Best Crypto Brokers in the Netherlands for 2024

Written by Zornitsa Stefanova

Zornitsa Stefanova

Zornitsa Stefanova is experienced forex and crypto analyst. She also covers various financial topics such as stocks trading and retirement investments.

, | Updated: August 16, 2024

The popularity of cryptocurrencies is rising in the Netherlands as more and more residents are beginning to incorporate them into their investment portfolios. Data published by the Dutch central bank reveals roughly 14% of the country’s population held cryptocurrencies in the summer of 2022, with 3% of all crypto holders using their digital coins for purchases. Many crypto brokers and exchanges cater to Dutch nationals but some offer far superior trading conditions than others.
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1Fusion Markets

Rating: 4.9 ⭐

74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money

Top Rated

2FP Markets

Rating: 4.8 ⭐

73.85% of retail investor accounts lose money

3Pepperstone

Rating: 4.7 ⭐

75.5% of retail investor accounts lose money

4Global Prime

Rating: 4.4 ⭐

74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money

5AvaTrade

Rating: 4.4 ⭐

76% of retail investor accounts lose money

6eToro

Rating: 4.2 ⭐

51% of retail investor accounts lose money

7Plus500

Rating: 4.1 ⭐

80% of retail investor accounts lose money

8Admirals

Rating: 3.9 ⭐

73% of retail investor accounts lose money

9XTB

Rating: 3.7 ⭐

80% of retail investor accounts lose money

10Tickmill

Rating: 3.7 ⭐

70% of retail investor accounts lose money

Our panel of trading experts and market analysts tested dozens of platforms to identify the best crypto brokers and exchanges currently available to Dutch traders. Our exhaustive vetting process includes registering live accounts, depositing, placing orders, and moving funds to and from crypto wallets in the case of exchanges. Spreads, fees, software, and the range of tradable coins are other key areas of interest during our evaluation process. Without further ado, we reveal the best brokers and exchanges for cryptocurrency trading in the Netherlands.

Dutch Crypto Brokers Ranked by Trustpilot Score

Top 10 Dutch Crypto Brokers with Low Spreads

Top 10 Crypto Brokers in the Netherlands

1. TRADE NOW READ REVIEW
   1. Plus500

   Minimum Deposit	€100
   Regulation	CySEC, FCA, ASIC, FMA, FSA (Seychelles), MAS, EFSA (Estonia)
   Tradable Coins	15 crypto crosses, 1 crypto index
   Software	Proprietary
   Crypto Leverage	2:1 for retail, 5:1 for professional clients
   Fees	0.30% for BTC/USD, 0.25% for ETH/USD, 1.44% for ETH/BTC
   Exchange/Wallet Service	No
   Deposit Methods	Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill, Apple Pay, Bank Transfer
   Withdrawal Methods	Visa, Mastercard, Bank Transfer, Skrill, PayPal

   Plus500 is a multi-licensed online broker catering to over 26 million satisfied customers from more than 50 countries, including the Netherlands. The CySEC-regulated company caters to residents of the country with a Dutch-facing website where they will find over a dozen crypto crosses tradable through CFDs. Speculating on the rising or falling prices of the Crypto 10 global index is also an alternative for Plus500 customers.

   Most of the available markets comprise cryptocurrencies traded against the US dollar, although cross-chain pairs like ETH/BTC are also available. Customers will benefit from spreads as narrow as 0.25% for certain cryptocurrencies and pay no commissions on their crypto trades.

   The brokerage enables retail clients to mitigate their risk by offering advanced order types for cryptocurrency positions, including trailing stop and stop-loss orders. Plus500 accepts deposits with bank cards, bank transfers, and digital wallets like PayPal and Skrill, allowing Dutch customers to set up EUR-based live accounts. Clients can deposit as little as €100, although testing the waters with a free demo account is also an option.

   Key Pros

   • Advanced order types (trailing stop, stop-loss) for crypto positions
   • Offers CFDs for the Crypto 10 Global Index
   • Supports Dutch as a language option
   • Low spreads for major crypto crosses
   • Publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange

   Key Cons

   • Has a high percentage of losing CFD retail accounts (82%)
   • Does not offer popular platforms like MT4 and MT5
   • Slightly limited research content for crypto trading
   CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 80% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
2. TRADE NOW READ REVIEW
   2. XTB

   Minimum Deposit	€0
   Regulation	CySEC, FCA, KNF, FSCA, DFSA, FSC (Belize)
   Tradable Coins	49 (BTC, LTC, DOGE, ETH, ADA, BCH, and more)
   Software	xStation (proprietary platform)
   Crypto Leverage	2:1 for retail clients, 5:1 for professional clients
   Fees	0.22% – 0.35% for BTC, 0.45% – 0.75% for ADA and LTC, 0.25% – 0.50% for ETH
   Exchange/Wallet Service	No
   Deposit Methods	Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Bank Transfer, PayPal, Skrill, Ecommpay, Neteller, PayU
   Withdrawal Methods	Bank Transfer

   XTB is an award-winning CFD broker with over 20 years of experience delivering premium online trading services to retail clients. The broker accepts Dutch customers with a CySEC license and has registered offices in 13 jurisdictions, including Germany, Poland, Chile, France, and the UK. The company is publicly listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, further adding to its fine reputation for reliability and security.

