XM vs Okx: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between XM and Okx 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 5, 2025

XM

Okx

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Available Countries

United States

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Yes

Canada

United Kingdom

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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XM is ideal if:

For flexibility seekers: Ideal if you want access to a wide range of global markets (forex, CFDs, commodities, indices, stocks, crypto) across popular platforms like MT4 and MT5.
For fair-play traders: Perfect if you value consistent execution—no requotes or rejections—and the same conditions for all clients, regardless of account size.
For support-driven users: Great for those who appreciate multilingual, round-the-clock support and educational tools (like live webinars and market insights).

Okx is ideal if:

Strong for Advanced Traders – OKX stands out with powerful tools like AI-driven trading bots, structured products, and a wide range of derivatives support, making it a great match for experienced and technologically inclined users.
Excellent Web3 and DeFi Access – The platform integrates Web3 features, including a non-custodial wallet, NFT tools, and decentralized applications, ideal if you're interested in exploring beyond traditional trading.
Global Reach with Regulatory Backbone – Boasting licenses across multiple regions and expanding services tailored to local markets, OKX is a reliable choice for anyone looking for a globally recognized exchange.

XM isn’t ideal if:

If you want full asset variety: XM lacks futures, physical stocks, and a broader crypto selection—so it's not the best fit if you're seeking non-CFD exposure or niche instruments.
If payment flexibility matters: No PayPal or similar e-wallet options, and withdrawing profits often requires bank transfers only.
If transparency is crucial: Being privately held, XM doesn’t publish public financial disclosures, which may concern traders looking for operational transparency.

Okx isn’t ideal if:

Not for Fiat Purists – If you rely on direct fiat deposits or smooth bank withdrawals, OKX’s limited fiat on-boarding and off-ramp options may fall short.
Challenging for Beginners – The high complexity of its pro-level features and lack of a simple, guided interface may overwhelm first-time or casual users.
Frustrating for Restricted Regions – If you're in a country with regulatory restrictions, OKX access or certain trading products may not be available where you are.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

XM does not use a maker-taker pricing model for spot crypto trading; instead, it offers crypto CFDs with transparent spreads rather than volume-based fees or native-token discounts.

Spot trading fees vary by 30-day trading volume and OKB holdings; regular users see maker fees around 0.08% and taker around 0.10%, while VIP tiers significantly reduce these rates and may even offer maker rebates at high volume levels.

Futures/Derivatives

XM provides CFD-based derivatives (including forex, commodities, indices, crypto) rather than traditional futures, with no separate maker/taker fees and funding costs rolled into overnight swap rates depending on account type and position.

Futures trading follows a tiered model similar to spot; maker and taker fees decrease as your trading volume or OKB holdings grow, while funding costs are exchanged directly between traders every eight hours depending on market direction—not charged as a platform fee.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

XM’s crypto spreads vary dynamically with market conditions, and while they aim to keep spreads competitive, specific figures for pairs like BTC/USDT or ETH/USDT are not publicly listed to ensure evergreen relevance.

OKX typically maintains tight spreads on highly liquid pairs like BTC/USDT or ETH/USDT, ensuring minimal price difference between bid and ask in normal trading conditions.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Clients can deposit and withdraw using credit/debit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets like Skrill or Neteller, typically with no internal fees and processing that ranges from instant (e-wallets) to a few business days (cards or wire).

Fiat support depends on your region and may include local bank transfers, instant methods like PIX or PayNow; fees and processing times vary—ranging from near-instant to a few business days—with no uniform global structure.

On-chain Withdrawals

XM does not offer on-chain crypto withdrawals—crypto exposure is available only via CFDs—so there are no network-level (like BTC, ETH, TRX) withdrawal fees.

Crypto withdrawals to external addresses are subject to network (gas) fees that vary based on congestion; internal transfers between OKX accounts incur no fees.

Hidden Costs

XM imposes inactivity charges after a period without trading, and currency conversion fees may apply if your deposit or withdrawal currency differs from your account base; there are no known express-KYC charges.

Additional costs may arise from currency conversion rates if your deposit isn’t in a supported fiat, or possibly expedited KYC services, though OKX doesn’t enforce inactivity fees.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

Because XM trades crypto via CFDs rather than outright purchases, a “€500 BTC buy” isn’t executed as a direct asset acquisition—costs would come from the spread and any overnight financing, with no actual crypto withdrawal involved.

If you were to convert €500 to BTC, your cost would include a dynamic FX conversion charge, a minimal spread on BTC/fiat, spot maker/taker fee on execution, plus network gas if you then withdraw on-chain—all combining to a slightly reduced BTC amount received.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

XM offers 58 crypto CFDs, covering many major and minor cryptocurrencies across USD, EUR, and GBP denominated pairs; top-volume pairs include BTC/USD, ETH/USD, XRP/USD, LTC/USD, and BCH/USD.

OKX offers several hundred cryptocurrencies overall, with the most actively traded top-20 including BTC, ETH, XRP, SOL, DOGE, ADA, LINK, AVAX, LTC, TRX, among others—all listed prominently and ranked by market cap on the platform.

