MetaQuotes developed MetaTrader 4 (MT4) in 2005 to provide a trading platform with extensive tools for forex traders. Over the years, MT4 became one of the most popular trading platforms in the industry, including among cryptocurrency CFD traders, because of its comprehensive toolbox of technical indicators, custom scripts, and Expert Advisors.
However, MT4 is now in the final stages of its life cycle. MetaQuotes officially ended development of new MT4 features in 2015 and stopped selling new MT4 licenses to brokers in 2018, focusing instead on its successor, MetaTrader 5 (MT5). In July 2025, MetaQuotes deprecated all older MT4 builds, requiring users to update to Build 1440 or later to maintain broker connectivity. While MT4 remains widely used and supported by major brokers, most new brokers and many existing ones are gradually migrating clients to MT5, which offers more asset classes, better order types, and ongoing development.
If you are starting out today, it is worth considering whether MT5 (or a broker’s proprietary platform) might be a better long-term choice than MT4. That said, for traders who already use MT4 strategies, custom indicators, or Expert Advisors, the brokers below remain solid options.
Best MT4 crypto brokers
The best crypto broker for MT4 for you may not be the best broker for your neighbour. Every trader has unique goals, risk tolerance, and abilities. So, different brokers are better suited to different traders. Some of the best crypto brokers for MT4 include:
Best MT4 crypto brokers compared
| Broker | Crypto CFDs (approx.) | Trading fees | Minimum deposit |
| Pepperstone | 17 coins + crypto baskets (~21 pairs) | Razor: ~$3.50 per side + raw spread; Standard: commission-free, spread-only | No minimum (any amount accepted) |
| IC Markets | 20+ | Raw: ~$3.50 per side + raw spread; Standard: commission-free, spread-only | $200 |
| Admirals | 30+ | Spread-based (varies by account) | $100 |
| CMC Markets | 15+ | Spread-based (no commissions on most crypto CFDs) | $0 |
| AvaTrade | ~14-15 | Spread-based (commission-free) | $100 |
| FP Markets | 20+ | Raw: ~$3 per side + raw spread; Standard: spread-only | $100 |
Best MT4 crypto brokers reviewed
As mentioned above, the best MT4 crypto broker for you may be different from the best broker for others. It’s important to consider the subtle nuances of each broker and how those fit into your trading plan.
You’ll find details of what makes each of the best brokers unique as well as their pros and cons below.
#1 Pepperstone
73-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Pepperstone is one of the most heavily regulated brokers offering crypto CFDs, overseen by multiple top-tier authorities. The company made its name in forex and has since expanded into a wide range of CFDs, including cryptocurrencies. Some of the main reasons to consider Pepperstone include:
- Fully digital account creation: you can open an account and start trading quickly thanks to a fully digital sign-up process.
- Free deposits and withdrawals: Pepperstone doesn’t charge for deposits or withdrawals, and processing is typically fast.
- Strong customer support: Pepperstone offers responsive 24/5 customer service, consistently one of the broker’s most praised features.
- Top-tier regulation: Pepperstone is regulated by multiple top-tier authorities including the FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), BaFin (Germany), DFSA (Dubai), and others.
- No inactivity fee: many brokers charge inactivity fees of $100+ per year after a period of no trading. Pepperstone doesn’t – your account stays active at no cost.
- Multiple platforms: beyond MT4, Pepperstone also offers MT5, cTrader, and TradingView, giving you flexibility if you ever want to move beyond MT4 as it winds down.
Some considerations to keep in mind:
- Commissions on the Razor account: Pepperstone’s Razor account charges around $3.50 per side ($7 round turn) on MT4 in exchange for tight raw spreads. The Standard account is commission-free, with costs built into the spread.
- Crypto CFDs only, region-restricted: you trade crypto via leveraged CFDs (no ownership of the underlying coins), crypto CFDs are not available to UK retail clients (per FCA rules), and they’re restricted in some other jurisdictions.
#2 IC Markets
74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
IC Markets is a leading global forex and CFD broker that also offers crypto CFDs. Founded in 2007 in Sydney and regulated by ASIC, CySEC, and the FSA (Seychelles), it’s known for institutional-grade execution and some of the tightest spreads in the industry. IC Markets currently offers 20+ crypto CFDs, covering the major coins. Some of the biggest reasons to work with IC Markets include:
- Competitive pricing: crypto CFDs are commission-free with costs built into the spread, and IC Markets’ raw spreads (from 0.0 pips on Raw accounts) are among the lowest available.
- Streamlined account opening: the sign-up process is fully digital and takes only a few minutes.
- Free deposits and withdrawals: a wide range of funding methods with no deposit, withdrawal, or inactivity fees.
- Platform flexibility: full support for MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView, with no restrictions on scalping, hedging, or automated trading.
- Strong execution infrastructure: a True ECN model sourcing liquidity from 25+ providers, servers hosted at the Equinix NY4 data centre, and ~40ms average order execution – plus a free low-latency VPS for EA users.