   Committed to empowering traders on their investment journey, XTB offers competitive spreads for over 40 cryptocurrency CFDs starting from 0.22% for high-volume coins like BTC. It runs on proprietary software, xStation 5, renowned for its usability and functionality. New customers can start speculating on crypto price movements with any amount they feel comfortable investing as XTB has waived its minimum deposit requirements.

   Minimum withdrawals start from €100 via standard bank transfers. Dutch retail customers at XTB have access to negative balance protection, investor compensation, and maximum leverage of 2:1. Clients meeting the eligibility criteria can request switching to a professional account where leverage for cryptocurrencies is capped at 5:1. The broking firm maintains high standards of operational transparency and integrity, regularly disclosing its quarterly earnings to customers.

   Key Pros

   • Offers 49 CFDs for crypto crosses
   • Over 2 decades of operational experience
   • Low spreads from 0.22% for Bitcoin CFDs
   • Crypto leverage of 5:1 for professional traders
   • Minimum deposits from €0

   Key Cons

   • No support for MT4 and MT5
   • Returns withdrawals via bank transfers only
   • Website is unavailable in Dutch
   CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 80% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
3. TRADE NOW READ REVIEW
   3. eToro

   Minimum Deposit	€/$100 for first-time deposits; €/$50 for subsequent deposits
   Regulation	ASIC, FCA, DFSA, AMF, CySEC, SEC, FSRA, GFSC, MFSA, FSA (Seychelles), DNB
   Tradable Coins	Bitcoin, Ethererum, Bitcoin Cash, XRP, Dash, Litecoin, Ethereum Classic, API3, Cronos, Skale Network, IoTex, Immutable X, Cardano, IOTA, Stellar, EOS, NEO, TRON, ZCash, Build Tezos, Polkadot, Maker, Compound, Chainlink, Uniswap, Yearn. finance, Dogecoin, Aave, Filecoin, Algorand, Cosmos, Decentraland, ApeCoin, Loopring, Enjin, Biconomy, Basic Attention Token, Bancor, Origin Protocol, Polygon, Flare, Gala V2, My Neighbor Alice, Chiliz, Hedera Hashgraph, dYdX, Solana, Theta
   Software	OpenBook (social trading platform), WebTrader (proprietary platform)
   Crypto Leverage	Up to 2:1 (European and Australian Retail traders) Up to 5:1 (Pro and FSA traders)
   Fees	Free (performance fees may apply)
   Exchange/Wallet Service	Yes (wallet unavailable in the Netherlands)
   Deposit Methods	eToro Money, Visa, Mastercard, Neteller, PayPal, Skrill, Bank Transfer, Trustly, Przelewy24
   Withdrawal Methods	PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, Neteller, Trustly, Bank Transfer

   Registered with the AFM and DNB, eToro is a legitimate broker that caters to Dutch residents with a healthy selection of digital coins, tight spreads, and transparent trading conditions. The broker offers over 100 digital coins available for trading via contracts for difference. The trading site doubles as an exchange where customers can sell, buy, and swap cryptocurrencies. The eToro Money crypto wallet is, unfortunately, unavailable in the Netherlands at the time of publication.

   Dutch customers have access to free educational resources for cryptocurrency trading in their native language. Practicing crypto trading is an option for beginners since eToro offers free demo accounts funded with €100,000 in virtual credits. Novices can expand their knowledge and gain valuable insights by joining eToro’s social trading community.

   Rather than taking the safe route of using third-party platforms, eToro runs on proprietary software developed in-house. As a truly global broker, eToro transcends language barriers by offering 19 different language options. Dutch customers can load the proprietary trading portal in their native language. The minimum first-time deposit for clients from the Netherlands is $/€100, with subsequent payments of $/€50 or more.

   Key Pros

   • Dutch customers can deposit with iDEAL
   • A reputable and multi-regulated broker
   • Registered with DNB and AFM
   • High maximum single deposits with iDEAL (€50,000)
   • Supports Dutch as a language option

   Key Cons

   • Slightly higher spreads for crypto CFDs
   • Charges fees for withdrawals
   • eToro Money crypto wallet is unavailable to Dutch residents
   CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
4. TRADE NOW READ REVIEW
   4. Fusion Markets

   Minimum Deposit	€0
   Regulation	ASIC (Australia), VFSC (Vanuatu)
   Tradable Coins	Bitcoin, Ethereum, Digecoin, Solana, Cardano, Avalance, Polkadot, Bitcoin Cash, Binance Coin, Polygon, Stellar, EOS, Chainlink
   Software	MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, WebTrader (MT4), Myfxbook Auto Trade, DupliTrade, Fusion+ Copy Trading
   Crypto Leverage	2:1 (ASIC), 10:1 (FSA, VFSC)
   Fees	No
   Exchange/Wallet Service	No
   Deposit Methods	Visa, Mastercard, Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, Jeton, PayPal, Crypto, PayID, Interac, BinancePay, MiFinity, Perfect Money, AstroPay, Sticpay, Dragonpay, Zotapay, VNPay, DuitNow, XPay, Fasapay, Durianpay, Pix
   Withdrawal Methods	Visa, Mastercard, Bank Transfer, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Interac, MiFinity, AstroPay, Perfect Money, Jeton, Dragonpay, Crypto

   Fusion Markets positions itself as a leading discount broker accepting customers from most countries, and the Netherlands is no exception. The Melbourne-based company provides a choice from over 250 financial markets, including 13 cryptocurrencies tradable against the US dollar. Spreads are razor-sharp at Fusion Markets, starting from zero pips for crypto crosses like DOGE/USD, ADA/USD, DOT/USD, and MATIC/USD.