Product Range

XM provides CFDs only—no actual spot, futures/perps, options, ETFs, staking, lending, grid or DCA bots—though it does support copy trading via MQL5 alongside its usual CFD offerings.

You’ll find a full spectrum on OKX—from spot and margin trading to perpetual futures, options, staking, earning programs, lending, copy-trading tools, grid bots, and automated DCA strategies—covering most major trading needs.

Liquidity

XM does not publish direct liquidity metrics like 24-hour volume or order-book depth, relying instead on its CFD pricing aligned with underlying markets via its partner liquidity providers.

The platform boasts robust liquidity, particularly on BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT, with high 24-hour turnover and deep order books that support swift executions and minimize slippage in normal market environments.

Tools

XM supports standard order types—including limit, stop, and OCO—offers alerts and advanced charting through MT4/MT5 platforms; it does not feature a proprietary TradingView interface or public API/WS, but use of Expert Advisors is permitted.

OKX equips you with a wide range of order types (limit, stop, OCO), real-time alerts, advanced multi-chart setups (including native TradingView integration), powerful APIs and WebSocket feeds, plus strategy calculators and signals for deeper trade planning.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

XM restricts certain products in specific regions—crypto CFDs and copy-trading are unavailable to clients in the UK and EEA, and access to CFDs depends on local regulator policies.

Depending on your jurisdiction, certain features—like derivatives or margin trading—may be restricted or unavailable due to local regulatory rules, so availability can differ from country to country.

Innovation

XM does not offer launchpad, launchpool, staking pools, earn programs, or flexible-vs-locked yield products; its innovation focus remains on expanding CFD choices and platform features like copy trading.

OKX stays dynamic with its launchpad and launchpool offerings, letting users discover and participate in new token listings, while offering both flexible and locked formats for earning and staking to suit different strategy preferences.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

XM is run by Trading Point Holdings Ltd (founded 2009), headquartered in Limassol, Cyprus, and operates through specialized regional entities tailored to the EU, Australia, Middle East, and global markets.

OKX is operated by various legal entities depending on region—for instance, a US Delaware-based entity (OKCoin USA Inc.), a Malta-registered company for EU markets, and others for locations like Australia, El Salvador, Bahamas, the UAE, and Hong Kong—while globally headquartered in San Jose, California, with operations dating back to its founding around 2013.

Licenses/Registration

XM is regulated under CySEC (Cyprus / EU), ASIC (Australia), DFSA (Dubai), and IFSC (Belize), aligning with EU MiFID II standards but not specifically registered as a VASP under MiCA.

OKX holds multiple regulatory approvals across regions—including a MiCA license in Malta passported across the EEA, a major payments license in Singapore, a VASP license in Dubai, and additional registrations tailored for France, Australia, the UAE, and the US.

Custody

XM entrusts client funds to top-tier third-party banks in segregated accounts, and although it mentions independent audits and risk controls, it does not provide public Proof of Reserves or disclose cold-storage percentages.

User assets are held under OKX-controlled custody, with a mix of cold storage and third-party custody; they support transparency through regular, independently audited Proof of Reserves—demonstrating over 100% backing of key assets, verified via Merkle proofs and zk-STARKs.

Insurance & Protection Funds

EU-based clients via XM’s CySEC arm benefit from the Investor Compensation Fund (cap applies), and the broker enforces negative balance protection—but it does not highlight private insurance schemes.

OKX maintains a substantial insurance fund designed to absorb extreme losses or auto-deleveraging scenarios, serving as an additional layer of user asset protection.

Incident History

XM has maintained a largely clean record with no major hacks or enforcement actions reported by tier-1 regulators, and any operational interruptions are either internal or compliance-related, with no publicized fines.

While OKX has no major breaches to its infrastructure, it has experienced temporary withdrawal suspensions in the past and, notably, its operator pleaded guilty in 2025 for past U.S. compliance violations, resulting in fines and a mandated compliance consultant.

Risk Controls

XM supports strong risk safeguards including mandatory KYC, negative balance protection, and secure execution infrastructure, though features like granular API permissions, IP whitelisting, or sub-account hierarchies are mostly available via MetaTrader plugin tools rather than a proprietary interface.

OKX enforces strong security controls, including mandatory two-factor authentication, anti-phishing safeguards, address whitelisting, the option for segmented sub-accounts, and fine-grained API permission settings.

Transparency

XM provides detailed legal documents, execution statistics, and quarterly summaries available to clients, but does not publish public wallet addresses, real-time monthly financials, or explicit service-level agreements.

OKX publishes regular Proof of Reserves reports, provides publicly verifiable wallet addresses, and offers users tools for self-audit, reinforcing transparency—though they do not publicly share SLA or detailed transparency reports.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

XM accepts bank wires, Visa/MasterCard, and e-wallets like Skrill, Neteller, Google Pay, and Apple Pay; the minimum deposit is around $5; e-wallet/top-up deposits are instantaneous, cards take up to a few business days, and bank wires typically reflect within 1–5 business days.