Some considerations to keep in mind:
- Mid-range crypto selection: with around 20+ crypto CFDs, IC Markets covers the majors well but may not suit traders looking for a broader range of altcoins.
- Crypto CFDs only, region-restricted: you trade crypto via leveraged CFDs (no ownership of the underlying coins), crypto CFDs are not available to UK retail clients, and IC Markets has no FCA-regulated entity for UK retail traders. Availability also varies elsewhere by jurisdiction.
- Mixed execution feedback: while most users praise the pricing, some report occasional slippage during periods of high volatility – common across ECN brokers but worth being aware of.
#3 Admirals (formerly Admiral Markets)
75% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Admirals (formerly Admiral Markets) is a well-established forex and CFD broker founded in 2001, regulated across multiple jurisdictions and serving clients globally. The company is a popular choice among traders looking for a heavily regulated option, with oversight from multiple top-tier authorities.
Admirals’ main product portfolio consists of CFDs, of which more than 30 are crypto CFDs, covering both major and less common coins. Crypto CFDs are derivative financial products that give you exposure to crypto price movements without owning the underlying coins – meaning you’re speculating on price with leverage rather than holding the asset itself. The wider crypto selection makes Admirals a strong choice for traders looking for more variety than at brokers like IC Markets or Pepperstone. Other benefits include:
- Competitive pricing: trading costs are largely spread-based (varying by account type), with no separate commission on most crypto CFDs.
- Fast deposits and withdrawals: Admirals processes transfers quickly, with no fees on most deposits or withdrawals (some methods may carry a small fee).
- Ease of use: account opening is fully digital and the platform is straightforward to navigate.
- Strong regulation: Admirals is regulated by multiple authorities including the FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), JSC (Jordan), and others.
- Multiple platforms: alongside MT4, Admirals also offers MT5 and its own Admirals Platform – useful flexibility as MT4 winds down.
Some considerations to keep in mind:
- CFD-focused product range: Admirals is primarily a CFD broker, though it does offer some real stock and ETF investing through its Invest.MT5 account in select markets.
- No 24/7 customer support: support is available during market hours (24/5) rather than around the clock.
- Inactivity fee: Admirals charges a €10 inactivity fee after 24 months of no trading activity.
- Crypto CFDs only, region-restricted: you trade crypto via leveraged CFDs (no ownership of the underlying coins), crypto CFDs are not available to UK retail clients (per FCA rules), and availability varies in some other jurisdictions.
#4 CMC Markets
69% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
CMC Markets is a strong option whether you’re just starting out as a cryptocurrency trader or you’ve been trading for years. Founded in 1989 and listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: CMCX), it’s one of the most established and trusted CFD brokers in the industry, regulated by the FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), MAS (Singapore), BaFin (Germany), CIRO (Canada), and FMA (New Zealand). The platform offers a wide range of research and educational features to help beginners learn and seasoned traders expand their toolkit.
CMC Markets focuses primarily on CFDs, fees are competitive, and the platform is well designed. Other advantages of using CMC Markets include:
- Mobile trading: CMC Markets’ mobile app is just as intuitive as its desktop platform, making it a strong option for those who like to trade on the go.
- Detailed educational resources: the broker invests heavily in education, with structured learning content, market analysis, and tutorials covering everything from beginner concepts to advanced strategies.
- Quality research tools: CMC Markets offers some of the strongest research tools in the industry, including technical analysis features (with Morningstar’s quantitative equity research) and fundamental data to help analyse the markets.
- Competitive spreads: CMC Markets is known for tight spreads across crypto CFDs and other instruments, with no commissions on most crypto CFDs.
- Multiple platforms: alongside MT4, CMC offers its proprietary Next Generation platform and TradingView integration – useful flexibility as MT4 winds down.
Some considerations to keep in mind:
- Higher stock CFD fees: if you also trade stock CFDs alongside crypto, CMC Markets’ stock CFD commissions can be on the higher side compared with some lower-cost competitors.
- CFDs only: CMC Markets primarily offers CFD trading and spread betting (UK), so it isn’t the right fit if you want to invest in real underlying assets like stocks or ETFs in most markets.
- Weekday customer support: support is responsive and well regarded but available 24/5 rather than 24/7, so weekend questions may need to wait until Monday.
- Crypto CFDs only, region-restricted: you trade crypto via leveraged CFDs (no ownership of the underlying coins), crypto CFDs are not available to UK retail clients (per FCA rules), and availability varies in other jurisdictions.
#5 AvaTrade
63% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
AvaTrade made its name in the forex industry and has expanded into a broad multi-asset platform. Founded in 2006 in Dublin, AvaTrade is one of the most heavily regulated brokers in the industry – licensed across multiple jurisdictions including the Central Bank of Ireland, ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), FSCA (South Africa), and FSA (Japan), serving over 400,000 clients globally. The broker offers a long list of CFDs and currency pairs, including around 14-15 crypto CFDs covering major coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, XRP, and others.