   The brokerage facilitates crypto trading with CFDs and offers leverage of up to 10:1 to retail customers registered through its FSA and VFSC domains. Fusion Markets supports several popular third-party platforms, including MT4, MT5, TradingView, DupliTrade, and cTrader. It offers copy trading through its proprietary Fusion+ software but the platform is available for the forex and commodity markets only.

   Fusion Markets caters to its global customer base with a wide range of deposit and withdrawal methods, including bank cards, wire transfers, digital wallets, and online banking processors. The broker has waived its requirements on minimum deposits, allowing retail clients to start with any amount they can afford to spare. Fusion Markets lacks authorization from EU regulators at the moment but holds a license from the tier-1 watchdog ASIC.

   Key Pros

   • Crypto spreads from 0.0 pips
   • Commission-free crypto trading with CFDs
   • No minimum account requirements
   • Free deposits with cards and digital wallets
   • Supports EUR as a base account currency

   Key Cons

   • Only 13 cryptocurrencies available
   • Accepts Dutch residents with an offshore license
   • Cryptos are tradable through CFDs only
   Gleneagle Asset Management Limited (ABN 29 103 162 278) trading as Fusion Markets, is the issuer of the Fusion Markets Products described in this communication. Trading in Fusion Markets Products involves the potential for profit as well as the risk of loss which may vastly exceed the amount of your initial deposit and is not suitable for all investors. You should read all of these Financial Product Service Terms, the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and the Financial Services Guide (available on our website) carefully, consider your own financial situation, needs and objectives for investing in these Fusion Markets Products and obtain independent financial advice.
5. TRADE NOW READ REVIEW
   5. Admirals

   Minimum Deposit	$100 ($1 for Invest MT5 accounts)
   Regulation	ASIC, CySEC, FCA, CIRO, FSCA, JSC (Jordan), CMA (Kenya), FSA (Seychelles), EFSA (Estonia)
   Tradable Coins	18 coins (27 crypto crosses)
   Software	MT4, MT5, StereoTrader
   Crypto Leverage	2:1 for retail clients, 20:1 for professionals
   Fees	Spread: 0.3% for BTC/USD and ETH/USD
   Exchange/Wallet Service	Admirals Wallet connects to Bitstamp
   Deposit Methods	For Dutch traders: iDeal, Klarna, Skrill, Mastercard, Visa, Bank Transfer Additional methods: Neteller, POLi, Crypto
   Withdrawal Methods	For Dutch traders: Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Bank Transfer Additional methods: Neteller, Crypto

   Admirals positions itself as a global leader in online trading, reaching customers from over 130 countries. The broking firm holds licenses from three reputable EU regulators (CySEC, EFSA, and FCA) but is also featured as an approved entity in the database of the Dutch AFM. Admirals caters to customers from the Netherlands with local deposit methods like iDEAL and a website available in Dutch.

   Dutch customers can speculate on the price fluctuations of 27 cryptocurrency crosses, including BTC/EUR, EOS/EUR, and ETH/EUR. Retail crypto CFD traders can bolster their positions with maximum leverage of 2:1, but leverage ratios reach 20:1 for professional traders from the country.

   Clients must deposit at least €100 to start trading at Admirals and will benefit from competitive spreads from 0.3% for major crypto crosses. Dutch retail customers have access to negative balance protection for most supported account types and are eligible for investor compensation of up to €20,000 should the broker file for bankruptcy. Clients can request a single free withdrawal per month, one of the few drawbacks of trading with this multi-regulated broker.

   Key Pros

   • Featured as approved in the AFM database
   • Accepts deposits with iDEAL
   • Leverage of 20:1 for professional crypto traders
   • Website available in Dutch
   • Spreads from 0.3% for major crypto crosses

   Key Cons

   • Charges a €10 dormancy fee after 24 months of inactivity
   • One free withdrawal per month
   • No negative balance protection for Invest.MT5 accounts
   CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 73% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
6. TRADE NOW READ REVIEW
   6. Tickmill

   Minimum Deposit	€100
   Regulation	CySEC, BaFin, ACPR, CONSOB, CNVM, FCA, DFSA, LFSA, SFSA (Seychelles), FSCA
   Tradable Coins	9 (ADA, LTC, BTC, ETH, LINK, EOS, XRP, XLM, SOL)
   Software	MT4, MT5
   Crypto Leverage	2:1 for retail, 200:1 for professional clients
   Fees	Spreads: 12 for BTC/USD, 1.01 for ETH/USD, 0.007 for ADA/USD, 0.15 for SOL/USD Annual Swap Charge: 10% per year on long cryptocurrency positions
   Exchange/Wallet Service	No
   Deposit Methods	Visa, Mastercard, Bank Transfer, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, Przelewy24, Trustly
   Withdrawal Methods	Visa, Mastercard, Bank Transfer, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, Przelewy24, Trustly

   Established in 2014 in the Seychelles, Tickmill has expanded its operations to Europe with licenses and registrations with major EU regulators like CySEC, CONSOB, BaFin, FCA, and ACPR. Dutch crypto traders are welcome to join and will benefit from a quick and streamlined registration process. Registered customers face a choice of 9 popular cryptocurrency crosses, tradable with tight spreads as low as 0.01 for pairs like EOS/USD.

