing built-in demo tools, fiat support, or simplified dashboards may find it less immediately accessible.