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

Trying to choose between CMC Markets and Giottus 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

Giottus

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Available Countries

United States

Europe

Yes

Latin America

India

China

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Europe

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Canada

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.

Giottus is ideal if:

Beginners or INR-first users: Perfectly suited—it offers ultra-fast INR deposits and a highly intuitive interface tailored for Indian users.
Security-focused traders: Excellent choice—bank-level encryption, massive redundancies, and a high-throughput matching engine ensure a stable and safe environment.
Looking for global or altcoin variety?: Likely not ideal—limited international reach and a narrower crypto selection compared to global exchanges.

CMC Markets isn’t ideal if:

Giottus isn’t ideal if:

Need broad altcoin access? Not the best fit—Giottus’s crypto selection is more modest compared to global exchanges.
Globally located or outside India? Probably not an ideal match—its services and availability remain largely confined to India.
Seeking advanced trading tools? Might fall short—it lacks some sophisticated features demanded by experienced or professional traders.

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.

Giottus offers zero maker fees and standard taker fees on crypto-INR trades, with no extra incentive tiers tied to volume or token discounts—so your trading costs stay predictably low regardless of how much you trade.

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.

At present, Giottus does not support futures or derivatives products, so there’s no maker/taker structure or funding rate to factor into your cost analysis.

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.

While exact figures fluctuate, spreads on Giottus appear in line with industry norms for liquid crypto pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT, reflecting competitive pricing for actively traded markets.

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.

You can deposit or withdraw INR instantly (24/7) via IMPS or UPI with zero fees for normal transactions—instant methods are processed in seconds or minutes through your bank, while traditional IMPS/NEFT may take a few hours depending on timing.

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.

Crypto withdrawal fees are set per coin and network, typically fixed values rather than dynamic; for example, BTC withdrawals follow a set fee, and various networks like ETH or TRX similarly have fixed charges per transfer.

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.

Giottus does not layer hidden charges—there’s no currency conversion markup, no inactivity penalty, and no premium KYC option; all core costs align with publicly declared fee structures and are transparently applied.

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.

Imagine converting €500 to INR, then using that to buy BTC and withdrawing it

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.

Giottus supports roughly 300+ cryptocurrencies across 300+ trading pairs, with the top 20 by volume dominated by INR pairs like USDT/INR, ETH/INR, BTC/INR, SOL/USDT, and XRP/INR—these reflect the most active and liquid markets.

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 offers a comprehensive spot exchange plus fiat-crypto and crypto-crypto trades, along with earning tools like staking, lending, curated baskets, and automated SIP (Systematic Investment Plan), but it does not offer margin, derivatives, ETFs, options, copy trading, grid bots, or 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.

While specific volume metrics change daily, Giottus ranks as one of India’s most liquid exchanges, aggregating liquidity from sources like Bitfinex to ensure shallow slippage and solid order-book depth on pairs like BTC/INR and ETH/INR.

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.

The platform supports basic order types (like limit and market) on a real-time order book with charting tools; it integrates advanced visuals and historical data into its UI, though full native TradingView charts or API/WS support aren’t prominently featured.

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.

Giottus’s products are fully accessible only within India, and features like its earning tools and spot functionality are not available to users outside Indian jurisdiction.

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.

The platform introduces innovation through curated crypto baskets and SIP investment mechanisms, and while it offers staking and lending, it does not currently support launchpad/launchpool offerings or differentiate between flexible and locked yield 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.

Giottus is operated by Giottus Technologies Pvt Ltd, established in 2017, with its headquarters located in Chennai, India.

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.

As an Indian crypto service provider, Giottus is registered with the Financial Intelligence Unit–India as a Virtual Asset Service Provider, fully complying with local regulatory obligations under the AML/PMLA framework.

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.

own vs third-party; Proof of Reserves, audits, % cold reserves

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.

There is no indication that Giottus currently maintains an insurance policy or dedicated insurance fund to cover unexpected losses or custodial risks.

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.

To date, Giottus has not reported any major security breaches, exchange suspensions, or regulatory penalties, reflecting a clean track record in operational integrity and compliance.

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.

The exchange enforces industry-standard security measures including mandatory two-factor authentication, KYC-linked withdrawal tiers, and integration with compliance tools that bolster governance and anti-phishing defenses—though features like sub-accounts or granular API permissioning aren’t prominently highlighted.

Transparency

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

Giottus enhances transparency through its pending Proof of Reserves initiative and public communication via blog updates, but it does not currently publish routine monthly audit reports, public wallet addresses, or formalized service-level agreements.

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.

You can deposit INR into your Giottus account via UPI or IMPS instantly 24/7, and via NEFT/IMPS during the day with zero fees—both processing are fast, with instant routes completing in seconds and normal deposits credited within a couple of hours.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

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.

Giottus enforces a tiered KYC system, where completing full identity verification (PAN, Aadhaar or equivalent) unlocks access to higher withdrawal limits that are evaluated individually by compliance—there’s no zero-KYC tier for active trading.

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.

Crypto withdrawals are subject to fixed network fees and follow network-specific protocols, while INR withdrawals up to ₹200,000 via IMPS are instant and free, and larger amounts are processed using NEFT according to banking timings, with limits adjusted to your KYC tier.

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 through live chat, email, and phone, with a helpful knowledge base to guide users—response tends to be prompt, although peak hours may cause slight delays.

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 platform is localized mainly for Indian users, with interface and support in English and amounts shown in INR; the legal and compliance framework is aligned with Indian regulatory standards.

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.

The mobile app is generally stable and regularly maintained, with no widespread reports of frequent crashes; regular updates keep the platform current and responsive to user needs.

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.

Giottus features a clean, intuitive interface with minimal learning curve that suits both novices and more advanced users; there is no explicit “Lite” or “Pro” toggle, but the platform naturally accommodates different experience levels through its organized layout and simplified navigation.

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.

Built on a high-capacity trading engine capable of processing tens of thousands of transactions per second, Giottus maintains fast order execution even during volatile periods and has engineered resilience to handle surges, while KYC queues remain manageable thanks to its streamlined verification process.

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.

While Giottus invests in user education through blog posts and public awareness initiatives, it does not currently offer an in-app academy, simulator, demo mode, or content in Spanish—its educational assets are more operational and aimed at raising general crypto awareness.

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.

Giottus builds community engagement via its official Telegram channel and referral program that rewards users for inviting friends, but it does not appear to operate public forums or an official Discord server at this time.

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.

Although Giottus doesn’t integrate natively with TradingView or tax/accounting software, it does support connectivity with third-party trading bot platforms—enabling advanced automated strategies via services like Bitsgap.

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.

Giottus is especially well-suited for Indian users seeking a seamless fiat-to-crypto experience, regional language support, and straightforward tools for regular investing (like SIPs and baskets); it’s less tailored to power users requiring advanced charting, global fiat options, or institutional-level integrations.