   The multi-regulated brokerage charges no commissions on crypto CFDs, profiting only from the spreads. Customers must bear in mind that all leveraged long positions in cryptocurrencies incur annual swap fees of 10%. Speaking of leverage, Tickmill enables professional clients to bolster their trades at maximum rates of 200:1 for pairs like XRP/USD, ETH/USD, LTC/USD, and BTC/USD.

   Crypto crosses like ADA/USD, EOS/USD, and SOL/USD have leverage caps of 20:1 for professional accounts. By comparison, the broker offers a significantly lower leverage of 2:1 for retail accounts. The broker is committed to client education, providing extensive research content via webinars, infographics, ebooks, and in-person seminars. Cryptocurrency trading is possible via the MT4 and MT5 platforms, with minimum deposits starting from €100.

   Key Pros

   • Average order execution speeds of 20 milliseconds
   • Extensive educational and market research content
   • Does not charge inactivity fees on dormant accounts
   • Leverage of up to 200:1 for some crypto markets (pro accounts only)
   • Market sentiments for cryptocurrencies

   Key Cons

   • The website is unavailable in Dutch
   • Discontinued support for the TradingView platform
   • Offers a limited range of tradable cryptocurrencies
   CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill Europe Ltd. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
7. TRADE NOW READ REVIEW
   7. Global Prime

   Minimum Deposit	$0
   Regulation	ASIC, VFSC
   Tradable Coins	40 (BTC, ETH, DOGE, BNB, ADA, ATOM, BCH, EOS, LTC, and more)
   Software	MetaTrader 4 (desktop, iOS, Android)
   Crypto Leverage	2:1 for Australia; 5:1 for the VFSC entity
   Fees	Spread: from 0.15; 0.1% commission on crypto trades; overnight funding fees (variable)
   Exchange/Wallet Service	No
   Deposit Methods	Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Crypto, Neteller, Skrill, Gate8, Dragonpay, VNPay, Fasapay, Pagsmile, BPay, POLi, Bank Wire Transfer, AstroPay, PayID, Interac, Jeton, Perfect XPay
   Withdrawal Methods	Visa, Mastercard, Bank Wire Transfer, Crypto, Neteller, Skrill, PayPal, AstroPay, Jeton, Perfect Money, Interac, MiFinity, Gate8, VNPay, XPay

   Licensed by ASIC and VFSC, Global Prime has been providing low-cost services to traders worldwide for over a decade. The broker commenced operations in 2011 and welcomes customers from most countries, including the Netherlands. It provides competitive trading conditions for 40 cryptocurrency crosses such as SOL/USD, LTC/USD, DOT/USD, ADA/USD, and BTC/USD. The EUR is unavailable as a quote currency for the time being as all supported crosses comprise crypto coins traded against the US dollar.

   Spreads at Global Prime are tight but the broker charges an additional 0.1% commission on cryptocurrency trades. Deposits come at no extra cost for customers, with over 20 global and local payment methods on offer. Crypto traders at Global Prime can further diversify their portfolios with other asset classes, including forex pairs, precious metals, and equity indices.

   Global Prime supports the EUR as a base currency, sparing Dutch customers from incurring additional conversion fees. While the website could use a few extra features, it still offers an economic calendar and trading calculators. Users can place orders via the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) platform but the broker plans on soon adding MT5, TradingView, and cTrader to its software range.

   Key Pros

   • Minimum account size from $0
   • Over 20 deposit methods
   • Order execution speeds from 10 milliseconds
   • Offers 40 tradable crypto crosses
   • A streamlined registration and verification process

   Key Cons

   • Does not hold licenses from any EU financial regulators
   • Dutch is unavailable as a language option
   • Negative balance protection is available only for clients of the ASIC entity
   Global Prime is a trading name of FMGP Trading Group Pty Ltd (ABN 74 146 086 017) and is regulated by ASIC and licensed to carry on a financial services business in Australia under Australian Financial Services License No. 385620. Gleneagle Securities Pty Limited trading as Global Prime FX, is a registered Vanuatu company (Company Number 40256) and is regulated by the VFSC. The website is owned and operated by FMGP Trading Group Pty Ltd, ABN 74 146 086 017.
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   8. Pepperstone

   Minimum Deposit	€0
   Regulation	ASIC, FCA, CySEC, DFSA, CMA, SCB, BaFin
   Tradable Coins	21 (BTC, ETH, LTC, UNI, BNB, XLM, XRP, ADA, and more)
   Software	MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView
   Crypto Leverage	2:1
   Fees	Spread: 17 pips for BTC/USD, 2.5 pips for LTC/USD, and 45 pips for the Crypto10 Index
   Exchange/Wallet Service	No
   Deposit Methods	BPAY, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller
   Withdrawal Methods	Visa, Mastercard, Neteller, PayPal, Bank Transfer, Skrill, BPAY

   Licensed by three tier-1 EU regulators, Pepperstone emerges as a solid choice for Dutch crypto enthusiasts looking to trade cheaply without dealing desk intervention. The brokerage delivers institutional-grade liquidity and raw pricing for over 20 cryptocurrencies, including emerging coins like Kusama, Compound, and Glimmer. Additionally, Dutch customers can diversify their portfolios and better mitigate their risk by trading three global crypto indices.