OKX supports various fiat deposit options depending on your region—this may include bank transfers (like SEPA in Europe, domestic wires or ACH in the U.S.), cards, and e-wallets. Minimums, maximums, and processing times differ by method and jurisdiction; for example, SEPA Instant enables near-instant deposits, while standard transfers may take one to two business days.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

XM enforces a full KYC flow requiring identity, selfie, and proof of address before enabling deposits and withdrawals; there is no tiered access—full verification is mandatory to unlock all account functionalities.

Account access varies with verification levels—from basic (email/phone) to advanced (ID + address), with higher tiers unlocking features like higher P2P or cash transaction limits (e.g., $5,000 lifetime for Level 1 users before needing to upgrade).

Withdrawals

XM processes withdrawals via the same channel used for deposit (e-wallet, card, or wire), with processing typically within 24 hours and final receipt depending on method (e-wallets same day, cards/wires 2–5 business days); crypto networks aren’t used since XM operates via CFDs.

Withdrawal limits, processing times, and available networks depend on your KYC status and the currency type. Crypto withdrawals offer multiple network options (e.g., ERC-20, TRC-20), and fiat cash or P2P withdrawals may be carried out via local methods with their own caps; internal transfers between OKX accounts are instant and fee-free.

Customer Support

XM provides multilingual support via live chat and email, reportedly operational 24/5 (depending on your region), with relatively fast response times and a rich repository of educational content and FAQs online.

Support is accessible 24/7 via self-service articles, ticket system, and live chat; response times vary. The Help Center is comprehensive and navigable, with categories for deposits, trading, account issues, and troubleshooting.

Languages & Localization

XM supports Spanish-language interfaces and customer support, displays pricing in your account’s base currency (including EUR), and operates under local regulatory regimes to ensure compliance in each jurisdiction.

OKX supports multiple languages across web and app, selectable through user preferences—especially within EU regulatory regions. Fiat values and fees are displayed in relevant local currencies, enhancing clarity and cohesion with your locale.

App Quality & Stability

XM’s mobile and web apps—built on the tried-and-true MetaTrader frameworks—are praised for reliable performance and regular updates; while exact crash data isn’t public, user feedback indicates smooth stability and ongoing enhancements.

The OKX mobile app is praised for its polished design and feature depth, including advanced trading tools. While generally stable, some users report occasional crashes or lag during high-volume activity, and beginner users may find the interface overwhelming.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

XM exclusively uses MetaTrader platforms—MT4, MT5, WebTrader, and mobile apps—without separate “Lite” or “Pro” versions. MT4 offers a smooth start for beginners, while MT5 brings deeper tools, though mastering either still requires some adaptation to their interfaces.

OKX offers clear “Lite” and “Pro” interface modes—Lite delivers simplicity and easier navigation for newcomers, while Pro unlocks advanced analytics, customizable widgets, and detailed order tools, catering to experienced users.

Performance

XM leverages MetaTrader’s known reliability, delivering fast executions with minimal delays—even during busy periods. While traffic surges or market jitters can slightly slow processes, major slowdowns are rare, and KYC flows remain consistent, avoiding backlog surges during bull runs.

Order latency on OKX can be extremely low—often around a few milliseconds under normal conditions—though during high-volatility periods, occasional delays crop up; KYC verification times may also slip longer when markets heat up.

Education

XM provides a free demo environment with live-market simulation and unlimited practice funds. Educational resources include multilingual webinars, live trading rooms, and webinars—many available in Spanish alongside a full demo system for hands-on learning.

The OKX platform includes an integrated demo trading feature for practicing spot, futures, margin, and options strategies risk-free, supported by tutorial content and interactive tools; educational materials are available, though Spanish-language resources may be more limited.

Community

XM fosters a growing community via its multilingual referral initiative—with cash rewards for both referrer and referee. While it lacks its own Discord or Telegram groups, it maintains active engagement through webinars, its “Refer a Friend” program, and content hubs.

OKX maintains active community channels—including official Telegram and Discord groups—where users can engage and learn, in addition to a referral program that rewards users for inviting peers to the platform.

Integrations

XM supports algorithmic automation via Expert Advisors within MetaTrader, but does not provide native TradingView integration, tax-report tools, or accounting dashboards—external utilities must be linked manually.

OKX connects seamlessly with TradingView charts, supports internal and external bots (like grid and strategy bots), and can integrate with third-party tax and accounting tools, streamlining workflow for seasoned traders.

Who Each One Is Best For

XM is perfect for traders who value platform flexibility and automation (via MT5/MT4), appreciate structured learning with multilingual education, and thrive in a regulated, straightforward CFD trading environment—without the need for fancy separate modes or built-in finance tools.

OKX suits traders seeking flexibility—from intuitive tools for beginners to powerful features for pros—while those wanting hands-on learning, trading automation, and connectivity with broader crypto tools will find it especially well aligned with their needs.