"Trade Bitcoin" can mean two completely different things. Buying actual Bitcoin on a spot exchange and trading a Bitcoin CFD through a broker are not the same product — and confusing them is an expensive mistake. Our crypto page lists CFD brokers specifically, and labels them as such.
Spot crypto — you own the coin
On a spot exchange you buy the actual asset. You own the coins, can withdraw them to your own wallet, and there's no leverage unless you deliberately add it. Your downside is limited to what you put in (the asset can still fall a long way). The main risks are exchange custody, security and the asset's own volatility.
Crypto CFD — a leveraged bet on the price
A crypto CFD is a contract for difference on the price. You never own any crypto, nothing settles to a wallet, and the position is leveraged — so you can lose more than you deposit. You also pay a daily financing/swap charge to hold it overnight, which is steep on crypto.
Side by side
Crypto CFD (through a broker):
- You do not own the coin
- Nothing to withdraw to a wallet
- Leverage is built in
- You can lose more than your stake
- Almost never covered by an investor compensation scheme
Spot crypto (on an exchange):
- You own the actual coin
- You can withdraw it to your own wallet
- No leverage unless you add it
- Your loss is limited to what you put in
- Not covered by investor compensation schemes either
Which is which — and which you want
If your goal is to buy and hold crypto, you want a spot exchange — a CFD can't give you coins. If your goal is to trade short-term price moves, with the leverage and risk that entails, a regulated CFD broker is the tool, but read the risk notes first.
Either way, crypto is the highest-volatility category we cover and is largely unregulated. The brokers we list offer crypto CFDs only — none provide spot custody of real coins. Educational content, not financial advice.