   Pepperstone deserves praise for its consistently fast order execution, filling most orders at average speeds of less than 30 milliseconds. Clients experience minimal slippage and enjoy order fill rates above 99.8%. Pepperstone provides an award-winning support service Monday through Sunday in English, French, Spanish, and Italian.

   The broker is suitable for high-volume traders as it caps crypto positions at a maximum of $200,000 per account. Rookies looking to wet their feet in the volatile crypto markets can watch informative webinar replay videos hosted by various crypto experts, including the guys from FX Evolution. On top of these merits, Dutch customers of Pepperstone will benefit from free deposits and withdrawals, albeit via a somewhat limited range of payment methods.

   Key Pros

   • Regulated by tier-1 EU watchdogs (FCA, CySEC, BaFin)
   • Offers CFDs for 3 global crypto indices
   • Minimal slippage and top-of-book liquidity
   • Offers informative articles and webinars on crypto trading
   • Allows crypto scalping and hedging

   Key Cons

   • Only 4 language options and Dutch is not among them
   • Offers only CFD trading for crypto
   • Demo accounts for MT4/MT5 are available only for 60 days
   CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75.5% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
9. TRADE NOW READ REVIEW
   9. AvaTrade

   Minimum Deposit	€100
   Regulation	ASIC, CySEC, IIROC, JFSA, CBI, DFSA, FSCA, ISA, BVI FSC
   Tradable Coins	16 (BTC, ETH, SOL, EOS, MIOTA, XRP, NEO, and more)
   Software	MT4, MT5, ZuluTrade, DupliTrade, AvaTradeGO, AvaSocial
   Crypto Leverage	Retail: 2:1 for Australia and EU; Professional: 20:1
   Fees	Spread: 0.15% – 2% over market; Overnight fees: vary based on cryptocurrency
   Exchange/Wallet Service	No
   Deposit Methods	Australia: Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Wire Transfer; Other countries: Skrill, WebMoney, Neteller
   Withdrawal Methods	Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Wire Transfer; Other countries: Skrill, Neteller, WebMoney

   AvaTrade is a global provider of affordably priced CFDs for a broad range of financial instruments, including forex, indices, commodities, stocks, and around 16 digital coins. The broker can accommodate both well-versed and fledgling traders as it offers instructive videos, economic calendars, and free ebooks, allowing customers to hone their skills and take their trading to the next level.

   At AvaTrade, Dutch crypto enthusiasts can gain greater exposure to the cryptocurrency markets with leverage ratios ranging from 2:1 to 20:1, depending on client categorisation (retail or professional). Spreads for popular cryptocurrency crosses range from 0.15% to 2% over market, rendering AvaTrade a compelling alternative for traders looking for cost-effectiveness and greater value.

   The broker supports crypto trading via MT4 and MT5, but customers also have access to proprietary solutions like AvaTradeGO and AvaSocial. Dutch customers will benefit from a .nl domain available in their native language. The broker accepts deposits with a solid range of payment methods, enabling onboarding clients to start their crypto adventure with an initial investment of €100 only.

   Key Pros

   • Hosts a .nl domain in Dutch
   • Leverage of up to 20:1 for professional crypto traders
   • Winner of multiple industry awards
   • Narrow spreads for crypto CFDs
   • A versatile range of research and educational materials

   Key Cons

   • Charges hefty administrative fees after 3 months of inactivity
   • No local payment methods for Dutch customers
   • Cryptos are tradable through CFDs only
   CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
10. TRADE NOW READ REVIEW
    10. FP Markets

    Minimum Deposit	€50 (€100 for bank transfers)
    Regulation	CySEC, ASIC, FSCA, FSA (Seychelles)
    Tradable Coins	12 (ETH, BCH, BTC, EOS, DOT, and more)
    Software	MT4, MT5, TradingView, cTrader
    Crypto Leverage	2:1 for retail and professional accounts
    Fees	Spreads: 18.85 for BTC/USD, 4.5 for ETH/USD, 0.0027 for ADA/USD, 0.0008 for LTC/USD Swap fees: -40 (long), -5 (short) for BTC/USD; -30 (long), -10 (short) for ETH/USD
    Exchange/Wallet Service	No
    Deposit Methods	Visa, Mastercard, Bank Transfer, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller
    Withdrawal Methods	Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Bank Transfer

    FP Markets (short for First Prudential Markets) is a multi-award-winning brokerage firm renowned for its massive selection of over 10,000 tradable instruments. The CySEC-authorized company caters to cryptocurrency enthusiasts from the Netherlands with a dozen popular digital coins, including ETH, BCH, BTC, ADA, LTC, and EOS. Customers will benefit from industry-leading spreads, starting from 0.0008 for pairs like SOL/USD.

    The renowned brokerage is a powerful ally of traders who wish to hone their skills and advance their knowledge of the crypto markets. Customers will benefit from advanced order types like take-profit and stop-loss and various trading tools designed to boost their chances of success. The broker minimizes the likelihood of slippage by ensuring low latency order execution with average speeds of 40 milliseconds.

    Both professional and retail clients have access to 2:1 leverage for cryptocurrencies, with automatic margin closeouts at 50%. The broker facilitates trading crypto CFDs through the powerful third-party platforms MT4 and MT5, although TradingView and cTrader are also supported. Both platforms come equipped with customizable alerts, live price streams, single-click trading, and expert advisors for fully automated crypto trading.