Some of the main benefits of working with AvaTrade include:
- Free deposits and withdrawals: AvaTrade offers a wide range of funding methods with no deposit or withdrawal fees on standard methods.
- Strong educational resources: AvaTrade offers in-depth educational content covering everything from beginner concepts to advanced strategies – genuinely useful for traders at any level.
- Research and platform features: AvaTrade offers a solid set of research tools and the unique AvaProtect risk-management feature, along with social trading via DupliTrade and ZuluTrade.
- Multiple platforms: alongside MT4, AvaTrade also offers MT5, the AvaTradeGO mobile app, and AvaOptions – useful flexibility as MT4 winds down.
Some considerations to keep in mind:
- Spreads aren’t the lowest: AvaTrade uses a commission-free, spread-only pricing model, but its spreads are higher than at ECN brokers like IC Markets or Pepperstone’s Razor account – so cost-focused active traders may find better value elsewhere.
- High inactivity fees: AvaTrade charges a $50 (or €50/£50) inactivity fee after three consecutive months without trading, plus a further $100 (€100/£100) administration fee after twelve months of inactivity – among the steeper inactivity charges in the industry.
- Crypto CFDs only, region-restricted: you trade crypto via leveraged CFDs (no ownership of the underlying coins), crypto CFDs are not available to UK retail clients, and AvaTrade no longer onboards new UK clients following FCA regulatory changes. It also doesn’t accept US clients.
#6 FP Markets
75.04% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
FP Markets is a leading Australian forex and CFD broker, founded in 2005 and regulated by ASIC, CySEC, and other authorities. It’s well established in the forex and CFD community and offers a broad range of instruments – including around 20+ crypto CFDs – through MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView. The platform is known for fast, free deposits and withdrawals and very competitive pricing. Other benefits of using FP Markets include:
- Educational resources: FP Markets offers in-depth educational materials, including guides and eBooks covering everything from beginner concepts to advanced strategies.
- Demo account: a free demo account lets you test strategies in real-time with virtual funds in an environment that closely mirrors live trading.
- Competitive pricing: FP Markets is known for tight raw spreads (from around 0.0-0.1 pips on its Raw account, plus a small commission of ~$3 per side), making it one of the lower-cost options for active traders. The Standard account is commission-free with costs in the spread.
- No inactivity fee: unlike many brokers that charge after 90 days of no trading, FP Markets doesn’t levy an inactivity fee.
- Multiple platforms: alongside MT4, FP Markets offers MT5, cTrader, and TradingView – useful flexibility as MT4 winds down.
Some considerations to keep in mind:
- Dated platform interface: FP Markets relies heavily on the standard MetaTrader and cTrader platforms, and its own web interface can feel less modern than some competitors’ proprietary platforms.
- Research tools are average: while FP Markets offers news and fundamental data, its in-house research is fairly basic, so many traders supplement it with third-party tools.
- Crypto CFDs only, region-restricted: you trade crypto via leveraged CFDs (no ownership of the underlying coins), crypto CFDs are not available to UK retail clients (per FCA rules), and availability varies in some other jurisdictions.
Why Is MT4 important for crypto trading?
MT4 has remained a popular option among cryptocurrency CFD traders for several reasons, even as MetaQuotes shifts its focus to MT5. Most importantly:
- Technical indicators: MT4 is known for its huge variety of technical indicators. The platform comes preloaded with 30 built-in indicators and supports thousands of free and paid custom indicators through its community marketplace.
- Automated trading: MT4 supports Expert Advisors (EAs) via the MQL4 programming language, letting you automate trading strategies – simply set your parameters, and MT4 executes trades on your behalf according to the rules you’ve defined.
- Risk management tools: trading always carries risk, and cryptocurrencies are typically more volatile than traditional assets – so risk management matters more here. MT4 offers a range of order types and tools (stop-loss, take-profit, trailing stops, and so on) that help limit losses and protect gains.
- Interactive charts: MT4’s charting tools are well regarded across the industry, with extensive customisation, multiple timeframes, and a clean, responsive interface.
Bottom line
The MT4 platform remains widely supported by major CFD brokers, but it’s in the final stages of its life cycle – MetaQuotes is gradually phasing it out in favour of MT5. The brokers listed above all support MT4 and offer crypto CFDs, but if you’re setting up a long-term trading workflow, it’s worth considering whether MT5 or a broker’s proprietary platform might be a better choice for the next 5-10 years.
Two important caveats before you start:
- UK retail investors cannot trade crypto CFDs due to the FCA ban in effect since January 2021. If you’re based in the UK, none of the brokers above will offer crypto CFDs to you as a retail client.
- EU investors face additional restrictions under MiCA (in force since December 2024). Availability and conditions vary by country and broker entity, so always check before opening an account.
For investors who specifically want exposure to cryptocurrency rather than to CFDs on cryptocurrency, a dedicated spot crypto exchange (such as Coinbase, Kraken, or Bitstamp) is typically a better choice than a CFD broker.