    Key Pros

    • A registered member of CySEC’s Investor Compensation Fund (ICF)
    • Fills orders within 40 milliseconds on average
    • Allows for withdrawals as low as €5 per request
    • Offers market-leading spreads for crypto CFDs
    • Caters to crypto traders with economic calendars and plenty of technical indicators

    Key Cons

    • Dutch is unavailable
    • Demo accounts expire after 30 days
    • A smaller selection of tradable cryptocurrencies compared to some competitors
    CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 72.92% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Top 3 Dutch Crypto Exchanges Ranked by Trustpilot Score

Top 3 Dutch Crypto Exchanges Fees

Top 3 Crypto Exchanges in the Netherlands

Bitstamp

Bitstamp is one of the first crypto exchanges in the world as it first opened doors to customers in 2011. The exchange experienced tremendous growth in the following years, currently boasting over 5 million clients from more than 150 jurisdictions. Committed to regulatory compliance, Bitstamp currently has registrations in over 50 countries, and the Netherlands is no exception. The exchange is an approved entity featured in the register of the Dutch central bank DNB (De Nederlandsche Bank).

It offers spot trading with over 100 big and small cryptocurrencies, including BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, DAI, and ADA. Users can filter the available digital coins by performance, popularity, and listing date. While customers can buy, sell, and swap cryptocurrencies at Bitstamp, the exchange does not provide a proprietary crypto wallet at the time of publication. It works with various external wallets, instead.

Standard maker/taker fees at Bitstamp range from 0.00% / 0.03% to 0.30% / 0.40%, depending on a customer’s thirty-day trading volume. Clients can earn annual staking rewards of 2.20% for holding ADA, 1.60% for Algorand, and 3.10% for Ethereum. Lending your cryptocurrencies can earn you up to 4.40% APY. Deposits are largely free of charge but SEPA withdrawals incur a €3 transaction fee.

Coinbase

Coinbase is a fully compliant crypto exchange that facilitates swapping, selling, buying, and holding over 240 digital coins in a secure self-custody crypto wallet. It was the first exchange to gain approval from the Dutch Central Bank in September 2022 but operates in over 40 other EU jurisdictions with authorization from the FCA and BaFin. It offers retail and institutional trading on the spot but speculative trading with futures contracts is also available at Coinbase.

Maker/taker fees at Coinbase range from 0.05% to 0.60%, depending on customer pricing tier and trading volume. While these percentages are slightly higher than what some rival exchanges charge, Coinbase compensates customers with better staking rewards. The exchange promotes crypto education by offering “learning” rewards to customers for completing various quizzes on digital coins.

Dutch customers will benefit from seamless onboarding and a customizable self-custody wallet, giving them absolute control of their private keys and digital assets. Traders from the Netherlands can conveniently deposit with the local payment solution iDeal without incurring additional transaction charges. Coinbase is a secure crypto exchange that backs the digital assets of its clients at a 1:1 ratio.

Kraken

Kraken is a multi-registered exchange that has been providing cryptocurrency trading and holding services since 2011. The exchange recently expanded its global footprint with a registration from the Netherlands Central Bank. Dutch residents can invest in over 200 digital coins on the spot and via margin trading. Derivative futures contracts are also available for select cryptocurrencies. NFT trading is another option for onboarding customers from the Netherlands.

Registered clients are eligible for staking rewards and friend referral bonuses. While Dutch customers face an impressive choice of digital coins, emerging tokens and altcoins KUJI and WEN are unavailable in the county due to regional restrictions. Kraken enables customers to expand their knowledge via a dedicated learning section containing various informative articles on blockchain technology and crypto trading. Detailed guides are available for nearly all tradable crypto coins on Kraken.

The exchange accepts deposits via several fiat-based methods, including debit/credit cards, wire transfers, and the e-wallet PayPal. It is worth mentioning some of the supported payment solutions attract additional processing fees, with SWIFT transfers servicing as a notable example.

Legal Status of Cryptocurrency Trading in the Netherlands

• Dutch Legislation Focuses Mostly on AML/CTF Policies

The Netherlands lacks specific legislation to regulate cryptocurrency trading at the time of publication. The Central Bank of the Netherlands (DNB) does not recognize cryptocurrencies as legal tender due to their high volatility and susceptibility to exhibiting dramatic price swings. According to the DNB, digital assets are not an effective medium of exchange because they offer no consumer protection whatsoever and are vulnerable to criminal abuse.

• Custodians and Exchanges Must Register with the DNB

Dutch legislation focuses predominantly on preventing the use of cryptocurrencies for illicit activities like terrorist financing and money laundering. It is not illegal for residents to buy and hold digital assets with unauthorized providers. However, crypto exchanges and wallet custodians cannot offer cryptocurrencies without registering as crypto service providers with the DNB.

The Dutch Central Bank can order unregistered custodians and exchanges to cease distributing their products in the country. Other enforcement actions against violating firms include fines or even initiating criminal prosecution.

• Requirements for DNB-Registered Crypto Exchanges

Registered companies must follow certain rules for business conduct and adhere to strict anti-money laundering policies. This includes performing detailed KYC checks to verify each customer’s identity and extensive transaction monitoring. Each customer must provide personal information and source of funds, so that registered exchanges can confirm the person does not engage in criminal activities.

Registered entities must report all suspicious transactions to the country’s law enforcement agencies. Companies seeking DNB registrations must also provide detailed business plans with projections on their anticipated revenue and targeted market share, along with a SWOT analysis and profiles of their key employees.

• Enhanced Consumer Protection under MiCA

It is worth stressing that the DNB does not provide specific consumer protections to the customers of registered crypto exchanges. It focuses solely on compliance with local and EU anti-money laundering laws but this will soon change after the Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA) comes into full effect by the end of the year.

This new set of regulations was proposed by the European Commission and would apply throughout the EU. The new rules aim to mitigate the risks involved in crypto trading and ensure adequate consumer protection for crypto investors in EU member states like the Netherlands. The new regulations will effectively prohibit cryptocurrency providers from offering exceedingly risky or complex crypto instruments to local consumers.

Additionally, exchanges and custodians must offer compensation to their clients in the event of hacker attacks and digital asset theft. Intentionally providing unsound financial advice is also against the new rules. The same goes for using client assets for proprietary trading.

• Crypto CFD Brokers Are Subject to Separate Regulations

Brokers offering CFD trading with cryptocurrencies also require licenses to service Dutch customers legally. CFD providers are subject to separate regulations and fall under the regulatory gaze of the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). Approved entities must meet certain minimum capital requirements and safeguard retail traders by imposing certain restrictions, as we explain in the next section.

What Forms of Crypto Trading Are Legal in the Netherlands

Contracts for difference (CFDs) are the most common form of legal crypto trading in the Netherlands. Such derivative instruments fall under the regulatory scope of the AFM and require licenses, either from the Dutch regulator or from another EU financial watchdog. CFDs enable customers to speculate on fluctuating cryptocurrency prices without buying or holding the underlying digital assets. Dutch CFD regulations align with EU MiFID II requirements whereby brokers must restrict retail crypto leverage to a ratio of 2:1.

• Negative Balance Protection and Margin Closeouts for Crypto CFDs

Dutch traders eligible for professional accounts can use higher leverage for cryptocurrencies, ranging from 5:1 to 200:1. Regulated crypto brokers must ensure all Dutch retail clients have access to negative balance protection, safeguarding them against losing more than their available balance. Margin closeouts must trigger automatically when a retail trader’s balance declines below 50%, preventing their losses from mounting further.

• Investor Compensation for Dutch Crypto Traders

AFM and EU-compliant crypto CFD providers must join an approved investor compensation scheme and make regular contributions. If a broker finds themselves in financial trouble, each Dutch retail customer can receive compensation of up to €20,000. Investor compensation does not apply to professional crypto traders.

• Risk Disclosures and Client Eligibility Assessment

Crypto CFD providers operating with licenses from the AFM, CySEC, BaFin, or other EU regulators must warn Dutch retail traders about the financial risks associated with trading derivatives with leverage. To this end, brokers must post disclosure notices on their websites, outlining the risks of CFD trading. The risk notices must also contain information about the percentage of retail clients losing money when trading CFDs with the respective brokerage.

Additionally, AFM and EU-compliant brokers must assess whether new retail clients are competent enough to speculate with crypto CFDs before allowing them to dabble in such high-risk instruments. The eligibility assessment process normally involves standardized tests retail clients must pass to gain access to CFD trading.

• Crypto Spot Trading in the Netherlands

Spot trading is a widespread form of crypto trading accessible to Dutch residents. It involves buying and selling cryptocurrencies with immediate settlement on the spot, hence the name. Dutch traders can pick from multiple spot markets for popular and emerging cryptocurrencies. With spot trading, two parties agree to buy or sell cryptocurrencies at a prearranged price through exchanges like Coinbase or Kraken, for example.

A trader interested in buying crypto places a buy order at a specific bid price. A person looking to sell the same crypto places a sell order at a given ask price. Both are logged into the exchange’s order books for all customers to see. The bid and ask orders must match for the transaction to be finalized.

• Crypto Futures Trading in the Netherlands

The legal status of crypto futures in the Netherlands was murky until recently. In late July 2024, the Dutch regulator AFM approved the crypto exchange One Trading, allowing it to legally provide perpetual futures contracts to Dutch retail traders in line with the requirements of MiFID II. The directive outlines the rules governing the provision of financial instruments across the EU and EEA. After gaining approval for an Organized Trading Facility license, One Trading became the first exchange authorized to provide such derivative products in Europe.

• Prohibited Crypto Investment Vehicles in the Netherlands

In April 2019, the Dutch financial regulator AFM moved to prohibit selling and marketing binary options to retail traders from the Netherlands. The ban extends to crypto binary options and applies to brokers based in the country and foreign investment firms serving the local market through the EU passporting regime. Binary options are short-term instruments that share similarities with gambling and involve significant risk for retail investors.

In the context of cryptocurrencies, they involve predicting the short-term price movements of highly volatile digital assets like Bitcoin or Ethereum. Traders must decide whether a cryptocurrency will be above or below a specific strike price when the binary option expires. They receive fixed payouts or nothing at all, depending on the outcome of their prediction. Expiration timeframes for binary options can be as short as several minutes, rendering them an unsuitable instrument for inexperienced crypto traders.

Who Regulates Crypto Trading in the Netherlands

At the time of publication, wallet custodians and cryptocurrency exchanges must register with De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) to operate in the country. The Dutch Central Bank observes whether registered entities comply with counter-terrorist financing and anti-money laundering legislation. The DNB also evaluates the fitness of the registered companies’ directors.

• DNB Responsibilities

The Central Bank is responsible for preserving the stability and integrity of the local financial markets but consumer protection is outside its supervisory powers. The NDB maintains a public register where Dutch residents can check the registration status of their chosen exchange or custodian. The Central Bank has the remit of ordering unregistered exchanges to cease providing their services in the country.

• AFM Responsibilities

Brokers providing speculative CFD trading with cryptocurrencies must apply for licenses from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). The latter oversees the conduct of all participants in the local financial markets, including broking firms, asset managers, pension funds, insurance and credit companies. The AFM is responsible for promoting transparency in the financial markets and ensuring high levels of consumer protection.

To confirm a broker holds a license from the AFM, Dutch traders can check the regulator’s public database of authorized entities. Some entities featured in the database accept crypto traders from the Netherlands through a passporting regime and are outside the direct supervision of the AFM. Under MiFID II, brokers licensed by other European regulators like BaFin and CySEC can operate in all member states of the EU and the EEA.

• Planned Regulatory Changes after MiCAR

The DNB has unveiled plans of transferring its supervisory powers to the AFM after the MiCAR regulations come into full effect. The new rules will enable the AFM to regulate and license crypto exchanges. The changes will lead to stricter supervision as prospective licensees will undergo regular checks to confirm they have sufficient reserves. The DNB will oversee stablecoin issuers, ensuring their stablecoins are indeed backed by fiat currencies like the euro or the US dollar.

Common Costs Associated with Crypto Trading in the Netherlands

Dutch crypto traders should brace themselves for additional trading costs, but they vary from one trading platform to the next. Comparing the fees across multiple platforms is vital if you are looking to maximize your profits from successful trades. Crypto CFD providers commonly waive their commissions and build their fees into the spreads.

Spreads indicate the difference between the bid and ask prices quoted for crypto crosses like BTC/EUR, ETH/USD, or BTC/ETH. Many brokers add their markups to the market spreads, increasing your expenses. One simple rule of thumb dictates the narrower the spread, the better. Dutch crypto enthusiasts should look for CFD platforms facilitating commission-free trades with tight spreads.

Trading cryptocurrencies with an exchange commonly results in customers incurring maker and taker fees. These are typically percentage-based and decrease proportionately to your weekly or monthly trading volume. The more you trade, the lower your maker/taker fees. Exchanges charge taker fees when filling orders immediately, while maker fees apply to orders executed with delay. Maker orders help create market liquidity, whereas taker orders do the opposite. It explains why maker fees are typically lower than taker fees.

When transacting on a blockchain, cryptocurrency traders can also anticipate network or transaction fees, called gas in the context of Ethereum. A nominal amount of a given digital currency is deducted from your wallet to validate the transaction on the blockchain. The primary purpose of these fees is to incentivize cryptocurrency miners and validators. Transaction fees depend on a blockchain’s current congestion level.

Finally, Dutch traders should consider non-trading-related charges for inactivity, currency conversion, deposits, and withdrawals. Many brokers deduct nominal amounts from the balances available in inactive accounts to cover their maintenance costs. Dutch traders can save money by choosing brokers like Tickmill that have waived their inactivity fees.

Conversion fees are self-explanatory and easily avoidable if you register a live account in your native currency, the euro. Dutch traders should consider joining crypto brokers or exchanges facilitating free deposits and withdrawals, preferably with familiar local methods like iDeal.

Are Profits from Crypto Trading Taxed in the Netherlands

Profits from cryptocurrency trading are exempt from capital gains taxes in the Netherlands as digital coins are treated as assets for tax purposes, similarly to shares. Local traders pay taxes based on the presumed combined value of their assets from the previous fiscal year. The rates of return vary based on asset category, and residents must file earnings under box 3 for income taxes.

Calculating your income from assets and other investments is somewhat complex, so it would be best to contact a professional to assist you. Local tax laws distinguish between bank and savings balances and investments. The second category comprises stocks, securities, bonds, income from rentals, and cryptocurrencies.

The rates of return for bank and savings balances are 1.03%, while those for investments are higher at 6.04%. Taxes for income filed under box 3 have a cap of 36% in 2024, an increase of four percentage points compared to the previous year. There is an exemption for amounts of up to €57,000. You can read more about how to calculate your taxes and Box 3 income for 2024 on the official website of the Tax and Customs Administration.

How to Pick Quality Crypto Brokers for the Netherlands

Regulatory compliance is the first thing Dutch residents should consider when selecting crypto trading platforms. Their chosen crypto CFD providers should ideally carry the seal of approval of the AFM or another prominent EU regulatory body adhering to the overarching MiFID II regulations. With exchanges, we recommend picking an entity featured in the register of the Dutch Central Bank (DNB).

Quality crypto trading platforms charge narrow spreads or competitive maker and taker fees in the case of exchanges. They process deposits and withdrawals at no extra cost for customers, which is another deciding factor you should consider when choosing where to trade digital assets.

Finally, Dutch crypto traders should take into account the trading software their broker or exchange runs on, as well as the range of tradable cryptocurrencies. The greater the choice of digital coins, the better, especially if you are seeking to diversify your crypto portfolio. As for the trading platform, it should support Dutch as a language option, which is especially important for traders who cannot speak English fluently.

Written by Z. Stefanova